I Wonder Where It Went

One day last week I ducked while behind my windshield when a short-eared owl nearly hit my truck. Dusk was well on its way and I would guess the owl was preparing for some time on the hunt. (By the way, short-eared owls are an uncommon observation in this area.)

After the owl took flight the bird was immediately harassed by a half-dozen or so…

Different Cardinal Thoughts

On Christmas Eve Day I shared an image of a male northern cardinal that appeared at just the right time to remind me of important people in our lives that are no longer with us. With the holiday coming, the cardinal was a good omen to see. Today I share with you different thoughts on cardinals.

Shortly after waking and eating breakfast I was outside preparing to move snow from our driveway. As I walked toward the garage a bird of prey took flight - likely either a Cooper’s hawk or a sharp-shinned hawk. I was not afforded enough time to identify the bird with certainty, but I do know it was a bird of prey - a bird that feeds on other birds with great efficiency.

Since the prey bird was flying away and out of view, and since I have plenty of sparrows to feed the bird (bird feeding in a literal sense), I did not look around for any clues to the story behind the hunt and attack. As I began moving snow what had happened became very apparent. My first clue was a…

Merry Christmas from Kristy, Me, and this little Saw-whet Owl!

Holiday Reflections

For as long as I can remember the appearance of male cardinal, especially when not expecting one to appear, has been symbolic of someone no longer with us - an avian reminder of people of importance in our lives. In our home we hang a male northern cardinal decoration on our Christmas tree as an inclusion effort for those we miss so dearly.

As I was driving and looking around and thinking today about the Christmas holiday and how so much has changed (with not all of the changes being positive), this lone male cardinal paused next to me along a secluded, snow-filled road.

There he sat in the warm sun, even while temperatures were in the single digits with a wind blowing approaching 30-miles per hour. His unexpected appearance on this Christmas Eve Day, at a time when my mood was more reflective than outgoing, reminded me of special people we won’t be seeing this holiday - as if the bird was indicating “things are OK... everything will work out.”

Ironically, the setting for this cardinal picture was busy and cluttered, like life often becomes. I know there will be more still, serene times, just as I accept that an easy life was never promised. And even on my worst day, life is still better than some who don’t know if they will make it through the day. So, I have it pretty good and for that I am thankful, though some days I need reminding!

For each of you reading this I hope you have a male cardinal (or something symbolic) that appears this holiday season so you too can pause to reflect on those no longer with you, or how times have changed, but also so you can be reassured that things are OK, even as life is filled with challenges. Life won’t always be easy, but you are not alone either.

May your male northern cardinal appear and give you peace during this Christmas season!

Weathering the Weather

Today was one of those days when a family member and I were scheduled to travel to Rochester, Minnesota. Some might think that with today’s weather conditions it should have been an immediate decision to forgo the scheduled visit. That is easier to say than to do. We did have a back-up plan, but did not know what we would face on that trip, especially considering the time of that appointment. So, travel to Minnesota we did knowing what our challenges would be.

Our trip northward was not too bad until we were about 15-miles south of the Minnesota border. That was when we first faced…

During the Blizzard

Over the years I have learned that the more uncomfortable winter conditions are for me, the more likely I am to be able to approach close enough for photographs of horned larks, lapland longspurs, and/or snow buntings. When I had a few minutes, just as the wind was beginning to kick up, I went out for a search for those three species. I was somewhat successful with…

Same Farmstead, Another View

Not too long ago I shared views of this old farmstead in rural Iowa. As I drove past it today I had to stop to document the cold, unwelcoming setting this offers. Snow is on the ground, the skies are a dark, drab gray, and a person can almost feel…

The Edge of Light

Long before the sun was high enough in the sky to do easy photography I spotted this bald eagle, presumably with its mate, in a protected tree setting. Both birds were blocked from the sun just inching up over the horizon.

As I looked at the birds both took flight. I did not realize it when taking the picture, but after viewing the files on my computer I noticed…

Thought Provoking Geese

When I spotted so many Canada geese congregated together, along with a half-dozen or so trumpeter swans, it made me think about challenges some areas faced with avian influenza. Where avian influenza was documented, the effect for poultry producers was swift and dramatic. Millions of birds were…

Two Interesting Observations

After a week had passed since we took an air boat out to check on a possibly injured or ill swan, this morning I looked at them again. As happened recently, I did not see any bird that appeared less than healthy. That is a good thing!

