Muskrat photo op

Muskrat in the pond

pauses for a photo op.

Thank you furry friend.

First Snowfall of the Season

Canada Goose in Flight

Muskrat swimming

Pair of Canada Geese

Northern Shovelers and Canada Geese

Springbrook Nature Center

Grasses backlit with afternoon sun

Muskrat

Yesterday we went for a walk around Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley, MN.  While walking through the woods there was very little underbrush.  It seems they've had a massive effort to rid the park of buckthorn.
Good luck to them!

Muskrat home builder

A muskrat was busy building his home with branches from a young willow tree, in the pond at Bassett Creek Park.

Shoreline surprises

Muskrat swimming under the ice

Milkweed seed

When taking pictures of the interesting ice formations last week I had a couple of shoreline surprises.  First I was startled by a muskrat that launched out under the ice just in front of me.  It must have been resting along the shore.

One of the things I find quite interesting is how some of the ice forms very geometric shapes, with straight lines, with there are a similar number of curvy forms that appear to be cloud-like.

After the muskrat surprise I discovered a beautifully dew covered milkweed seed.  It had the appearance of a ballet dancer pirouetting in a billowy white dress.

Extremely warm temps on St. Patrick's Day

In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day I added a touch of
green to a picture of yesterday's sunrise

It was nearly 40 degrees above the average high temperature yesterday. The day topped off at 80 degrees.  This is the earliest time on record that we have reached 80 degrees in the Twin Cities.  Trees are starting to bud out, robins abound and the ice is mostly gone from Bassett Creek Pond. I spotted a muskrat busily swimming around in the pond.

Muskrat

Angular ice chunk floating in water