Update from the Lake: Buds and Birds and Flowers and Trees!

This is perhaps a more typical spring update from the lake, as compared to the last update. Last weekend we saw a few more hints of spring appearing here and there, although the grape hyacinths still weren't blooming.
A few tiny buds were appearing on some of the aspen trees in the backyard.
Other aspen trees were adorned by catkins - possibly of the male variety, as seen in a closeup on Kim's blog - and by a scrub jay hopping from branch to branch.
Buds on our lilac bushes were just coming out.
The only flowers in our yard were on manzanita bushes.
When we drove past Honey Lake last Monday, snow geese were still hanging out in the same place, a little farther from the road in a patch of water, and not quite so picturesque or scenic looking. This flock of geese has been present in this particular area from at least April 3rd to April 6th this year. I don't know what their usual time frame for hanging around is, but I will be looking carefully henceforth!