NATURE CLICKS #578 - AMERICAN REDSTART

As promised in yesterday’s blog post I show you another warbler that performed as crazy as the Yellow Warblers. Acting like a flycatcher, snatching insects mid air from, and being perched on the branches that overhang the river in Bankston County Park, the American Redstarts are just a delight to watch. As the Yellow Warblers, the redstarts nest here and raise their offspring. They spend the winter in southern Florida, southern California, and in Central America.

It sounds all technical but I have been really thrilled last weekend watching these two warbler species catching insects at the Middle Fork Little Maquoketa River in Bankston County Park, a place I can highly recommend to any wildlife photography friend in the Dubuque, Iowa area.

Nikon Z6II, Nikon FTZ adapter, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S, Sigma APO Teleconverter 1.4x EX DG, Induro GIT 404XL tripod, Induro GHB2 gimbal head, @ 850 mm

NATURE CLICKS #577 - YELLOW WARBLER

It is one thing to shoot in a more controlled environment, like in the front yard of the house, and as I have done mostly last week. When the birds come to you it is not so difficult to adapt quickly and change your camera and speed light settings if necessary. With other words, it is somehow predictable. It is much more challenging to be out in nature and away from the home turf, as experienced yesterday again.

Since I have seen only one species of warblers in our woods last week I thought it is time to try something different. The valley in Bankston County Park is carved out by the clear water of the Middle Fork Little Maquoketa River. It is a great nature place here in eastern Iowa and it was a successful trip yesterday afternoon. I found a number of Yellow Warblers and another species (more about that in another blog post). They will most likely nest in the valley and raise their offspring. Right now it is all about eating and probably finding the right mate. The warblers perch often in the branches right above the water of the fast flowing creek and try to catch insects in flight, like flycatchers do it. Very soon all leaves will be out and pictures like I show you today are not possible anymore.

Many flycatcher species have one big advantage, they return quite often to the same perch after catching prey, making it easy for the photographer to get a shot. Not so the warblers, they land on a different branch, even in a different tree, most of the time. Following them with the camera was a challenge to say it mildly.

While at home I like to shoot with the speed light for better color rendering but this was not an option here. With the flash I shoot mostly in ”sniper mode”, a single shot each time the shutter release button is pressed. With the fast moving birds I worked without flash and used high speed frame advance rate with 10 frames per second.

Nikon Z6II, Nikon FTZ adapter, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S, Sigma APO Teleconverter 1.4x EX DG, Induro GIT 404XL tripod, Induro GHB2 gimbal head, @850 mm

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Farmland, Bankston, eastern Iowa, 12/31/2023

The last photo from 2023 is the first one for the new year. A hike in the valley of Bankston County Park on the last day of the year was followed by a short drive across the country side nearby. For a brief moment the clouds opened up and the light touched the farm and field at the horizon. One of the moments with the camera in hand I was thankful for in 2023.

I wish all readers, visitors, and followers of my photography website a peaceful year 2024 and many happy moments while pursuing your own photography!

NATURE CLICKS #567 - EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE

Eastern Wood-Pewee, Bankston County Park, Iowa

It is pretty quiet in the woods already. Most birds are done with their breeding activities. Even the Eastern Wood-Pewee I saw today didn’t make its distinktive sounds. I consider the wood-pewee as a ”photographer friendly” bird. They prefer to perch on bare twigs, which makes it easy to take a picture. From there the pewee darts out to catch passing insects. Sometimes they return even to the same branch.

The low sitting sun this evening was shining through the trees in the background, leaving no doubt about that this photo was made in the summer time. Bankston Park is mainly a small wooded valley here in the driftless area of eastern Iowa. It’s steep slopes are formed by the Middle Fork Little Maquoketa River, a clear stream that is popular by anglers for trout fishing. Along the small river are plenty of insects and a flycatcher, like the Eastern Wood-Pewee, has no problems to find enough food.

NATURE CLICKS #530 - COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE

Common Snapping Turtle, Bankston County Park, Eastern Iowa

Today I had quite a few interesting wildlife encounters but not all of them can be documented with the camera. This one was easy, a good size Snapping Turtle rested right on the grassy trail in Bankston County Park while I walked our dog Cooper. A little dog and a snapping turtle may not always go well together, so I made sure he kept a safe distance. Snapping Turtles are not dangerous but on land they will defend themselves and snap if they feel threatened.

