Bluebell in black.  The Bluebells are blooming in Foresrtville, but have not yet reached their peak numbers.

Buttercup.  The often overlooked Buttercups are now booming in Forestville.

Trout Lily, Forestville.

Trout Lily in black.

As another day ended I thought about all those kind and brave souls that are out there risking their lives for the rest of us.  The medical workers, the grocery store staff, the delivery workers, the first  responders, and a multitude of others who are, "just doing their job", but in reality are keeping the rest of us safe.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Dutchman's-breeches.

Hermit Thrush, Forestville.

Bloodroot are blooming in Forestville.

White-throated Sparrow-first ones arrived at our homestead yesterday on their way north.

TALL BIRDS OF THE WHITE WATER VALLEY ON MONDAY

Great Egret.  Saw a dozen on Monday-good to see as we saw very few last year.

Great Blue Heron.

Sandhill Cranes-probably a family unit.

Greater Yellowlegs.  Saw quite a few this evening at several small, shallow ponds.

Brown Thrasher arrived at our place yesterday.  Hope to hear its loud, long, imitative song soon.

Towhee.  Saw a Towhee twice this week, but never have gotten a decent photo.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a thumb-sized bird, are passing through S.E. Mn on their way up north.

SPARROWS UNDER OUR FEEDER THIS WEEK

Field Sparrow.

Chipping Sparrow.

Fox Sparrow.

House(English) Sparrow.

Song Sparrow.

Tree Swallow at one of our Bluebird houses 4 years ago at this same time.  We saw quite a few Tree Swallows last week.  Mid- April of 2018, 2019, and now, 2019 have all been record and near record cold in S.E. Minnesota (not true in most of America).  This has resulted, and probably will again, in the Tree Swallows taking a big hit, as they are insect eaters. We have not had a nesting Tree Swallow at our place since 2017.  I hate posting bad news but the small bird population in North America is in rapid decline, mostly due to habitat lose.

Turkey Vulture.  Turkey Vultures are common now in Fillmore County and we saw our first one arrive in early March this year, but that has not always been the case.  We saw our first Turkey Vulture in S.E. Minnesota in about the mid 1970's.

Male Sandhill Crane dancing to impress female, south of Spring Valley this morning.

Brown Creeper arrived Sunday.  This small bird has the habit of starting at the bottom of a tree and then climbing  up the bark in a spiral fashion as it sticks its curved beak under the bark looking for insects and insect eggs.

Pasque flower.

Coot.  Even the lowly Coot has a certain beauty about it.

SANDHILL CRANES IN ROOT RIVER VALLEY.

Sandhill Crane pair.  The male has more red on the top of the head. Bobbie got these shots of this colorful pair in the Root River Valley

Peregrine Falcon, Whitewater State Park, April 8, 2020.

Buffleheads, female and male, at Iron Mine ponds south of Spring Valley, Mn.

Yellow-rump Warbler.  The Warblers are a family of small, colorful birds that spend winters in Central and South America.  They come north In April and May to nest in Canada and Minnesota.  The Yellow-Rump is usually the first of the family to arrive here, and we saw one this week.

Sapsucker showed up at one of our Hard Maples that was dripping sap.  I have read that they drill the holes to make the sap drip and thereby attract insects to eat.  That may well be true, but we often see them drinking the sap.

Flicker.  The Flicker's arrive in good numbers this week.

Shoveler.    The Shovelers are here in good numbers.

Pied-billed Grebe.  Saw several at the Iron Mine ponds south of Spring Valley yesterday.

Great Blue Herons have arrive here.

Hepatica -3 different colors now blooming in Forestville