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14988 181201  Late evening weather forecast 12-1-18 - YouTube  KARE 11
WINTER WARNING 2-5 INCHES of SNOW! Twin Cities MN Dec 1 Dec 2 - YouTube
Nature Notes  2018  |  Minnesota Winter   

14985 181130  Snow Conditions-Snow Reports-Snow Depth - Minnesota DNR - MN Department of Natural Resources
Nature Notes:  Nov. 28, 2018, Maplewood, MN  two deer, Barred Owl calls
Nature Notes  2018

14862 181030  October 30, 2018    St. Paul, MN  around 6 p.m.
Mallards, Canada Geese, a Blue Jay (calls), a Red-bellied Woodpecker, Old Blue Jay nests, an old Baltimore Oriole's nest,
a Gray Squirrel, a Red Squirrel, Squirrel nests, No Coyotes,
in Bloom: Hamamelis virginiana - Wikipedia (American witch-hazel), some New England Aster, 
Seeds/Fruits: Cattail, Ironwood, Highbush Cranberry,

October 25, 2018    St. Paul, MN  around 6 p.m.
a few small birds (?),
Gray Squirrels, White-tailed Deer (3),

October 23, 2018    St. Paul, MN  around 6:30 p.m.
a Downy Woodpecker (female), Canada Geese, Mallards, Wood Ducks, Crows, Two Barred Owls Hooting* (failed to spot them), a mid-sized bird (?), a small bird (?)
a Muskrat, Gray squirrels,
*  Barred Owl Calls To Mate - Amazing Vocals - YouTube
Nature Notes  2018  

October 17, 2018    St. Paul, MN  at 6 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Three flocks of 20-30 Canada Geese heading north, several small brown birds 9unidentified)

October 14, 2018     Nature Notes, St. Paul, MN, Snowy/Cloudy
Photos: Quick burst of October snow in southern Minnesota | MPR News
The first snow of the season, The Twin Cities metro area, Oct. 14, 2018
Blue Jays (calls), a Chickadee (calls), Crows, a Gull, Canada Geese, Mallard Ducks, a flock of several dark brown small birds (Juncos?), Wood Ducks, Gadwalls,
Gray Squirrels,
Flowers: New England Aster, Hawkweed?,
Fruits/Seeds: Highbush Cranberry, Ironwood,
Fall Colors, Fallen Leaves on the trail, Duckweed

September 17, 2018    Nature Notes   Bass Ponds, MNV NWR, Craig's Walk, Minnesota River Valley – Audubon Chapter
Blue Jays (calls, and weird calls, which Craig is sure), Cardinals, Goldfinches, Chickadee calls, Nuthatch calls, a Downy Woodpecker male, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (calls), A parent Bald Eagle with its kid perching in a tree, a Raptor flying very high overhead, a Cormorant flying by, Yellow-throated Vireo calls, Catbirds (calls), Canada Geese, Mallard Ducks, Wood Duck?, a Yellow-rumped Warbler, a Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warblers?, a Pintail, a Wigeon, Egrets, a Blue Heron, a Pied-billed Grebe, a young Waxwing, a dead Robin on the trail, 
a Gray Squirrel, a Red Squirrel
a Leopard Frog
Red Admiral butterflies, a Cabbage White, Dragonflies (small & blackish), a Carolina Grasshopper, Water Striders
Seeds/Fruits: Cattail, Wild Cucumber (green),
Not many flowers, fall colors, lots of fallen leaves on the trail, 
Two roadkill raccoons on road shoulders in Woodbury

September 15, 2018    Nature Notes, Tammy's Walk 8:30 a.m. - , Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, Sunny
Blue Jay (calls), Red-winged Blackbird, Robin, Black-and-White Warbler?, Chickadee (calls), Green Heron, Wood Duck, Catbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak?,
In Bloom: Canada Hawkweed, Woodland Sunflower?, Thin-leaved Coneflower?, Aster?
Monarch butterfly (2), Bee, Ant,
Seeds/Fruits: lots of Acorns, Cattail,
Fall Colors: Virginia Creeper (red),
Early in the morning, while driving, we sighted three bald eagles - an adult and young flying by at different times, and an adult perching in a tree -, three egrets perching in a tree, a red-tailed hawk and rock pigeons on lighting poles, a cormorant flying overhead, two turkey vultures flying side by side, and a groundhog on the road shoulder in the Twin Cities metro area.

September 8, 2018    Nature Notes, Matt's Walk 10 a.m. -  12 p.m. @ Arboretum, Chaska, MN, Sunny, 72 degrees F @ 12 p.m. 
Show & Tell: Nests: Cardinal, House Finch; dead Blue Jay
Mushrooms: Coral, Puffball, Jelly, Chicken of the Woods, gilled vs. pores,
Plants: Monotropa uniflora - Wikipedia: Indian pipe or ghost plant,
**************************
Goldfinch, Canada Goose, Blue Jay (calls), Chickadee calls, Red-eyed Vireo calls, Song Sparrow?,
Painted Turtles sunning themselves on a log in a pond,
Monarch butterfly, Green Darner dragonfly, Pyrrharctia isabella - Wikipedia: Woolly Bear (dead), Bee, Annual Cicada calls, Cricket calls,
In Bloom: Jewelweed (Touch-me-not), Compass Plant, Prairie Dock, Sarracenia purpurea (Purple Pitcher Plant) Minnesota Wildflowers: Pitcher Plant*, Sneezeweed, Cardinal Flower, Flat-topped Aster, Green Coneflower, Oxeye Daisy?, Purple-stemmed Aster, searchkw=tearthumb: Tearthumb, Alisma triviale (Northern Water Plantain) Minnesota Wildflowers
Seeds/Fruits: Bladdernut, Highbush Cranberry, False Solomon's seal (red fruits), Cuscuta - Wikipedia: Dodder, Acorn, Jewelweed (Touch-me-not) seed pods, Winterberry, Black Walnut, Cattail, Arisaema triphyllum - Wikipedia: Jack-in-the-pulpit,
Lemnoideae - Wikipedia: Duckweed,
Drosera rotundifolia (Round-leaved Sundew*) Minnesota Wildflowers, Venus flytrap - Wikipedia*: native to North Carolina and South Carolina
*  Carnivorous plant - Wikipedia
*****************************
Before and after the walk    Bloomington, Chaska, Vitoria
Egret, Bald Eagle, Killdeer, Gull, Mallard Duck, Canada Goose, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk on an osprey's nest platform, Red-tailed Hawk on a light pole over the highway, a flock of around 30 Starlings?,
Roadkill Gray Squirrel, 
Checked out some of the Origami sculptures @ Arboretum   Origami in the Garden

September 7, 2018, St. Paul, MN   
Encountered a deer couple on a park trail around 7 p.m.; the buck has antlers .
Nature Notes  2018 

August 29, 2018  Phalen Park, Temperature: 54 - 66 F, Cloudy/Sunny, on the run
Mallard Duck in the distance, Song Sparrow, Chickadee (calls),
Monarch butterfly (resting due to the low temperature), Lady's bug, Ant Hill,
In Bloom:  Rough Blazing Star, Ironweed, Canada Goldenrod, Jewelweed, Woodland Sunflower, Evening Primrose, Smartweed, Purple Coneflower,
Seeds/Fruits:  Milkweed, Ironweed, Purple Coneflower, Acorn (most likely Bur Oak), Honey-locust, Samara, Goat's Beard,
Snake Grass
Activities: Some people are swimming at the beach, biking, dog walking, jogging,
Today, we noticed that a Chinese Garden is being built in the Phalen Park.
Nature Notes  2018

August 25, 2018  Battle Creek Park, on the run, Cloudy > Sunny
Crow, Catbird (calls), Blue Jay calls, Northern Cardinal calls, Chickadee calls, 
Young Cottontail, Deer Trail,
Young Toad crossing the trail
moth
In Bloom: Big Bluestem, Crown Vetch, Canada Goldenrod, Birds-foot Trefoil, Ironweed,
Seeds/Fruits: Big Bluestem, Cattail, Ash, Black Walnut, Sumac, Acorn, Boxelder samara, Tansy, Basswood,
Fall Colors (a little bit): Sumac (red), Virginia Creeper (red), River Birch (yellow)
Nature Notes  2018

