Chunky white snow in a salt marsh in Rye, N.H.

Hey, the snow lumps are swans! Mute swans, to be exact. The orange bill is the key indicator.

A native of northern and central Eurasia, the Mute Swan was introduced into North America to grace the ponds of parks and estates. Escaped individuals have established breeding populations in several areas, where their aggressive behavior threatens native waterfowl.

Wake me up when it’s really spring.