Last day of March

Got in one more weekday walk this Wednesday with a friend of mine. The temps were near 75º I think which is WAY above our normal mid-forties for time. Shortly after turning onto the second woodchip trail we noticed a group of four deer only feet off the right side of the trail. I couldn't believe how close we were. Even as we talked, only two of them really paid attention to us and wandered further into the woods. The most curious one stayed put for a photo or two and I get the feeling it was the younger one. Later on we spotted two more for a total of six deer. Though it had been partly sunny earlier it had clouded over good by the time the sun was setting. At the water overlook on the south side we both heard and say something slowly crawling out of the cattails and slip quietly into the water. I thought it was a muskrat but it turned out to be a large Snapping Turtle who later poked his nose out of the water. It was cool to see one so early in the season. I've only ever seen them in the summer here.

Late March Monday

With such nice weather lately I was all about getting in another workday walk on Monday. The park was crazy busy again and I felt like kind of a dork taking photos with so many people around. Despite all the people around me I didn't hesitate when I saw this Pheasant as I've had such few photo opportunities with them. He was quite a ways away so it didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped. On the northeast side I spotted a strange bird way high up in a big cottonwood tree. I took some pics as I tried to figure out what the heck it was. After watching for a bit I noticed another more colorful bird of the same shape just off to it's left. I was kind of shocked to realize that they were Wood Ducks that high up in a tree. I've only ever seen them on the water but apparently they do perch in tall trees -a note confirmed by my bird book. After rounding the southeast corner I immediately noticed a large white bird out on the water. He was super far away but I waited until he caught up with some ducks and geese before I took a photo -as it would show off his true size. I assumed he was a Trumpeter Swan but upon further inspection I believe it was a Mute Swan. Both Trumpeter Swans and Tundra Swans have a black bill and it was too large for a Snow Goose. According to what I've read, this seems to be a bit of an odd sighting for this area. If true I can add a new species to my list of wildlife seen in the park! A good website I've recently discovered has some interest facts about Mute Swans: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mute_Swan/id

Sixties and Sunny

I didn't get out on Sunday 'til much later in the day but it was gorgeous weather. The park is getting so busy with walkers, joggers and bikers that the parking lot was near full! At least the woodchip trails are less congested. There on the south side I snapped a quick pick of this little red squirrel. The remainder of the route was pretty uneventful and it's been quite a while since I've seen any deer. Somewhere back on the south side I spotted this Downy Woodpecker right above me so I took a couple pics. I usually don't bother with woodpeckers cause they move to fast but this one turned out pretty good. This one's a female as it's missing the red patch at the back of the head.

Not-so-Bald Eagle

I got out earlier than normal this Saturday morning and it with no sun it was actually pretty chilly. I wore my winter hat -maybe for the last time this season. Though March is traditionally the snowiest month in Minnesota, we've not seen a single flake. In addition, our temps are expected to hit 70º this week! On the north side I've been noticing more and more grey, fuzzy pussy willows. The rest of the path was quiet and boring and at some point I changed my route to dispose of a large plastic bag stuck in the cattails. Upon returning to the path I noticed an enormous bird perched up in some birch trees. I realized immediately it had to be an Eagle as he had to be about 3 feet tall! With the distance and overcast light I had a hard time determining if he was a Bald Eagle. Instead of a bright white head he had a mixture of brown and white. His breast was also a mixture of brown and white and overall he just looked rough. As I watched for a while, a second Eagle came hovering over like he was looking for a place to land. Some crows chased the flying one off but the other continued to just sit there. Two other walkers came up to me and suggested that maybe it was a juvenile, as it sometimes takes 4-5 years for Bald Eagles to fully develop their coloring. I've also read that Eagles will molt in order to replace feathers which could also give them this rough appearance. I'm really not sure about this one but my first thought is that he was awfully big for a juvenile.

Signs of Spring

Was another warm, beautiful day on Sunday and I saw -and heard- a little bit of everything. Though most everywhere is still drab and brown, things are slowly but surely turning green. I would have missed this budding tree had I not practically walked into it while watching out for deer. On that thought I wondered about my chance of finding any shed antlers so I detoured into the woods on the southwest side. I'd walked through almost the same area last March with no luck, but you never know. The soil here is pitch black and mushy, but not necessarily muddy. It's kind of weird like foam or something, probably from the constant falling leaves and rotting wood. The first thing to catch my eye was a bit of red feathers, likely from a Cardinal. As I was taking a few close ups, I heard some sirens going by in the distance. All of a sudden there was this flurry of high pitched howling coming out of the cattails. It was louder and more distinct than I'd ever heard before and I figured they must have been really close to me. I got pretty excited that I might actually catch a glimpse of a Coyote but no such luck today. I'm thinking of possibly learning how to "call" them just to see these elusive critters for more than a split second. Shortly afterward I was keeping my eyes on the ground and noticed a 10 inch stick that seemed too white. It was "balled" on the end and was obviously a bone of some sort -maybe a leg? I hunted around the same area for a while before finding a second, shorter version and then finally a very small fragment only a couple inches long. I decided to prop them up against a tree for a pic just because I'd found them.

