November 1999

     Happenings in and around Linnaeus Arboretum

Listed below are a few observations from a year ago made in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas, including the Linnaeus Arboretum/Nicollet County area (and out of the area where indicated). Many of these observations have also been recorded in the Minnesota Weatherguide/Environment Calendar, published in conjunction with the Freshwater Foundation and WCCO Radio/Television, to which Gilbert has contributed since 1977. These events can be used to anticipate upcoming seasonal happenings and will help to compare this year with last.

1 - Migrating dark-eyed juncos numerous at feeding stations. About 75 percent of weeping willow foliage is golden-yellow, rest is green. From Brainerd to Walker, weeping willows are at fall color peak and very striking.

2 - Last flocks of migratory American robins moving through. European larch trees have showy smoky-gold needles. A late 13-lined ground squirrel is seen in short grass area of Linnaeus Arboretum in St. Peter.

3 - Late corn field being combined near Cologne. Crop harvest is nearly completed in southern Minnesota. Still come nice red foliage on Boston ivy vines growing on buildings at Gustavus in St. Peter.

4 - Red cedar trees have taken on a maroonish-brown look for winter. Thin ice on small ponds this morning but gone by late afternoon. Snowshoe hares in northern Minnesota changing from brown to their white winter coats.

5 - Last woodchuck seen above ground. Short-tailed weasels are now white except for black at the ends of their tails. When white for winter, weasels are called ermines.

6 - Fox sparrows come to feeding stations. First American tree sparrows return. The numbers of American coots are dwindling as they move farther south for winter. Between 4:45 and 5 p.m., thousands of Franklin's gulls come to Lake Waconia to roost for the night.

7 - Late snowy tree cricket heard chirping. Red-winged blackbirds still come to feeders. Comma butterfly on the wing. Northern shrike, a winter visitor, has returned.

8 - Norway maples are losing their golden-yellow leaves. Little brown field crickets heard chirping. Newly hatched snapping turtles on way to lake. Exactly 6 months ago honey bees were foraging on Regent apple tree flowers; today they are feeding on still attached apples. In Mora area, mosquitoes are out and a flock of sandhill cranes is seen.

9 - Late eastern chipmunk observed gathering seeds. Last leopard frog seen heading for hibernation in Lake Waconia. Late painted turtle out sunning on a log. Sulphur butterflies nectaring on dandelion and red clover flowers. Weeping willows at overall fall color peak with bright golden-yellow foliage.

10 - With sod being put down for new lawns, rain this morning was very welcome. Juncos numerous at feeding stations; they prefer millet seeds scattered on ground under shrubs and trees. 1990: The number of migrating tundra swans gathered in the Weaver Marshes, and close areas of Mississippi River backwaters, is now about 8,000. This represents the largest concentration of tundra swans in the central United States.

11 - Flock of migrating tundra swans arrived at Lake Waconia. Gray squirrel up in tree eating crabapples. Brown creepers here for the winter.

12 - Last great egret seen. Red-breasted nuthatches, migrants from the North, visit feeding stations. Flock of about two dozen wild turkeys seen near Le Sueur.

13 - Last garter snake out sunning and sulphur butterfly flying. Last painted turtles sunning. Honey bees visiting chrysanthemum flowers. Sage, parsley, fennel, garlic, and salad burnet still green and growing in herb garden. First fresh-cut pines, spruces and firs out on retail Christmas tree lots.

14 - Leaves have fallen from apple trees, but we are still picking and eating Regent apples. Two very late barn swallows seen in Scott County. Snowy owl spotted in St. Paul.

15 - Russian olive leaves falling. Duckweeds are green on pond surfaces. No ice. Bald eagles seen in Lake Minnetonka area. Each fall a few come to this area to feed on fish and wounded waterfowl.

16 - Dandelions bloom on short stems. Common milkweeds continue to shed seeds on silver-white carriers. Long-eared owl seen in St. Paul. Raccoons and opossums come to some southern Minnesota feeding stations.

17 - We continue to see colorful smoky-gold foliage on some weeping willow trees. About 700 migrating tundra swans at Rieck's Lake, 3 miles north of Alma, Wisconsin.

18 - Some mums, petunias, snapdragons, white alyssum and red geraniums still have showy flowers. Evergreens such as pines, spruces, firs, yews and hemlocks add much interest to the mid-November landscape.

19 - Gray squirrels work on their leafy nests. Wedge of tundra swans over Victoria. At 4:40 p.m., flocks of American crows seen heading for roosts.

20 - Flocks of Canada geese are still grazing on green lawn grasses. The rutting season of the white-tailed deer reaches its peak during the last two weeks of November. Very rare sighting of an ancient murrelet in harbor at Grand Marais.

21 - For this year, the last flock of Franklin's gulls spent the night on Lake Waconia. Picked and ate last Regent apple off backyard tree. Most American coots have left. Fishing boats seen on lakes. Many golfers out. 1997: Freeze-up date for Lake Waconia.

22 - Flocks of cedar waxwings feed on crabapple fruit. From mid-morning to mid-afternoon, deer often bed-down to rest. About 100 tundra swans in one big "V" over Hastings, heading south.

23 - First snow on evergreen boughs and first snow sculptures of the season. European starlings are in their winter dress; they have speckled feathers and black bills. Thousands of Canada geese on the south side of Lac qui Parle Lake.

24 - Animal tracking is good. Prints of deer, squirrels, rabbits and more are easy to identify. Much fruit is left on highbush cranberry shrubs and crabapple trees.

25 - Some ice on ponds but lakes are wide open, across the state. Forest mosses on downed tree trunks and bases of standing trees are lush green. Evening grosbeaks and common redpolls come to Walker area feeders.

26 - Parsley is green and growing in gardens. Flocks of bufffleheads, diving ducks, seen on Leech Lake. On the first calm, freezing day or night after a particular lake reaches 39 degrees F throughout, an ice cover will form.

27 - Ornamental kale is showy in gardens. Near St. Peter, several hundred red-winged blackbirds seen in corn stubble field. Nine species of waterfowl, including canvasbacks and ring-necked ducks, seen on Loon Lake at Waseca.

28 - Ponds froze over today. Pair of golden-crowned kinglets observed hunting for food in branches of dormant sugar maple and green ash. Ice-on date for Portage Lake near Park Rapids. 1995: Freeze-up date for Lake Minnetonka; that is, the lake was more than 90 percent ice covered and stayed frozen over.

29 - Raccoons still out and about. Saw active daddy-long-legs on this sunny afternoon in St. Peter. Available commercially are immersion heaters designed to keep birdbaths ice-free. Birds like and need water year-round.

30 - Alyssum and some late mums still blooming. Tree sparrows and northern cardinals are the first and last birds at many southern Minnesota feeding stations. They begin feeding about 25 minutes before sunrise and continue to come until about 25 minutes after sunset.