Kip’s Comments - April 18, 2025
Damage Assessments
During the overnight hours the area was hit with waves of storms. Included in the storms were strong winds, heavy rain, vivid lightning, and hail. Not too far from us folks are reporting baseball-sized ice balls that broke windows, caused vehicle damage, and really messed things up. We were lucky since I have found no damage… so far.
Lightning - Image 960386
Lightning - Image 960411
Lightning - Image 960424
Lightning - Image 960425
Lightning - Image 960439
Lightning - Image 960445
Hail - Image 1019
As I approached our cabin to assess damages I was treated to a pair of trumpeter swans casually swimming past our cabin and up the river. Creative use of light and shadows helped to make nice compositions of the pretty birds.
Trumpeter Swans on Wapsipinicon River - Image 960593
Trumpeter Swans on Wapsipinicon River - Image 960543
At Sweet Marsh I found a nice selection of shorebirds - yellowlegs (seen here), soras, and I believe a snipe.
Lesser Yellowlegs - Image 960468
Late this afternoon, for the first time that I can remember, we had American white pelicans swimming on the Wapsipinicon River in front of our cabin. Wow!!
American White Pelicans on Wapsipinicon River - Image 960661
Also today a friend of mine found an injured great blue heron in a timber. She called and together we moved the bird to a pet taxi for examination by Black Hawk Wildlife Rehabilitation Project. Sadly, the multiple injuries were too severe for recovery and the bird was humanely euthanized. During the process of moving the bird from the timber to the crate, the heron jabbed that sharp beak into the soft flesh below my left kneecap so quickly I could not begin to avoid it. There was no doubt the bird had struck as we heard it and the defensive move drew blood. Notice the size and sharpness of the beak in the one picture.
Injured Great Blue Heron - Image 960669
Injured Great Blue Heron - Image 960697
Injured Great Blue Heron - Image 960713
