Lots of tiny pink and white Wood Anemone brighten the stubbornly drabbish fields and forests. More information and photos here

Black bear track in Pepin County,  May 3, 2014.

Empty Nest Syndrome

Sigh. This post is late, as the very next day I checked the nest and it was empty. No bits of egg shell, nothing.  Many predators around, it's nature's way.

Step ladder nest

This perfectly round Robin's nest sits atop a metal step ladder that leans against the old stone house in the yard.  It is vulnerable to sun and wind and rain (not to mention convenient step access for four-legged creatures), but so far, so good. Stay tuned. There are three well-protected Robin's nests on the house, each with baby Robins in residence.  

The darling spores of May

This bunch of Morels "popped" sometime in the last 24 hours near the stump of an Elm that was cut down two years ago.  The thrill of the hunt has me in its grip and I find myself wandering off into the woods a couple of times each day.  Once I've spied a morel I crouch and pivot around 360 degrees until I'm sure I've spotted every single one in the area.  Squinting hard helps. So does a cloudy day.   I find that shallots are the perfect complement (most people use ramps, which are abundant now). Shallots, butter, wine, morels..on toast or pasta. What could be more perfect. 

Warblers All Around!

This morning the windows flew open to the songs of Warblers, especially the Blackburnian Warbler, whose song was so close by (they like to perch high in evergreens) and sweet that the thought of listening to the chattering radio - the usual morning routine - seemed deadly dull. Listen to the song of the Blackburnian...this is very close to what I heard this morning.

I grabbed this wonderful photo of this fiery little gem from 10000 birds, an excellent website for bird lovers.  Click here to go to it, and enjoy!

Ovenbird

One of the common songs heard in the forest comes from the small warbler, the Ovenbird. It gets its name from its covered nest which resembles a Dutch oven. This ground nest is a woven domed cup of leaves and plant stems, and lined with hair, with a side entrance. 

The Ovenbird inhabits the uplands and moderately sloped areas of the forest. Neighboring males sing together. One male begins, the second will join in immediately after. They pause, then sing one after the other again, for up to 40 songs.  Go here to play a very clear recording of the Ovenbird's song.