A sure sign of spring is the return of our Rose-Breasted Grossbeaks. So far we have seen one pair, and we typically get at least two pairs that stay for the summer. We also have a Phoebe who has been around for the last few years. This year she has built her nest on top of the garage window by the pond. We have also seen a lot of Gold Finches and House Finches, and our typical Chickadees, Titmice, Cardinals, Mourning Doves, and assorted Woodpeckers (Downey, Hairy, Red-Bellied, and Pileated) are all still here.

We took the family kayaking at Speedwell Forge Lake this evening.  Speedwell is a PA Fish and Boat Commission lake and offers fishing and non-motorized boating and is located about 10 minutes from Furnace Hills Bed and Breakfast.  The weather was good, but a little windy.  We were fortuante to see a variety of birds, including an Osprey, many Cormorants, and a Tern that caught a fish right in front of us.  Speedwell makes a nice quick evening paddling trip and almost always offers great wildlife viewing.  We frequently see Great Blue, Green, and Black Crowned Night Herons, Kingfishers, Canada Geese, Red Tail Hawks, and turtles sunning themselves on logs.  Occasionally, one of the Bald Eagles from Middlecreek stops by, and once I saw a beaver.  If you are visiting the area, Speedwell Forge is definitly worth checking out.

It’s finally spring at Furnace Hills Bed and Breakfast. The calendar says it has been spring for a few weeks, but the thermometer is only now starting to agree. Flowers are starting to push and the goldfish in the pond are just waking up from a very long winter’s nap. Spring is a time for new beginnings, so it is appropriate that we have just launched our new website. This should be a big improvement over the old site that Ben wrote nine years ago (has it been that long??). Not only is the format new, but we now have a mobile site and a blog! Monthly newsletters are also in the works. Check back, as this will continue to be a work in progress.