Shared Joy

Over the past day and half Kristy and I enjoyed time with both of our kids and their families. We played, we joked, and we just made the best of our time together. What a joy!

Yesterday I took the four oldest grandkids to a park about 4 blocks away. As we walked to the park our almost always happy granddaughter, without any hesitation or prompting, began walking and clicking her heals as we headed to the park. She was completely relaxed, clearly happy, and a treat to spend time with. The three grandsons with me were great fun too as they did young boy conversation while they bounced a basketball down the sidewalk.

Part of the fun of our time together, at least for me, came when I noticed

“Pre” Was Key

As I approached our driveway today I noticed this American kestrel grasping a power line and intently watching my approach. From my experience, kestrels have been skittish at best and almost elusive most times I attempt to photograph them. Since I expected the bird would take fight, and since I was just fine with having a different view (without a power line) of the interesting little bird, I opted to record the kestrel in flight. Choosing that type of image and actually doing it are two different things. I had my work cut out for me.

Before I moved closer to our driveway I executed the three “Pre” steps. I pre-exposed (adding enough exposure compensation to address the lighting conditions without over exposing the bird). I pre-focused in the area where I expected the bird would fly. By using back-button focus and pre-focusing, I did not lose time shooting as the camera searched for sharpness. I then pre-positioned. I made an educated guess on the presumed direction of travel and was correct. When I moved forward ever so slightly, the kestrel followed the anticipated flight path and I recorded my images.

This may sound easier than it was. It worked and I am pleased.

Not Missing Film

Between meetings today I stopped at George Wyth State Park to look around. From my truck I did not expect to see too much at close range, and that was what happened - nothing too close. I won’t complain though since I was treated to several wildlife observations that allowed for more distant imaging.

In the old days of film I would…

Mushrooms Get Me Going

For some the title of today’s post might raise eyebrows. So, before I go any further, allow me to explain what the headline meant.

No, I do not abuse mushrooms for any sort of psychedelic effect. I will enjoy a meal of golden oyster or morel mushrooms and I like mushrooms on pizza, but that is as far as any internal mushroom use goes. For that matter I don’t even know how…

On Perch…Almost

While driving in the northern part of the county on Highway 63, a dark hawk on perch on a fence post caught my attention. By the time I had crossed the rumble strips along the edge of the road, the noises…

Two Pretties, Wildlife in Snow, and Macro Studies

Our weather today qualified as pretty in two ways. The first pretty was that it was pretty cruddy. Wind, snow, wind, rain, ice, and wind - all made for a pretty cruddy day. Still, if you were able to get out and look around, our ordinary landscape did look pretty (the second pretty).

Following is a sampling of pictures from my drive in the pretty cruddy conditions.

“All Were Common”

Where I was at today there was not much activity due to ice forming during the cold overnight hours. Few birds were moving around and of those I did see, all were common.

Think about that…

Maybe Again?
Decades ago my daughter and I had an opportunity to assist with collecting, banding, sexing, and returning young peregrine falcons to their hack box. Since then I have had an interest in the not so common birds.

Today, while at the Great Healing Place to the North, we checked the peregrine falcon camera as we always do. There she was, the female “Hattie” who was…

Now I Know

Already last year, when I saw a new bald eagle nest constructed in our area, I wondered if the original nest about a mile away was still being used. With this nesting season underway and an obvious lack of activity at the first nest (at least from my observations), I thought it might be time to take a look.

Tonight I did a very slow approach toward the nest to take a peek. From high up I could see…

Blessing in Disguise

Last weekend many family and friends of Kristy’s aunt said goodbye. Jolyn’s struggles ended - her pain, her illness, her uncertainty with where her life was going - those unknowns are done. Hard questions were answered with some degree of dignity.

Death is an interesting part of life. Grief and sorrow dominate thoughts. Maybe there are questions or doubting, sometimes anger, sometimes laughs, and plenty of tears. Emotions run the gamut in our minds.

As is common at death, loved ones of the deceased are often inundated with plants. Many times more flowers and plants are shared than there is room after the services. Soon the gifts are shared among those close.

The flowers at a funeral may be a blessing in disguise…

Pretend Dalmatian?

This afternoon Layla and I went for a walk at Alcock Park in Frederika. As we returned to the truck, the tones went off for a field fire only a mile or two away. Knowing the fire departments are often shorthanded, especially during the work day, I drove to the scene and started…

All By Kristy

Something magic is happening in our house!

In the past, live vegetation, greenery, plants had at best a 50/50 chance of survival. Often I think the odds were not in their favor. I can’t explain why, but we just did not…

Where It All Began

Today’s very strong winds were too much for me to go paddling. I can tolerate plenty, but why should I fight the wind gusts we had today? Paddling would not have been fun, so why do it?

Although I did not go out on the water, I did think about it. My mind wandered back to where it all began. Why and when did I start paddling?

I would have to do some serious paperwork digging to know for sure when my first canoe trip in a canoe that I owned occurred. According to my photo database records, the date was as early as October of 1991. That outing would have been in an aluminum canoe - the first I owned - and I still own - on the Wapsipinicon River. How ironic… I learned on the Wapsipinicon River and still find the Wapsie to be my favorite paddling destination.

Since my beginning days on the water I transitioned from canoe…

Seen Today Before the Wind

I saw/photographed these early this morning, before the wind really got wound up. All were at Sweet Marsh, near Tripoli.

Quiet in the Timber

or a few precious minutes today I roamed a timber in search of spring wildflowers. My outing was successful for very early bloomers, but still missing from my search were hepaticas, spring beauties, and anemones. It is still early, so I will be patient.

Blooming in all of its subdued glory were

By Air, By Water - Multitasking

Today was another special day for 2024. Yesterday I put my dock in the river. That meant today I could put my Old Town Pack canoe on the water.

Yes, i could paddle the Pack without the dock in. But, to avoid scuffing it up, I prefer to enter and leave the canoe from the dock. Low water levels can make that challenging, but so far I have not fallen in. More importantly, new scuff marks are not being added to the canoe!

While on the water I added a task to my outing. For some time I have been thinking about photographing paddlers on the water using my drone. Since I was paddling alone, selfie pics were my only option.

I am happy to report my…

Run Rodents Run

As I watched this red-tailed hawk intently studying a grassy ditch, I was hoping a rodent would take off running (or even a snake crawl around). My hope was to watch this hawk successfully capture prey and maybe, if I was lucky, bring…

Signs of Spring

During my outdoor activities today I was able to document a few spring indicators - the first painted turtle I have seen of the year, a crocus blooming, and Siberian squill. Also seen were…

Forgotten Farmstead

This picture, on its own straight out of the camera without any editing, was rather mundane. My “clean” file accurately recorded the scene, but did not really induce much for thoughts.

After editing the image to create an aged appearance as the outbuilding has, the final composition is much more…

Canoeing Through Ice For Wildlife Photography

Overnight temperatures dropped low enough for a layer of ice to form on Sweet Marsh. Ice or not, I went paddling for wildlife photos and enjoyed some success this morning. Even though the outing was loud as I broke ice, the birds were very tolerant of my presence allowing for many photos to be made.

I did put together a video of my outing. View the video by clicking on this link:

Canoeing Through Ice For Wildlife Photography

Following is…