Green backed heron

Green Backed Herons (foreground and background)

The Green Backed Heron were visible in the drying pond at Bassett Creek Park.  Seems that the climate predictions of hotter and drier late summers and falls are coming true.  We're experiencing record heat, combined with sweltering humidity, and an absence of rain.  Many school sports are having to be called off, due to the dangerous conditions.

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