Spring birding in Maine is phenomenal. Many birds, like warblers and flycatchers, return to Maine from more southerly wintering areas to nest. Other birds, like most sandpipers and plovers, are passage migrants; we get to enjoy them briefly as they migrate through Maine to more northerly breeding grounds.

Going into the winter of 2011-12, the Farmer’s Almanac predicted a wickedly cold and snowy season for New England. “Clime and punishment” was in the forecast, with above-average snowfall and below-average temperatures on deck.

In April 2010, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) liberalized both ice and open-water fishing laws in lakes and ponds in the bottom third of the state by allowing year-round angling in most of them.

On the World Cup freestyle mogul skiing circuit, Dave and Alison Digravio of Farmington and Jeremy Cota of Greenville are putting in an incredible season. In March, Bethel native Simon Dumont, one of the world’s best freestyle skiers, returns to Sunday River to host the Dumont Cup. Though two-time Olympic snowboardcross gold medalist (and Farmington native) Seth Wescott is sidelined for the season, Straton’s Alex Tuttle is competing well. The list goes on and on.

In the past week I have heard the first peeps of spring from the marshes, listened to the familiar “peent” of returning woodcock, pulled the taps from our maple trees, and turned over the garden.

Sometimes it takes someone “from away” to increase your appreciation of what lies in your own backyard.

Right about now at the tail end of winter, most of us are looking for an excuse to get outside for a good walk, a chance to stretch the legs, breathe some fresh air and clear the mind. A walk along the ocean usually works for me, so on a sunny day recently I decided to check out a coastal venue I’d never visited before: Marginal Way in Ogunquit.