To the Guy Who Gives Me Grief Sometimes About Birding

I have this family member who has been in the area for the past few days for the holidays. When time allows, he enjoys tromping around with me on my photo trips. During our wanderings in the woods I asked him to keep his eyes open for a long-eared owl since I have not seen one for years. I realized tonight that I was asking him to watch for something that maybe he had not seen. So, this post is meant for…

Got One and Looking Cold

This morning I saw four red-shouldered hawks that were completely against me photographing them in any form. Attempt after attempt ended when the birds took flight. Little time passed before I ended my efforts and did something else.

A few hours later I passed through the area and…

New Year’s Day 2026

My ask is unrealistic, but please Mother Nature, can every winter day be just like today?

Thank you for your consideration!

You Are Safe… Do Not Jump

I was headed west toward a bridge over the east fork of the Wapsipinicon River when a small critter walking on the bridge caught my attention. From a distance I thought maybe a feral cat was crossing the river. When I was closer I quickly recognized an opossum was hiking across the bridge.

In my rear view mirror I noticed a truck was approaching too quickly for me to stop and wait for the ‘possum to move across the bridge. My only option was to…

One Bird… Footprints in the Snow

Within the past couple of days a young birder reported the appearance of a rare bird (for Iowa) in a wooded area north of Cedar Falls. Other birders confirmed the presence of the bird with photos. With that information birders have come out to try to see this uncommon avian visitor.

I tromped on the wooded trail today looking for the bird, but was…

Grandkids’ Snow Fort

When angry Auntie Blizzard hammers you with wind and blowing snow that creates a big snow drift, what is a Gramps supposed to do? Well, this one got a good start on a snow fort for his grandkids. The construction is now at a phase where I need small bodies…

Crawlers Before the Blizzard

Shortly after waking up I went outside to look around to check on whether my neighbors were going to answer an important question or if I had to. Since we continue to be blanketed by fog, I could not see very far - certainly not to the neighbors. (To be honest, our closest neighbor is ½ mile away.)

So, I am going to answer the question so many are wondering. Yes, there are nightcrawlers out on December 28, 2025, just 2 ¼ hours before a “Blizzard Warning” is supposed to go into effect.

As I type this the morning news is on. I am hearing about other parts of the country struggling with 4” of snow. Here in Iowa we must be tougher. We have crawlers in the morning and a blizzard in the afternoon and life goes on.

Mixed Emotions

During my outdoor photography explorations today I came upon a situation that I have mixed emotions about. What I found was not appropriate or legal, but may have been better than other options. Allow me to explain.

That Dreadful Gray Sky Again!!!

While I appreciate our warm weather and disappearing snow, the fog that accompanies these conditions certainly does not positively impact…

A Christmas “Life” Bird!

Merry Christmas!!

While driving in fog for a Christmas visit I spotted and photographed this bird. I will admit that most of the morning I was thinking this was a female or immature American kestrel.

Yet, the bird did not look right - there were no dark vertical bars near the eyes. It was time to use my bird ID app that, after several attempts without changing, indicated I had photographed a…

All is Calm

As a very holy day approaches, all is calm at our little spot on the dirt ball. Some bare earth is showing, but I think we still qualify as having a “White Christmas.” Hopefully my family members on the west coast experience no impact from the weather bearing down on them. May the holidays be bright and cheery for all!

Significance of Color

Included in my list of life experiences where I learned something is a collection of times I have dropped through ice while ice fishing. Years ago I had a run of incidents where every other year I went down due to believing the “first ice” or “last ice” made for the best ice fishing conditions.

In a spirit of transparency I will admit that I was a slow learner. The last time I lost the “will the ice support me challenge” proved to be a bit hairy for getting out. Since then I have been cautious, perhaps extra careful. I now need more ice than the “Ice Safety” charts show before I go out. And when I see the ice changing colors I become immediately concerned that…

Do You Know Anyone Else?

There is no doubt that I have been blessed to have so many interesting wildlife interactions occur while carrying my camera equipment. More often than not, what I see and record tends to be common - birds at feeders, birds taking flight, those sorts of images most might capture.

In the process of observing and photographing wildlife I sometimes see things most people will never observe. And, I sometimes record images most would not consider - such as critter bodily function activities.

Such was the case when Kristy and I were watching this…

Be Listening… Somebody Knows Something

Yesterday I was made aware of dead Canada geese in a ditch in the southwest part of the county. It is possible the person who notified me was concerned the geese died of avian influenza. My first response was to notify the DNR. Today I went to look at the birds and found them as described - dead in the ditch.

After seeing probably hundreds of dead waterfowl as a result of avian influenza last winter, I was pretty certain these birds had not succumbed to any disease. When I examined them I found visible injuries consistent with being shot.

I have been a Hunter Education instructor for decades and know Hunter Ed students devote time to game recognition and respect. For that reason, I will not attribute what appears to be a wanton waste of game birds to a hunter or hunters. These birds likely died and were wasted at the hands of shooters - not hunters. Hunters do better than this.

And, I wonder if the same person or persons that shot these geese also shot and ultimately fatally injured the young trumpeter swan from a couple of weeks ago in Waverly.

Iowa DNR Hunting Regulations specifically address wanton waste of wildlife. There are penalties for this type of behavior. If you know who may be responsible for this (or the shooting of the swan), please call the “Turn-in-Poachers” Tip Line at 800-532-2020. Your information may make you eligible for a reward.

Somebody has information about these birds. If that somebody starts talking, I hope any who hear it report it. This has to stop.

I Was This Old Before I Learned

Imagine my surprise when I watched a hen mallard lift its head above the water with a frog firmly in its grip. Then the mallard beat the poor frog senseless before…

Personal Challenge Met - Not Pretty, But Met

Some time ago I challenged myself to find and photograph three winter bird species: horned larks, Lapland longspurs, and snow buntings. The horned larks were relatively easy to find. Lapland longspurs presented more of a challenge. Snow buntings were not happening… nope, I just could not find any.

Today that changed when I found a flock of snow buntings on a remote gravel road in Northern Iowa. The picture of the bunting is not that good, but I did photograph the snow bunting. Now I need to improve my images of all three species!

Giveth and Taketh

Mother Nature gave us calm, warm (for winter) temperatures, and now she is taking them away. Our pleasant conditions have been replaced with falling temperatures and wind… oh the danged wind.

While conditions were still nice I went out looking around for any wildlife I might find. I saw several bald eagles, but only this one was in a position to be photographed.

The App was Correct… Sort of…

Under “Tool Box” tab in the "Iowa DNR” app is “Feeding Times.” This tool provides star ratings for fishing with one star being a slow fishing day and five supposedly being a good day for fishing. Along with the star ratings are suggested feeding times for when activity should be the best for the day. Long ago a friend of mine who is no longer with us (Arley) told me about the feeding time and moon phases.

When I talked to Arley about the feeding times I correlated his fishing activity to my wildlife observations/photography success (or lack of). When the charts suggested low activity on the water, my photo work seemed to…

If You Must, Be Careful

This morning I was notified of a downed Canada goose in Waverly. Concerned citizens were hoping for the best for the goose and I was asked if I could check on it. From the initial request I was apprehensive. After last year’s avian influenza outbreak, I wondered what might be ailing this goose.

By the time I reached the goose this afternoon it was dead…

Mostly Birds Except for One Mammal - And Bird Feeding

During my outdoor explorations today I found a variety of photo-worthy birds and one lone opossum out in the snow.