Monday, June 30, 2014

Great Egret fishing



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

Sunday, June 29, 2014

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!

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Growing goslings


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

Friday, June 27, 2014

Great Egret


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

Thursday, June 26, 2014

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.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

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.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

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!

Monday, June 23, 2014

Reflections

Reflections from a flooded sidewalk, with maple leaves 
Cloud and tree reflections by pond's edge

Sunday, June 22, 2014

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.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Focus of a hunter

 


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

Friday, June 20, 2014

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.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

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.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Great blue heron fly by


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

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

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

Monday, June 16, 2014

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.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

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.

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Cottonwood seeds


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

Friday, June 13, 2014

Growing goslings


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

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Flowers





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

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

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.”

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

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.

Monday, June 9, 2014

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.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

By water's edge


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

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Great Egret


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

Friday, June 6, 2014

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.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Egret and cottonwood seeds



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

Monday, June 2, 2014

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)