Not-so-baby Red-Bellied Woodpecker

I've been watching a pair of Red-bellied woodpeckers this spring.   They were busy excavating the nest and preparing.  It seemed certain that the nest had babies,  but I began to doubt if this was indeed the nest.  No babies were seen ... until today.

It seems there is just one, but it is difficult to tell if there are others behind or below this one.  They built this nest deep.  Earlier in the year they could be heard working on it, but not seen until popping their head out to drop debris.  The depth might be why babies were not visible until now.

As I watched this one chirp and beg for food, I recognized the cry from other walks.  Walks spent wondering - where are the babies?  There they are!

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Of Damsels and "Fleas" and things inbetween

I saw a Monarch today, but the wind was bad and it would not land.  There was another flying insect that obliged.

There were an abundance of Brown Damsel Flies.  In the forest area, I found a couple more flies-

some kind of friendly fly.  At first I didn't think anything of it, until I ran across a pest that they are good at controlling:

A Forest Tent Caterpillar.   And lest creepy/flying insects take all the blog - I found a lovely flea...

That would be flea-BANE -- Philadelphia Fleabane.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

More wildflowers!

It seems that spring has been a constant budding and blooming of different flowers through the days and today was no exception.  This one is originally from European but now naturalized in the United States.

 There are a few White Champions growing along the creek path.  This was not the only new white flower to make an appearance,

a small patch of Giant Chickweed are growing among and over a patch of common violets.  These were found along the marsh road.  Near the marsh was a new yellow flower too.

A small handful of Tall Buttercups are growing close to Winnetka Avenue.  I'm amazed at how much variety there is near that small park.  I find a few others too, but don't like to post what I can not identify.  ;-)

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Beauty and the Beetles

Some colorful beetles caught my eye on the way to the park today.

This Six-spotted Tiger Beetle stopped and posed for a few shots, then crawled into the grass.  Another beetle, a little larger, definitely larger than a ladybug was a strong contrast on large green wildflower leaves.

This is an Argus Tortoise Beetle.  He looks like he has had some battles with something, one of his antennae is broken.  There was also a new bluish beauty at the park.

Spiderwort is just starting to bloom along the creek.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Virginia Waterleaf

Came across a light lavender beauty today along the marsh road.  

A Virginia Waterleaf.  It is called a waterleaf because of the light spots on the leaves that look like water spots.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Mad Weeds?

This plant looks like it may be 'foaming at the mouth', or perhaps there was a team fut-ball, rugby, soccer, or baseball spitting contest?

Nope! This is the work of a spittlebug.  It seems a little early for these.  They are not usually active until June.

I first noticed one a couple days ago.  (this picture taken May 23, 2011).  The yellow under the foam is likely nymphs.

Today I found several of these frothy nymph hiding places.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Conker Blooms, Shrooms, and Purple Cranes

I never know what I'll find and capture on my park walks.  Today was a hodge-podge.   I had a hard time titling todays post.  But, it should make sense once you read it.  First the 'Conker Blooms' ...

This is actually the blossom on a Horse-chestnut tree - Aesculus.  This tree is sometimes called a 'Conker tree' by the British.  That is because the seeds of this tree were often used in a game called 'conkers.'

Next is the shroom, which happens to be a Minnesota state symbol:

Morel mushrooms.  My uncle used to visit my childhood home in south-eastern Minnesota to hunt these in the spring.  They loved to eat them.  There are false ones - which are poisonous.  Check out the link for details.

And lastly ... The word "geranium" is derived from the Greek source "geranion" or "geranos," meaning crane.  And this is a ...

Wild Geranium.  A 'purple crane' so to speak.  Okay did that remind anyone else of the dad in  'My Big Fat Greek Wedding?'  ;-)

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Recovering

Tall rain boots are no longer required to sit at the benches.  With the water subsiding, the Red-wing blackbirds are again busy with nesting.

Some things were worse for the wear.

