Kip’s Comments - January 14, 2023 — LadagePhotography.com

I Did It, I Stayed Awake!!

A growing number of friends and family have learned that if I sit still, or certainly if I lay down for too long - like a few minutes - I quickly fall asleep. I have no problem dozing off, regardless of conditions.

This afternoon I went out looking for short-eared owls, hoping to maybe see one in good light. That effort involved searching in frozen marsh habitat, woody wetland vegetation, and on some grassy areas.

After one of my wandering sessions I reached an elevated knoll where I took a break to watch and wait. I was dressed in multiple layers that covered everything but my eyelids and the skin around my eyes. Soon I was lying on the ground in wait - I suppose expecting the short-eared owls to fly directly overhead.

As comfortable as I was, including being horizontal, I did not fall asleep. For the entire couple of hours I was alert and oriented, including during my horizontal time. That my friends, is unusual! I did it, I stayed awake during a time when I normally would have dozed off! This picture shows my pleasant prairie nap-time setting. (Temp: 32-degrees, winds upper 20-mph with higher gusts.

I saw no short-eared owls today and neither did the other owl watchers. Northern harriers, a little brown bird (sparrow family), and a couple of barred owls calling in the distance was all that was seen or heard.

This morning I did find and photograph a couple of bald eagles and one American kestrel on a power line.