THE CRITTER AND A WORD ABOUT THE HABITAT

Striped Skunk, Upper Mississippi Valley, Green Island Wetlands, Iowa

A little hike deep into the marsh of the Green Island wetlands in the Mississippi Valley started with a nice surprise. With my eyes mostly up and looking out for birds, I almost stumbled over this Striped Skunk that was obviously in search for food. After we discovered each other the skunk kept searching, had still an eye on me ones in a while but wasn’t bothered much by my presence. I kept my distance, knowing that they can spray their musk, with its very powerful odor, several meters from the two scent glands they have around their anus. If you look at this beautiful animal it is easy to understand why it was one of North America's most sought-after fur-bearers.

I took a new lens I just had acquired for the first time on a hike and wanted to learn how it performs and how it handles in the field. The Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 VR S is only since a few days in my bag and using 400 mm focal length was perfect for this shot, keeping the distance and not making the skunk feeling threatened. I still cropped the picture a little bit because at the end of winter there is a lot of dead plant material scattered everywhere in the marsh and I tried to keep as much as possible out of the frame, especially in the foreground.

Green Island Wetlands

The second picture is a view across the marsh at Green Island, with the Illinois side of the Mississippi River in the background. This was shot with the same lens at 100 mm. It was quite cold during the last few days and most of the water was frozen again. The photo shows also the dilemma we face in many parts of the Upper Mississippi Valley. Floodplain forests along the Upper Mississippi River are experiencing mass die-offs, with thousands of trees lost due to prolonged, intensified flooding caused by climate change and altered river hydrology. These "dead zones" are compounded by invasive species, specifically the emerald ash borer.

I have visited and photographed the Green Island Wetlands since 2011 and even if I shoot mostly wildlife pictures, the landscape images from the past document some of the wildlife habitat loss we can see.

ABOVE AND BELOW LOCK & DAM 11

Frozen Mississippi River, Mud Lake Park, Iowa

I start with one of the last photos I made this weekend. The Mississippi River is about 1.5 miles (~2.4 km) wide at this point and was still completely covered with ice. No chance for any duck to find food here, about 6 miles north of lock & dam #11 in Dubuque.

Male Common Goldeneye, Lock & dam #11, Dubuque, Iowa

That was different below the dam. There was quite a bit of open water yesterday and even more today with the temperatures way too warm for February right now.. Hundreds of ducks were on the move. The male Common Goldeneye, with their white body, dark head, and the yellow eye, is one of the prettiest ducks we can see at the moment. I shot this picture right below lock #11 and distance was a little bit a problem. Most goldeneyes preferred to dive for food away from the shore and despite using the 600 f/6.3 lens with the teleconverter, I still had to crop the image a bit.

Mallards, Mississippi River, A.Y. McDonalds Park, Dubuque

It’s not difficult to find Mallards any time of the season. On a sunny day and with the colors of their feathers really popping it is fun to photograph them while they do their thing along the shore. Beside what I can show today I saw Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaups, and Common Mergansers, unfortunately not close enough to make a good click. Maybe next time…

NATURE CLICKS #619 - PURPLE FINCHES

Male Purple Finch, Little Maquoketa Valley, Iowa

Purple Finches with their big beaks are winter guests here in eastern Iowa that have their breeding territory further up in North America. We used to see a lot more of them 15-20 years ago but it seems like that House Finches outnumber them more and more. However, we still had a few Purple Finches all winter long and during the last few days with warmer weather their numbers increased slightly.

Female Purple Finch

This weekend the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) takes place and people report bird observations in order to help scientists better understand and protect birds around the world. I spent quite some time during the last couple days with the camera outside and counted every bird I saw in our front yard this morning at the feeders, bird baths, and in the surrounding woods. Six Purple Finches were among 17 other species that showed up.

Male Purple Finch

Female Purple Finch

All images: Nikon Z6 III, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4x

BETTER THAN EMPTY-HANDED

Merlin, Green Island Wildlife Management Area, Iowa

During a search for some Short-eared Owls earlier this week I didn’t come back totally empty-handed. While slowly driving down the gravel road this merlin posed nicely in a tree next to the road. All what I had to do was to lower the side window of the car a little more, aim the lens at the bird, and press the shutter release button of the camera. It isn’t always that easy to make a click and definitely better than going home without a picture on the memory card…😊

Nikon Z6 III, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4x,    @ 840mm, 1/1000s, f/9, ISO 1000, image slightly cropped

  • The identification of the bird was changed 02/13/2026 by the author.

A SUNSET INSTEAD

I was out in the Green Island Wetlands today in search for a certain raptor but didn’t have any luck again. The usual suspects showed up but not the one I was looking for. While cruising slowly on the gravel road, with my eyes in the trees and the camera with long lens and teleconverter in my lap, the sun was about to set at the horizon. I never shot a sunset with 840 mm focal length and thought to give it a try. The compression effect of the lens makes it look like the sun sets right between the trees on the ridge. That a bird flew into the scene was a bonus, although it wasn’t the owl I was hoping for…

A BEAUTY IN THE COLD

Apple Canyon Lake Falls, Jo Davies County, Illinois

The tip came from my photography friend Kevin, who sent me a photo of the frozen waterfall last weekend. I have photographed the falls before, five years ago, but had almost forgotten about this great photo opportunity that may occur after a period with very low temperatures. Not much water came down from Apple Canyon Lake this time but it was obviously enough for some nice built-up of ice.

