First calls of the Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs heard in Stacy, MN

Prairie Smoke just about ready to plume

Mohican Viburnum and Columbine also in bloom this week.  Red Winged Blackbirds extremely active.

Suspected Bullsnake Spotted in Carlos Avery

Also spotted:

• Canadian Geese
• Sandhill Cranes
• Mallard Ducks

Buds on Maples

First chorus frogs heard this week.

Red Wing Blackbirds

Huge, noisy flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds moving through the area.

Found four tiny monarch caterpillars on a single Swamp Milkweed blossom

Wild Bergamot in Bloom

Garden alive with bumblebees and butterflies (mostly skippers.) Spotted a single monarch caterpillar.

Boneset just starting to bud.

Wild Bergamot just Starting to Bloom

Currently blooming in the garden

• Prairie Smoke (receding)
• Columbine\
• Swamp Buttercup
• Canadian Anemone
• Purple Phlox
• Prairie Ninebark (just starting.)

Fern at Linwood School Park

Also spotted: Wood ducks, Red Squirrel, Raven, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Bluejay, Black-capped Chickadee, Eastern Bluebird

Coyotes howling over the weekend

Morning Cloak Butterfly spotted

Sandhill Cranes heard over Carlos Avery N of Wyoming, MN

Enormous bumblebees seen in the Wild Bergamot

Temps only in the 70's.  What an unusual summer.

Robin Eggs

Weather's highly suspect.  Two weeks ago we had snow.  Today we have 97 degree temperatures and a fire warning.

First Oriole of the Year Spotted

Frogs strident lately, though I believe that with the drop in temperatures (only 49.5 at the moment) and the gusty winds we're having they will be quiet this evening.

Loons spotted in Nisswa.  Chorus frogs strident, and some Wood Frogs heard as well this evening in Stacy. Hairy woodpeckers very active and visiting feeder.

Chorus Frogs

Call of the chorus frog, like a thumb slowly strumming the teeth of a plastic comb, heard on the swamps.

Call of the Sandhills

First calls of the Sandhill Cranes heard calling over Carlos Avery.