During these walks with the dog I almost always take the camera with me but not a variety of lenses. Today the Nikkor Z 24-70, f/4 was my choice. A little short for wildlife and with only 70 mm maximum focal length I had to go on my knees and get really close to the turtle. This snapper lives probably not in the little river that runs through this valley but rather in the nearby pond or even in one of the small pools hidden in the woods.

Here is a fact for you to think about, the snapping turtle family evolved in North America, has lived in its wetlands almost unchanged since 90 million years, and has survived the period of mass extinction of the dinosaurs…

NATURE CLICKS #517 - BELTED KINGFISHER

Female Belted Kingfisher, Bankston County Park, Eastern Iowa

During my walks in the river valleys and along small creeks here in eastern Iowa I come quite often across with a Belted Kingfisher. Making a picture of this pretty bird is a different story. They don’t let you come close most of the time. Today I had this female kingfisher for almost a minute within the reach of the long lens. It was still too far away for a perfect shot. Luckily the image was sharp and allowed me to crop it quite a bit. This is not my preferred way to present a photo, but it led to a picture better than the last one a couple years ago. A small step, but there is a reason why I still call the kingfisher “the bastard”. This will only end when the time comes and I have a photo that satisfies my ideas of a great wildlife image…

PERFECT SUMMER HABITAT

Great Blue Heron, Bankston County Park, Dubuque County, Iowa

The current heat and humidity take a little bit the fun out of wildlife photography with a heavy long lens, but here is a photo from earlier this month. The Great Blue Heron knows where the fish are and if the photographer has a clue as well, a picture can be taken. The little stream at the bottom of the valley is a good place. This photo represents my idea of an environmental portrait quite well. With the vegetation along the creek at its peak for the season, it tells a good story about a perfect summer habitat for this Great Blue Heron here in the driftless area of northeast Iowa.

Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S, @ 600 mm, 1/250 s, f/6.3, ISO400

PATIENCE REWARDED

Great Blue Heron, a stealthy hunter for fish

Another great spot to look for neotropical migrants, like warblers, is Bankston County Park. The clear water of the stream that runs through the valley is source of life for many critters and birds. It is also a popular spot for trout fishing. This morning I gave it a try. You can hear the birds, sometimes you may see one, but today I got skunked. Not a single warbler came close enough for a picture. I think I was patient and spent almost an hour in the same spot, a place I had used successfully other years before. Just as I was ready to leave things took a different turn. This beautiful Great Blue Heron landed just in front of me and started the hunt for a fish. The bird waded towards me and obviously cornered a fish below the rock you see in both pictures.

Great Blue Heron after the catch, Bankston County Park, Eastern Iowa

The hunt lasted 26 minutes. I saw the heron strike and the fish was swallowed very quickly. Obviously just a small one. Unfortunately the kill happened behind the rock and out of sight for me. But the way the successful hunter walked away from the scene was priceless and the shutter of the camera was rattling. Patience got rewarded, for the Great Blue Heron and for the photographer…!! 😊

All images: Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S, Induro GIT 404XL tripod, Induro GHB2 gimbal head

HOARFROST

Oaks, near Balltown, Iowa

I haven’t counted the days recently when we had a gray overcast, I just know it is always too many during the winter. But today was different. Some dense fog hugged the landscape and as a result we had hoarfrost clinging to trees and shrubs. All what we had  to do was go out and capture the beauty with the camera…

Near Bankston County Park, Iowa

Bankston County Park, Iowa

RETROSPECTS 2020 - #5

American Redstart, Bankston County Park, Iowa

We are in the month of May for my ‘Retrospects 2020’ here in the blog, the place where I pull up some memorable moments that enlightened the year photographically. As every year all the neotropical birds arrive from their journey by the end of April or during the first days in May. There is no lack of interesting colorful species.

This year I spent more time in Bankston County Park, a small river valley with a rocky bottom and a pond, and only twenty minutes away from home. Two of my five ‘first sightings’ of birds in 2020 happened in this little nature paradise and I have already plans for more exploration in this area for next year.

Probably the most common warbler we can find there is the American Redstart. The best chances to make a good click is at their time of courtship. During the rest of the summer they stay higher up in the trees and it is more difficult to aim the glass at them.

ATTENTION TO THE HIGHLIGHTS

Creek, Bankston County Park, Iowa

Same location as in yesterday’s blog post. I looked for beauty at the river valley and tried to work towards a fine art print. The photo is underexposed by one f-stop to hide more of the clutter in the river bed. When the picture is framed in the viewfinder it is important to watch the highlights in the water in order to anticipate the results. This of course has to be done before the 10-stop ND filter is attached to the lens because it is so dark, you can’t see much through it in an environment that is not very bright. With flowing water no two images are alike. This requires some patience to obtain the desired outcome. At the same time it is interesting and has a learning curve, but is also a relaxing and calming process.

