Great Egret fishing

I enjoyed watching a Great Egret fishing for minnows in the pond at Bassett Creek Park this morning.

Urban fly fishing

While on a walk around Lake Harriet last week it was fun to see a fly fisherman working the water.  There is actually some really good fishing right within the city!

Growing goslings

The goslings at Bassett Creek Park are rapidly maturing.  Their distinctive head coloring is starting to appear.

Great Egret

The Great Egret spends much of its time fishing around the edge of the pond at Bassett Creel Park.

Hosta blossom

It is easy to miss the small delicate blossoms on a hosta plant. I took a little extra time to examine one of ours and discovered subtle purple highlighting on the petals.

Feathers as evidence

It appears the fox may have feasted on a Canada Goose.  A number of random feathers was all that was left behind.

A conservative case for carbon tax

A strong case was made by former US secretary of the Treasury, Henry Paulson, for carbon tax in a StarTribune editorial by Henry Paulson, Next crisis calls for action: We paid for dallying on the housing bubble. The climate crash will be much worse.

He draws similarities to the housing bubble, and how we narrowly avoided catastrophic consequences by not acting until it was almost too late. "Back then, we narrowly avoided an economic catastrophe at the last minute by rescuing a collapsing financial system through government action. But climate change is more intractable. The carbon dioxide we're sending into the atmosphere remains there for centuries, heating up the planet."

Mr. Paulson further notes that taking a "cautiously conservative stance - that is, waiting for more information before action - is actually taking a very radical risk. We'll never know enough to resolve all of the uncertanties. But we know enough to recognize that we must act now. "

He recommends we have a carbon tax, which will allow the free markets to figure out the most cost effective solutions to reducing carbon emissions.  Makes sense to me!

Reflections

Reflections from a flooded sidewalk, with maple leaves 

Cloud and tree reflections by pond's edge

Cottontail rabbit

We seem to have a great many cottontail rabbits in our area.  Not too surprisingly we also have a number of red fox that we occasionally spy running across the yard.

Focus of a hunter

 

 

A great blue heron demonstrated amazing focus prior to catching a catfish in the pond at Bassett Creek Park.

More extreme weather

We had another extreme perception event, with 3.7" of rain just yesterday.  Streams are overflowing and thousands of basements are flooded. Many farm fields throughout the state are underwater. There is an area of SW Minnesota that has received over a foot of rain during the course of a week. (Across Minnesota, relentless rainfall creates perils and hassles).

A couple of years ago, at a presentation on climate change by Dr. Gene Takle I learned: In addition to global warming there is now a tendency for the springs to be wetter, while the falls become drier. Dr. Takle aslo noted that will continue to experience more extreme floods and droughts and weather events. The stratosphere is getting cooler while the troposphere is warming.

Pictured right is a great blue heron standing nearby a submerged walking trail around Bassett Creek Park.

Win for the environment!

Looks like a number of companies are in the process of no longer using microbeads in their products, Industry to ban 'microbeads'. These small beads of plastic were being discovered throughout the Great Lakes.

Great blue heron fly by

The great blue heron was on the move, flying across the pond during the early morning hours.

Pope Francis speaks about creation care

Creation is not a property, which we can rule over at will; or, even less, is the property of only a few: Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us, so that we care for it and we use it for the benefit of all, always with great respect and gratitude.  - Pope Francis

Hooded merganser and ducklings

It was a delight to see a female hooded merganser with its five ducklings swimming across the pond at Bassett Creek Park.

Red-winged Black Bird chasing a Great Egret

The ever territorial red-winged blackbirds will chase just about anything away from their turf.  In this case it was a great egret that was being chased.

Cottonwood seeds

Cottonwood seeds gave the appearance of snow in the air during a walk around Bassett Creek Park yesterday evening.

Growing goslings

The Canada Geese goslings are growing up.  They're pictured here by Bassett Creek Park.

Flowers

These flower pictures were taken yesterday on a stroll around Minneapolis' Bryn-Myhr neighborhood.

Speed trumps conservation

A recent article in the StarTribune, Speed limits are increasing on Minnesota highways and around the country, discussed the trend toward increasing speed limits, both locally and nationally. The article however had not even a single reference to the impact greater speeds have on reduced fuel economy.  The general public's sentiments was summarized by Kara Macek, director of communications for the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, “People just like to drive fast — sort of a bellwether indication of our frantic lifestyle and our need to get places quickly.”

Flowers by the path

Nature's beauty never ceases to amaze.  These dainty yellow flowers were growing along the walking path by Bassett Creek Park.

Moth visitor

A large moth came to hang out on our window screen.  I love the round markings that give the appearance of a pair of eyes.

By water's edge

 Weeping willows and tamaracks enjoy moisture for their roots provided by the holding pond at Bassett Creek.

Great Egret

A Great Egret created a beautiful silhouette in the evening sky.

Hooded Merganser and ducklings

It was a treat to see a Hooded Merganser and her ducklings swimming around in the pond yesterday at Bassett Creek Park.

Egret and cottonwood seeds

The Great Egret wading in the pond this morning blended in well with the cottonwood seeds.

Raging Minnehaha Falls

After receiving between 2 1/2 to 5 inches of rain this weekend in the Twin Cities, Minnehaha Falls was raging. Many long time homeowners living along the creek had never experienced such high levels of water. (Storms pound Twin Cities, prompt flood warnings, cancel marathon)