August 23, 2018    Nature Notes    Cloudy, Maplewood Nature Center
a Goldfinch pair, Cardinal male, a flock of several Chickadees (calls), Wood Duck, Mallard Duck, Green Heron (2; one of them is young), a flock of several Robins, a Blue Jay family? (7), Phoebe, Hummingbird, a mysterious Flycatcher, a Sparrow?,
Red Squirrel (calls); one of them seems to be mad at me, which is unusual, Gray Squirrel,
Monarch butterfly
In Bloom: Cardinal Flower, Ironweed, Cup Plant, Blazing Star, Canada Goldenrod, Joe-pye Weed, Turtlehead (purple, white), Thistle, Woodland Sunflower, Purple Coneflower, Black-eyed Susan,
Fruits/Seeds: Highbush Cranberry, Ironwood, Elderberry, False Indigo, Thistle, Apple, Acorn,
Nature Notes  2018

August 20, 2018    Rain/Cloudy     Goldfinch (calls, undulating flight), Northern Cardinal calls, Barn Swallow, Green Heron (calls), Sparrow (unidentified)
Pocket Gopher's Mound, Deer Trail,  
Moth,
In Bloom:  Canada Goldenrod, Wild Cucumber, Ironweed, Crown Vetch, White Clover, Tansy, Big Bluestem, Burdock,
Seeds/Fruits:  Ash, Wild Grape, Black Walnut, Boxelder samara, Acorn, Burdock, Curly Dock, Sumac,
Fall Color (began a little bit):  Virginia Creeper, Sumac, River Birch
Nature Notes  2018 
 
August 20, 2018  "A few days ago, we found a mysterious bug in our bathroom, We caught it in a bottle and released it in a yard. Now, we know that that bug was a House Centipede. We've never seen the House Centipede before. St. Paul, Minnesota, Aug. 20, 2018."
Why You Should Not Kill House Centipedes - YouTube
Scutigera coleoptrata - Wikipedia  House Centipede
Centipede - Wikipedia
10 Nasty Creatures That Can Live In Your Home - YouTube
Insects+
Nature Notes  2018 

August 18, 2018  Nature Notes   Bass Ponds, MNV NWR, Craig's Walk, Minnesota River Valley – Audubon Chapter, Sunny
a Robin, Chickadees, a possible young Blackburnian Warbler, Baltimore Orioles, Blue Jays, a Cardinal family (a pair and their young), Blue Herons including a young heron, Egrets, a few Green Herons, Song Sparrows, Red-eyed Vireo calls, Solitary Sandpipers*, a flock of several Waxwings, Olive-sided flycatchers, Wood Ducks, a young Bald Eagle perching on a tree branch near the nest, a Pileated Woodpecker flying overhead while making calls, Hummingbirds, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak male, a few Goldfinches, a Red-winged Blackbird, a Phoebe, a Pewee, several Mallard Ducks: males and females look almost same due to molting, a Cormorant, a Willow Flycatcher, Mourning Doves, a Cormorant, a Redstart male 
Monarch butterflies, a Cabbage White, Bumblebees, a Damselfly, many Mosquitoes, Water striders, annual Cicada calls, two dead annual Cicadas, 
a Slug on a leaf,
In Bloom: Wild Cucumber, Field Bindweed, Ironweed, Canada Hawkweed, Woodland Sunflower, Goldenrod, Joe-pye Weed, Wood Nettle, Stinging Nettle, Purple Loosestrife, and more
Fruits/Seeds: Ash, Milkweed, Cattail, Canada Hawkweed seed heads
*  Solitary Sandpiper - YouTube
Solitary Sandpiper Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Identifying Shorebirds - YouTube
Nature Notes  2018

August 15, 2018    Nature Notes, Bird Walk @ Roberts, led by Kara (a naturalist, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden). 
Female Redstarts, a Hairy Woodpecker, a Juvenile Robin, Catbird calls, Cardinal calls, Oriole nest (fledged),
a Deer, two Fawns wandering without their mom, Gray Squirrel, 
a baby Toad
Annual Cicada calls, Mosquitoes, Hornet nest (active),
In Bloom:  Touch-me-not,
Fruits/Seeds: Wild Strawberry fruits, Touch-me-not seed pods, Elderberry, Ash,

August 13, 2018     Goldfinch calls,
Annual cicada calls,

August 12, 2018     Red-tailed Hawk, Barn Swallow, Goldfinches eating thistle seeds, Egret, Mallard Duck, Chickadee calls,
Seeds/Fruits:  Japanese Lilac, Goats' Beard seed head,

August 11, 2018    Nature Notes, St. Paul, MN, Sunny, on the run
Goldfinch (calls, undulating flight), Crow,
Cottontail Rabbit, Deer Trail, Pocket Gopher's Mound,
In Bloom:  Canada Goldenrod, Ironweed, Crown Vetch, Birds-foot Trefoil, White Clover, Tansy, Big Bluestem, False Sunflower, Black-eyed Susan, Wild Cucumber, Field Bindweed,
Fruits/Seeds: Crabapple, Black Walnut, Ash, Sumac, Amur Maple Samara, Basswood, Curly Dock, Plantain,
People: Walking Dog - Dog Park, Walking, Biking
Nature Notes  2018

August 10, 2018    Nature Notes, St. Paul, MN, Sunny, High Temp: around 85 F 
Barn Swallow, Mallard Duck, Wood Duck, Crow, Robin, Waxwing (2 young?), Goldfinch (calls, undulating flight), 
Dead mouse (2), on which many flies were, on the trail,
Mosquitoes, Monarch, Tiger Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Bumblebee, Bee, Damselfly, Fly,
In Bloom: White Water Lily, Joe-pye Weed, Cardinal Flower, Canada Goldenrod, Blazing Star, Purple Coneflower, Touch-me-not, Purple Loosestrife, Bittersweet Nightshade, Ironweed, Cup Plant, Black-eyed Susan,
Fruits/Seeds: False Indigo, Ironwood, Goat's Beard seed head, Dandelion seed head,
Laetiporus - Wikipedia  Chicken of the Woods, or Sulfur Shelf mushroom
People: fishing, BBQ, biking, walking,
Nature Notes  2018

August 9, 2018    Nature Notes, St. Paul, MN, Sunny, High Temp: around 85 F       
Barn Swallow family (2 fledglings perching on a tree branch, being fed by their parents), Goldfinch, Waxwing (5, could be a family), Crow, Cardinal, Blue Jay, Phoebe, Pewee, Mallard Duck, Rock Pigeon (young?), Cliff Swallow nestling being fed by its parents, Mourning Dove, Great-crested Flycatcher calls, House Sparrow nest, Bald Eagle, Bald Eagle nest (it looks like 2 babies have fledged some time ago), a mysterious bird family,
Mosquitoes
In Bloom: White Water Lily, Purple Loosestrife
Fruits/Seeds: Apple, Bittersweet, 
Laetiporus - Wikipedia  Chicken of the Woods, or Sulfur Shelf mushroom - many on a large dead tree with the bark; they look tasty.
Nature Notes  2018

August 5, 2018    Nature Notes   Bass Ponds, MNV NWR, Craig's Walk, Minnesota River Valley – Audubon Chapter, Sunny
Yellow-throated Vireo* calls, Yellow Warbler, Pewee calls, Phoebe, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Chickadee (alert and spring calls), Cardinal, Robin (immature and adult), Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow** calls, Egret (8), Willow Flycatcher, Waxwing (6), Grackle, Catbird carrying food in its beak, Green Heron, Broad-winged Hawk (pair), Canada Goose, Mallard Duck, Gull, Red-eyed Vireo*** calls, a flock of around 10 Starlings, Wood Duck, Sandpiper (3, staging), Cowbird, dead blackbird**** on the ground (seldom see a dead bird)
Squirrel calls, Muskrat swimming, 
Toad (adult), Leopard Frog,
Snail (4) on the trail,
Monarch, Pearl Crescent (5),
Dragonfly: Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Blue-eyed Darner (most likely) resting, Halloween Pennant, etc.
Carolina Grasshopper, Annual Cicada calls, dead Annual Cicada,
Goldenrod Crab Spider
Beetle: 2 species
In Bloom: Ironweed, Canada Hawkweed (most likely), Crown Vetch, Birds-foot Trefoil, White Clover, Wild Bergamot, Field Bindweed, Black-eyed Susan, Fleabane, Goldenrod, Wild Cucumber, False Sunflower,
Seeds/Fruits: Milkweed, Buckthorn, Curly Dock, Cattail,
*  Yellow-throated Vireo Sounds, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology  "three eight"
**  Swamp Sparrow Sounds, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
***  Red-eyed Vireo Sounds, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology  "as if the bird asks a question, then answers it, over and over."
Wildlife Ten more easy bird songs you know | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  -  "Red-eyed vireos sing short, repetitious, conversational phrases. Often they sing continuously for minutes at a time, stopping only occasionally to catch their breath. For this reason, red-eyed vireos are sometimes called 'preacher birds'."
Note: "I'm not good at remembering a bird's calls, but it's important to know the calls." One of our staff members.
****  Why Don’t You See Dead Birds Laying Around? – Ornithology
Nature Notes  2018 

