Island Light: Spring Progress
April sky over Hines Point.
April sky over Hines Point.
Heron makes its way around the shoreline.
Heron makes its way around the shoreline.
Endless waves roll in and out at Lucy Vincent Beach.
Endless waves roll in and out at Lucy Vincent Beach.
'Tis the season for painting in preparation of the coming season.
'Tis the season for painting in preparation of the coming season.
East Chop Light overlooking the Sound on Telegraph Hill.
East Chop Light overlooking the Sound on Telegraph Hill.
Dinghies pulled ashore on Edgartown Great Pond.
Dinghies pulled ashore on Edgartown Great Pond.
Crossing the Drawbridge from Vineyard Haven to Oak Bluffs.
Crossing the Drawbridge from Vineyard Haven to Oak Bluffs.
Song of spring.
Song of spring.
Tashmoo opening seen from the sky.
Tashmoo opening seen from the sky.
School is in session.
School is in session.
Leaving Woods Hole on the way to the Island.
Leaving Woods Hole on the way to the Island.
Blue skies above and deeper blue water below at Duarte's Pond.
Blue skies above and deeper blue water below at Duarte's Pond.
On the path to the Harthaven beach.
On the path to the Harthaven beach.
Paddling around Menemsha Creek.
Paddling around Menemsha Creek.
Walking the gangplank.
Walking the gangplank.
History on the corner of Tuckernuck and Circuit.
History on the corner of Tuckernuck and Circuit.
Colorful clay cliffs of Lucy Vincent.
Colorful clay cliffs of Lucy Vincent.
North Bluff beach on a quiet day.
North Bluff beach on a quiet day.
Darkening sky over the Seaview.
Darkening sky over the Seaview.
A view to the Edgartown Light from Little Beach.
A view to the Edgartown Light from Little Beach.
Window architectural detail in Oak Bluffs.
Window architectural detail in Oak Bluffs.
Fog creeps in on little cat feet.
Fog creeps in on little cat feet.
What's for dinner?
What's for dinner?
Osprey acrobatics while fishing.
Osprey acrobatics while fishing.
The progress of spring on the Island is an annual matter of two steps forward and one step back. Perhaps that's why we count our harbingers so carefully, tallying them up on our seasonal ledger sheet as reassuring evidence to be balanced against each inevitable setback.
We have heard the pinkletinks calling in the boggy hollows on afternoons lit by a warming sun. Early morning winds can still bluster from the northeast, chillingly enough to make the walker regret storing their winter coat in the upstairs closet. But nothing can erase the bright blooms of forsythia and daffodils on lawns now showing the first signs of new greening. The buds are fat on roadside bushes, and the birds proclaim the season in their full morning chorus.