One thing that I did notice was there was not one, but…

Priorities

Our family has been blessed in that we all have jobs. For that we are thankful. However, sometimes our jobs require us to make adjustments, including during the holidays. Such is the case this year.

Instead of searching for and shooting wildlife or outdoor images today, we…

Today Was a Blur

For more than one reason today was a blur. My schedule was full of commitments making for a time blur. Traveling in the snow and blowing snow made for a visual/cognitive blur. At times visibility was so low that it…

No Filters Needed

There is no doubt the weather this afternoon really tanked out. A thick glaze of ice on roads and sidewalks and everything else made productive functioning challenging. Cars and trucks were going off the road, jack-knifing, rolling, and who knows what else. And, many drivers drove faster than was safe for conditions. That’s the way it was here in Northeast Iowa today and there was nothing we could do about it.

Being one who finds “weather” to make for photogenic compositions, I did look around a bit, before I had to respond to an accident. Whether it was…

A Request and a “Thank You” for Mother Nature

Dearest Mother Nature,

After yesterday and today I think most of us are understanding you will set the tone for the outdoors each day. I, speaking on behalf of many, request that you please withhold the violent winds that blew across the landscape these past days. We understand… no need for more of yesterday and last night.

I would also, on behalf of many, like to thank you for the beautiful cloud display we enjoyed this afternoon. Those of us in our section of God’s green earth experienced, at least for a few minutes, what it might be like to live next to a glacier. The juxtaposition of clouds and earth was stunning and much appreciated.

While we are talking…

Worse Than Hurricane Nicole

A little more than a month ago our family experienced Hurricane Nicole first hand while in Orlando, Florida. I suppose it could be said that by the time the storm was inland to Orlando, Hurricane Nicole had been downgraded to “tropical storm” status. Regardless, we were there for the storm.

During the passing of Hurricane Nicole across the state of Florida I woke during the night to see and listen to a hurricane. I will be honest, the storm…

You Learn To Appreciate All

I have never been one to dislike the very common blue jays that inhabited our yard. Many other species garnered preferential treatment, but I did not dislike the species. Perhaps their aggressive behavior toward other birds put the blue jays on a “watch list,” but I still like them.

Now that we live in a different habitat/environment, an area lacking in extensive cover for a variety of species, I have come to appreciate blue jays more now than ever before. We have many of them, they bring color to a stark agricultural environment, and even their many vocalizations add interest to outside activities.

Every now and then a blue jay drops a feather under our bird feeders. Today I memorialized a feather against a dark background.

The feather also gave me an opportunity to refresh my macro skills. Since the wildflowers have dried up and insects and butterflies are gone, my macro work has become sparse. Today was an opportunity to run through the process again for close focus work.

Who Can Say They Have Done This (and more)

Late yesterday there were additional reports of an ill or injured trumpeter swan on a local lake. This morning a group of us put an air boat on the lake to attempt to rescue the swan. A wildlife rehabber was present and ready to begin caring for the swan. But, when the air boat started up, every bird…

Much Going On

Yesterday I was tagged in a Facebook post describing a trumpeter swan that may not be well. This situation is almost like deja vu as last year, about this time, I rescued a trumpeter swan with the help of a friend. That swan was suffering from lead poisoning.

Early this morning I drove down to the lake to check on the swan. While there I counted 76 trumpeter swans congregated around one small area of open water. Unlike last year, where the ill swan was isolated - either by its actions or…

Pretty, But Challenging

If a person did not have to drive this morning, the landscape was very, very pretty and something to appreciate. But, the snow and ice that decorated trees and pine cones and dried plants did make for miserable driving.

I did not go far due to working, but what I experienced was cruddy and pretty at the same time.

Two Views

When possible I enjoy a "Full Moon Paddle." Obviously with hard water that was not possible this month. Instead I soaked in the crisp, cold air.

A person may have expected the experience to be nearly silent, but it was not. The sound of ice being formed resembled a large man with a growling belly under my feet. As the ice groaned and moaned, with an occasional cracking of the ice, it was really much noisier than I expected.

The second image shows…