This Drooping Trillium looks bruised, probably from the hail.  Otherwise everything looks greener and fuller grown.   A new white flower was in the forest area.

Red Baneberry.  The flowers are so delicate looking.  Purple is also opening.

Found this Dame's Rocket along the marsh road.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Post-Storm Water Levels

Over night and into the afternoon were touch and go here.  The weather sirens went off more than once.  There was threat of tornadoes and there were high winds, torrents of rain, and hail at times.

The lake outlet is nearly choking from the water levels.

 The creek inlet is at max capacity.

Water levels are not very people friendly.  Hopefully the worst is over and there will be time for this to drain before a new batch of storms hit us.  The place where the goose had nested is underwater.  A number of turtles were out and the muskrats too.  The wildlife doesn't seem too much worse for the wear.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Rain on the Valley

Another rainy day.  The rain is much harder than yesterday.  The forest paths are bound to be slippery mud.  This is a flower petal from a crab apple tree that fell on my vehicle taken from the parking lot at the park.

Although this is my sole picture from the park today, I've got some other pictures to share from yesterday.

A patch of Lily-of-the-valley started to bloom.  They were along less trodden paths of the bordering forest area.  Not likely city planted.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Shooting Stars in the Rain

This is national wildflower week!  Yesterday a new flower at the park started blooming.  It was tough to identify.  Although it is native to Minnesota, it is not common, especially in this part of the state.  They were probably planted several years ago along with other wildflowers as part of a park project.

This is a Shooting Star (Dodecatheon meadia.) 

Some came in shades of purple.

There are a number of patches of this flower along the creek.  Especially on the sloped parts of the creek banks.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Thursday's Wings

I know I know ... most people post wings on Wednesday.  But today wings came close enough for sharing.

A Mourning Dove was singing to the morning, and stayed perched long enough for me to catch a portrait.

An American Goldfinch also paused long enough for me to catch a shot.  And near the lake there was a new bird.

An Eastern Kingbird.  This bird is quite the traveler.  He spends winters in South America.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Jack and Zizia

One of the park walkers asked me the other day if I had seen any of these.  She had warm memories of finding them as a child.

Arisaema triphyllum ... or more commonly known as Jack-in-the-pulpit.

I found a patch of them along the marsh road.  I've also been watching a new yellow wildflower just starting to bloom.

Zizia aurea ... or more commonly known as Golden Alexanders.  They should be popping more in the next few days.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Happy!

Another day with bright blue skies.  The kind of day that puts a smile on your face.

A Blue Jay welcomed me as I entered the park.  And this little yellow bloom reminded me of sour faces in my childhood.

Oxalis stricta - we just knew them as the little sour clovers.  Remember the happy buds?

Their 'hats' exploded!  

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Whats New May 16th

The lake is now abundant with baby geese and there was a new brood of ducklings.  A new bird was there too.  He made quite the splash on his hunting dives.  

This is a Caspian Tern and most likely passing through.

Also near the lake were some unusual looking wildflowers.

 Cypress Spurge.  Looks like a spider is waiting for breakfast to arrive.  Not far away was a warbler with a beak-full!  I think he was eating too - or perhaps nest material?

This is a Orange-crowned Warbler.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

Unfurled and Striped

Finally the sun!  A gorgeous day, a day where new things began to unfurl.

When a fern unwinds, or unfurls, that part is called a fiddle.  This fiddles has a visitor.

This was but one frond of many.  I also spied something that looked rather like a zebra.

A Black and white Warbler.  True to form, he was found flitting from tree trunk to tree trunk.  They are insect eaters.

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin

May 12 revisited

Due to issues with Bloggers website, I could not post this then.  New discoveries on the 12th included:

And a new bird in the forest area:

An American Redstart.

Also, it would appear that the American Toad songs were fruitful.  Though now they have ceased.  If by reason of the season moving on or the chilly rainy weather over the last few days, I am not sure.

Please note the long strings of black 'beads' in the water.  Those are toad eggs!

Hope you enjoyed!

~ Robin