As I begin writing this column on March 8, with a morning temperature of 12 degrees and 6 inches of snow cover, I question, where is spring? But I know that the later sunsets, the sun arcing higher in the sky, and my copious nature notes tell me, it will be here shortly.

I note the little signs (some subtle) that spring is near. A walk near a soggy Lizard Creek bank where the skunk cabbage hoods are poking through the marshy covering is one sign. These are one of the earliest bloomers. On a warm late March or early April day, honeybees will find this first offering of nectar. As dusk falls near German’s bridge, I can listen for the faint “peent” made by a male woodcock as it prepares to take off on its spiraling nuptial flight. The males perform this amazing zigzag flight over and over again. Darkness finally stops my ability to watch.

In your flower bed, the crocus start popping up, often still blanketed by the now-usual March snows. At the same time, robins, singly and sometimes in loose flocks, return to their breeding grounds to stake out their territories. As the roadside shoulders melt along the secondary roads, look for 1¼ inch yellow flowers called coltsfoot that pop up and brighten the roadsides. They are often mistaken for dandelions. (I only find them along roadsides.)

If we have a warm spring evening (late March) and you risk keeping your car windows open, take a drive near some swampy areas along some of our streams. Listen for the loud peeping made by spring peepers. (Our common tree frogs) They are advertising for mates but not flying for their attention. Rather, they inflate their throat sacs and burst out their peeps all night long. They are not the first vocal amphibians though, just the most common. Wood frogs, even on nights near freezing, will offer up their funny croaks. (Go online to “Frog and Toad Calls” to hear both of these.)

Already the red-winged blackbirds are claiming their piece of a swamp or shoreline perched atop a cattail. Other early blackbirds, the purple grackle males are making their grating calls from atop the spruces where they will soon be nesting.

On one of your first spring hikes, don’t hesitate to turn over a stone or two to locate either a red-backed or lead-backed salamander. They are now out of hibernation. If you can make a short drive to, or live along a ridge top, pick a day with a nice breeze to catch some raptors such as sharp-shinned or Cooper’s hawks migrating north.

Retirement has offered me the opportunity to pick the best conditions to explore nature. I will watch the forecasts, and when there is a strong southwest wind, I find a morning spot offering good visibility and plop myself down to watch and listen.

I know that I may see hundreds of flocks of Canada and snow geese following the same migration routes they have used for years. When that occurs, I’m convinced we’ve shifted gears from winter to spring.

Test your outdoor knowledge: ____ are omnivores. A. Black bears, B. Beavers, C. White-tailed deer, D. Bullfrogs.

Last week’s trivia answer: As described in this column, coltsfoot is the early blooming, roadside, yellow blooming flower.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.