Two more bird species

This Wednesday I spent over 2 hours at the park and took a whopping 98 photos. This was mostly due to the fact that I spent extra time sitting in various placing hoping to get closer to my subject. The first thing I saw though was right along the paved path and quite close. There were at least 3 or more Cedar Waxwings -something I've not seen in a long time. This time however they were close enough for me to notice the small, brightly colored details I was previously unaware of. Check out the bright yellow tip of the tail and bright red tips of the wings. Later, I decided to sit for a while again under the big Cottonwood tree on the creek, still trying to get closer to the Hooded Mergansers. While they stayed mostly out of range, a single small duck appeared close to me out of nowhere. It was a Pied-billed Grebe, the first I've ever seen at the park. I watched him dive under the water and resurface after long periods over and over again. My field guide says Pied-billed Grebes are very sensitive to pollution so I'm kind of surprised to see one here as Shingle creek is full of garbage and plastic bottles. I can't tell if the park is attracting more species of birds or if maybe I'm just more on the look out for them. As I was almost back to the parking lot I noticed an oddly colored Duck way out on the opposite end of the lake. He was black and white but even from this distance I could see the brightly colored yellow eyes tipping me off that it was a Common Goldeneye. There was also a female with a dark brown head. A couple other noteworthy things I saw but were unable to photograph were a Blue-winged Teal and the Mink swimming in the creek again.

More unusal sights

I squeezed in a quick walk after work tonight. I'm still having to dress warm and walk on top of frozen snow which is starting to seriously irritate me at this point. It was especially irritating when I noticed a whole bunch of Hooded Mergansers on the southwest side. There's a wood chip trail that runs along one side, so it was a good opportunity to get try and get closer. Unfortunately every step I took made a terribly loud crunch and I learned just how little noise it takes to scare these waterfowl off. By the time I was half way to where I wanted to be, almost all of them had flown off. When I got behind some thick brush I could only see just a couple left but the only clear shot I got was from behind. On the north side after the bridge I noticed a few deer out in the open field. They were too far away for a good photo but as I kept walking more and more were appearing. Soon there was a pretty large group of about 7 or 8 and then I saw even more filing out of the wood to join them. At the end of the line was something that made me do a double take -a Buck with a mature 6 point set of antlers! I was surprised to see Deer with antlers at the end of February so this was quite a shock. He was just lazily walking behind the group, giving me a few different photo opportunities. While hiking along the creek near the end of my route, I thought I saw something moving through the water. I thought it was a Muskrat but then thought that it might be too early for them yet. I sat down on a park bench and just sat there for a while watching it get dark. Then I noticed a furry little creature walking on the snow covering the creek bank. It was a Mink! I thought I'd never see them again but they were back in the very same area as last fall. I couldn't get a photo through all the brush so I waited and waited for it to come back. Eventually I saw it -or another one- swimming back downstream but by this time it was pretty dark. You might be able to see the wake he is making in the water here.

American Kestral Sighting

Even though it was Sunday, my visit to the park today didn't happen until just before 6pm. Temps are still hovering just below freezing which is actually way below normal for this time of year. Fortunately there's been lots of sun lately -giving me hope that Spring might still arrive sometime this year. While walking down the long, straight stretch of path on the northwest side, I saw a bird come and land on the very top most part of a tall dead tree. It reminded me of a Northern Shrike so I took a peak with my binoculars. I couldn't believe my eyes but it was most definitely a male American Kestral! I was very far away but took pics anyway thinking I might not ever see one again. After crossing the bridge I decided to hike out along the creek in hopes that I might see some more Hooded Mergansers. But on the way, I spotted the Kestral yet again, this time with a fresh meal in his grasp! He was obviously preoccupied so I took the opportunity to hike closer. He was literally tearing his prey to shreds and bits of fur where flying everywhere. I couldn't believe that on top of seeing this colorful bird for the first time, I was getting to witness him in action, doing what only raptors do. He was really working at his meal, clutching and moving it with one foot while pulling back with his strong neck. In the process he had fur stuck to his beak. I was close enough that I could even see the two pink, hind legs of whatever rodent he'd snatched up. I assumed it was a Vole, not a mouse, as it was nearly the size of his own head. After I got too close, he flew off in the opposite direction and I finally made my way to the tall Cottonwood tree along the banks of the creek. I sat here for a while watching all the waterfowl action, hoping too see anything more interesting than all the Mallards. Eventually a male and female pair of Wood Ducks landed a long ways down the creek. They are the first I've seen this year. As I was sitting and watching, the Kestral made a 3rd and final appearance, roosting in some shorter brush near the creek for a short time.

