Easter dawned across the beautiful marshes of the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County, Maryland, where I spent the weekend enjoying the rising life of early spring.  In the Christian faith we celebrate the Resurrection at at time of year when hope abounds with the return of spring.  The rhythms of nature tells us that no matter how long the winter or chilly the season, life rebounds and new generations are on the way.

On the Eastern shore, the osprey are returning and already building nests for the new crop of hatchlings.  Eagles nests abound high up in the loblolly pines.  Great white herons cast their regal yellow eyes on all — when not lunching for fish.  Ducks are everywhere — northern shovelers, mallards, wood ducks, scaups, and even a surf scoter or two.  Turtles turned out in great cascades down the marsh banks when the sun came out late Saturday, and even groundhogs dared to pop up before scooting back into their burrows.   Cardinals, bluebirds, red-winged blackbirds, northern flickers, blue jays, finches, wrens and sparrows all seemed happy with the return of warm afternoons.

Enjoy this brief ode to the joy of spring: