Rose-breasted Grosbeaks arrive at our sunflower feeder yesterday.

Saw our first Palm Warbler yesterday. (photo courtesy of Bruce Lees.)

The Blue-gray Gnatcatchers have arrived (photo courtesy of Bruce Lees).

Bald Eagle watching over nest on Upper Iowa River.  We are sure this nest has young in it, but have not seen them yet.

White False Rue Anemone and Bluebell carpet the old floodplain of Forestville State Park today-a wonder of nature.

Woodland Phlox, Forestville State Park.

Spring Beauty, Forestville State Park.

EARTH DAY.  Yesterday we planted 20 two to three foot Burr Oak that will grow into trees that will support wildlife like this Yellow-rumped Warbler.

White-throated Sparrow.  The Fox Sparrow have left for up north and have been replace by good numbers of the White-throats.  They sing early in the morning.  They will also head north to nest.
Sparrow need brush habitat and we have plenty of that.

Song Sparrow.  The Song Sparrows have been here for a couple weeks, but more are arriving now.  We have many that nest at our place.

Field Sparrow.  First one to arrive this year, hope they begin singing soon as they have a fine little mating tune.

Bloodroot are now blooming in good numbers, will probably reach their peak in the next week.

Many Hepatica now blooming.

Marsh Marigold

The Marsh Marigolds are starting to bloom as the Skunk Cabbage leaves get larger.

Backwater of Mississippi, New Albin, Iowa.  New Albin is right on the Iowa/Minnesota boarder.  On the east side of town there is a 2 mile road, named Army Road, that winds through the backwaters of the Mississippi and ends at a large boat landing.  The road on Monday was only about 1 foot above river level and provided a unique view of the backwaters. Many years the road is under water this time of year. Good place to find ducks, shorebirds, eagles, and Sandhill Cranes.

Common Snipe, backwaters of Mississippi, New Albin, Iowa.

Greater Yellowlegs.  Saw Many Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs in the shallow backwaters along Army Road out of New Albin, Iowa.

Male Shoveler. Good numbers of Shovelers, Teal, and Mallards, along with many other duck species were in.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet.  Saw our first thumb-sized Ruby Crown this morning.  They just arrived after a long journey from the sub-tropics, and are on their way north. It was checking our maple tree for sweet sap, but most of the good sap flow is already past.

Have seen several Brown Creepers in the past week, as they spiral their way up the tree trunks looking for insect eggs, and insects.

Spring in Minnesota-Deck party cancelled.

Male Redwing all puffed up for Spring.

Ring-necked Ducks on Muskrat house, Mississippi backwaters.

Small diver, the Pied-billed Grebe, Mississippi backwaters.

American Pelicans south of LaCrosse, Wis. They have a 9 foot wingspan and, in spite of their size, can glide easily.

Pelican usually circle as they gain or fall in altitude.  They are extremely graceful when in flight.

Skunk Cabbage & green Club Moss in a spring-seep, Forestville State Park.

Hepatica.  More Hepatica are blooming in Forestville, but they are still not at their peak yet.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  The first Yellow-bellied showed up today and began drilling holes in our hard Maple tree to get a sweet treat.

The first of the flycatcher family arrived yesterday.  This Phoebe was very busy diving down to the leaf litter to catch insects.