Signs of spring on Outer Cape Cod.

I woke up this morning before the alarm went off.I find myself doing this more and more over the past several weeks. It use to be the alarm went off before the sun came up. Now the sun comes up before the alarm goes off. Could this be a sign of spring? I am hearing bird songs. Songs I haven't heard since last summer. I imagined it's because the birds are starting to return from their warmer winter habitats, but after reading a recent article in the Cape Cod Times I learn "not just yet!" These songs are from our resident bird population just getting more vocal. These year round residents are starting to court and mate. Infact just yesterday, I saw two cardinals doing just that, out in the paddock in front of our horse! Even she seemed to be surprised by the display.
The past two mornings have been interesting, but a bit unsettling. It seems with this early morning light, the woodpeckers are up early too. While getting the coffee going for our guests, I hear this crazy racket over my head! It seems a common flicker found some breakfast in my roof! I step out onto the deck to see him fly off. Same thing this morning. I feel a little bad scaring this hungry bird off, but I need my roof and I like my B&B guest to sleep in if they so desire. Although, I must admit, it has made for good breakfast conversation. Better yet, most of our visitors this time of year are here to do some birding. Cape Cod is a major "fly over" for many bird species as our arm of land stretches out into the ocean 30 miles. So just as winter starts to feel a bit longer than I'd sometimes like, little by little I see signs of spring easing me forward into warmer and brighter days.