Thanks to all of the contributors to this post: Sabrina Harvey, Mary Goehle, Jules Ikhaml, and Jenny Boldt.
Many of us living in the North Country are pretty sure that Spring is not going to come. But, there are those of us who need to be out in nature. Sure, it is probably below freezing, but that doesn’t take away from the beauty and the life that is all around us.
March 17
Barred Owl
March 18, Memorial Park, Shakopee. There was a lot of open water and the early migrating waterfowl were in abundance because most of the other ponds were still frozen. The ducks shown below do not nest in Central Minnesota and would soon migrate north.
Common Goldeneye
Ring-necked duck
Hooded Merganser
Bufflehead
Redhead
Mary Goehle 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.
Trumpeter swans at Big Willow park. They were seen at Big Willow last year too. Photo by Mary Goehle.
Pussy Willows
photo by Mary Goehle
Great Blue Heron
Photo by Mary Goehle
Great Egret Photo by Mary Goehle
Sandhill Cranes
photo by Mary Goehle
“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.
Jules Ikhaml, 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.
Bloodroot
Jules and Jim Ikhaml
Hepatica, Photo by Jules and Jim Ikhaml
Jenny Boldt 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 very humorous.)
“Future Nose Tackle for the Minnesota Vikings”
Photo shared by Jenny Boldt
“Fan-Tom of the Opera”
photo shared by Jenny Boldt
“Male and female Cardinal engagement photo shoot”
photo contributed by Jenny Boldt.
Sabrina Harvey 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’t stay long.
White-Throated Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
On April 23rd, the temperature rocketed up to 70° and I saw my first garter snake of the year and painted turtles on a log.
Painted Turtles
From Victoria-Evergreen Park – Minnetonka:
muskrat feeding on cattail roots
wood duck female and male
Northern shoveler
Canada goose on the nest
Chorus Frogs calling in the marsh. Many people call these frogs “peepers”, but Spring Peepers make a “peeping” sound while the chorus frog sounds more like crickets.
April 27th Kinsel Park, Minnetonka
Red Wing Blackbird
photo by Pat Baillie
What a collection of fine photos ! And the frog chorus too. Thank you Larry and all !
Love seeing all these photos! Spring really is here, even though the temps don’t feel like it. Thanks so much for this post, Larry!
So great to see these up close!!
Thanks for your great columns and photos/guest photos!
Thank you Larry!!!!! What beauty we have!!!
Thanks, Larry. Great photos and message.
Lovely photos, Larry.
Thank you.
Love some of the captions! 🙂
Great pics! Makes it seem like the west metro area is finally coming to life. I’ve heard frogs by my place by Lone Lake and saw a big snapping turtle sunning in a little pond next to Eden Prairie High School.
Thanks Steve. I have not seen a Snapper yet.