Here comes Spring -oooops just kidding!

After more than a week with temps in the 40's and 50's, I was really getting "Spring-fever." The snow was gone and in places you can see plants and grass actually starting to green up. This trend was short lived however as an early spring snowstorm moved across the upper midwest Tuesday through Wednesday. It started with half and inch of rain, then a fresh coating of 4-5 inches of snow. It was just enough to move this winter up a notch to the 5th snowiest winter in Minnesota history! Like after most snowstorms the temps dipped way back down again -even into the single digits the following day. This Saturday morning the park was barely distinguishable from an average day in January. Melted backwaters that had been attracting ducks last week were now frozen solid again. Since seeing just a handful of Red-winged Blackbirds last Saturday, they're back in huge numbers now and can be seen and heard everywhere. I bet they're thinking they came back too early this year. Despite the chilly temps, the sun was out and birds were plentiful and active. I'm hearing so many birds now it's harder to pick them out but one I did recognize today was that of a Red-bellied Woodpecker. I heard him for a long time before finally spotting him. A short time later I spotted one Hawk and then another. The second was noticeably smaller than the first and had a much longer tail than I'm used to seeing on a Hawk. As far as I can tell from my bird book it is a Sharp-shinned Hawk which would be a first! During this walk I could barely keep track of all the various birds I saw. Here is what I remember: Robin, Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Chickadee, Crow, Blue Jay, House Finch, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Mallard, Hooded Merganser, Ring-billed Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Hooded Mergansers

I arrived at the park just after 6pm on Monday after work. Though slightly overcast it was relatively warm and I was able to wear a few layers of sweatshirts instead of my heavy winter jacket. There is barely any snow left even anywhere so I started off on the woodchip trail. Just barely in, I noticed a bunch of odd looking ducks near where the creek opens up into the lake basin. With my binoculars I could tell right away they were Hooded Mergansers! There was a whole bunch of them -mostly males and one or two females. I did see just one female last fall but this is the first time I've ever seen males and it was frustrating that I could not get closer. Later while passing along the baseball fields on the west side I spotted a Bald Eagle perched high up in the trees. I tried getting closer to him but could not find a decent view until I was almost underneath him. There were a few crows bothering him but they eventually took off. Upon coming to the bridge over the creek on the north side, there were a lot of ducks to be seen. After peering further downstream I could see even more Hooded Mergansers so I decided to hike along the bank to see if I could get closer. All the tall swamp grass was completely flattened out so it was actually an easy and quiet walk. Even so, I scared up a small group of 4 deer who wondered what I was up to. I kept going, staying behind the creek bank until I figured I was far enough downstream. Then near the large cottonwood tree, I popped up over the bank and found myself very close to a bunch of Hooded Mergansers. They of course got spooked and started flying off in small groups. As close as I was I only managed a few blurry pictures but at least I did get to see them at closer range. They have such distinctive patterns and one or two of them had their white-patched "hood" raised all the way up making their head look gigantic.

Vernal Equinox 2011

Today is a day we Minnesotans have been awaiting for close to 4 months -the first day of Spring! Though we're not out of the woods yet with snowfall, this winter season finished in 6th place -I believe- in the top snowiest winters on record. Overnight we had a fair amount of rain that has helped deplete our deep snow pack. Not counting snowbanks that were piled high all season, the only measurable snow now can be found in shaded areas or in thicker woods. On the north side that's where I spotted this one lone Deer that appeared to be a yearling. Later I spotted 3 others bedded down in the snow. I also noticed Canada Geese as well as just two Ring-billed Gulls stand out on the ice. From the parking lot I snapped this long range pic of the Gull in flight with one of 7 more Deer below it.

