The vernal pools in this forest always take on a pretty multicolored appearance as spring progresses. I am not sure where the color comes from. I know some of it comes from pollen. Over the years I have tried to photograph these pools to catch some of the color but the photos always turn out bad. This is the first photo that turned out okay.
 
A few days ago a I encountered a flock of Hermit Thrushes in this forest along with a singing Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creepers, and the Pileated Woodpecker. I kept an eye on the ground for emerging ferns but saw no signs of any. Today, however, ferns were popping up everywhere. What exquisite forms emerging ferns have! What ferns lack in flowers they make up for in form. I spent some time today observing the forms of the various species of ferns that are now emerging. I may return later this week to take photos of the emerging ferns. But I may leave those photos for another year.