A Good Idea Stopped By the Wind

Lately it seems like behind every good idea is a 35-mph wind with gusts near 50-mph. Such was the case today when I wanted to check the effectiveness of a simple camo-cover for my canoe. Was it asking to much to be able to paddle twenty or thirty yards into aquatic plants to “park” and wait for waterfowl to approach? Apparently Mother Nature thinks so and…

Photos from the Church of the Open Stream (Plum Creek)

This morning I listened to our church message while enjoying the natural quiet found along Plum Creek. Quiet might not be the entirely correct descriptive word. Yes, I could hear small birds in the timber, sandhill cranes calling further away, an occasional Canada goose honking overhead, and the wind in the trees… oh the wind in the trees. But I could also hear and concentrate on the Lenten message that was good and thought-provoking.

Before settling in for the message and after I did see and photograph some wildlife and fungi as shown here.

When I Have Time… I Had Time

After returning from the John Beargrease Sled Dog Race a little more than a week ago, I have been waiting for time to record a frame grab or two or three from my night videos and pictures. With today’s much colder temperatures and strong winds, I had the time to mess with the videos rather than fighting the outside conditions.

There are many more frames that I could grab, but for now these work. I really like frame grab 3 (red light on dog). The picture says “cold, dark, night, race, and so much more.” One image clearly tells our story.

Signs of Spring!

Before the wind kicked up today I went out for a hike around Sweet Marsh.

Early morning hikes provide an opportunity to photograph sunrise colors. I did not compose wide angle views for the sunrise and landscape. Instead I opted for closer compositions that included nothing but…

Nothing Special Today

During my travels today I shot only a few pictures.

For wildlife I documented this eastern bluebird perched on a power line after it was done checking out possible nest holes.

When in Waverly I photographed the Waverly Rail Trail Bridge over the Cedar River from an aerial point of view.

“Artsy” Images Today

Today, like yesterday, I was not out at Sweet Marsh during the peak of wildlife activity. While I saw plenty of birds flying, nearly all were much too far away for decent photos. It would have been easy to put the camera down and just hike or go home. Instead, I recorded a couple of “artsy” images.

First and easiest to identify was this feather on water with a water drop on the feather. I could spend many minutes chasing and photographing feathers since each minute movement can completely alter a composition.

My second image was a zig-zaggy reflection of vegetation in water. There isn’t much to say about this one.

A Different Time and Different Photos

Due to a commitment this morning I was not able to walk around Sweet Marsh around sunrise. As a result, and as expected, the amount of wildlife (birds) observed paled compared to the two previous morning photo hikes. Most wildlife seen was far away and better just remembered, not photographed. I did have one close encounter with sandhill cranes and a lone greater white-fronted goose flew over as shown here.

For the birders reading this… Today I saw two snow goose decoy spreads. From a distance they appear somewhat as if a flock of snow geese are on the ground. On closer inspection you will see the white “things” are decoys and there are likely hunters nearby. The season runs January 26 through May 1.

More FOY Birds (for me)

For thirty-minutes or so this morning there was one of the most impressive displays of migratory waterfowl movements at the local level that I can remember. Whether the birds were moving from one local pool to another, or were incoming from distances further out, there were birds… and so many of them.

Highest in numbers were the greater white-fronted and snow geese. In second place may have been the…

A Couple of Interesting Observations

Daylight Savings Time is, for me, a real treat. I am almost always up anyway, so I might as well get started on my day.

Today’s beginning was at Sweet Marsh before the sun came up. I wanted to be in position to observe the activities and there were plenty of things going on.

New species that appeared to have arrived since yesterday were (I have photos of each):

• …

What an Overnight It Must Have Been

Yesterday when I checked out Sweet Marsh the semi-frozen wetland was hosting about the same species and numbers as has been present the past few weeks. Early this morning when I arrived I knew something special happened overnight. The water, the ice, and the sky were dotted with many species and considerable numbers of each. The first wave of the Spring Migration has arrived!

Rather than post pics of the many species I will provide bullet points of the observations that I consider “first of the year.” (I do have pictures of each species.)

• Common Mergansers

• Ring-necked Ducks

• Redheads

• Northern…

Scenic Views From The North Shore and Northwoods

While the primary emphasis of a trip nearly to the Canadian Border in winter was to assist at the John Beargrease Sled Dog Race, I still shot other pictures. Free time did not allow for hours of exploring and shooting, so I worked as quickly as possible when I found compositions of interest. I will share some of them now.