Early signs of Spring

This Saturday morning I arrived at the park just after 8am. Technically today is the LAST DAY OF WINTER!!! The temp was a steady 34 degrees all morning and there was a very fine frost coating on everything. It was kind an unusual frost in that if you bumped the branches, it would fall right off like a heavy dust. Somewhere before the bridge I almost stepped on a Woolly Bear caterpillar on the trail. I thought for sure it was dead and left over from last fall until I noticed it move ever so slightly. When I picked him up he could barely curl up into a ball probably due to the cold temp. I think this is the earliest I've ever seen any caterpillar before. As I was making my way around the park I faintly heard a single bird call off to my left. I paid no attention and kept walking for a bit until I thought about when I'd last heard that sound. There it was, the first Red-winged Black of the season. Again I thought this seemed a bit early but I heard or spotted 3 or 4 more before making it around the park. I was walking the opposite way around today so I was coming around the ball fields near the end. Since the path around there is always icy I decided to cut across the baseball diamond and started to notice these odd looking patterns. They were trails or tunnels through the grass made either by mice or voles underneath the winter snow. At first glance, I think this photo looks a lot like an aerial view of a river system taken from an airplane.

Slowly warming up

This Tuesday night was my 4th visit to the park in 4 days. It was even warmer than yesterday at around 45 degrees and the snow pack is quickly shrinking every day. Canada Geese are starting to appear overhead but I've not seen any stop in the park yet. I didn't see nearly as many Deer as the evening before but I did spot five or six. On a drainage ditch on the north side, there were a group of three standing on the ice again and drinking the water on top. It was relatively quiet after this with nothing of interest until the sun set across the lake.

Here a Deer, there a Deer

This evening was my first after-work visit to the park since last September due to the fact that Daylight Savings Time kicked in over the weekend. I was pretty excited about it too as the sky was mostly sunny with a temperature just shy of 40 degrees! I spotted 3 Deer fairly early into my walk, just behind the baseball diamonds on the west side. Little did I know just how many more I would see. When I got to the foot bridge on the north side, I was curious to see how much more ice had gone off the creek. I looked upstream and noticed at least 10 or more Deer standing out on the thin ice! It was hard to get a count of them cause they were spread out and moving all over the place. Most seemed to be quite interested in drinking the standing water while a few other boisterously darted up and down the banks of the creek. As the group slowly meandered across the creek and into the field near the townhomes, a whole other group of 10 or more Deer started to appear behind them! They too were fascinated by the creek and almost seemed to be "playing chicken" with the thin ice. Many would dart right out to the very edge and then dig in their heels (or hooves) and almost skid right up to the edge of the very thinnest ice. I knew it would happen sooner or later so I was ready for it and caught this moment when one of them broke through. It made quite an awful sound but the Deer kicked and bucked it's way right out in only a few seconds. In all I witnessed this happen three times. I was laughing to myself and thinking this must be what Deer do for fun. I could barely drag myself away but the sun was going down quick so I headed back, assuming I'd just seen every Deer in the whole park. I was wrong though when I noticed a group of 4 more about ten minutes later. These two posed for a quick photo for me. I was rushing by this time, trying to get to an open field to catch the nice sunset that I'd seen setting up through the trees. As soon as I got around the edge of the woods, I just walked out across the snow into an open area. Right as I was framing my shot, I could see something running across the field in my peripheral view. So I waited just a bit before snapping the shutter and caught the first of 5 more Deer heading into the sunset. So basically, I couldn't even take a photo tonight without a Deer in it!!! I figured this a few different ways but I estimate on the conservative side that I saw at least 32 Deer in one visit this evening!

Mid-March Coyote sighting

The strong winds have subsided today and periodic sun is just starting to melt the snow that drifted onto the path. There were plenty of birds out but nothing too interesting until I spotted this Chickadee at close range. I've only recently started to notice that Chickadees seem to be making different noises lately. Instead of the normal "chicka dee dee dee," it's a long drawn out "feeeeeeeeeee-beeeee." Hopefully it's a sign of Spring. A couple other things I noticed but did not make for a good photos were Pheasant tracks on top of the snow and the first green weeds creeping out from underneath the snow. By the time I got back to the parking lot I'd only taken 11 photos and was thinking it's gonna be hard to make a Blog entry out of this. Then as I was heading to my vehicle I noticed a Coyote walking out near the cattails. He was just lazily strolling along so I had ample time to watch him and get a few pics. In fact he stopped twice to check me out as well. This first picture is with my camera zoomed in all the way. The second photo where he's facing me is zoomed in and cropped in even further yet.