August 3, 2018    Nature Notes, on the run, St. Paul, MN, Cloudy
Goldfinch (calls), Chickadee calls, Pewee calls,
Deer Trails,
Toad
American Grasshopper (young, around 1 cm long; We've never seen such a small one.), Bumblebee, Moth (small), Dragonfly, Mosquito
In Bloom: White Clover, Crown Vetch, Ironweed, Common Tansy, Wild Cucumber, Black-eyed Susan, Wild Bergamot, Big Bluestem, Birds-foot Trefoil, False Sunflower, Field Bindweed,
Seeds/Fruits: Curly Dock, Ash, Black Walnut, Sumac,

July 31, 2018    Nature Notes, Minneapolis, MN, Sunny
Goldfinch (calls, undulating flight), Mallard Duck (young), Red-winged Blackbird, Barn Swallow, Northern Cardinal male (calls), Blue Jay calls, Song Sparrow calls, Bald Eagle, Baltimore Oriole nest (fledged),
In Bloom: Stickseed, Wood Nettle,
Seeds/Fruits: Acorn, Cattail,

14543 180728  July 28, 2018    Nature Notes, Tammy’s Walk @ Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, Sunny
Scarlet Tanager* male at close range, Eastern Kingbird family (one parent & its kid), Red-breasted Nuthatch**, White-breasted Nuthatch, Chimney Swift, Green Heron (calls) fishing, Mourning Dove, Northern Flicker, House Finch family (5-6), Red-bellied Woodpecker calls, Downy Woodpecker family? (5), Blue Jay (calls), Cardinal calls, Goldfinch (calls), Baltimore Oriole, House Wren, Catbird, Cowbird, Common Yellowthroat calls, Song Sparrow calls, Robin, Grackle, Barn Swallow, Red-winged Blackbird; no calls, Chickadee, Swamp Sparrow calls***
Chipmunk, Red Squirrel,
Monarch, Cabbage White, Small butterfly
Green Darner, Japanese Beetle, Bumblebee, Paper Wasp, Annual Cicada calls, Ant,
Slug (one inch long)
in Bloom:  Buttonbush  Cephalanthus occidentalis - Wikipedia, Pickerelweed, Birds-foot Trefoil, White Clover, White Sweet Clover, Crown Vetch, Joe-pye Weed, Big Bluestem, Wild Bergamot, Blue Vervain, Black-eyed Susan, Purple Coneflower, Ironweed (or New England Aster?), Wood Nettle, Purple Loosestrife,
Fruits/Seeds:  Cattail, Amur Maple samara, Milkweed, Canada Rye, ? Sticktight (or Stickseed)
*  Scarlet Tanager—Flame of Spring - YouTube
Scarlet Tanager Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
**  Cindy is saying, "Some Red-breasted Nuthatches nest here in the Twin Cities metro area."
***  Swamp Sparrow - YouTube
Activities: Beech Volleyball, Dog Walking, Walking, Jogging, Cycling,
Nature Notes  2018

July 28, 2018     Twin Cities metro area, MN
House Finch nests (2): 1  nestling calls,  2  Mom is incubating
Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, House Finch male, Chickadee, Goldfinch (calls, undulating flight),
In Bloom:  Cup Plant,
Fruits/Seeds: False Indigo, Ironwood,

July 25, 2018    Nature Notes, Rain/Lightning, Cloudy, Theodore Wirth Park, Minneapolis, 2 p.m.
Eastern Kingbird (fledglings* 2, the parents), Barn Swallow, Red-winged Blackbird families, Blue Heron, Red-winged Blackbird mom feeds a Brown-headed Cowbird fledgling (most likely), Goldfinch (calls), Wood Duck family, young Mallard Duck, Mallard Duck, Gull, Song Sparrow calls, Starling, Red-tailed Hawk in flight, Sharp-shinned Hawk** in flight
Tiger Swallowtail, Cabbage White, no Mosquitoes,
In Bloom: Pickerelweed, White Water Lily, Birds-foot Trefoil, White Clover, Yellow Sweet Clover,
Fruits/Seeds: Acorn, Cattail, Buckthorn, Curly Dock,
*  Lifer, "Rod, thank you for info on the fledglings."
Nature - Eastern Kingbird - YouTube
Eastern Kingbird fledgling - YouTube
Eastern Kingbird - YouTube
Eastern Kingbird Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
**  Sharp-shinned Hawk Versus Cooper's Hawk - FeederWatch
Nature Notes  2018

July 23, 2018    Nature Notes from Craig’s Walk, Sunny, 8 -10 a.m., Bass Ponds, Minnesota Valley NWR, Bloomington, MN
Great-crested Flycatcher, Goldfinch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Robin, Pewee (calls), Northern Cardinal, Egret, Blue Heron, Song Sparrow (calls), Red-winged Blackbird family, Willow Flycatcher (calls), Wood Duck, Bald Eagle, Crow, Catbird, Marsh Wren calls, Robin (adult & Immature), Barn Swallow, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Cooper's Hawk, Red-eyed Vireo calls, Yellow-throated Vireo calls, Waxwing,
Garter Snake crossing the trail
Green Frog* (calls, 3), Leopard Frog,
Butterfly: Monarch, Cabbage White, Pearl Crescent
Caterpillars crossing the trail: Woollybear**, Milkweed Tussock Caterpillar*** (identified using "iNaturalist" by Craig)
Dragonflies:
Damselflies:
Annual Cicada calls, Gnat Clouds
Bumblebee, Wasp, Japanese Beetle,
Ant colony (different from an ant hill)
In Bloom:  Birds-foot Trefoil, Swamp Milkweed, Field Bindweed, Wild Bergamot, Fleabane, False Sunflower
Seeds/Fruits: Cattail, Milkweed, Ash, Maple Samara, Wild Grape, Thistle,

*  Green frog - Wikipedia  ... The distinctive call sounds like a plucked banjo string, usually given as a single note, but sometimes repeated.
**  Pyrrharctia isabella - Wikipedia  Woolybear
***  Euchaetes egle - Wikipedia  Milkweed Tussock Caterpillar

July 21, 2018    Sunny, Nature Notes
a flock of around 20 Egrets flying overhead, The Twin Cities metro area, MN
Two Red-tailed hawks, Bald Eagle,
Tammy’s Walk @ Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
Great-crested Flycatcher* family (several), Hummingbird, Pewee (calls), Cardinal (calls), Raptor?, Scarlet Tanager female (calls)
Yellowthroat having a worm in its beak, young bird?, Robin nest (fledged), Waxwing, Oriole nest (fledged), Goldfinch, Orchard Oriole male, Baltimore Oriole (adult, young), Kingbird, Red-winged Blackbird (calls), Blue Heron, Wood Duck young (male & female), Yellow-throated Vireo?, Red-eyed Vireo calls, Swamp Sparrow calls,
Red Admiral, Tiger Swallowtail, Monarch
Dragonfly, Bee
Annual Cicada calls,
Ant
In Bloom: Turk’s-cap Lily, Cup Plant, Culver’s Root, Joe-pye Weed, Purple Coneflower, Chicory, Creeping Bellflower, Pickerelweed, Big Bluestem, Jewelweed (Touch-me-not), Daisy Fleabane, Wild Bergamot, Bittersweet Nightshade,
Seeds/Fruits: Highbush Cranberry, Red Baneberry, White Baneberry, Ash, Acorn, False Indigo, Buckthorn, Eastern Red Cedar, Asparagus, American Elderberry, Bladdernut, Ohio Buckeye,
*  Great Crested Flycatcher Calls - Up Close! - YouTube
Great Crested Flycatcher Babies Fly the Nest - A Documentary - YouTube
Great Crested Flycatcher Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Great crested flycatcher - Wikipedia
Nature Notes  2018

