LATE SUMMER DAY, PLANS CHANGED

Pied-billed Grebe, Green Island Wetlands, Mississippi River, Iowa -----    

Yesterday I went out to capture actually some fall pictures, since the leaves started turning here, but despite the ongoing duck hunting season I saw a lot of bird activities in the Green Island Wetlands. I couldn’t let this go and kept the long lens on the D750 the whole time. No, not any “exotic” birds but the usual residents did their best to impress me in the wonderful light and warm weather of what I would still call a late summer day. Well, the leaves can wait…😉

All images: Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens

It is not so difficult to make a photo of the Pied-billed Grebe while they swim on the water between their dives for food. The pied-billed is not as shy as many ducks and over the years I have been able to succeed many times with the Pied-billed Grebe in the viewfinder. So why pointing the lens again and again at this cute little grebe? For me it is the logical next step in order to become better with my photography. The biology of birds can be very complex and there is always a gesture or pattern in behavior that is worth to be documented or bares its own beauty if captured in great light and when the moment is right.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER STORIES 2016 #4 - HITS AND MISSES

Horned Grebe, Mississippi River, Mud Lake

As so often these days I checked on the nest of the Great Horned Owl this evening down by Mud Lake at the Mississippi River. Nothing has changed yet, mother owl still sits on the nest. She faced the low sun and this helped to make a halfway decent photo today.

I tried to make some pictures of half a dozen Common Mergansers, feeding at the exit of the marina, but they never came close enough for a shot.

Another encounter today were several American Tree Sparrows that were hanging around in the bushes along the banks. This was the first time this winter that I have seen any. Other years I saw them more frequently along the Mississippi.

Red-winged Blackbirds are now present everywhere in the Mud Lake area. They stay here during the summer in large numbers and we have enjoyed watching them from our kayaks feeding between the reeds many times.

The sun had already disappeared behind the ridge when I finally discovered what I believe is a Horned Grebe. The bird was diving in the canal of the marina. I had the camera on tripod and used the flash extender to get at least a little color for this photo. This was the first time that I saw the Horned Grebe in Iowa. Their breeding grounds are from the Dakotas to northern Canada and Alaska.

Great Horned Owl