Sunbirds

After such nice warm temps, the bright sun was deceiving this morning and I felt under-dressed as I set out. I actually went back to my truck for my hooded scarf as the temps were only in the 30's. About two weekends ago I recognized the familiar sound of Red-winged blackbirds returned to the park. Today they were everywhere, soaking up the sun and chirping loudly. Chickadees were doing the same and searching for food in a rotted tree. On the northeast side I decided to walk into the woods a ways in search of an owl. I didn't see any but I did spot two Red-bellied Woodpeckers hammering away at another rotten tree. After the one flew off, the other decided to crawl right into the tree and peak back out. Shortly afterward I heard and spotted two more of them. Since you can usually hear them before spotting them, I am trying to remember their unique "querrr" or "kwirrr" sound. You can hear for yourself at this website: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-bellied_Woodpecker/sounds

Weekday evening walk

Now that daylight savings time is back, it's actually light enough to sneak in a walk after work again. Temps are still way above normal and it's hard to find any trace of snow left anywhere. Even the woodchip trails are completely soft and quiet again, showing remnants of last summer like this faded snail shell. Somewhere on the south side I noticed this alien-seed-pod laying among some flattened cattails -although I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with cattails. After circling back to the south side where the creek drains out of the basin, I could hear lots of Canadian Geese honking loudly. Multiple pairs were standing on the frozen water and I sat down to watch them for a while. I could only guess that possibly they were mating because one of each couple were honking loudly while swinging their necks wildly back and forth. It was like they were trying to throw their sound as far as they could in every direction.

Sixty Four Degrees!

The high temp broke a record today going two degrees higher than the previous record of sixty two. Even huge patches of ice in the shaded areas that I'd slipped on the day before were now completely gone. It was also the first time I'd not worn my stocking cap since late November! There were tons of people out and about and thus no sign of deer. Shingle Creek is completely open again and is the only picture worth posting. Recently while searching Palmer Lake Park online, I ran across some interesting summaries of Deer Management programs from the City of Brooklyn Center. I adding the links as they are interesting reads regarding the deer population of the area.

Deer Management Program - 2004 Annual Report

Deer Management Program - 2005 Annual Report

Spring Marching in

With temps remaining in the 40's and almost a week long rainy period, there is barely any snow left. In the woods on the south side I was surprised to see green where just one week ago there was only white. I really don't know how something could green up so fast. I wonder if somehow those plants just stay green underneath the snow all winter. I only saw one deer today from a long ways away on the west side. Also saw a Bald Eagle and another Pileated Woodpecker but they were both too fast for a photo. I just read that a Pileated Woodpecker will leave large piles of woodchips at the base of trees where searching for food and this last photo is pretty good evidence of that.

Warm start to March

I only got out for one walk on Saturday afternoon but it was a good one as I saw deer, hawks and an owl. Daytime temps are still hovering around 40 degrees and the trails are now almost completely free of ice. Right after detouring onto the wood chip trail I noticed three deer bedded down in the snow. Two of them were the young one and mother whom I should really just name at this point as often as I see them. The rest of the route was pretty quiet and I watched the clouds move in from the west that would bring drizzle later in the day. On the south wood chip trail I could periodically hear loud movement to my right so I slowed up my pace. When I entered a clear spot there was a Doe standing right in the cattails. If I hadn't spotted her there it would have been really easy to walk right past as she blended in so well with the background. When she finally headed back into the cattails and I noticed more movement and I tried my best to follow the pair as they weaved through the tall brush. Eventually they popped out onto the lake and I held up my camera as high as I could to catch a pic -click on the pic for a better view. Shortly afterward the noise of squawking crows was getting louder and louder. Since witnessing crows hassle both hawks and eagles, I started looking around for the culprit. Though I was super far away I eventually spotted that familiar owl shape. I snapped one long range pic before he had enough of the crows and took off. Ten or more crows immediately followed noisily right behind. I bet he was thinking "I can't wait 'til sunset so I can ditch these guys."