From Field to Market - A Step in the Process

Unless you live in or travel through the rural areas this time of year, you may be oblivious to the activities occurring in the fields when conditions are optimum. Field after field is being harvested. In the process, there is a bit of dust being created. So far, I have not heard of any fires interrupting the progress. Let’s hope it stays that way.

A Repeat Visit

If you guessed today I enjoyed a repeat visit to Echo Valley State Park, near West Union, you would be correct. All around there were glimpses of soon-to-be beautiful autumn colors. The peak of vibrancy is still a week or more away, but it will soon be here. Let’s not wish for that too soon since cold weather will certainly follow.

The Season and Retro Equipment

On my walk this morning I thought I should be a part of the harvest season by documenting the crop - at least one ear of corn. I expect this field will be harvested in the next few days and this mature corn will be part of thousands of other bushels in bins across the Midwest. It would be interesting to know the future of these kernels - food products or ethanol?

How Do They Know?

Imagine so many birds - big and small, of many species - that fly north in the spring and then they disperse. Throughout the summer those birds nest, incubate and raise young, and then need to fly back south again before winter arrives.

How do those birds - in this case yellow-rumped warblers - know when to depart their northern reaches and where to pause to rest and eat before continuing their journey? Early this morning I found probably hundreds of warblers flitting about in trees along the Wapsipinicon River. For so many to be congregated and to be at the same spot is a mystery to me. Please - somebody explain the intricate details of migration since this process applies to butterflies and other wildlife.

On the River

Early this morning, as the sun was rising, I was out on the river in my canoe. Not only was I paddling, but I also pressed my shutter release buttons a few times. My goals were to document birds (turkey vultures and a great blue heron) and to create images that put viewers in the action.

I am not sure if I was successful on the last goal, but I did end up with interesting images.

Large or Small - Moving Water is Soothing

Whether it is the sound of moving water, the glistening from water moving over and around obstacles, or the habitat often hosting moving water - the effects of moving water are present. For me moving water is soothing and inviting, especially when I have my camera and tripod with me.

The following images were from Dutton’s Cave Park - a small getaway nestled in Fayette County. While small in area, the park offers many pretty sights and sounds making it a nice place to visit.

Simple Scenes

The last couple of days have been busy than ever. Still, I have been able to create images I found interesting.

One of My Favorites

Living where we do - with a landscape of rolling terrain and cultivated crops interspersed with green spaces - landscape photography can be challenging. When we were in Arkansas earlier this week I invested time in photographing rocky waterfalls since they were nearby.

What made the opportunity more worthwhile were the conditions. I was out in light rain after the region had received considerable rain. Everything was wet, the colors were vibrant, and the water was flowing - at higher levels than normal (perfect for the falls!).

This image of Pinion Creek is one of my current favorites from the trip. I think it is safe to say I will return again. Only with luck will the conditions be so pretty again.

Short, Busy Life Span

This common butterfly - the orange Sulphur butterfly -is probably an overlooked butterfly. They are not extremely flashy, tend to appear to be very common, and just don’t often draw our attention.

Today I noticed several feeding on New England Aster blossoms in our prairie area. It was time to grab my camera.

Adult orange Sulphur butterflies are short-lived creatures. Most flutter about for 2-4 weeks. During those few weeks though the butterflies are active pollinators and busy mating. An adult female may lay…

Traveling and Found Both are Beautiful, Neither is Natural

Kristy and I returned tonight from days of traveling. We were introduced to several amazing sites worthy of enjoying and, if you are like me, photographing. Tonight I will share two images from our journey.

This waterfall is not naturally occurring. The falls exist because man dammed a creek to form a lake. The result is a beautiful lake the flows out through old rock formations to create stunning waterfalls. The water, rocks and vegetation are natural, but would not appear in this form if not for the dam.

Not too far away was this magnificent chapel in the woods - the Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel. The glass and steel structure nestled in a mature forest brings tears to your eyes for its beauty and what it symbolizes. We spent many quiet moments here studying the chapel, its construction, and just in thought.

There will be more details later on our trip.

