![\"\"](\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/barredowl-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Barred Owl<\/p><\/div>\n
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March 18, Memorial Park, Shakopee. There was a lot of open water and the early migrating waterfowl were in abundance because\u00a0 most of the other ponds were still frozen. The ducks shown below do not nest in Central Minnesota and would soon migrate north.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Common Goldeneye<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Ring-necked duck<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Hooded Merganser<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Bufflehead<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Redhead<\/p><\/div>\n
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Mary Goehle<\/strong> is an avid photographer and is involved with restoration at Big Willow Park in Minnetonka, MN. All of Mary’s photos were taken in the past few weeks.<\/p>\n Trumpeter swans at Big Willow park. They were seen at Big Willow last year too. Photo by Mary Goehle.<\/p><\/div>\n Pussy Willows Great Blue Heron Great Egret Photo by Mary Goehle<\/p><\/div>\n Sandhill Cranes “I was thrilled to have my first sighting of sandhill cranes at Big Willow! I saw them on April 8 in Big Willow. I did not see them on subsequent days, ” Mary Goehle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jules Ikhaml,<\/strong> is training to be a volunteer Master Naturalist and she has contributed to other posts at this website. These are the first native Spring Wildflowers I have seen this year. Jule’s photos were taken on Sunday April 24 at Sakada Lake State Park.<\/p>\n Bloodroot Hepatica, Photo by Jules and Jim Ikhaml<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Jenny Boldt<\/strong> is a naturalist and 4th grade teacher at Hanover elementary. She and her students study nature in the school forest weekly. All of the photos shared here are from a trail camera in the school forest. Last week, Jenny went through 6000 photos from the trail cam, then sent out the best photos to readers (I think you will find her captions\u00a0 very humorous.)<\/p>\n “Future Nose Tackle for the Minnesota Vikings” “Fan-Tom of the Opera” “Male and female Cardinal engagement photo shoot” <\/p>\n Sabrina Harvey<\/strong> is involved with the restoration of local parks in Minnetonka. Sabrina said she had put down some grass seed and the sparrows have been feasting for days. The warbler came bounding across the yard, attracted by all the activity, but didn\u2019t stay long.<\/p>\n White-Throated Sparrow<\/p><\/div>\n Yellow-rumped Warbler<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n On April 23rd, the temperature rocketed up to 70\u00b0 and I saw my first garter snake of the year and painted turtles on a log.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>
photo by Mary Goehle<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Photo by Mary Goehle<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a><\/a>
photo by Mary Goehle<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
Jules and Jim Ikhaml<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a><\/a>
Photo shared by Jenny Boldt<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
photo shared by Jenny Boldt<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>
photo contributed by Jenny Boldt.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a><\/a>