July 20, 2018    Rain/Cloudy
Blue Jay calls, Goldfinch calls, Great Egret flying overhead, Song Sparrow (calls), Sparrow (unidentified), Red-tailed Hawk flying by at close range,
Gray Squirrel, Chipmunk?
Toad baby (several)
In Bloom: Milkweed, Big Bluestem (Turkeyfoot), Common Tansy, Yarrow, Birds-foot Trefoil, Sumac, Black-eyed Susan, 
Seeds/Fruits: Basswood, Ash, Black Walnut, Acorn, Maple Samara,

July 18,, 2018    Sunny, Bird Walk by Keila (?), Roberts
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Cormorant, Gull, Loon, Goldfinch (calls), Gnatcatcher, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay calls, Cowbird, Waxwing, Brown Thrasher* (3; could be a family?), nest (1: unknown bird species, 2: robin), Robin,
Squirrel calls, Chipmunk, Cottontail Rabbit (born this year), Raccoon tracks in mud, Deer,
In Bloom: Touch-me-not* (just started), Bittersweet Nightshade, Fleabane, Milkweed,
Fruits/Seeds: Fragrant Sumac**, Curly Dock,
Toad baby (many, around 1 cm),
Monarch, Monarch Caterpillar on Milkweed flowers, Question Mark?, Mosquito (many)
Bumblebee, Japanese Beetle,
Ant
*  FOY
Brown Thrasher Singing - YouTube
Brown Thrasher Up Close and Natural - YouTube
Brown Thrasher Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Brown thrasher - Wikipedia
** We've never seen the fruits before.
Nature Notes  2018

July 17, 2018    Sunny, 80 F, Humidity: 38 % at 3 p.m. 
Nature Notes: Gorgeous Day, no Mosquitoes, around noon, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Bloomington
Immature (?) Common Yellowthroat* (calls), House Wren calls** near nest boxes, Song Sparrow calls, Turkey (Tom: 2), Red-winged Blackbirds,
Gray Squirrel, Cottontail, recently built Muskrat lodge, Barn Swallow,
Monarch, Red Admiral, Spring Azure (most likely),
Annual Cicada calls, Bee (several kinds of species), Japanese Beetle,
Green Darner,
Daddy longlegs,
In Bloom:  White Sweet Clover, Birds-foot Trefoil, Green-headed Coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Wild Bergamot, Butterflyweed, Blue Vervain, Creeping Bellflower, False Sunflower (native),
*  Common Yellowthroat song - YouTube
Juvenile Common Yellowthroat Warbling Song - YouTube
Common Yellowthroat Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Common yellowthroat - Wikipedia
**  House Wren Sings the song of the day - YouTube

July 16, 2018    Sunny
Common Yellowthroat calls, Goldfinch (calls, undulating flight), Barn Swallow, Crow mobbing, Green Heron, Red-winged Blackbird (calls), Mallard Duck baby, Wood Duck baby, Downy Woodpecker male, Pewee, Northern Cardinal calls, Blue Jay calls, House Wren?,
Cottontail Rabbit young
Dragonfly
In Bloom: Yellow Sweet Clover, Cup Plant, Purple Coneflower, Thistle, Joe-pye Weed,
Fruits/Seeds: Ironwood, Dogwood, Highbush Cranberry, Plum, False Indigo,
A pond is completely (almost) covered with water lily pads.
Mushroom: white color

Nature Notes (short)    July 15, 2018    Sunny, Maplewood Nature Center +, around 8 p.m.
Mallard Duck family, Northern Cardinal family: parents with a just fledged baby, Green Heron, Goldfinch, Downy Woodpecker,
No Red-winged Blackbird?, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow,
Gray Squirrel, Cottontail Rabbit young,
Mosquito (many)
In Bloom: Cup Plant, Purple Coneflower, Thistle, Joe-pye Weed?, Daisy Fleabane, White Clover, Purple Loosestrife (most likely)
Fruits/Seeds: False Indigo, Plum, Dogwood,
A pond is completely (almost) covered with water lily pads.

July 14, 2018
Chimney Swift (6), Goldfinch,
young Toad (several),
Moth,

14486 180711    Nature Notes    July 11, 2018    Sunny, Minnesota
Grackle, Robin, Downy Woodpecker; it looks like a Dad woodpecker teaches his young son how to feed on a tree, Blue Heron Rookery with nestlings, Mallard duck; molting, Canada Goose, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird, Barn Swallow
Cabbage White, Monarch, Bumblebee, Ant Hill
Toad young (more than 10)
In Bloom: Milkweed, Bird's-foot Trefoil, White Clover, Thistle, Yarrow, Crown Vetch, Lily (unidentified species),
Fruits/Seeds: Sumac, Box elder (maple), Amur Maple, Ash, Basswood, Black Walnut,    

July 9, 2018 
Goldfinch (calls, undulating flight), Chimney Swift (6)
Dragonfly

14479 180708-0709     July 8, 2018    Sunny, Twin Cities metro area
Blue Heron, Great Egret, Turkey Vulture (3), Robin, House Wren, Red-eyed Vireo calls, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-crested Flycatcher (calls), young Wood Duck, Mallard Duckling, Red-bellied Woodpecker, House Sparrow, Turkey female, Sparrow (unidentified), Common Yellowthroat calls, Barn Swallow, Song Sparrow calls,
Red Squirrel, young Cottontail Rabbit, 13-lined Ground Squirrel, dead Mouse on the trail, Muskrat den using a tree hollow; it looks like muskrats are still busy making the den with green cattails.
Tiger Swallowtail, Question Mark, Monarch, Green Darner, more Dragon species, Damselfly
Annual Cicada calls*, Bumblebee, Mosquito,
Daddy Longlegs (many on the trail)
Toad baby
In Bloom:  Green-headed Coneflower, Common Mullein, Wild Bergamot, Plantain, Black-eyed Susan, Fleabane, White Sweet Clover,
Fruits/Seeds: Black Raspberry, White Mulberry,
*  FOY
Nature Notes  2018

14469 180705     Nature Notes    July 4, 2018, Bloomington, Minnesota, Rain/Cloudy
American Redstart male immature, Robins, Pewee calls, Common Yellowthroat calls, Red-winged Blackbirds (calls), Yellow Warblers*, Song Sparrow (calls), Double-crested Cormorant fishing,
Red Squirrel, Deer,
Painted Turtle crossing the trail
Monarch (several), Red Admiral, Dragonfly, Damselfly, pesky Mosquitoes, Bumblebee,
In Bloom: Yarrow, Black-eyed Susan, Birds-foot Trefoil, White Clover, Milkweed, Swamp Milkweed, White Campion, Sumac, Pineapple-weed, Field Bindweed, Common Mullein, Dandelion, Hoary Alyssum, Ox-eye Daisy, Fleabane, Mysterious tiny yellow flower (unidentified), Plantain**,
Seeds/Fruits: Ash, Black Raspberry, Dogwood, Dandelion Seedhead,
*  Yellow Warbler Portrait - YouTube  Yellow Warbler call: "sweet sweet sweet, I'm so sweet"
Yellow Warbler Sounds, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
**  Plantago major - Wikipedia
Minnesota Wildflowers