The Next Generation Clean-up Crew

As I traveled today I came across a pair of young turkey vultures practicing their clean-up skills. Not much was left of what appeared to be a road-killed rabbit. It was hard to tell for sure since there was so little left.

Turkey vultures may not appeal to most people, but think of the job these birds do. Shortly after the vultures sense the smell of carrion they are on the ground dining on the meat. Think what our roads would look like without turkey vultures.

By the way, soon the turkey vultures will be headed to warmer climates. Then we will see bald eagles doing what turkey vultures do now. Both thrive on carrion.

For those wanting something prettier, how about this view of sawtooth sunflowers!

From Ten Days Ago

Ten days ago a nature enthusiast friend sent me pictures of wild coffee. When I researched the plant I found another name: orangefruit horse gentian. Regardless of how the plant is known, I had not seen it before and was hoping to find it in 2025. Today was my day to search for the elusive plant - no matter what you call it.

After rereading the message from my buddy I am realizing I made more work out of finding the plant than was necessary. Had I headed in the right direction my “life plant” would have come into view early into the search. Instead, I worked harder. But, I had a good hike and a great time so all is well!

From Ten Days Ago

Ten days ago a nature enthusiast friend sent me pictures of wild coffee. When I researched the plant I found another name: orangefruit horse gentian. Regardless of how the plant is known, I had not seen it before and was hoping to find it in 2025. Today was my day to search for the elusive plant - no matter what you call it.

After rereading the message from my buddy I am realizing I made more work out of finding the plant than was necessary. Had I headed in the right direction my “life plant” would have come into view early into the search. Instead, I worked harder. But, I had a good hike and a great time so all is well!

My Green Heron Buddies, Photoperiods, and Tackle Harvest

Almost every time I am on the river recently, assuming boats and PWCs have not been tearing around, I see two green herons. Due to the frequent observations in the same general area, it is probably safe to assume I am with the same birds.

Again today I saw two green herons in the same area as normal. Today though one of the little herons allowed me to float within a few feet of it while I was pressing my shutter release button. When the bird finally had enough, it did not fly away. Instead the heron walked up on shore and down along the river bank. I did not follow it. The bird was busy “fishing” so I left the area.

Two Weeks and a Couple Days Later

Two weeks and a couple of days ago I explored a local fen in search of Grass of Parnassus and fringed gentians. While I found the Grass of Parnassus were having an outstanding blooming season, I struck out on fringed gentians and bottle (closed) gentians. I planned to return to assure the absence of blooms was due to timing and not something else.

This morning was my time to check the fen again. A smile came across my face when I found many fringed gentians, bottle gentians, and an assortment of other late fall wildflowers.

I will share a sampling of images below. If my video will work, I include more photos from this morning in that clip.

Feathers Above the Water, Feather on the Water, Fungi, and Foliage

My morning paddle trip provided a number of wildlife observations. Above the water there were warblers, an adult bald eagle, and green herons.

On the water was a single feather carrying a water drop.

Fungi was thriving on a log over the water.

And foliage is beginning to change colors next to the water.

It was a pretty morning!

Glimpses of Autumn From Sweet Marsh and the Sweet Water Trail

All around the landscape Mother Nature is providing pretty glimpses of the changing seasons. If a person slows down to look around, the scenes come into view.

I hope you enjoy some of what I saw this morning.

Can’t Put A Finger On It

As I passed this scene at ground level I was mesmerized. Was it the steam rising off the wetland? Was it the long shadows formed by the sun backlighting the trees that are slowly expanding on the green space? Was it the assembly of all?

I don’t know why, but I really liked this scene and am looking forward to more like this as autumn 2025 progresses. I was glad I had my drone with me.

Aerial Seeding of Cover Crops

When a friend of mine mentioned she and a group of others would be working with pilots to aerial seed fall cover crops today, I asked if I might be able to stop by to watch and learn. Wow… what an education I got!

Part of the Mix

Very few locations considered “virgin prairies” exist in Iowa (or probably elsewhere). Most of the prairies we do have were likely the beneficiaries of human help.

Today our Soil and Water Conservation District, in partnership with our NRCS team, and with volunteers from…