Apple Canyon Lake Falls is most of the day in the shade but there is a small time window in the early afternoon when the waterfall is hit by the sun. The high contrast reveals the texture of the ice and rocks. To be honest, it took me three days to decide if I share the color version of the image or this black & white photo with you. There was a nice color contrast between the deep blue sky and the orange and yellow of the rocks but at the end I thought the ice lost a bit of its impact. Finally I opted for this monochrome version and let the ice formations stand out from the rest of the scene and tell  the story of a really cold winter day.

Nikon Z6II, Nikkor Z 24-70, f/4 S, GITZO tripod GT2931 Basalt, KIRK BH-3 ball head,   @58mm, 1/125s, f/20, ISO100

WINTER IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY

Mines of Spain, Dubuque, Iowa. View to the Southeast. The Mississippi River is almost completely frozen over.

Up on the bluffs above the Mississippi River is the location of Julien Dubuque’s resting place and monument. He was one of the first European men to settle in this area. In 1788 the Meskwaki people that lived here gave him permission to mine lead. Dubuque was the first city in what later became Iowa and was named in honor of Julien Dubuque. (source: Wikipedia)

During winter time the road that leads to the monument is closed but I used the gorgeous weather today for a hike in the Mines of Spain and up to the monument.

I’m really not a big fan of the classic ”postcard view”, especially if there is nothing but a bald blue sky, but I have been asked by friends from other parts of the world to show how the cold winter looks like in the Mississippi Valley these days. So here we go…

Julien Dubuque Monument, Mines of Spain Recreation Area, Dubuque, Iowa

View to the North with the city of Dubuque. The Julien Dubuque Bridge connects Iowa with the state of Illinois. The road bridge to Wisconsin is behind the bend in the river and can’t be seen from this vantage point.

All images: Nikon Z6II, Nikkor Z 24-70, f/4 S

WINTER BIRDS, LARGE NUMBERS

Dark-eyed Junco

On a clear and sunny winter day it is easy to make the click for the birds that visit our front or backyard. I love how the light bounces off the snow on the ground and hugs the birds from all sides and let the colors pop. No enhancement with a hint of flash is necessary as I often use when the sky is gray. Although today’s photos were all made at the house, I try to keep any feeder or bird bath out of the frame and make the shots while the birds are perched in a tree or bush just before they enter. The three bird species I can share with you today are here in larger numbers at these cold temperatures we still experience.

Dark-eyed Juncos are medium sized sparrows that feed mostly on the ground. They are here in eastern Iowa only during the cold season and when the last one disappears we know spring is on its way. They are hard to count but I guess 30-40 juncos are around most of the day.

American Robin

A flock of 30 or more American Robins use the berries of the eastern red cedars (Juniperus virginiana) that grow here on the bluffs of the Little Maquoketa River Valley as a food source. These juniper berries are not really a true berry but a vital food source for many bird species. Most people see the robins as a spring indicator but we are lucky enough to have them all winter long. The robins come to the house mostly for drinking out of a bird bath and probably for warming up a little bit as well. I maintain three of them and they get filled often 2 or 3 times a day.

American Goldfinch, winter male

American Goldfinches, now in their winter plumage, enjoy the ”full service” we provide, means they feed at our sunflower seed feeders or on the ground and also use the bird baths for a drink. The goldfinches share the spots at the feeders with other finches, sparrows, and cardinals.

NATURE CLICKS #618 - ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK

Rough-legged Hawk, Green Island Wildlife Management Area, Iowa

Not so easy to get in front of the camera was a pair of Rough-legged Hawks I found yesterday on ”wildlife patrol” in the Green Island Wildlife Management Area. These hawks have their breeding grounds in tundra habitats of North America, way up north in Canada, but migrate to the Central United States for the winter. These opportunistic predators feed mostly on small mammals, like voles, mice, or even rabbits, but won’t refuse birds either.

AT THE OPEN WATER

Bald Eagle, Mississippi River, Bellevue, Iowa

The people that live here in the Upper Mississippi Valley know if you like to see Bald Eagles during these very cold temperatures, you have to visit the places with open water. Since the big river is almost everywhere covered with ice, you can find the eagles mostly below the locks & dams that enable the boat traffic during the warm season and are placed about every 30 miles in the Mississippi River.

Juvenile Bald Eagle

I went to Lock & Dam #12 in Bellevue today and found more than a dozen Bald Eagles soaring above the water and hunting for fish. It took a little patience and a long focal length (840 mm) to get them in the viewfinder. The sun came out for a little bit and made for nice afternoon light. At -15ºC / 5ºF warm clothes, warm boots, and gloves are mandatory if you want to have fun and enjoy the photography of these majestic birds…

OUT ON THE ICE

Fay Lake, Florence County, Wisconsin

Coming back from the annual ice fishing trip with friends I found some fresh snow covering the landscape here in the Little Maquoketa Valley yesterday afternoon. However, it was by far not as much as up in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, where everything looked like a Winter Wonderland. Unfortunately the sun was covered almost the whole time by a thick layer of clouds. Ice fishing out on the lake can be very busy at times (and it really was!), but the fish did not bite always and gave us enough time to watch the development of the weather. When finally the clouds opened up for a brief moment, I took the camera out of the bag and made the click.