14457 180702     Nature Notes from Craig's Walk, July 2, 2018, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m., Clear, MN Valley NWR
Rose-breasted grosbeak, American Redstart (calls), American Redstart nest (fledged), Pewee calls, Red-eyed vireo calls, Yellow-throated vireo calls, Robins and young Robins, a young Bald Eagle, an Osprey flying by, Chimney Swift, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Tree Swallow, Wren, Chickadee calls, Cardinal nest?, Blue Jay, Yellow Warbler (calls), Swamp Sparrow (calls), Song Sparrow (calls), Red-winged Blackbird, young Wood Duck male, Canada Goose, Cowbird, Common Yellowthroat parents feeding their young, Catbird,
Wren cavity nest (fledged), Tree Swallow cavity nest (fledged?),
Vole? crossing the trail before us, 
Toad babies, Green Frog calls,
Garter Snake, Painted Turtle laying eggs, raided Turtle nest with broken eggshells
Monarch butterflies (around 10), Red Admiral, Cabbage White, Green Darner, Amberwing, more different dragonfly species, damselfly
Bumblebee, bee?, fly, mosquito,
Earthworms crossing the trail, Snail,
In Bloom: Milkweed, Swamp Milkweed, Yarrow, Fleabane, Bird's-foot Trefoil, White Clover, Canada Elderberry, Curly Dock, Common Mullein, White Sweet Clover, St. Johnswort, Black-eyed Susan, Cattail,
Fruits/Seeds: Ash, Dogwood, Red Elderberry, Black Raspberry,
Bouteloua dactyloides - Wikipedia  Buffalo grass
Nature Notes  2018

14454 180630    Nature Notes    June 30, 2018 Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden & Theodore Wirth Park, Tammy’s Walk @ 7:30 a.m.
Robin nest; most likely with tiny nestlings, Baltimore Oriole's nest; it looks like a fledgling is visiting the nest, Orchard Orioles (calls), Warbling Vireo (calls); nesting?, Northern Cardinal nest?, Great-crested Flycatcher (calls), Rose-breasted Grosbeak (calls), Red-winged Blackbird and young ones, Blue Heron, Mourning Dove, Red-eyed Vireo calls, Cedar Waxwing; four Waxwings take baths in a spring* on a hot day, Hairy Woodpecker, Song Sparrow calls, Grackle parent with its baby, 
Toad baby (around 0.5 cm)
raided Turtle nest with broken shells
Butterfly, Dragonfly, Mosquitoes
In Bloom: Milkweed, Swamp Milkweed, White Water Lily, White Clover, Pickerelweed, Cattail, Sumac, Curly Dock, Leadplant, False Indigo, Forget-me-not, Turk's-cap Lily?, Early Meadow Rue, Yarrow, Fleabane,
Fruits/Seeds: Plum, Curly Dock, False Indigo, some Oak species - Acorns, Ash, Asparagus, Jack-in-the culprit,
*  Splish, Splash Why Do Birds Take Baths? – Cool Green Science
Nature Notes  2018  

14435 180625-0626    Nature Notes    June 23, 2018 Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden & Theodore Wirth Park, Tammy’s Walk @ 7:30 a.m.
Robin nest; mom incubating, Robin nest fledged, Indigo Bunting (calls), Hummingbird, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal calls, Blue Heron, Egret, Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird, Great-crested Flycatcher (calls), Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Orchard Oriole* (adult male**), Baltimore Oriole, Oriole nest, Downy Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Barn Swallow nest (most likely fledged), Broad-winged Hawk flying in circles, Song Sparrow calls, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Kingbird,
Chipmunk
Toad baby (body length: around 1 cm)
Question Mark Butterfly, Cabbage White, Bumblebee, Green color – Beetle (unidentified, not Japanese Beetle)
In Bloom: Canada Elderberry, False Indigo, Blue Flag Iris, Forget-Me-Not, Showy Lady’s Slipper (almost done), Black-eyed Susan, Thistle, White Clover, Red Clover, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Cattail: male and female flowers, Willow catkins,
Fruits: Red Elderberry, Plum, Eastern Red Cedar (used to flavor gin), Curly Dock, Black Raspberry⁺,
*  Orchard Oriole - YouTube
Orchard Oriole Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
**  Adult male – our lifer⁺⁺  Note: We've seen female and immature Orchard Oriole.
⁺  Rubus occidentalis (Black Raspberry) Minnesota Wildflowers
black raspberry - Google Search (Images)
Rubus idaeus (Wild Red Raspberry) Minnesota Wildflowers
Wild Red Raspberry - Google Search (Images)
⁺⁺  The Audubon Dictionary For Birders | Audubon
Nature Notes  2018  

14405 180615  Nature Notes 
June 13, 2018  Richardson Nature Center
Hooded Merganser female (2), Wood Duck, Yellowthroat calls, Tree Swallows, Blue Jays, Bald Eagle, Chickadee, Cardinal, Gull,
Chipmunks, Gray Squirrel,
Wood Frog (3)
Spider
June 13, 2018  Westwood Hills Nature Center - St. Louis Park, MN
Downy Woodpeckers, Yellowthroat (calls), Catbird, Red-winged Blackbirds, Vireo (?), Mallard family: around 10 ducklings,
Deer
Toad (adult) "Bill, thank you for spotting that toad."
Cabbage White (2), Dragonflies
Nature Notes  2018

14393 180611     Nature Notes from Craig's Walk, June 11, 2018, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. Cloudy
Redstart, Redstart nest (it looks like babies have fledged), Baltimore Orioles, Yellow Warblers (calls), Yellow-throated Vireo* (calls), Red-winged Blackbird nest, Canada Geese, Bald Eagle flying high in circles, a young Bald Eagle near the nest in the distance, Egret, Blue Heron, Robins, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow (calls), Goldfinch, Willow Flycatcher, Catbird  CatBird Mewing Call - YouTube , Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows, Cliff Swallows, Green Heron, Downy Woodpecker, Cormorant, Cedar Waxwing,
*  Yellow-throated Vireo - Whatbird.com  "three-EIGHT, three-EIGHT, three-EIGHT", "cheh, cheh, cheh"
   Yellow-throated Vireo Song - YouTube
Bumblebee, Damselflies,
Monarch Caterpillar (around 2 inch long) on a Milkweed leaf, Mysterious Caterpillar on a leaf
Butterfly (small), a mysterious Beetle (black)
Toad babies**, Green Frog***,
**  Tons of Toads! Hundreds of Toads (Toadlets) in Our Yard! Illinois Herps! - YouTube
***  Green Frog Calls - YouTube
In Bloom: Wild Rose, Yellow Sweet Clover, Red Clover, White Clover, Crown Vetch, Birds-foot Trefoil, Yarrow, Hoary Alyssum,
Willow catkins  Willow | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
*****************************************************************************************
In Bloomington  Rain & Thunder
Hooded Merganser family: Mom with around 13 ducklings at close range, Tree Swallow, Common Yellowthroat calls,
Chipmunk, Gray Squirrels
All about Fox Squirrels and Gray Squirrels | Welcome Wildlife
Nature Notes  2018

14392 180610     June 10, 2018   Maplewood & Woodbury, MN
Blue Jay, Chickadee, Grackle, Mallard, Wood Duck family: Mom with her ducklings (about 10), Red-winged Blackbirds, Baltimore Orioles, House Sparrows, Downy Woodpecker male, Robins, Crows, Cliff Swallow colony (active: around 10 out of about 200); it looks like House sparrows borrow a few old Cliff Swallow nests.  Raising a Family -- The Cliff Swallows Raise the Next Generation (2000) - YouTube  |  Swallow photos
Chipmunk,
Tiger Swallowtail, Damselfly, Moth (unidentified mysterious species),
No Monarch caterpillars on Milkweed leaves,
Mushrooms: Artist's Conk
In Bloom: False Indigo (white, blue), Spiderwort, Golden Alexander, White Campion, Japanese Lilac, Blue Flag Iris, Dame's Rocket, Water Lily
Duckweed
Nature Notes  2018

14391 180610     June 9, 2018, Rain & Thunder, Nature Notes from Matt's Walk @ Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN
5 Tom Turkeys (calls) display the fans to try to attract a hen
Gobblers Spitting and Drumming - Calling All Turkeys - YouTube  |  Turkey photos
Cooper Hawk, Pewee calls, Barn Swallow nest,
In Bloom: False Indigo, Yellow Lady's Slippers, Showy Lady's Slippers, Columbine,
Fruits: Black Walnut (still green and small),
in Bloomington, MN
Hooded Merganser female, Wood Ducks, Tree Swallows, Common Yellowthroat calls,
Gray Squirrel
Turtle nest (most likely)
Leech,
Nature Notes  2018


