The sparrow sized Horned Larks that hang around the edges of roads are showing their "horns" on top of their heads.  A sign the breeding season is starting.

First Sandhill Crane arrived at the Iron Mine ponds south of Spring Valley , Mn today-seems way too  early.  Saw 6 flocks of geese headed north in just a 10 minute period this morning.

Canada Geese, Pintails, Gadwalls, & Mallards on an old mine pond south of Spring Valley, Mn.
The first of the migratory waterfowl we have seen this year.

47 degrees, the snow is melting and the rivers have opened up without any sign of flooding.

Pileated Woodpecker on the lawn today.  What a treat to see this grand bird within 20 feet.

Deer are getting bolder.  This one was just about 15 feet outside the window and know I was there.  It even stayed on the lawn when a friend of ours left the house.

Pheasant at our ground bird feeder.  As the winter deepens we have had deer, turkeys, mink, and a wide variety of birds at the feeder lately.

Purple finches, Goldfinch, and Red-bellied Woodpecker at one of the feeders

Male Pheasant at our feeders

About 8 inches of snow came with this last round.

Blue Jay after the snowstorm.  Looks like we got about 8 inches of heavy snow, but hard to tell because of wind & drifts.

Male Cardinal after the snowstorm.

Where did my feeder go???  The feeder was piled high with snow after only about 3 hours.  I later cleared the feeder so that birds like this female Purple Finch could get some sunflower seeds.

Birds at the feeder about noon-I cleared the snow and fed sunflower seeds.

Wind from NE and the first big snow of the season.