We spent nine days in Iceland the beginning of October on a thousand mile road trip across the western, southern and southeastern part of the country. Here is a short video of some of the scenic highlights.
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We got to enjoy a neighborhood fireworks show last night and of course I had to take a few photos. (Not our yard, not our neighborhood). Most of these are multiple exposures on a single frame in the camera. It was a good show. [Click/tap images to see larger.]            
              While volunteering at the Lime Creek Nature sender we heard a huge thud on one of the windows. A Hairy Woodpecker too a direct hit on the widow shortly after a rain shower and was stunned for several minutes as it sat on the edge of the window sill. I was able to take several photos through the glass only a couple of feet away. The bird must have finally cleared it's head because it eventually flew away.  A wet Hairy Woodpecker A pair of adult Sandhill Cranes with their young colt leading the way. In a marshy area in Cerro Gordo County, north Iowa 06/02/2023. I had photographed these cranes the end of April and they appeared to be nesting. It is nice to see they are now raising one colt. (Click or tap images to see larger.)
This evening while paddling Sweet Marsh I had a close encounter with an alien being (or maybe it was a bullfrog mostly submerged). Anyway, it sat quietly while I took several photos from the kayak.  Update: This photo was selected to be displayed at the 2023 Iowa State Fair Photo Salon (a juried competition), and at the 43rd Annual Cerro Gordo County Photo Show at the Charles H. MacNider Museum, 2023.
Sibling fox kits drying out after the rain storm in front of their den along a county road in north Iowa. Photo taken from the car, with a telephoto lens of course. (Click or tap the images to see larger)
 A Great Horned Owlet, one of two in this nest on a dark overcast day. For well over a decade (maybe much more?), Great Horned Owls have nested in this deep, dark limestone cave above the river, which is only accessible to view by canoe or kayak. The adults were nearby watching us from afar, and the sibling was being shy, hiding back in the cave. As their wing feathers develop they will be leaving the protection of their nest site soon (or maybe they have already).
(Click or tap the image to see larger.)  I had a nice morning watching a pair of Sandhill Cranes flying and foraging around a local marsh. I crawled on my belly and hid behind bushes so I wouldn't spook them. These are Greater Sandhill Cranes, one of three migratory sub-species. I have been to Nebraska several times to see hundreds of thousands Sandhill Cranes as they stop off on their migratory route, but those are mostly lesser Sandhill Cranes - a smaller subspecies. It is nice to see these larger birds locally. It was nice to see that they were starting to nest. I hope to see that they hatch young ones. (Click or tap images to see the whole image).
The Lime Creek Nature Center near Mason City Iowa now has some new chainsaw sculptures adorning a couple of dead trees on the property. Carved by Pat Doyle of Doyle Carving Niche. It includes two Bald Eagles atop a couple of trees with several other critters on or in the trees, and a giant bee hive with bees. Here is a short video of Pat Doyle carving the sculptures (4 min.)
A spectacular and rare night of Northern Lights over North Iowa on March 23, 2023. This is a time lapse video spanning three hours shown in 30 seconds.  I've been to the Platte River near Kearney, NE several times to photograph Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese during their migration in March. It is always a great sight to see and hear. These photos were on the evening of March 14 and morning of March 15, 2023. Click images to see larger.          A new short video - "Love is in the Air: Eagles along the Winnebago River". Paddling the first week of January and watching the local Eagles. What fun. [Warning: Eagles mating] Another beautiful January day in North Iowa with frost on everything. I took a lot of photos today. (Click or tap images to see the larger image.)            We visited some friends last night and were pleased to see that they had four of my wildlife photos displayed nicely on their wall.  |
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October 2023
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