Utah - signs of spring

While the mountains that surround us are still white, the hills below 6000 feet are nearly bare and one distant hillside actually has the appearance of green grass coming up.  Turkey vultures have been soaring over the area for more than a week; on the two irrigation reservoirs there have been a first-year Great Blue Heron, several pairs of Common Mergansers, a Common Goldeneye, and about 30 Canada geese.  A killdeer was preening and resting at the water's edge this afternoon - first day of ice out, air temperature near 50.  Walking back to the house, this Common porcupine caught my eye.  Well-camouflaged with long blonde guard hairs, they masquerade as a bunch of dried vegetation.  Usually I see them in the canopy of hawthorn trees gnawing the bark off.  (Yes, they do have quills!)