Winter on Quarter Section Run at Brandt Park

Enjoy relaxing moments in winter along Quarter Section Run at Brandt Park in Denver, Iowa.

Winter on Quarter Section Run at Brandt Park

Random Finds

During my outdoor explorations today I found a few birds of interest.

- The End Of The Watch - Waverly’s Old Cottonwood Tree

One of Waverly's oldest and largest cottonwood trees will be taken down very soon. The tree is suffering from very poor health.

This video and photos memorializes the tree that has stood watch along the Cedar River for many, many years.

Expanding My Skills (This is a photo-geek post)

Lately I have been reading and watching YouTube videos to learn how I can, with little or no cost, use “Focus Stacking” on appropriate images.

Focus stacking involves…

Embrace the White

I don’t know of too many people who would rather have a winter snowstorm rather than the unseasonably mild conditions we enjoyed early this past week. Since we can’t do anything about the weather, I opted to enjoy the fresh, bright white landscape rather than complain about it.

My first photo shows the snow sticking to the north side of the trees. According to what my mother-in-law told me, we have…

Pretty For a Second

As a family member and I were traveling back and forth from the healing spot to the north, I noticed how pretty the heavy snow on conifers was. Then reality hit as I reached the highway. Oh my, what awful, miserable conditions. The pretty was gone and was replaced with weather ugly.

Not ICM, But Similar

Some photographers are experimenting with a technique called “Intentional Camera Movement” or “ICM".” ICM involves taking a long exposure and moving your camera slightly to record lines or shapes, depending how you move your camera. Your base image is often somewhat recognizable behind the lines.

When I have practiced ICM I mount my camera on a tripod resulting in my movements being close to straight lines.

Today, while flying my drone, I noticed how so many distinct shadows of trees in a timber almost appeared like ICM. The final image is recognizable with an additional pattern - similar to iCM.

Random Observations

Knowing the weather is supposed to cool down to normal temps, I again went searching for an over-achieving wildflower. While I did not find blossoms, I did find leaves that I would expect may get frost-nipped in the next few days. The plant species was the…

Nature News -

Today’s post features several topics.

1. Indicators of Spring - I did see and hear a small flock of red-winged blackbirds this morning. For some, the arrival of red-winged blackbirds is their sign of a pending springtime. I will go with that!

2. Since our avian neighbors have done so well the past days providing hints of a warmer season, I thought I would check for an over-achiever wildflower that might have popped up in the warm weather. So far I have struck out. But, I did find two crimson cup fungi showing their colors.

3. Sad news for the eagles in our area… A friend of mine notified me of a dead adult bald eagle within gliding distance of a huge nest visible from Highway 63. From what we can surmise, the eagle may have been attracted to a whitetail deer skeleton and probably was hit by a passing vehicle. I will watch the nest to see if their is any activity. My gut feeling is not good for this season.

4. Very Concerning News - Each of us should read and consider the impacts of this situation - An aquifer supplying water to three growing communities is losing water quantity faster than it can be replaced. Water is a finite asset. We must treat is as such. Check out this article.

A Day of Exploring and Yet Another Indicator of Spring

With temperatures unseasonably mild, I spent the day exploring in Northeast Iowa. One stop was to hike more of Coldwater Creek.

One Dead Goose Does Not Suggest An Outbreak

In a small area of open water where waterfowl have been concentrated this winter I found a dead Canada goose today. This one dead Canada goose alone does…

Another Indicator?

Yesterday I shared photo proof of a northern pintail I found already this spring (one of several). Was that a sign of an early spring? Today I add another possible indicator of the end of winter approaching. Swimming among mallards was a…

A Sign?

Does some of our wildlife know something us humans are unaware of? Today I found a half-dozen northern pintails at Sweet Marsh.

Has the worst of winter passed us and the ducks know it? I certainly hope so!

Same Bird Species - Different Day

I am down a bit for the near future which meant my outdoor efforts today were minimal. Still, I got out for a little while. Bald eagles…

A New Beginning

Every once in awhile a person has a day when activities are out their control. Today will be such a day for me.

Since I was up and around early I walked the perimeter of our ponderosa enjoying the clear late night/early morning sky. Seeing a new day arrive as a starry sky was fading away was calming.

Now it is time to move forward in the day. All is well!

Photography Tip - Position For Impact

For many years I studied images in National Geographic magazines - one publication where with a single photo much impact could be created. Frequently those observations will swirl in the back of my head - how was a scene composed to create visual impact?

This afternoon while hiking I came across several clumps of whitetail deer hair. Seeing the hair led me to believe I was near a carcass and the hair was either blowing from the death scene or being carried by scavengers. With little effort I found what remained of the dead deer - a young buck. I quickly recognized an opportunity for a photography teaching/learning moment.

My first photo was composed as I suspect many people would… hold the camera at eye level, frame up the remains, and press the shutter release button.

Then I decided to create an image with impact. How could I do that? By composing the scene with the deer skull, pink underside of the hide, and antlers close with the background falling out of focus.

Both images convey the same message, “I found a dead deer.” The second image delivers that message with impact - almost an “in your face” view of “I found a dead deer.”

Coldwater Creek Wildlife Management Area

When I woke this morning I made a quick decision to drive to the Coldwater Creek Wildlife Management Area to hike to the source of Coldwater Creek. This was not a huge undertaking, but not a walk in the park either. Due to crossing the trout stream multiple times, I did the hike wearing neoprene chest waders.

Kristy and I had explored a very small part of Coldwater Creek last year, but since we did not have…

Canada Geese Having Fun or Saving Energy

While watching along the Cedar River today I observed a flock of Canada geese floating down river on a sheet of ice. I don’t know if they were having fun or saving their energy.

View a video of this at the following link:

Canada Geese on Ice Floating Down the River

Ice Harvest Festival 2026

This morning I observed (and photographed) the 2026 Ice Harvest Festival at Big Woods Lake in Cedar Falls, Iowa. I will share some photos here, but I encourage you to watch this short video to see an Amish fellow and his sons demonstrate ice harvesting.

“Scenes from the 2026 Ice Harvest Festival at Big Woods Lake”

Warm Season Reminders

During my woodland hike this morning I saw not one, not two, but a bunch of American robins bouncing around in the trees. Speaking only for myself, I am ready to hear these birds and their warm-season family members on a regular basis. in other words, I am ready for spring.