A Challenging ID and One of Three Forms Plant

While photographing a monarch butterfly sampling one swamp milkweed blossom after another I noticed movement about 30-yards away. I knew I was seeing a shorebird, but which one?

Sandpipers - shorebirds - have never been easy for me to identify down to the individual species level. For some their differences are subtle. And, we don’t easily see them most of the warm weather months. Toss in the detail of…

Butterflies, Blossoms, Birds, or All of the Above?

During my exploration today with my Nikon glass I had no defined intent for photo subjects. I was headed toward water where I expected I might find something interesting. However, my travels were interrupted when wildflowers and…

Up Close Flora and Fauna Assessment

After not doing a flora and fauna assessment in the past week or so, I thought it might be time…

Away For a Personal Project

While I was away for a personal project I shot a photo or two (or more) each day. I thought I would share some with you here.

Smelling The Flowers, Less is More, and Random

As I was standing behind a tree today watching birds, a cottontail rabbit reminded me what we should all do at least once in a while - stop and smell the flowers. Then the rabbit began nibbling at the blossoms. I do not suggest we do any wildflower nibbling unless…

The Squeak

As I was carrying camera equipment and my paddle off my dock this morning following an outing on the river, an unusual squeak caught my attention. On first glance I could not identify the source. After the second squeak I saw movement in the water along the river bank. I soon knew the sound of the squeak - a northern water snake had a large bullfrog in its mouth from a side bite.

The frog was fully inflated when I found the two locked in a predator/prey battle. The frog would do its best to push itself away while the snake would lift and roll the frog.

I don’t think the side bite on such a large frog was the best approach. Eventually the frog gave a good two-legged kick and escaped the jaws of the snake.

Two Marlins and One Jim

While at the Bremer County Fair I received a call about a bat in a home. The reporting party was not able to find the bat, so I was called.

Eventually I made my way to the scene of the great bat caper where I enlisted the help of two people. I was thinking the collective animal capturing prowess of the…

Possible Million Dollar Snake

Today I found what may, under appropriate conditions, be a snake worth millions of dollars.

The reptile for today was a Graham’s crayfish snake - probably a female based on the size. Graham’s crayfish snakes are considered a threatened species in…

Light and Shadows and Rain

As this billion dollar rain fell today I still wanted to get out with my camera. I knew my options would be limited for photography, but I was confident I could make something work by shooting out of the window of my truck.

My photos for the day began and ended with a…

”Birding is So Difficult”

Every now and then I am honored to spend time with a friend named “Buttercup.” We share a several commonalities - work careers, a passion for EMS, lives that are frequently interwoven due to situations in our midst, and the needs to unwind. We tend to lean on each other. Our unwindings do not happen often enough, but when they do we make the best of them. This morning was such a time.

Even though paddling challenged a comfort zone, we still enjoyed….

All You Can Eat!

While the variety on this particular menu is sparce, the quantity appears to be more than abundant, assuming you are maybe one, two, or three spiders.

I am guessing the spider web that caught these mayflies was created by a single spider that likely does not share. Imagine how big that spider might grow if it eats each of these mayflies!

Friend or Foe

Out in our yard we apparently have at least one, if not more, red-winged blackbird nests. I know because both the male and multiple females have turned protective. When I walk certain parts of our yard I am scolded and have birds flying near me. Such behavior had me wondering - are red-winged blackbirds friends or foe?

Let’s address the “foe” question first.

More Than Birds

During my paddling this morning I saw (and photographed) more than birds. Even though birds were my primary interest, other “things” of interest did catch my eye.

Wildflowers are moving quickly toward the end of season flowers. All were pretty.

Thanks Mom and Mom Nature!

Shortly after the sun began rising above the horizon I roamed our ponderosa to take in the fog and the coolest of the day temperatures. The humidity was already high and fog blanketed the area. Still, there were flowers to be seen so I did.

The first flowers to catch my eyes were not wild, but were a gift from my mother. The poor plants looked…

Dragonflies Have Eyelashes!

My early morning walk was stopped abruptly this morning when I noticed this common green darner dragonfly on the road. The dragonfly was still alive. I think I just found its resting spot for the night. Since the dragonfly was cooperative I decided to…

Today Was Mostly Subdued

Except for a couple of quick views of a prothonotary warbler this morning, my pictures for the day featured subdued colored birds. In fact, some species are really challenging to make them look showy. I guess they are not and that is OK.

My highlight for the day was identifying and photographing chimney swifts. I was not able to shoot real close images of this unusual bird, but did manage some photos. For those who may be unaware, chimney swifts cannot….

Helicopter Crop Dusting - Ladage International Helispot

For several hours today the road near one of our driveways served as a reloading/refueling spot for a crop dusting helicopter.

An unexpected guest of that nature caught my attention with my camera in hand. If you are like me, you could watch this activity all day. Enjoy the video!

For my public safety friends, notice how I was able to use the word "Helispot" in a non-incident command emergency setting!

So Much To See, So Thankful To See It

This morning Kristy asked how my morning paddle went. I told her I saw so much and how I enjoy the Wapsipinicon River.

Will you please take a look? See if you thought there was much happening today.

Different Views

With each new day summer seems to be passing by - too quickly in fact. During my early morning outing my goal was to observe and photograph different views of ordinary summer subjects in…

Worth It For Me, Not Recommended For Others

During my travels tonight I spotted two Culver’s root plants in bloom. I thought maybe I had missed them for this growing season when I was caring for my mother. But no, there they were, in full bloom.

I stopped my truck, grabbed my camera, wandered down into the ditch filled with tall vegetation and water from today’s rain, blindly jumped the water, and was soon near the plant’s with the white spike blossoms.

While I took a chance in the tall brush and water for the blossoms, I wouldn’t recommend doing the same for others. Unless of course you don’t mind bug bites and itchy spots. For me it was worth it!