Canoeing the Cedar and Naked Ladies Causing Confusion

Since my post two days ago we spent more time outdoors exploring and documenting our natural world. Several fun hours were enjoyed canoeing the Cedar River from the Cedar-Wapsie Access to Black Hawk Park in Cedar Falls. Since the distance was relatively short, we did not push too hard, often putting our paddles in the water only to adjust our direction of travel.

Following are some photos made on that paddling trip.

Alice Wyth Wildlife

Early this morning I paddled my canoe on Alice Wyth Lake in George Wyth State Park. For most of my outing I was the only person on or around the lake. I did share the space with a number of wildlife species. I will share some photos below.

Things I Am Thankful For

In addition to being upright and healthy, there are three things I am thankful for today.

#1 - I am so very thankful to have been able to spend the day today fishing with two of my grandsons. This angling outing was a long time coming, but very worth it. We fished, we caught fish, and we released the fish. Our time spent together was very worthwhile. Thanks boys!

What Did You Do Today?

I might be wrong, but I have an idea I may have had an unusually odd day compared to normal (if there is such a thing). So far I have had no EMS or other emergency calls, no EMA responses, and no meetings - that is good. I did, however, have some interesting wildlife encounters I will share with you.

This afternoon I was notified of a young trumpeter swan that was caught on or by something in a shallow pond. The parent birds were agitated as the young swan attempted to free itself from whatever was restraining it. I went out to see if I could help the swan. To access the bird required wearing chest waders, walking in head-high grass filled with bugs, and having frogs and other critters move through the grass as I trekked to the pond. The good news is that on my arrival I saw nothing - no swans at all. When I approached closer, two adult trumpeter swans and two cygnets swam out into the water. From what I could tell, all was well with each bird family member. That effort became unnecessary - a good thing! Thanks for the notification!

Upping My Game with a Surprise

Today it happened. I took delivery of what I hope is an improved wireless mic system for my cameras (Nikon DSLR, GoPro, cell phone, and who knows what else).

For a long time I have accepted the audio from the built-in microphones. Eventually the low quality got the best of me and I ordered a Movo wireless mic system. For the money the Movo equipment…

Mutual Respect, Mutual Apologies, Mutual Appreciation

As I paddled the Wapsipinicon River tonight near Frederika, my pace was slow… very slow. My forward movement was so minimal that my paddle blades hardly made a sound as I sliced through the water. At such a rate I see more, I hear more, and I tend to enjoy more.

While making my way down the river I was surprised to find a…

During the Showers

Finally… after much too long we are receiving some rain. So far not enough, but I won’t complain yet. Please rain, keep falling.

During a brief drive in the rain I found some wildflowers in positions for photography. I will share them here.

Since My Last Post

Since my last post I have paddled with this special guy, fished with this special guy, and found a male monarch butterfly I thought was dead, but was not. Since the butterfly was still alive, I moved it to some milkweed plants in hopes it does whatever it can before its short life ends. Then again, maybe it has already?

Lessons Learned

This morning I spent a couple of hours doing a video test comparing the video output of my GoPro camera to my Nikon DSLR. Specifically I was looking for the stability (or lack of) on the Nikon camera. I already knew the GoPro would be good, but what would the Nikon look like - would it be stable or not?

I set my focus on my Nikon and then switched autofocus off to avoid having the camera search for focus. What I did not do was…

Just One Picture

Every morning my mother and I text back and forth “Good Morning.” Today I was able to add “I just got off the water from paddling in the fog. It was beautiful!” That statement couldn’t have been more true. The fog, unless you had to drive in it, was so nice to enjoy.

My mother replied that she hoped…

Enjoy the Easy Days

This wood duck was taking it easy on a log with two other woodies this morning. All I could think of was how today is easy, but challenging days are coming soon. There will be adding fat stores, migration, difficult…

Quiet Comes

As my wife and I were eating supper and discussing our days, I explained to her how I was ready to load my backpack in my truck or Jeep to run away for a short time. I have done that before and am ready to go again - not because I am lazy or trying to escape from anything, but to find calm again. Wilderness is soothing.

Where I want to go will not have rides, or gimmicks, many people, or souvenirs. Instead, I will go where there…

Dominoes

Late this evening I was invited to attend a meeting where a suggested change will be discussed. Without going into too many details, the change would create a habitat change that, like dominoes, would have a series of cascading effects on a number of smaller, hardly of concern to most, wildlife species. I don’t know if I will be there to listen or to provide input.

Today’s photo features one of what I call a lesser species - something we take for granted since we don’t hunt or fish them…

Flowers and Faith

While listening to our church message today during my morning walk, I was also soaking in the blessings we have around us. The prairie at Big Woods Lake has…

A Pleasant Surprise on the River

For the first time ever my quiet paddling and photography outing on the Wapsipinicon River was not a solo adventure. Yes, I was alone in my canoe. No, nobody was with me as I prowled the backwaters with my Nikon. But, much to my surprise, as I paddled out of a backwater cove I found a….

Ditch Lily Rebuttal

Back on July 2 I shared an image and description of the ever-popular, colorful, widespread ditch lilies that were in full bloom. There I shared how the plant is not native to the Midwest, and how we could consider the ditch lilies exotic/Invasive species if or when the plant spreads without control.

Today I want to provide information on one of Iowa’s orange-colored lilies that is native to North America - the Turk’s cap lily.

You can quickly identify the Turk’s cap lily by the way the…

Seen On My Walk

During my morning walk I found many wildflowers and some critters. I will share them here.

River Crossing

Recently I shared with a fellow photographer the names of some outdoor photographers I follow on a regular basis. Often I benefit from their learned lessons.

Although much of my photography features wildlife, the photographers that I follow are landscape photographers. As I study their work, it becomes clear why much of my work concentrates on wildlife images - our scenic landscape photography options are not like the videos - wide, grandiose, and easy to access woodlands or water scenes.

It would be easy give up and wait for random landscape photography opportunities. Instead, I am…

River Relaxing

A few years ago a like-minded friend of mine published a book titled “Forest Bathing.” In the book Suzanne describes techniques for gaining the most from outdoor experiences. Suzanne’s book put into words what I have been practicing for years - allowing nature to calm my spirit, soothe my soul, and make me a better person. I refer to my outings as my “Nature Fixes,” as if being outside is something that requires a doctor’s prescription.

I thought about “Forest Bathing” tonight as I…

Cute Trouble (at times)

I spent some time this morning watching a bird feeding area. The “wild” visitors had a choice of food: millet, sunflower seeds, seed cakes, jelly, and hummingbird water, along with a bird bath.

When so many options exist for food, the variety of visitors - feathered and furred - is amazing. Even though I saw plenty of birds, my attention was drawn to a red squirrel that capitalized on what was probably the most expensive of the food offerings - the seed cake.

Being a good neighbor, I…