14383 180608  June 8, 2018, Cloudy, 8:30 a.m.-    , Maplewood & Woodbury, MN
Blue Jay, Baltimore Orioles, Wood Ducks, Mallard Duck family: Mom with her ducklings of around 10, Chickadees (calls), Sora* calls, Red-winged Blackbirds, big Canada Goose family crossing the road just before our car; around 20 adults with about 10 goslings - goslings are getting bigger, Mourning Dove, Goldfinch (5), Tree Swallow (3), House Sparrow nest 
*  Sora - YouTube
Sora Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Marsh Birds: Sora - YouTube
104 - Studying the Sora Rail - YouTube
Gray Squirrels
Turtle nests
Ant Hills
Monarch caterpillar (the body length is still about 1 cm) on the underside of a Milkweed leaf
Dragonflies, Gnats, Mosquitoes,
Many spittlebugs  spittlebug - YouTube
In Bloom:  Daisy Fleabane, Water Lily (close around 8:30 a.m.), Wild Geranium?, Canada Anemone, White Campion, Golden Alexander, Japanese Lilac,
Fruits: Elderberry, Boxelder, Ash
Nature Notes  2018

June 7, 2018, St. Paul, MN
Blue Heron, Egret, Cormorant, Phoebe (?),

14376 180606    June 5, 2018    Rain, 8 a.m.
Mallard Duck family: Mom with ducklings, Mallard Duck pair, Red-winged Blackbirds, Canada Goose family: Mom & Dad with only two goslings, many Canada Geese hanging out, Crow mobbing, Blue Jay,
Muskrat eats leaves off the tree branch, which hangs over the pond, Gray Squirrel, Cottontail Rabbit,
In Bloom: Waterlily (close on a rainy day?*), Canada Anemone
*
Why Flowers Close Up at Night | Nyctinasty
White water lily flower, nymphaea time lapse - YouTube
Flower structures protect pollen: - AskNature
BBC - Earth News - Raindrops drive flower evolution
Dandelions close to rain and night, preserving pollen and nectar Time Lapse - YouTube
Nature Notes  2018

14375 180605  June 5, 2018  Sunny  Pileated Woodpecker calls, Red-bellied Woodpecker calls, Woodpecker drumming, Mallards, Cardinal pair, Common Yellowthroat (calls), Wood Duck, Egret, Warbling Vireo, Red-winged Blackbirds, Tree Swallow, female Hooded Merganser, female Turkey, Chickadee nest box, Red-eyed Vireo calls, Blue Jay calls
Deer (3 or 4), Gray Squirrel
a young Painted Turtle sunning on the log in a pond
Leopard frogs (2)
Butterfly: Tiger Swallowtail, Monarch, Red-spotted Purple
Dragonfly: Green Darner, Dragonfly (unidentified), Damselflies (hundreds)
In Bloom: Golden Alexander, Anemone, Spiderwort
Duckweed

June 4, 2018
Painted Turtle laying eggs,
Ant Hills,
Nature Notes  2018

14366 180602   Identify Your Common Backyard Birds - YouTube
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - YouTube
Robin bird sound - call and song - YouTube
Red-eyed Vireo Portrait - YouTube
baltimore oriole - sounds, calls, and song - YouTube
Nature Notes  2018

14365 180602   Nature Notes, Craig’s Walk @ Bass Ponds, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, June 2, 2018, 8 -10 a.m., Cloudy, Temp*: 66 degrees F at 6 a.m.; 61 degrees F at 12 p.m., humidity: 73 %
Oriole, Redstart, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Bald Eagle, Goldfinch, Canada Goose, Mallard, Wood Duck, Least Flycatcher calls**, Willow Flycatcher (calls***), Cedar Waxwing, Egret (a flock of around 20), Blue Heron, Trumpeter Swan (5), Tree Swallow, Cormorant, Red-eyed Vireo calls, Gray-headed Cowbird (calls), Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo calls, Woodpecker flying by, Grackle, Common Yellowthroat calls,
Deer
Turtle nest raided
Bumblebee
In Bloom: Wild Rose, Campion, Yarrow, Wild Geranium, Creeping Charlie, Dandelion,
*  Past Weather in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Yesterday or Further Back
**  Least Flycatcher in Maine - YouTube
***  Willow Flycatcher – Fitz-bew! - YouTube
Nature Notes  2018 

14353 180529  Kris’ Walk  9 a.m. -   May 29, 2018, Sunny, Temperatures: 73 degrees F at 6 a.m. & 93 degrees F at 12 p.m. Humidity: 76 %
1  Roberts Bird Sanctuary
Robin babies on the nest, Robin, Grackle, Cowbird pair, Cardinal calls, Turkey calls, Great Horned Owlet, Canada Goose family: mom, dad, and 4 goslings, Downy Woodpecker, Hummingbird, Sharp-shinned Hawk (whitish)?
Deer, Raccoon, Chipmunk,
Monarch butterfly laying eggs (?), Bumblebee,
2  Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden & Theodore Wirth Park
Wood Duck, Indigo Bunting (calls*), Hummingbird, Canada Goose, Great-crested Flycatcher (calls), a Pileated Woodpecker male (calls), Downy Woodpecker, Nuthatch, American Goldfinch (calls**), Song Sparrow (calls), Common Yellowthroat calls, Oriole nest, Robin nest, Pewee calls, Mourning Dove,
Gray Squirrel
In Bloom: Highbush Cranberry, Forget-me-not, Marsh Marigold, Trillium, Yellow Lady’s Slipper, Spiderwort, False Indigo (blue), Buttercup (yellow), Partridge Pea
Horsetail (looking cool),
*  Indigo Bunting - YouTube
**  American Goldfinch (male) singing - YouTube
Nature Notes  2018

14345 180526     May 26, 2018     Nature Notes from Matt’s Walk with Julie & Karen @ Arboretum, Chaska, MN
Sunny, around 70 - 90 degrees F, 8 - 10 a.m.
Great-crested Flycatcher (calls), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Robin, Indigo Bunting (calls), Acadian Flycatcher (calls*), Common Yellowthroat, Phoebe calls, Red-eyed Vireo (calls**), Barn Swallow, Barn Swallow nest, Swamp Sparrow calls***, Red-winged Blackbird (calls), Northern Cardinal (calls), House Wren calls⁺
Chipmunk
Western Chorus Frog calls
Bumblebee, Black? Dragonfly (Identified, but we forgot) , Damselfly
In Bloom:  Small Yellow Lady's-slipper, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and many more
*    Acadian Flycatcher - YouTube 
**     Red-eyed Vireo Portrait - YouTube
***    Swamp Sparrow - YouTube    |    Swamp Sparrow Portrait 2 - YouTube
⁺    House Wren Sings the song of the day - YouTube
Birds  |  Nature Notes 2018
 
14336 180522     May 22, 2018     Nature Notes from Kris’ Walk @ Roberts Bird Sanctuary, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Sunny, around 60 degrees F, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Tennessee Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Canada Warbler, Connecticut Warbler (calls), Downy Woodpecker, Robin, Mallard, Caspian Tern, Oriole, Oriole nest, Hummingbird, Crow, Grackle, Yellow-throated Vireo* (calls), Gray-cheeked Thrush, Red-winged Blackbird, female Turkey
*  Yellow-throated Vireo Song - YouTube
Gray Squirrel, Deer
Green Darner dragonfly, Bumblebee, Anthill
In Bloom: Crabapple, Choke Cherry, Virginia Bluebells, Dandelion,
“Thank you for helping us write the notes, Julie, a naturalist”
in St. Paul
Red-tailed Hawk, Crow, Rock Pigeon
Nature Notes  2018 

14328 180519  Nature Notes from Tammy's Walk @ Eloise Butler Garden. Cloudy, around 59 degrees F, 7:30-10 a.m
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Loons passing overhead with calls, Red-bellied Woodpecker (calls), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (calls), Peewee, Least Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Canada Goose, Red-winged Blackbird, Tennessee Warbler (calls), Yellow Warbler, Hummingbird male at close range, Crow, Mallard, Goldfinch (many, very noisy), Wood Duck, Cowbird, Oriole, Oriole nest, Northern Cardinal, Sora calls on Wirth Lake, Gull, Thrush (unidentified species), Indigo Bunting (calls), Catbird, Robin, Blue Jay calls, 
Shrew (dead), Gray Squirrel, Fox shelter
No insects
In Bloom: Jack-in-the-pulpit, Large-flowered bellwort, Marsh marigold, Ohio buckeye
Growing: Horsetail, Skunk cabbage
Mushrooms: Mushroom (unidentified), Bracket Fungi, 
Nature Notes  2018

May 19, 2018     St. Paul, MN
Bald Eagle nest with a parent on its watch from a near-by branch; it looks like two babies are on the nest although we can't see them.
Turkey Vultures flying high in circles (2)
Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Canada Goose, Dwony Woodpecker, Thrush, Mallard, Crow, Blue Jay

14325 180517  Past Weather in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Yesterday or Further Back
May 16 & 17, 2018  High Temp: over 80 degrees F (26.7 degrees C)
May 11, 2018   High Temp: 54 degrees F (12.2 degrees C)j
Nature Notes  2018

May 17, 2018  Lilac and Crabapple in bloom
Apple flowers open (info from Janet)
Tulips are pretty.