Nikon D750, Nikkor 70-200mm / f4, Breakthrough X4 ND filter (10-stop), GITZO tripod GT2931 Basalt, KIRK BH-3 ball head, VELLO wired remote switch,  @200 mm, 13 s, f/11, ISO100

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE VALLEY

Little cascade, Bankston County Park, Eastern Iowa

I still try to reveal the possibilities of the new Breakthrough X4 10-stop ND filter. Our dog Cooper and us always love to visit Bankston County Park, with its cold creek running through the valley on a bed of ancient limestone rocks. Little cascades are an ideal subject for long time exposures and if the light coming through the dense canopy of the trees hits the right spots, you may find the photo that was on your mind.

Nikon D750, Nikkor 70-200mm / f4, Breakthrough X4 ND filter (10-stop), GITZO tripod GT2931 Basalt, KIRK BH-3 ball head, VELLO wired remote switch,  @200 mm, 26 s, f/11, ISO200

BLURRING THE WATER

Middle Fork Little Maquoketa River, Bankston County Park, Iowa

No landscape or people photographer likes dappled light for the most part. But if the dappled light hits the right spots, a photo can be created. Back to the river valley in Bankston County Park today I tried to get some birds in front of the lens. The feathered friends had other plans and after spending over an hour along the Middle Fork Little Maquoketa River without any good results, I decided to change lenses and dedicate some time to the river itself. We had some rain lately and the water had good speed around the cascades.

I used the technology in the camera to produce some blurred water in the bright light of this afternoon. The Nikon D750 allows multiple exposures for one frame, although its only three at a time. Newer cameras may allow more shots in multiple exposure mode. The camera is on a tripod and first a test shot is made to see where to start. Use aperture priority mode, between f/22 and f/32 (depending on your lens) and ISO100. Autofocus on a fixed point, like a stone, and then turn the autofocus mode carefully off. I set the shutter to continuous high speed but low speed may work as well. Fire all three (or more) shots and look for the results on your screen. Make any corrections you want with your exposure compensation dial and do it again, and again, and again. No two shots are exactly alike, due to the fact that the water looks always different. Back at home, in front of your computer screen, it is time to make the difficult decision which photo to use for telling your story…

Why do I like this way so much? During bright day light you need a very dark filter and may still not have a slow enough shutter speed to blur the water. If you have ever worked with neutral density filters (6 stop or 10 stop) you know that the slightest vibration can ruin your shot and focus has to be on spot before the filter is in front of the lens. The method as described makes you very fast and allows to try out many different shooting angles or zoom settings within a short period of time, giving you a lot more space for creativity while working along a creek or river.

NATURE CLICKS #456 - AMERICAN REDSTART

American Redstart ♂️, Bankston County Park, Eastern iowa

After several hours shooting from the porch today, sipping on a coffee, watching some rain fall, and enjoying the birds I had already made up my mind what to post tonight here in the blog. The rain stopped in the late afternoon and we decided to drive back again to Bankston County Park and see what nature would hold for us after the rain.

No surprises today but we found the most common warbler in this area, the American Redstart, catching insects at the banks of the river. While this male redstart perched several times on small branches and waited for his chance, I had my chance to get finally the image I had in mind since a long time.

BACK TO BANKSTON

Great Blue Heron, Bankston County Park, iowa

Two rainy and gray days in a row but too many things happen out in nature right now and staying home all weekend long was not an option. Joan, dog Cooper, and I went back to Bankston County Park today. Oh, what a great sound from birds all around! Getting them in front of the lens, well, not necessarily a guarantee.

The ‘Middle Fork Little Maquoketa River’ (boy, what a long name!) was relatively clear despite the rain, and is stocked with trout. The Great Blue Heron was flushed by a trout fisherman downstream, flew right up to us, and posed nicely while we hiked down along the river banks.

American Redstart

The American Redstart is a warbler that can be found and will breed in Bankston Park. By the number of birds you can hear high up in the trees you may think it is easy to make a good bird portrait of this warbler, but they are fast and never stay in one spot much longer than a second or two. Insects were present after the rain and the redstarts came down to the river to make a catch. The short opportunities to make the click…