When I was walking little Frida at about 5:15 I heard a bird call I hadn't heard before. It was a sweet little screech owl sitting in a tree trilling to us as we passed. That's a nice way to start a new season.
Maybe the winter solstice has had an effect on the birds in my neighborhood. Yesterday I walked the dog around sunset and in the farmer's field we walk there were hundreds upon hundreds of Canada geese landing and taking off. I got a kick out of hearing their wings flap as they flew overhead.