A skein of geese just went over my house, heading north.

O happy day!

yup , the big flocks of whatever bird they are have just started to convene on the condos opposite us.

I whole heartedly concur with your statement

Enjoy while you can. As soon as the air-force retools with ludicrously expensive CF35 stealth geese you won't be able to see them anymore.

Do they fly back south next weekend?

There are two bald eagles that nest near the Coast Guard station at Vanier Park. I see them most days and they look like B1 bombers when they swoop down.

Ive often thought that the ducks look a lot like the fighter cover for the medium bomber geese as they come over my house in formation looking to land on the river... (which is now liquid again)

The last patches of ice in my yard are still just hanging on in the northern shaded bits.

I'm in Loooeeeessssiaaaannnaaa at present. Yesterday was 80F today is 60F and I am bloody freezing. Last week it was -1C in St. John's and I went to work in shirtsleeves and no coat. Even allowing for the mixture of temperature units, WTF is that all about?

It's a damp warmth.

The concrete pad at the back of the house is finally clear of ice. Is it too early to put away the snow shovel?

Oh yes, far too early. Even in balmy southern Ontario.

Still snow to come perhaps?

Those replies don't even resemble humour

Not seen any anatids flying up here yet but most of the remaining snow melted this week revealing a flowering crocus [at the front of the house]. Which is nice.

We were able to enjoy a glass of wine on the deck yesterday, in shirtsleeves. It was only about 7 degrees but the deck is a serious sun trap.

It snowed overnight here. Not much, but FFS.