Author Archives: PalmerLakeNature

Squirrels are mischievous and smart. Starting in the fall and through the winter, squirrels will start to get fat. Squirrels do not hibernate in the winter, so they may be seen at all times in the winter. However in winter they are less active, sleeping for long periods, sometimes several days at a time. AtContinue reading “Squirrel update”

Squirrels are intelligent and funny creatures. When squirrels bury their food, the generally remember 95% of the food. Squirrels are highly flexible, they are therefore capable of guiding their fall to land on their feet. I learned that when squirrels are mad at something, you will hear their teeth chattering. I’ve learned that you shouldn’tContinue reading “Squirrels”

This post isn’t about Palmer Lake, but about the Mississippi River. A interesting fact about Shingle Creek, is that it starts outs as Eagle Lake then goes into Eagle creek then the creek splits in to two, that are called Bass Creek and Shingle Creek. Then Shingle Creek goes through Palmer Lake and flows intoContinue reading “The Mississippi River”

Yesterday, I found a great blue heron at Shingle Creek. Great blue herons can be up to four and a half feet tall. They nest in trees that are twenty to sixty feet up high from the ground. Herons and egrets are solidarity feeders, they also spend most of their time alone, when they areContinue reading “Great Blue Heron”

I found this downy woodpecker on August 30th resting on a tree. The downy woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker at Palmer Lake. What is an interesting fact is for all woodpeckers is that their tongue is wrapped around the brain to help them from damaging it when they’re pecking. There is a woodpecker that looksContinue reading “Woodpeckers”

If you don’t know what a raptor is, it is a bird of prey. I found this bald eagle on a power pole on August 29th. Bald eagles are a rare and interesting bird that was on the verge of extinction in 1978. There is a pair of them at Palmer Lake and you canContinue reading “Raptors at Palmer Lake”

I found a wasp pollinating this garden yellow rocket flower at East Palmer Lake park today. There are so many kinds of flowers and unique insects at Palmer Lake. Here is a bunch of sunflowers at the Lake. What I found on one of my walks around the lake, is that I got to snapContinue reading “Insects at Palmer Lake”

I found these two Sandhill Cranes walking across our yard this afternoon. These two Cranes have been with us for about three years. Each year they have two colts (their young ones) they raise and migrate back with, but this year the two colts never made it. They arrive in spring and spend a fewContinue reading “Sandhill Cranes”

Great Egret found on Shingle Creek near 69th Ave N. We found this egret at the end of our walk, along with a green heron and a large carp hanging out near the sand bank. Great Egrets are one of many birds who nests on trees building a platform. They live in Minnesota until fallContinue reading “Great Egret”