First Day of Spring

March 20, 2021. Shortly after sunset on the first day of spring. Temperature: 18°F (-8°C) | Sunrise: 7:49 am | Sunset: 8:08 pm

Red Squirrel

March 21, 2021. A red squirrel watches me from the trees. My photo-a-day finally broke after this. I barely left bed for the following six days. I tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, after having a fever for 7 days. In total, I had a fever for 12 days and didn't eat for 8 days. I slept. A lot. It's a great diet, though. I lost almost 15 lbs. Now I feel almost totally recovered, except for occasional uncontrollable coughing fits. And I'm still a bit more tired than usual, sleeping 10 hours a day rather than my usual 6. Cat tested positive about two weeks earlier. She managed to get by with a cough and a couple of rough nights but is totally recovered now. Temperature: 20°F (-7°C) | Sunrise: 7:45 am | Sunset: 8:11 pm

Common Redpoll

March 30, 2021. A common redpoll briefly pauses from feeding on a branch. These winter finches don't sit very still in the early spring! Temperature: 36°F (2°C) | Sunrise: 7:12 am | Sunset: 8:39 pm

It Just Keeps Snowing!

April 4, 2021. It just keeps snowing! We got a little bit of snow for Easter Day here in Fairbanks. Yesterday about 6 inches fell. Another foot overnight, and a few more inches this morning. It's kind of a winter wonderland this spring. Temperature: 32°F (0°C) | Sunrise: 6:54 am | Sunset: 8:54 pm

Sunlight

April 5, 2021. Afternoon sunlight through the spruce trees. Temperature: 10°F (-12°C) | Sunrise: 6:50 am | Sunset: 8:57 pm

Blue Sky and Clouds

April 6, 2021. It's nice to have light on the trees after 7:00 pm again. The amount of light we have this time of year almost feels like we're not above the 64th parallel. Temperature: 15°F (-9°C) | Sunrise: 6:47 am | Sunset: 9:00 pm

High in the Sky

April 7, 2021. I was surprised to see a bald eagle when I looked up while clearing snow around the house. It was flying really high, I could barely see it. This was taken with a 500 mm lens and slightly cropped as well. Temperature: 18°F (-8°C) | Sunrise: 6:43 am | Sunset: 9:04 pm

The Fog and Clouds Roll In

April 8, 2021. When it looks like this, you can almost be sure there is a weather pattern change and that a temperature change is coming with it. Sure enough, the thermometer dropped like a rock this evening. Temperature: -6°F (-21°C) | Sunrise: 6:39 am | Sunset: 9:07 pm

Hoarfrost

April 10, 2021. I missed taking a photo on April 9th. Still in recovery mode from COVID, I was sleeping like 12 hours a day, more than double my average night's sleep. This day, we had almost 3.5 feet of snow on the house and some roofs were collapsing around Fairbanks, including the Ester fire department's. So, I spent an hour digging our ladder from under the snow and climbed up on the roof to start shoveling. This photo is of the hoarfrost crystals that had grown on the ladder rung. The snow was heavy, and not wanting to slide, so I had to just fling it off. At least it was a pretty day. Temperature: 15°F (-9°C) | Sunrise: 6:32 am | Sunset: 9:13 pm

Return

April 11, 2021. The geese are back, waiting for the snow to melt. The temperature even rose above freezing today. Creamer's Field, Fairbanks, Alaska. Temperature: 33°F (1°C) | Sunrise: 6:28 am | Sunset: 9:16 pm

Dirt!

April 12, 2021. The first bit of dirt starts to show through the driveway. Might not seem like much, but it's been almost 6 months since we've seen this! First day of truly warm temps! Temperature: 48°F (9°C) | Sunrise: 6:25 am | Sunset: 9:19 pm

Moose!

April 13, 2021. I had a visitor greeting me in the driveway on my way home from work. This young bull moose was not too concerned about my truck sitting about 15 feet away from him as he ate our willows. Temperature: 47°F (8°C) | Sunrise: 6:21 am | Sunset: 9:23 pm