Bruce G. McKee Photos - MyBlog

Four Red Fox Kits

5/15/2020

"Yeah, we know we're cute". Red Fox kits on private property in Kossuth County, IA. I watched and photographed these kits for about 5 hours today. I saw one for a brief time and then he popped back in to the den. Later two came out and then back in again. They were gone for quite awhile, probably sleeping. Eventually three came out and then a fourth. It didn't take much to spook them, a bird chirping, a sound or movement in the distance or even the wind blowing and they would all dive back in to the den. I got a few good photos. It was fun watching them. Photos taken from the car with telephoto lenses.
(Click images to see larger)

A Gray-cheeked Thrush in the backyard.

5/12/2020

I sat quietly on the grass watching and photographing this lone Gray-cheeked Thrush hop around on the fresh mulch around the shrubs and then in the grass. It was having a picnic on whatever was stirred up when I spread the wood-chips mulch, then across the yard. It kept getting closer and closer to the point where it was too close for me to focus with the telephoto lens. After I took this picture it hopped right up next to me and stopped. I could have pet it on the head. I don't think I have ever seen a Thrush in the back yard, let alone spent some time with one. Retirement is good.
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Happy Mother's Day

5/10/2020

A cow and calf Moose, Keystone Colorado. A single mom, raising her calf by herself?

Great Blue Herons and chicks at the Venice Area Audubon Rookery, Florida.

A Tale of Two Screech Owls

5/3/2020

I'm often asked why I take so many pictures of the same subject. The simple answer is the next frame or the next photo outing may be better than the last. The photo on the left is a gray-morph Eastern Screech-Owl in a Wood Duck nest box. I thought it might be the only guest at the Cupola Inn Bed and Breakfast this spring. However, I went back the next day and got photos of a second gray-morph Eastern Screech-Owl in a different nest box from the first one that I photographed the previous day. Better lighting the second time and I was able to get a better view before it ducked back inside. The slight difference in color of these two images may be due to the lighting, time of day and auto-white balance on the camera. (Click images to see larger.)

Update 5/17/2020: I just saw that one of my Screech Owl photos is being used as the banner image on the Owl About Iowa Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/owlaboutiowa/ .

Great Horned Owl Fledglings

4/25/2020

It turned in to an all-day jaunt of bushwhacking and paddling, but I finally got some photos of one of the two Great Horned owlets that fledged the nest two days ago. Fortunately this one sat in the same tree all day (still a bit unsure of his wings), apparently waiting for me to get a somewhat clear view. Thanks to Dale for a great day of paddling.
(Click the images to see larger)

Spring Birds in the Back Yard

4/24/2020

Day-one of backyard spring migratory birds. Everywhere I looked there was another bird. We've had Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, Starlings and Mourning Doves for several weeks, but this is the start of another wave of migrants. One of the highlights were several Eurasian Collared-Doves high in the trees (common in the south and southwest, but not common in my backyard). The first Brown Thrasher of the year (I love that yellow eye), Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and half a dozen or more other warbler species that I couldn't identify or photograph because they move constantly from one branch to another. I also added a photo of a Robin enjoying the sunshine and taking a bath and a Chickadee. (Click images to see larger)

Clouds on Earth Day

4/22/2020

When was the last time that you just sat back and watched the clouds roll by? I love this time of year with the billowing clouds and storms. In this time of social distancing and stress turn on your favorite inspirational music, click the play button below, expand to full-screen and enjoy the flowing clouds as they melt in to a nice Iowa sunset.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. (no audio)

Windmill and the Milky Way

4/20/2020

It was a peaceful morning in the pre-dawn hours for photographing an old windmill and the Milky Way with a long exposure to enhance the stars toward the center of the galaxy. Jupiter and Saturn can be seen in the lower left of the windmill. Of course, as always there is haze and light pollution on the horizon in North Iowa.

Social Distancing with the Milky Way

3/31/2020

It's a new era as we try to stay safe from rogue viruses. I combine my social distancing with getting some fresh air. I photographed this local barn and the Milky Way at 4:30 AM this morning (with no people around). There was a lot of haze on the horizon and as always in North Iowa farm lights and nearby towns lit up the haze with the long exposure for the stars. There are very few places in North Iowa to find dark skies. The barn was lit by the headlights of a single passing car. Note the three bright stars on either side of the old windmill tower. The bright one to the right is Jupiter and the two between the barn and the tower are Saturn and Mars. The barn isn't really leaning. It is a bit distorted due to the wide angle lens. (This was a single exposure with processing in Lightroom.)

Sandhill Cranes at Sweet Marsh

3/26/2020

Sandhill Cranes at Sweet Marsh, Bremer County, IA. I'm missing out on a trip to central Nebraska this year, so I won't get to see the huge crane migration, But it is nice to see Sandhill Cranes in Iowa. We saw and heard several pairs while paddling the marsh last week. (This photo is heavily cropped - they were way out over the marsh when I took this photo)

Sandhill Cranes and Sweet Marsh

A few of the paddlers on our Sweet Marsh float organized by Crawdaddy Outdoors. The first of several Tuesday evening floats this year.

Northern Saw-whet Owl at Lime Creek

3/25/2020

A Northern Saw-whet Owl at the Lime Creek Conservation Area in North Iowa. I really enjoy photographing owls (as you may have noticed). These little guys are pretty hard to find. Only about 8" tall and they sit very still most of the day, only hunting at night. (Click images to see larger)

Spring Break at Lime Creek - Raptors

3/13/2020

The Lime Creek Nature Center held a 'Spring Break at Lime Creek' program yesterday presented by Linette from S.O.A.R. (Saving Our Avian Resources). It was a chance to see some raptors up close and to learn more about the birds.
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An Eastern Screech Owl. This is an education bird with a broken wing and can't be released back to the wild.

A female Red-tailed Hawk. This is an education bird that has been imprinted on humans and can't be released back to the wild.

Snyder Bend Wildlife Management Area

3/9/2020

While out in the Sioux City area this weekend I took a few hours to visit the Snyder Bend Wildlife Management area south of Sioux City, IA, a horseshoe bend part of the Missouri River. There were lots of birds moving around. Several Bald Eagles, Wood Ducks zooming around like fighter jets, many other ducks and plenty of Canada Geese. It was a nice day for a walk with the camera to snap a few photos.
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Iowa Sunset

3/8/2020

I was out for a drive this evening and stopped to enjoy a wonderful sunset from a rural North Iowa road.
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Northern Saw-Whet Owl

3/5/2020

Northern Saw-whet Owl - [Click to see larger]

Northern Saw-whet Owl, Ida Grove, IA. On my way home from NW Missouri a couple of weeks ago I drove through Ida Grove and called my friend Don P. who is an owl whisperer (my description). He has a knack for finding Saw-whet Owls. But to be fair he works very hard at it, out every morning in Moorehead Pioneer Park and surrounding areas peeking in every likely tree to see where one may have roosted today. Sometimes it takes hours to find one, and sometimes he doesn't. It is great that he is willing to share his expertise and passion to help others get a glimpse of one of these cute little 8" tall owls. They are migratory and usually are only found in Iowa in the Winter. Soon they will be heading north to their nesting areas in southern Canada and the northern and western United States.
[Click image to see larger]

More Saw-whet Owls
Even more Saw-Whet Owls
And a local Saw-whet Owl