Note: When we arrived conditions were unseasonably mild and people were swimming (yes!) in Lake Superior. When we left a blizzard was beginning and people were surfing (yes!) on Lake Superior. You will see pictures from several days.

A Northwoods Adventure - John Beargrease Sled Dog Race

After too many years of not being able to accept the invitation, this year I joined my “other brother Darrell” at the 40th running of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Race.

Our official task was to stand-by at a crossing point in the middle of nowhere to radio in when teams crossed and their times. Since they were running non-stop (except for mandatory rest hours) day and night, we needed to be in position early in the day through late at night. There was no light, no heat, no Internet, and no skeeters, but there were a million or more stars sparkling through the tall Northwoods forest. It was a surreal experience.

I have many, many photos to share. For now I will pick a few favorites and then I will put something together that shows more of the action.

What a Nice Surprise

At the great healing spot to the north today I was very pleasantly surprised. My family member and I visited our favorite person in all of the cafeterias at the sprawling complex to order our regular - one small decaf coffee and an orange juice for me. Imagine my surprise when the coffee was delivered and I was handed a small sack. Our friend found this Kodak Brownie Holiday camera with flash, thought of me, and gifted me with it. How nice is that!!! Sometimes the little surprises make for the best part of the day. Thank You so very much!!!!

Tonight I tried to see the planets lined up, but so far have only seen Venus and Mercury. The wind made astrophotography very difficult, but I tried.

Feeling Their Oats as the Adults Watch

For a little more than an hour today I watched bald eagles along the Cedar River. Not too much time passed before I recognized what was happening.

Juvenile bald eagles appeared restless and full of energy. They would perch for a few minutes and then seemed to antagonize each other or the waterfowl behaving themselves on the river. The young eagles seemed to really enjoy themselves as they zipped past, quickly taking advantage of the wind.

To the contrary, the adult birds seemed to know not to waste energy if they didn’t have to. There were some flights over the waterfowl, but then the adult birds went to perch where they remained still for 15-20 minutes at a time. All the while, the adult birds were watching the ducks, possibly unsuspecting, below.

After watching several sequences of the young birds acting up in the wind, I was ready to leave the area. My truck was running and I was rolling forward at idle speed when a beautiful adult eagle flew in and landed about 25-yards away. I very quietly and slowly positioned my truck where I could study this magnificent bird. Eventually I did head out, but the eagle remained in the same spot. What a nice time!

A Word Most May Not Be Familiar With and more

Again, at the risk of appearing like Cliff Claven, I am going to introduce most readers to a new word. The word for today is “humic” and it is defined as an “organic nonpetroleum sheen caused by bacteria.”

I found the humic featured today in stagnant water draining out of Segment B (Marten’s Lake) at Sweet Marsh. I don’t think it is anything to worry about. Instead, I studied and photographed it since it was so colorful.

I am also going to share comparison images of a beaver lodge and a muskrat mound. Notice the Canada geese behind the beaver lodge. Look how big that creation is. Muskrat mounds are much smaller and made of cattails, not sticks.

Finally, for kicks and giggles I made a globe where I am front and center in a location I am fond of.

Consistently Inconsistent

If there is one thing consistent about me, it is that I am very inconsistent when it comes to my daily photography themes. Yes, there are times when I concentrate on the same topic day after day, but that does not happen often. Usually I …

The Only Movement Today Was My Camera

Unlike several days last week that were supposed to be “Five Star Days” for critter activities (fish to bite), today was a “One Star Day.” There is no…

The Story of the Young Swan that Caused Concern

This afternoon I came upon this lone young trumpeter swan in the company of many Canada geese gathered on a small area of ice and open water. That the swan was alone was concerning. Might this swan be ill - maybe with avian influenza? May have it been orphaned by parent birds lost to avian influenza? Might the bird be injured? Why was this…

Adding An Unexpected Extra Touch

Bright and early this morning I was on the road to a volleyball tournament when this lone tree breaking up a warm sunrise caught my eye. Of course I pulled over along the road to record the moment. Then a surprise happened. A bald eagle entered the frame to add “life” to and otherwise cold winter sunrise picture. I like the added touch the bird provided.

Awkward Art?

Weather conditions or Mother Nature or something else seemed to be limiting wildlife activities early this morning. With few critters to find and photograph I turned my lens toward the river to practice focusing on birds in flight. (The spring migration will soon be here so I need to practice again so I am…