It's a bit of a dull time of year for backyard wildlife in Pennsylvania. There are the ever-present squirrels of course, and the sturdier birds like blue jays, titmice and wrens stay throughout the winter (so do the cardinals, usually, though they haven't been around as much recently - perhaps they were called to Rome) but groundhogs, chipmunks and most of the birds are mostly still slumbering or sunning themselves in more equatorial climes.
I understand of course. I can slumber with the best of them in the winter and I was recently sunning myself in a more equatorial clime and it was most agreeable - more on that soon. But it does make the backyard naturalist pine for the summer months when you never know what exotic (at least to a Kiwi) creature is going to amble into your life.
So I was very excited this morning when a pair of deer ambled - or rather ran - across the yard. It was pure chance that I spotted them out the back window: I wouldn't usually be looking out at that time and for all I know they wander through every day. It's not the first time I've seen deer locally, or even in the backyard, but previous sightings from the house have all been during early evening and it was very striking to see them on our hill in full daylight.
It was a brief encounter, but I will be on the lookout for them again. Along with changes to the weather they gave me hope that spring is really on the way. Hopefully its not deer today and gone tomorrow.
