A Canoe and a Camera - Wapsipinicon River - Frederika

After a terrible night of sleep (if you call it that - multiple phone calls and acorns falling on the roof troubling the dog), I finally got up for a while to photograph the night sky over the river. Just a few hours later I finally got up and stayed up. Since I was up early, I thought I might as well go paddling to see what I might find and photograph leftover from the wild evening activities.

Today my critter count…

A Canoe and a Camera - Big Woods Lake Green Herons

Imagine my thrill when, just minutes after beginning a canoe outing with no expectations, I find a very, very tolerant green heron. Of course I spent considerable time with the bird and, as I was watching it, I noticed a…

How Do They Know?

Over the past few years Kristy and I have planted 40-60 trees and shrubs in an effort to establish a windbreak and to provide wildlife habitat. These same past few years we have not received much rain - to the point we are in extreme drought category. As a result, we are watering every few days. On watering days, it takes several hours, but the time and water investment will be worth it if we can nurse the trees through this dry spell.

As I was watering today, at three trees I had…

Recording Light

Anyone who watches the evening sky hopefully saw the August Super Blue Moon rising over the horizon tonight. The celestial event coincided with my monthly “Full Moon Paddle.”

After I got off the water I...

Waking With an Idea

After experiencing the smooth as glass water on the Wapsipinicon River yesterday morning, I have been thinking about some picture ideas based on expanding on that theme. I must have been really dwelling on the idea in my subconscious mind since…

Beware the Right Leg and an Invitation and a Buxx

While driving today I spotted this red-tailed hawk with what appears to be a lame left leg. The leg never moved and the talons appear to be hanging. If I am correct, the right leg is probably wicked strong since it does all of the work - from grasping a perch to grabbing prey. Good luck hawk!

Early this morning, just after sunrise, I checked…

A Canoe and a Camera - Morning Observations

I spent a couple of hours paddling and looking around this morning as I listened to church. Several photo-worthy compositions presented themselves, so I recorded them. See many of the pictures at this video (set to music): A Canoe and a Camera - Morning Observations

I will share a sampling below.

Winneshiek Waterfalls

Today Kristy and I spent much of the day exploring Winneshiek County’s two natural waterfalls. Much of our time was spent at Malanaphy Springs. This waterfall requires a 25-minute or so hike into the falls, but the effort is well worth it. After Malanaphy Springs, we then checked out Dunning Springs in Decorah. To access Dunning Springs involves only a short walk from the parking lot.

Heavy on the Cute

After the rain today I was visited by a hungry chipmunk. I watched as over and over the little thing loaded its mouth with acorns and then removed the caps, the shells, and ate the meat.

Chipmunks can be trouble if they gain access to where they are not supposed to be. But when they are…

Backyard Predator

While watering trees this morning as the sun was coming up, many funnel spider webs were visible. Unless a person is out looking around when the sun is low on the horizon, you may not realize how many of the silky funnels are around you. Check your yard… you may have…

Motion and No Motion

Knowing the temperature was going to climb high today (I saw 102 on my truck thermometer), I went out early this morning, before work, for some comfortable time in nature. My destination for the outing was below the dam on the Wapsipinicon River in Frederika. Instead of paddling, today I waded and walked rocks as I looked around with my Nikon ready to record.

Several of the pictures created this morning were similar to what I have done before, but a few were not.

The first image has plenty of movement by way of water and bubbles, yet…

That Shape

Of the many bird species I photograph, the great blue heron might be the one species most clearly recognized by its shape. Whether its head is held high or looking forward, most people recognize this bird by its physical characteristics - even silhouettes lacking color or detail.

Today I spotted through a break in trees a great blue heron in hiding. I quickly photographed the bird, even though I knew the setting was not ideal. By removing color and creating a silhouette, detail is lacking, but the bird is known.

When I share this image of the same bird…

Close-up Photography - Indian Pipe

My photography efforts today feature a parasitic plant that lacks chlorophyl. Without a host plant, this plant will not survive.

I am sharing several view of the plant - each created to be part of an instructional video to…

Since My Last Post -

Since yesterday I was blessed with several nature photography opportunities. I will share them below, but please understand there may not appear to be any order to them.

#1 - Late last night I noticed this painted lady butterfly hanging under a bird feeder. I flipped the image for easier viewing.

Believe What You Read (X2)

Lesson Learned #1 - For a number of weeks I have been planning to drive to Burlington for the Celebration of Life for the father of friends of mine. Since I would be next to the Mississippi River, I thought it would make sense to…

Untold Stories

After another long day at the magic place to the north I unwound on the river tonight. It was just me, my camera, my canoe, and my paddle. Very few serious thoughts passed through my mind. Instead I embraced the quiet and the sights and sounds of a few birds.

As I was slowly paddling along the trees I noticed this feather on the water. As it spun around, floating haphazardly wherever the slow current took it, I couldn’t help but wonder…

Current Observations

My sightings and photos for today were minimal. Each was interesting in its own right - at least they were for me.

First I found this wildflower that appears to be something I have not seen before - a sidebeak pencilflower. This was found in our pollinator habitat, so I suppose anything is possible.

Connecting

As I was driving home from a few much needed minutes on the river tonight I explained to Kristy how much I enjoy our little slice of earth. We have the river, the island, the cabin, and the paddling all so close. And, each time I go out I see something different. We have a steady supply of flora and fauna to fill my “Nature Fix” needs that help keep me sane.

While thinking about how fortunate we are, I …

Prairie Update

One day last week I shared images of a few prairie plant species I found interesting. Today I went back out to check on them and to see if there were any new species to document. The following pictures are what I found.

The Beginning of Something Special or Outstanding in My Field or Sleep, Creep, Leap

Kristy and I want a buffer between our yard and the crops surrounding the house. To create that space we planted pollinator habitat under the CRP program. When enrolled in CRP you are required to plant a certain mix as determined by people far smarter than me. And, you must plant the seed by a certain deadline to be compliant.

Now think about the spring and summer we are having. Rain seldom falls and when it does there isn’t much. Hard and dry soil or not, I…