Found a beautiful section of the Sunrise trail off a small dirt road near Stacy.

Photos from the Maplewood Nature Center

Went down to check out Martin Lake. It's larger than Typo, and about the same distance from us (a few miles.)

Noticed piping call Spring Peepers interspersed with the Chorus Frogs. The decibles these tiny guys pump out are amazing. For something the size of a paperclip, their call can be heard for a quarter mile or more. If they were the size of humans, the shockwave produced by their calls could break glass.

Seeing lots of red-winged blackbirds at the feeder.

Prairie Ninebark, a native shrub, in bloom

Saw a Kildeer in Roseville this morning, picking through wrappers in a hotel parking lot. The last Kildeer I can remember seeing was years back in Stillwater. It was March or April, the snow had gone from all but the thickest stretches of the forest, and the ice had receded several feet out (still probably an inch or more thick in the middle), exposing a sandy shoreline littered with fish and waterborne insects that had been killed as the ice moved in. The kildeer was hopping along, here and there nabbing a dragonfly larva (fat and green, like a raw olive), or pecking at the ribs of a dead sunfish. It took off when it saw me, piping its distinguishing cry as it wheeled over the ice.

It's not the first time I've spotted what would typically be distinguised as rural wildlife in Minneapolis's very urbanized suburb. I remember once doing a double-take as what I thought was a dog ran along the train tracks that cross County Road C. It was a red fox with a cottontail rabbit in its mouth.

Four strawberries by last count between two plants. The last of the Wild Geranium went out of bloom last night, and the Harebell and Monkey Flower look just about ready to pop.

Photos from the Maplewood Nature Center:



A Pair of Wood Ducks in a small pond along the Heron Loop



Shot of the Boardwalk going over the pond



A lot of wildlife along the boardwalk as migratory waterfowl returned to the pond in search of food and a quiet place to nest among the cattails and swamp grass; here a Canadian Goose eating a lily pad stem.







Tree Swallows wheeled over the surface of the pond, nabbing insects, pausing now and then to perch and sun themselves on the boardwalk



A Yellow-rumped Warbler perched along the boardwalk



The trees and reed beds were alive with the "rusty wheel" call of the Red-winged blackbird.



A photo of a Red-winged blackbird belting out its call. Eager to get at their nesting grounds, these are one of Minnesota's earlier Spring migrants, and can often be seen picking away at seed feeders in the late winter before shifting over to insects and cattails as the snows reside.

The MNC is always interesting. Such a unique location, with its shallow pond and handsomely maintained woodlands bordered by busy streets and suburban houses. It looks like the first pond lilies are starting to spread their buds, the elms begining to spread their budding leaves, and the earliest Marsh Marigold just about to pop.

On a short walk, we spotted or heard:

• Black-capped Chickadee
• Canadian Goose
• Grackle, Common
• Grey Squirrel
• Mallard Duck
• Pied-billed Grebe
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Robin, American
• Tree Swallow
• Wood Duck
• Yellow-rumped Warbler

No egrets or herons, though I have seen them in the park along 35W just North of Hugo. Weather is warm and sunny; pushing 50's in the morning. Spring Peepers and Chorus Frogs heard last night as the overnight temps slowly climb.

Steady rain yesterday afternoon, heavy in spots. Sunny and pleasant this morning with 1" of rain in the garden gauge and temps holding in the 50's. Rose into the 70's in the afternoon. Took a few shots at Roseville's Central Park during my lunch break, unfortunately didn't bring the telephoto lens with, and missed some Mallards in the pond and a hawk wheeling over the boardwalk in Harriet Alexander Nature Center.


Grasshopper at Harriet Alexander Nature Center


Harriet Alexander Nature Center, shot from boardwalk


Restored Prairie at Harriet Alexander Nature Center


Fountain at Muriel Sahlin Arboretum


Muriel Sahlin Arboretum

Temps have been crisp and cool in the morning, climbing into the 80's around midday and dropping like a rock after sunset. Headed out to Kinninatives this Saturday to pick up some clematis for the trellis. Took some photos along the way.

Showy Goldenrod in Garden



New England Aster, River Falls, WI



Common Milkweed, River Falls, WI


Kinnikinnick River, River Falls, WI



Kinnikinnick River, River Falls, WI




Wyoming, MN



Wyoming, MN




94 Bridge, Lakeland, MN




Stillwater, MN




Wild Turkey, Lakeland, MN

60's and overcast today. Clouds seemed to be darkening towards morning, but no rain yet. Some photos we took yesterday on Keller Lake: