I’m visiting St. Paul this week and smiling with every Minnesotan because today is the first beautiful spring day following months of snow. As the temperature climbed into the 70’s this afternoon, I sat by Jewel Lake on St. Catherine’s University campus and watched the wildlife. An egret stalked prey with its feet in the water as red-winged blackbirds sang all around. A butterfly landed a foot away from me and fanned its wings in the warmth.

Suddenly, I noticed an osprey circling overhead. It’s eyes were glued on the water below and then it dropped. As its talons emerged from the water clutching a fish, a Canada goose became territorial and loudly chased the osprey off to eat its lunch elsewhere. Franticly, I tried to catch this drama unfolding on my iPhone, but my fingers don’t move quickly enough!

Fortunately, but the time I did get my iphone unlocked and the camera app open, I saw a bat circling overhead and caught it on camera soaring around at this strange midday hour.

It seems everyone is ready to come out and watch the last of snow melt.