Long walk on a windy day

I arrived at the park early today just after 8am. The weather was somewhat undesirable with a temperature of 16º and very strong winds but for some reason I really really felt like walking. So much in fact that I decided to head north along Shingle Creek and I just kept going. The creek was actually open in a few places underneath the foot bridge but as I went upstream it was completely ice free. I guess it was nice to see open water again and I just wanted to see more. The winds had been so strong since last night that drifting snow had nearly closed the paved trails. In parts, snow had completely filled in to the same depth as the snow pack, leaving only a narrow strip on the side facing the wind through which to walk. I'd seen some deer bedded down in the snow along the way as well as about 500 or more Mallards on the open water. Eventually I came to a dam of sorts on the creek, which is technically in the next park system called "Brookview Park." At Noble Avenue I turned around to head back. Upon coming back to the very same place I'd turned off, a group of 7 deer came running through the woods. I watched them go right down the bank of the creek and thought "they're gonna fall right through the ice." They were smart enough to turn around however and they came right back up the bank by the giant cottonwood tree. A short time later I saw a group of 4, for a total of 11 Deer spotted today. As I was heading back on the east side, I stopped dead in my tracks when I spotted a Pileated Woodpecker only just a few feet off the trail. I couldn't believe I hadn't scared it off. I've never been this close to one before so I got my camera out as fast as I could. It was pounding away at what looked to be a pretty fresh hole in the tree and was so absorbed in this task that it paid me no mind. I still had a hard time getting the photo I wanted because it would stick it's head into the hole in just a split second. At this distance I could see that it was eating something and I could only imagine that maybe it found some kind of insects or something. It was also quite obviously a female due to the black "mustache" extending back from it's bill. The The wind was still blowing which is why her feathers on one side look all poofed up. Since I was apparently not a threat, I went even a bit closer to lean against a tree and really steady my camera for some better close ups. What a cool bird!

Lots of Deer and Birds

Today's walk was a bit more interesting than yesterday. The sun had disappeared and as usually happens, there was a lot more wildlife to be seen. The first was a group of four Deer back by the drainage ditch. Lately I've been adding this small offshoot of the trail to my normal routine as I can just about count on seeing Deer there. On my way back to my normal route, there were four more Deer heading in the direction I'd came from. One by one they stepped out into a clear spot before heading back toward the thick stuff. On the northwest side there were tons of birds making tons of noise so I decided to venture in closer. I thought the birds making all the noise were Purple Finches, but now think they were House Finches. Among the ruckus I could hear more unique birds and I found myself walking further into the woods. There a third group of 7 more Deer walked past me -making for a total of 15 Deer today! A short time later I caught a glimpse of what I thought I'd recognized by sound, a Red-bellied Woodpecker. I decided to stalk him for a while in hopes of getting a better photo but it was tough given how thick the woods are here. The only thing I could keep my eye on as he bounced around from tree to tree was his bright red crown. Eventually he settled into a real thick area of trees out in front of me with just barely an opening in my view. The photo shows the rosy red belly patch for which the bird is named. I tried many more times for a Finch photo but eventually gave up and headed back. On the way I heard something above me and looked up to find this Gray Squirrel barking at me.

Sunny first visit in March

When I'd left for the park today, the temp at home was reading 41º and the sun was shining against a bright blue sky. I thought it was warm enough not to wear my usual scarf/hood for a change but after about 1/3 of the way around I realized my "spring fever" had diluted my judgement. My face was freezing but I toughed it out the rest of the way. On the north side I noticed quite a few unfamiliar birds that seemed to be either mating or just chasing each other, flying extremely low to the ground before swooping upwards again to the next tree or bush. I had a terrible time getting a photo due to their erratic movements but after reviewing what I did get, I think they were Dark-eyed Junco's. As I made my way around the park I saw little else of interest. There were a group of Robins past the bridge who were busy eating berries laying on top of the snow but that was about it. I was really expecting a lot going on today but it was ironically very quiet. The only other birds I spotted were Cardinals and Chickadees. I did see a couple of Deer way off in the woods but it was much too far away and thick for a photo. This last photo is simply to better describe how the park and trails look as of March. Sun has cleared off the trails quite well but there is still over 2 feet of snow on the ground in most places. Sadly, they are predicting another 6 inches this next Tuesday. Oh by the way, I learned later in the day that our high temp for the day actually only hit 29º. No wonder my face was freezing!