As our weather is straddling the line between winter and spring and cross country skiing and snowshoeing has slowed, I've recently taken Wren a few times to walk along the Lake Colby railroad tracks. As ice moves out with warming temperatures, the railroad will soon be lined with fishermen and I generally avoid going there at that time of year with Wren – there is fishing line and leftover bait she can get into.

For now the lake is still largely frozen, but there are a few small gaps in the ice on the backside. As those grow, migrating ducks may choose to use them. On our hikes the local beaver was already using those gaps, sitting on the ice or bank of the bog mat while munching on bark and cattails. I was glad to see the beaver after the long winter.

beaver - Larry
The beaver has been hanging out on the ice on the backside of Lake Colby. Photo courtesy of www.masterimages.org.

Bird life on our walks was fairly quiet, but we found black-capped chickadees, hairy woodpeckers, and dark-eyed juncos in the woods surrounding the lake. Red-winged blackbirds and song sparrows – recently arrived from the south – were also taking up residence along the bog mat and the marshy margins of the lake. Other birds will also be arriving soon as the weather warms.

On one of our hikes, two bald eagles flew overhead- first an adult which was followed shortly by an immature bird. The eagles cruised separately through the sky – I didn't see them interact – but they both eventually headed out over the main body of the lake before disappearing from view. They could be finding some fish in the bodies of water which have been opening of late. After all, the Saranac River and Lake Flower (where I recently saw a pair of hooded mergansers) both have a lot of open water. But it is likely that these eagles are still relying on carrion to sustain themselves until the ice is off the lakes.

bald eagle
Bald eagles are often seen around Lake Colby.

And despite some of our cold temperatures of late, that day when the lakes are open is fast approaching. Spring always brings such huge changes to the region, and it is only just beginning.