The vernal equinox. One of the two days in the year on which the sun is positioned directly over the equator. The first day of spring. Not that you could tell it on Heron Pond. Well, that's not really fair. I guess I've been spoiled by our six years in Seattle, where it seemed like spring arrived sometime in February. Here, the snow continues to melt, so we have growing bare spots in the yard and surrounding woods. The ice continues to retreat from where the feeder brooks enter the ponds. Heron Pond has a very small area of open water just off the bottom of our driveway, where the beavers hang out most evenings. But no waterfowl yet. Mill Pond is about one quarter open, due to the greater amount of water flowing into it. Lately there have been four Canada Geese, and a varying mix of Hooded Mergansers, American Black Ducks and Mallards

But tonight, after work, there were no birds to be found anywhere. I set up anyway at Mill Pond, hoping to get a chance to try out a new photography strategy. But the birds didn't cooperate. I stood, hidden by my camouflaged blind, for over an hour, waiting in vain. At least I got to work out some ideas and practice them, albeit with imaginary birds. Hopefully the next time I go there, the birds will be present, and cooperative. And I'll be invisible to them.

Of course, two minutes after I left the pond, the four Canada Geese flew in and landed just where I expected they would. Right place, wrong time. Hopefully, I've learned something.