Summer Comes

Everyone talks of winter going and Summer suddenly making a show.  The lake is alive with activity. 

Fishing is heavy this time of year, but we are not seeing a lot being caught.  We do know of a wonderful bass being taken, but are not seeing the folk in the boats getting excited.

A loon is heard but not seen. He likes expressing himself around 5 to 6 in the morning.  We are not sure how local he is.

A goose family has taken up residence on the lake.  They have three goslings.  They like to stand on the edge of the road in the bay.  Every one is giving them right of way.  Two ducks seem to be hanging around down from the dock.  A nest is suspected back in the reeds.  A turkey walked by.  We keep hearing of beaver activity down the ways.

Open the door after dark and one can see the massively active insect life.  Turn on a light and clouds of gnats appear.  The heat!  The ticks are every where.

And with the rain, the garden is growing like crazy.  The beans and tomatoes are just shooting up.

Fishing Opener Eve

 

We expect the Sun to show itself soon.  The lake has been getting a bit more wet.  The rain came with its normal cloud cover and some Sun will be most welcome.  Could be a bit warmer.

The dock is in and only awaits the metal net to hold the catch.  Saturday at Midnight the season begins.  A more reasonable cast late Saturday morning is expected to begin our season.

Leaf buds have been spotted.  Two swans were checking the pre-season bites in the lake the other day.  They seem to have made a bee line to the river.

Snow!

 

Following a day of neat cracking ice rumbling across the lake, today a new light layer of snow.  Water is around all the edge we can see.  The channel to the river looks open as the river seems fully open.  Spring is on the way.  Always hope.

That cracking ice reminded one of whales and or distant thunder.  One direction, then another.  What a day.

Twin Bald Eagles and Great Day

 

Two bald eagles were spotted on the North shore of Mud Lake today.  They have been singly seen flying over before, but now two stopping by.

A great day of melting, but the lake looks still frozen.  Some top water has been appearing and going each day.  Property on the North side has seen significant melting of snow and ice.  The South is more hidden from the bright sun and has more snow in the woods.

We also noticed that the image of Mud Lake has finally been updated in Google Maps.  The image appears to be from last summer, but it is definitely new.  East Fish Hook Trail still is mapped wrong.

Melting Away

 

As the lake shore opens up to grass, the lake is covered in a lot of water tonight.  Nice to take a trek down to the beach, but the wind is stiff from the South.  Geese were over head, but not landing on the thin water surface.  Noisy to be sure.

A Buck

 

The big siting today was the first buck with antlers we have seen.  We have kept checking for antlers, but today is the first pair.

Otherwise not too bad of a day at the lake.  The sun did finally break out for a few minutes near supper time.  Cleared some snow/ice off the patio.  Snow/ice on the roof is almost snow/ice on the ground.

Deer on the Roam

 

The deer crowd seems to have returned to the lakeside in recent days.  The search for food continues during this hard winter.  They are in separate groups I note.

The “Gang of Seven” consists of a mixed group of seven deer that roam together.  They have been seen right here and out to Highway 1.  They range from middling in size to small.  Only the small ones seem a bit slow at moving on when on the road.

The “Big Butts” are a well sized group of three.  One is a bit smaller than the other two, but food does not seem to have been short for these three.  No antlers noted.  One just does note the one massive size chunk that these are.  No rush on moving with these guys, to.

“The Lonely One” is all by him or her self.  No antlers noted, but the search through the scarcity is a lone job.  This one could fit with the Big Butts, but must prefer or was left all alone.

Bird life remains sparse.  You can hear them more than see them.  A wood pecker was chopping the other day.  I heard a crow one day.  Flying is an odd event to catch one of them at.  A few tiny ones passed through, but the tiny ones seem gone as they have for months.

Melting is turning big time.  The driveway is black now.  The roof is about green.  Bring it on!