FRESH PLANTS EVERY DAY

Common Muskrat, Sageville Marsh, Iowa

Muskrats are not total vegetarians but about 95% of their diet is plant material, like cattails or water lilies. During the winter time their fur is thick and looks beautiful, at least when not completely wet.

I went to a pond nearby today, a habitat where I had photographed American Beavers some years ago, but there was no evidence for the presence of beavers today. As far I can remember, muskrats have always been at this pond at the Sageville Marsh, Iowa and I found this cute critter feeding on the ice what looks like the tuber of a water lily. Unlike beavers, muskrats do not store food for the winter. They need to eat fresh plants each day. The pond was still frozen for the most part but the muskrats had made a couple channels from their burrows in the banks of the pond through the mud to reach food under the ice.

Common Muskrats are beneficial for the ecosystem. They are the food source for a number of predators, like minks, and their abandoned burrows provide homes for several other species. They often create open spaces in the water that is used by waterfowl or wading birds.

Nikon Z6 III, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4x, Benro MSDPL46C SupaDupa Monopod, Monopod Gimbal Head    @ 840mm, both photos cropped

WITH A BLUE TINT

Fog in the valley, Mississippi Valley, Green Island Wildlife Refuge, Iowa

I came across this moody landscape with some fog in the Mississippi Valley today. The compression effect of the long lens, including the Z1.4 teleconverter, got me all the subtle layers of gray in the distance. The picture was processed in monochrome mode but at the end I wasn’t completely satisfied, the image seemed to be too gloomy, and maybe too depressive. I gave it a little bit of a blue tint and that changed the appearance to something I like much better, at least for today…

Nikon Z6 III, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4x, @ 840mm

SURPRISE IN THE MORNING

Sharp-shinned Hawk, Little Maquoketa Valley, eastern Iowa

When I get out of bed I first have always a look through the window at our bird feeders and bird baths. No birds were present this morning and that quite often means that a predator is nearby. It took a couple seconds until I realized that our Sharp-shinned Hawk, that we see here during winter time , was sitting right next to the bird feeders on a perch that I had built for our feathered friends. Some of the smaller birds were hiding in a mountain pine that grows right beside the house and some juncos and sparrows were probably under the porch. The hawk knew it and had obviously missed a surprise attack earlier. The raptor was just waiting for another chance to strike.

I grabbed the camera quickly, took off the lens hood, and tried to shoot through the glass of the window. Let me tell you, I was struggling with this situation. First I was too close to the bird and below the minimum focus distance of about 4 meters. So I stepped back about a foot and tried to shoot from a distance through the glass. Usually that doesn’t work well and focus is difficult to obtain. Second, I still had the 1.4 teleconverter attached to the lens and only had the upper part of the hawk without the tail in the frame. The Sharp-shinned Hawk still posed nicely and I quickly removed the TC.

I don’t know how I finally got that shot halfway sharp, while taking the picture under a 45 degree angle through the glass and about a foot away from the window. However, it was a great way to start my day this morning…!

Nikon Z6 III, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S

2026, GOOD START WITH MERGANSERS

Common Mergansers, Mississippi River, Sabula, Iowa

Before anything new is written here I like to thank all visitors and readers of my blog for their ongoing support in 2025! I know, there is a lot of great photography in the world wide web you can enjoy every day and I’m humbled that you spent some of your valuable time on my website last year. I wish all of you a peaceful and happy year 2026!

After quite a few gray days we had a little bit of sun coming out today. A good reason to check out the situation 40 miles south on Iowa’s Island City Sabula. During my visit last week I saw some good numbers of Common Mergansers on the open water of the Mississippi River, unfortunately too far away. With permission of the gentleman in the Island City Harbor Store I was able to drive my car out on one of their private dikes and use the car as a photo blind and work with the Common Mergansers. Here are some of my first wildlife pictures in 2026 I’m excited to share with you.

This is at the small entrance to the harbor. The edge of the ice was right there. The mergansers approach it in small groups and one after another dives down with a slight leap and swims under the ice into the frozen marina.

Quite often there is nothing in their bill when they appear again at the water surface but his female had caught a nice little fish. Common Mergansers can stay under water for up to 2 minutes but most of the time they dive for less than 30 seconds (source: allabout birds website).

Watching the birds closely is important if you like to catch the good moments, like when they lift out of the water and flap the wings and shake off water from their feathers.

Here is the bonus shot. This juvenile Trumpeter Swan just swam along the shore with some male mergansers in tow. The head is still gray but the rest of the plumage is already getting snowy white and shows that the bird will be considered as an adult soon. Trumpeter Swans need the open water for feeding aquatic plants and the ice on its bill is proof that this bird had foraged earlier this morning.