Ahh.... SPRING! Standing on my back porch counting birds. So much happening I am having a hard time getting anything done. 30 species counted. All kinds of new stuff showing up. Neat stuff: - A pair of courting loons on Carlson Lake, a block away, are the talk of the neighborhood. Habitat isn't right. They should be moving on. - Copulating Red-shouldered Hawks - Chickadees checking out nest boxes - Wood ducks in the trees - 50+ Am. White Pelicans silently gliding overhead heading north.
Flowers are beginning to bloom: crocus, snowdrops, Siberian Squill, Aspen tree. Insects and bugs are showing up. First insect of the spring (about a week ago): Marsh fly (?) with geniculated (bent) antenna Yellow jackets for several days first moth (small unidentified) last night first dragonfly - looked like a green darner (yesterday) Mourning cloak butterfly (yesterday) First tick (Saturday) Northern leopard frog and painted turtle seen. Hopefully, I will escape the yard today. Steve Weston On Quigley Lake in Eagan, MN swesto...@gmail.com ---- General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.