May 14, 2018  Plum in bloom

May 12, 2018  Bloomington & Maplewood
Bald Eagle, Egret

14307 180512     Matt's Walk    May 12, 2018, 9-11 a.m., Cloudy, 50-60 degrees F, Arboretum, Minnesota
Chickadee (calls), Nuthatch (calls), Cowbird, Crow, Broad-winged Hawk, Northern Harrier, Barn Swallow, Cardinal (calls), Blue Jay, Great-crested Flycatcher, Flycatcher (unidentified), Barred Owl*, Canada Warbler*, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat*, Yellow-throated Vireo*, Pileated Woodpecker (calls), Hummingbird male, Mallard, Canada Goose, Swainson's Trush, Caspian Tern*, Swamp Sparrow calls, and many more.
Western Chorus Frog calls
Green Darner Dragonfly,
In Bloom: Spring Wildflowers, Magnolia, Serviceberry, Pear,
*  FOY
Nature Notes  2018

May 9, 2018  Red-tailed Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird calls,

14291 180508     Nature Notes: Kris' Walk
Cloudy, around 60 degrees F, @ Roberts Bird Sanctuary, Minneapolis, Minnesota 
Mallard, Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Pileated Woodpecker male (calls, drumming), Redstart*, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler*, Chestnut-sided Warbler*, Magnolia Warbler*, Blackburnian Warbler*, Northern (or Louisiana*) Waterthrush, Blue-headed Vireo*, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (calls), Baltimore Oriole*, Robin (calls), Coot, Sharp-shinned Hawk (or Cooper's) flying overhead, Turkey*; a Tom Turkey displays, House Wren, Chickadee, Red-winged Blackbird (calls), White-throated Sparrow, Goldfinch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak*, Blue Jay calls, Cardinal calls
Gray Squirrel, 
In Bloom: Dandelion*, Serviceberry* (or Juneberry), Crabapple?*, Baneberry* (Red or White?) 
Trees and shrubs are leafing out.
No insects - probably it's too cold to fly. 
No frog calls
* FOY (First of the Year)
Nature Notes  2018  

May 8, 2018    Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk

May 7, 2018    Sharp-shinned Hawk (or Cooper's), Crow mobbing: it looks like crows are chasing an owl out of their territory 

May 6, 2018     Sunny, Maplewood, MN    Chickadee (calls), Blue Jay, Egret, Rock Pigeon, Crow, Mallard, Canada Goose, Killdeer (calls), Downy Woodpecker male, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-and-Black Warbler, Nuthatch, Cardinal, Robin, Phoebe, Red-winged Blackbird,
Gray Squirrel, Red Squirrel
American Toad* calls
* FOY (First of the Year)

14283 180506     Gray-cheeked Thrush  The pic was taken on Steve and Jason's Bird Walk at Roberts Bird Sanctuary, Minneapolis, MN, on May 5, 2018.  Gray-cheeked Thrush Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Nature Notes  2018

14282 180505-0506  May 5, 2018  Nature Notes - Steve and Jason's Walk, Sunny, Roberts Bird Sanctuary, Minneapolis, Minnesota   
Blue Jay calls, Woodpecker: Pileated, Downy, Turkey calls, Wood Duck, Red-winged Blackbird (calls), Crow, Loon, Pied Billed Grebe, Mallard, Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Kinglet: Ruby-crowned, Golden-crowned*, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher* (calls), Phoebe*, Gray-cheeked Thrush*, White-throated Sparrow, Lincoln Sparrow*, Grackle, Cardinal Calls, Chickadee, House Wren, Swamp Sparrow*,
Raccoon*, Little Brown Bat*, Muskrat, Gray Squirrel, Cottontail Rabbit*,
Trees and shrubs begin to leaf out
* FOY (First of the Year)
Lake Harriet: Ice-out most likely occurred on May 2, 2018.
Perfect Rainbow, St. Paul, MN, around 7:30 p.m.
Nature Notes  2018

May 4, 2018  Nature Notes, Sunny, Maplewood, MN    Blue Jay calls, Chickadee calls, Barred Owl calls, Barn Swallow, Canada Goose, Red-winged Blackbird (calls), Crow, Red-breasted Merganser, Blue-winged Teal*, Northern Shoveler, Mallard,
Western Chorus Frog calls
Trees and shrubs begin to leaf out
* FOY (First of the Year)
Nature Notes  2018

May 3, 2018  A Turkey Vulture pair flying in circles, Maplewood, MN, Red-tailed Hawk

14266 180501  Nature Notes from Kris' Walk, Sunny, Roberts
Immature Hawk (Red-tailed Hawk?), Hawk (possibly Sharp-shinned Hawk) flying overhead, Swainson's Thrush*, Golden-crowned Kinglet*, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Least Flycatcher?*, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Coot?, Robin's gathering (noisy), a flock of about 10 White-throated Sparrows*, Northern Cardinal (calls), Blue Jay (calls), Crow, Grackle's gathering, Red-winged Blackbird (calls), Orange-crowned Warbler*, Northern Waterthrush*, Mallard, Song Sparrow songs, Barn Swallow,
Lake Harriet: around 70% ice-free
Willet* standing on ice, Canada Goose, Red-breasted Merganser, Gull
Gray Squirrel, Chipmunk
Red admiral*, Green Darner*
In Bloom: Crocus*, Siberian Squill*⁺
*  Our first one of the season
⁺ Scilla siberica (Siberian Squill) Minnesota Wildflowers
Nature Notes  2018

14249 180427  Nature Notes    Sunny, 61 degrees F, around 6 p.m., Maplewood
Blue Jay, Canada Goose (honking), Mallard, Wood Duck, Song Sparrow calls, Chickadee, Red-winged Blackbird (calls), Grackle, Blue Heron flying overhead, Northern Flicker (calls), Pileated Woodpecker (calls), Downy Woodpecker (calls),
Red-breasted Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe, Ring-billed Gull,
Gray Squirrel, Red Squirrel, Muskrat swimming in the pond,
Western Chorus Frog calls, Wood Frog calls* and mating (?),
Regarding ponds in the Nature Center, it looks like ice-outs occurred last night.
lots of ice still on Lakes such as Lake Phalen and Tanners Lake
*  "Carole, a naturalist, thank you so much for info."
Nature Notes  2018

14246 180426  Nature Notes     Sunny, 52 degrees F, Maplewood,
Canada Goose (honking), Wood Duck (calls); a brave male Wood Duck resting on a tree branch as we approach him, Mallard (calls), Hermit Thrush, Cardinal Calls, Downy Woodpecker (female), Robin (calls), Red-winged Blackbird (calls), Mysterious bird? calls (unidentified)
Gray Squirrel, likely Muskrat,
Western Chorus Frog calls  
Growth of buds becomes more noticeable, Catkins
Nature Notes  2018

14238 180425  Nature Notes from a short bird walk, Sunny, 55 degrees F, Maplewood and Woodbury
Robin, Crow, Blue Jay, Chickadee (calls), Hermit Thrush, Wood Duck, Mallard (calls), Canada Goose, Killdeer* (calls) . House Finch,
Gray Squirrel
Western Chorus Frog calls, No Painted Turtles spotted
Growth of buds becomes more noticeable, Dogwood twigs are red,
*  our first of the season
Nature Notes  2018

