MAY 2009 WEATHER & PHENOLOGY IN REVIEW

From the North Shore of Little Rock Lake

Jim Hovda, Rice MN 56367-0265 jhovda.rice@jetup.net

I was surprised to observe in my weather records that last years average cold temp was colder than this years. To me, this has been a winter that just does not want to go away. My other hope was that we would continue to receive at least a moderate amount of rain. This, it would turn out, did not come to pass.

WEATHER LAST MAY: A little cooler and a lot more rain. There were several moderate rains spread out throughout the month totaling 3.79". Like this year, no snow in April. The 2008 snow year ended with 46.2" of the white stuff compared to the 59.7" this year. Total rainfall for last year stood at 9.90". There were no significant weather events.

WEATHER: Weather-wise, this was a mundane weather month. Not even a good rain storm. Lot’s of low temps in the 30's with the low temp of 29.8 (ice in the bird bath), 29.8 degrees the low temp for the month on the 11th. On the high side of things a very average month. Our average low was 40.7 degrees and the average high was 68.48 degrees. On the 29^th the electronic thermometer recorded 80.2 degrees, our monthly high. On the 20^th it was 93 degrees in Minneapolis while here in Rice it only reached 78.9 degrees. They had several very warm days with temps in the 90's. One only had to venture as far as Monticello to note a drop in the temp. The cold front was successful in keeping the temps in the high 70's in St. Cloud. In fact, our furnace was still producing heat as late as the 17^th.

Regarding rain, not much to report. We had some form of rain on no less than eleven days. However, seven rain events produced .01" or less of the rain we need. The most rain fell on the 16^th when higher powers granted us .25" of rain. Our first thunder storm occurred on the 16^th. According to the weather grues, this dry month was the third driest month on record. Or, since 1934. We only received .4" of rain in May.

WEATHER RECORDS: Our local records will start out with temps. Our coldest day here was a chilly 18 degrees in 1907 while out greater MN recorded a low of 4 degrees above zero at Pine River. On the warmer side of the picture, our local high was an 85-degree reading in both 1934 and 2006 while the out-state reading was a blistering 112 degrees in 1934 at Maple Plain. A difference of 108 degrees in a month of change from winter to summer. The most precipitation in May occurred in 1912 when 9.68" of rain fell in the St. Cloud area. Yes, snow did fall in May and 3.2" fell here in 1971.

PHENOLOGY: Mother nature kept pushing plants and critters to remind them that spring, even tho it seemed cold, had arrived. And, she reminded her fold, that there is only so much time to accomplish the needed tasks at hand. So, regardless of the cool temps, the birds and critters arrived.

Birds first - - Steve Bogie made what he thought, was an unusual observation when he saw a sharp-shinned hawk on the ground beside the road. (I agreed.) It would not move when he drove by so he stopped. Upon closer examination, he found that the hawk captured a stripped gopher and was working on the second course when Steve came by. I was surprised. I thought this hawk only feasted on small birds. I was wrong. We seem to have a good supply of sharp-shinned hawks in this area and there is no shortage of gophers. Right on schedule, the first hummingbirds arrived on the 2^nd. Yes, we had the feeders out. Sure enough, the next day the orioles arrived. The 6^th ushered in our first observation of a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak. On the 7^th our first ever observation of an Orchard Oriole. They are a little different that the Northern or Baltimore Oriole. The Grey Catbird arrived on the 8^th. Jana Gondeck observed the gorgeous Blue Indigo Bunting. They are the prettiest blue, especially in the sun. On the 12^th along with the blue bunting a Scarlet Tanager came to the feeder to feast on a cake suet and sunflower seeds. Coming home late on the 16^th I heard the “hooting” of the great horned owl. There were no answers to his “hooting.” Tho others have reported the Cape May Warbler in some numbers, I did not see one until the 17^th. I was thrilled on the 19^th to see a Red-headed Woodpecker eating cracked corn that had spilled on the ground. I got right on the phone to notify the noted naturalist Jim Gilbert. The numbers of these birds have been on the decline and he is most interested in these reports. Unusual, the American Pelicans were still patrolling Little Rock Lake at the end of the month.

Other observations and events include the first lawn mowing on the 6^th, ferns poking sprouts up and tulips in full bloom on the 9^th. Ice on the bird bath on the 11^th, the Service Berry tree in full bloom on the 18^th, two mountain ash trees came into full bloom on the 24^th followed by the American Cranberry bushes blooming on the 25^th. The Mountain Ash trees still in full bloom on the 28^th and there must have been at least a couple hundred bees of all kinds landing on the trees flowers. Water level measurements for Little Rock Lake: 74.5" on the 1^st, 78.25" on the 15^th and 78.25" on the 31^st.

NATURE NOTE: Hummingbirds beat their wings about 50 times a second so they seem as a blur and their tongues have groves on the sides to help catch insects. Birds & Blooms Jun-Jul 2008