The birds are just loving the first rain of the season. Counted the calls of the Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird, Blue Jay, Cardinal, Chickadee and Robin within the time it took me to let the dog out on his lead. The ice is a good halfway off my pond, which means it's almost time to start on this season's improvements. Rain started as a drizzle over the morning, and since picked up into a light but persistent patter. 1/4" in the gauge so far, with temps holding in the mid 40's.