Feb 26 Walk and Pasque Flowers in April

February 26, 2018 Walk at Fort Ridgely

A junco was by a tree when I got out of the car. Lots of raptors were soaring in different places where I walked along the trails. The ones I photographed were eagles. The first two photos are a younger one that does not have a white head yet (less than 3 years old). The next few are of adult eagles.

This hawk was in a tree and flew away as I turned east at the northeast corner of the park and headed toward the horsecamp. There was a small group of horned larks on the road and shoulder of the gravel road a little ahead from this. As I read about them I found they come back in February and are one of the first migrating birds to come back. They are between a sparrow and robin in size. Since then I have seen larger flocks of similar birds along many roads I have traveled. They weren't as accommodating as these and flew away before I could take a picture.

SIghtings around April 1, 2018 Easter

Many trumpeter swans, ducks and geese were passing through.

The geese next to the 2 trumpeter swans in the picture on the right above are greater white-fronted geese. Below the ducks in the row are male and female redheads.

Pasque flowers and Pollinators at Fort Ridgely and Peichl's Hill

FIrst pasque flowers of 2018 on April 23,4

Pollen is clearly seen in these flowers already (see above). The very small beetles below were mainly going for the nectar at the base of the flower but some pollen got on them.

There was a small worm or caterpillar on one flower.

I found a small sweat bee roaming from one flower to another.

April 29, 30 An ant was on one flower and another sweat bee was on a flower.

The larger bee above was not moving at all in the flower. It was a honey bee.