14236 180424   Nature Notes: Kris’ Walk, Sunny, around 60 degrees F @ Roberts
Pileated Woodpecker (male & female), Hermit Thrush, Fox Sparrow, a flock of about 20 Cormorants flying in a V formation, Sharp-shinned Hawk flying high overhead, Robin (calls), Grackle, Crow, Chickadee, Junco, Mallard, Gull, Red-breasted Merganser, Loon flying overhead, White-crowned Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Song Sparrow, 
Last year's Oriole nests
Deer
Nature Notes  2018

14229 180423  Sunny, Gorgeous spring day
Turkey Vulture*, Red-bellied Woodpecker (calls), Brown Creeper, Blue Jay (calls), Chickadee calls: alarm and spring, small birds (unidentified), Pileated Woodpecker calls,
Western Chorus Frog calls*
*  Our first one of the season
Nature Notes  2018

14227 180422    A gorgeous spring day, Temp: around 60 degrees F 
Chickadee (calls), Mallard, Pied-billed Grebe*, Cardinal (calls), Grackle*, Crow, Downy Woodpecker, Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, A parent Bald Eagle sitting on the nest: they say a few eaglets are on the nest, but they're too small to see.
Red Squirrel,
Boxelder Bug*
*  Our first one of the season
Nature Notes  2018 

14218 180420  Nature Notes by Joe: Kris' Walk @ Roberts Bird Sanctuary, April 17, 2018
Hermit Thrush, Red-winged Blackbird (calls), Mallard, Wood Duck, Red-breasted Merganser*, Hooded Merganser, Gull, Yellow-rumped Warbler*, Song Sparrow*, Junco, Cardinal (calls), Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Nuthatch, Blue Jay (calls), Robin calls, Woodpecker: Downy, Hairy, and Pileated*
last year’s Oriole’s nest
Gray Squirrel
Raccoon tracks, Squirrel tracks, Squirrel’s nest,
The trail is well covered in snow, but it's fun to find animal tracks in the snow.
*  our first one of the season
Nature Notes  2018 

April 18, 2018  We saw our first Egret of the season while driving.

14197 180414  Twin Cities Inches Close To New April Snow Record « WCCO CBS Minnesota
'Historic' blizzard hits Twin Cities - StarTribune.com#1
Minnesota  Winter
Nature Notes  2018 

14160 180404  April 4, 2018  KSTP Traffic Round-Up: Record-Breaking April Snowfall Means Slow AM Commute | KSTP.com
April 4th, 2018: the date low temperature records were broken (or tied) 
Blue Herons (our first one of the season) flying overhead
Minnesota  Winter
Nature Notes  2018

14151 180402  Today's snow is a real bummer! Almost Spring?  Afternoon forecast 1-3 of snow, high temp of 33 - StarTribune.com
Minnesota  Winter
Nature Notes  2018 

14146 180401  Nature Notes: April 1, 2018  Sunny, T = 28 degrees F:  Robin, Mallard (calls), Canada Goose (calls), Crow, Chickadee (calls), Hooded Merganser, no Red-winged Blackbird's calls, no frog calls.
March 30 - 31, 2018, It snowed in the Twin Cities Metro area. And it may snow tomorrow, April 2nd, again.
Nature Notes  2018

March 29, 2018    Mallard, Canada Goose, Hooded Merganser

March 27, 2018    Canada Goose
Many parts of the park trail are still covered with snow. A tiny snowman welcomed us, while we were walking the trail.  

"Migratory Birds begin to arrive in Minnesota."
14119 180324  Nature Notes on Craig’s Walk at Bass Ponds, March 24, 2018, 8-10 am, Cloudy, 28 degrees F, It’s a little windy so that we felt cold.
Red-winged Blackbird (calls), Merganser (Common and hooded), Trumpeter Swan, Wood Duck, Coot, Kingfisher (male), Robin, Eagle (Young and Adults), Mallard, Canada Goose, Rudy Duck, Tree Swallow, Woodpecker (Downy,  Hairy, and Red-bellied), Northern Cardinal, Chickadee (spring calls), Brown Creeper, Gull (Ring-billed and Herring), Bufflehead, Goldeneye, Northern Harrier (male), Northern Shrike,
A Beaver swimming in a pond,  Muskrat lodges
an old Hornet nest
"Craig, thank you so much for the great walk."
Nature Notes  2018
Birds  |  MN Valley NWR 
 
March 22, 2018  Our first Muskrat of the season, swimming in the channel connecting Lake Phalen with Keller Lake, which has open waters - by Lake Phalen. Many Mallards, Canada Geese, Cardinals (calls), Chickadees (spring calls), Crows, Rock Pigeons

14100 180320  Nature Notes: March 20, 2018, cloudy and sometimes snowing  The channel connecting Lake Phalen with Keller Lake has open waters, at least near Lake Pahlen. Many Mallards and some Canada Geese enjoy floating on the water. Glad to see birds coming back to the channel.
Crows, a Red-tailed Hawk, Rock Pigeons, no Red-winged Blackbird calls
Nature Notes  2018

14097 180319  Nature Notes: March 18, 2018  a female Cardinal (calls), a Chickadee, Crows, a Blue Jay, Red-winged Blackbird calls, Red-tailed Hawks, Rock Pigeons, a mysterious large black bird flying overhead while we're driving, Canada Geese, Mallards,
a Red Squirrel, a Gray Squirrel,
a Muskrat lodge covered with snow, Squirrel nests,
No Western Chorus Frog calls in a small wetland where the frogs sing loud around this time of year, probably because the wetland is sill covered with snow.
Ice in lakes and ponds begins to melt.
Nature Notes  2018

"Migratory Birds begin to arrive in Minnesota."
14088 180317  Nature Notes on Craig's Bird Walk at Bass Ponds, March 17, 2018, 8-10 a.m.
Cardinals (spring calls), Blue Jay calls, Chickadee’s spring calls, Crows, a Gull, Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaups, Sandhill Cranes (at least nine cranes), Trumpeter Swans, Mallards, Canada Geese, Robins, Downy Woodpeckers, Wood Ducks, Brown Creepers, Red-winged Blackbirds (calls),  
"Craig, thank you so much for the great walk."
Nature Notes  2018
Birds  |  MN Valley NWR

March 17, 2018  several Red-tailed Hawks, Red-winged Blackbird calls, Cardinal calls,
a Gray Squirrel

14066 180313  Nature Notes
March 13, 2018  Red-tailed Hawks, Crows, Rock Pigeons, A parent Bald Eagle incubating the eggs on the nest; have you ever wondered how bald eagle parents protect their eggs from a snowstorm? Snow Covered Bald Eagle Shakes Snow off of Wings. Amazing! - YouTube , Canada Goose tracks in snow,
Bright yellow - weeping willow twigs and Red dogwood twigs are impressive around this time of year.
Lake Phalen: There is no open water, and no waterfowl, accordingly.
March 12, 2018  Two House Sparrow nests
Nature Notes  2018

14060 180311  Nature Notes
Chickadees, Northern Cardinals (our first spring calls of the season), Crows, Crow mobbing (most likely chasing an Owl), a Canada Goose pair flying overhead,
a Gray Squirrel, a Deer
a Snowman (our 2nd one of the season), Tapping a Maple Tree,  
Nature Notes  2018

Opossums (info from Julie)  We've only seen roadkill opossum (or possum). .
 
January-February
Feb. 27, 2018  Arboretum: Vernal Witch Hazel - no flowers yet, two cute young Gray (?) Squirrels chase each other in the tree, a live fly on the snow, Chickadee calls,  Visited the Bee Center,

Red-tailed Hawks, a Bald Eagle, Downy Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Cardinals, Rock Pigeons, Crows, Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, House Sparrows,

White-tailed Deer, Gray Squirrels, Cottontail Rabbit poop,
Coyotes (some people often spotted)

Rime (or Hoarfrost) on Trees     late January 2018

Window Frost - Nature's Graffiti


13951 180212  Meet California's newest bald eagles Two chicks hatch in two days near Big Bear Lake  Feb. 2018, LA Times
Florida Eagle Cam shows hatching of two eaglets - YouTube  Dec. 2017
Nature Notes 2018


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