RETROSPECTS 2023 - #5

American White Pelican, Mississippi Valley, Green Island Wetlands, Iowa, April 2023

I opened the paddle season much earlier than other years and put the kayak in the water at the Green Island Wetlands already in early April. While paddling between the islands I discovered a small flock of American White Pelicans. All seven birds had the keel developed on top of their bills, a feature they only show during their breeding season between February and June. It was a narrow spot and I had no chance to paddle much around them. They let me come very close but eventually took off and flew to a different place in the wetlands.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER STORIES 2021 #5 - A LIVELY RIVER

This Muskrat, which is a semiaquatic rodent but actually not a member of the genus Rattus, swam right at me and was in interaction with a second one.

Many people enjoy the mighty Mississippi River during the summer weekends and the main channel becomes often very busy and noisy. As the day came to an end yesterday, the most motorized boats were gone and the river fell back into silence. I finally got the kayak into the water again and paddled Mud Lake, a backwater area that is separated from the main channel by an artificial, overgrown rock dam. Mud Lake is still connected with the big river but has very little current and is a wonderful nature area, in particular during this time of the season.

Bald Eagles, pelicans, herons, gulls, and geese fly up and down the river but it’s easier to photograph them from land. I wanted to see again what’s out there in and on the water and took dog Cooper and the long lens with me for a two-hour kayak trip.

Arrowheads that grow along the shore of the dam in the shallow water show their flowers. They produce tubers down in the mud that are an important food source for at least 15 species of ducks, snapping turtles, and muskrats, hence the name “duck potatoes”.

Shortly after I left the sandy boat ramp at Mud Lake Park this Northern Water Snake crossed in front of the kayak. I have seen them before but never took a picture from the boat. They are non venomous but may bite when agitated.

Mud Lake is covered by huge rafts of water lilies and make it a beautiful green habitat. Even some parts of the channel are overgrown with them this year and paddling through the big leathery leaves can be a challenge at times.

No paddle trip without seeing turtles. Most common at Mud Lake is the Painted Turtle. This one stretches its hind leg into the sun.

The water lilies are a great playground for the Red-winged Blackbirds. They find an ideal buffet of insects on the big leaves and blossoms. This female gave me a nice display.

PERFECT WEEKEND TO PADDLE

The only people we met on the water. A couple in its best age (like us! 😊) with their grandkids in a canoe.

I haven’t heard anybody complaining about the weather this weekend 😉. Moderate temperatures and lots of sun made it the perfect time to go on the water again and enjoy the Great Outdoors. Sun high in the sky creates contrast and that was pretty much the only thing that needed attention for making a few clicks while traveling by kayak.

Great Egret, Mississippi River, Green Island Wetlands, Iowa. They usually keep their distance but this one felt obviously safe while perching high up in a dead tree.

In my last blog post I published an image of a Map Turtle. The more common one here is the Painted Turtle. I loved what water and reflections do to make the photo of a very common critter a little more special…

AFTER THE AMBUSH

Great Horned Owl, Mississippi Valley, Green Island Wetlands, iowa

Here is a photo from our second kayak trip last weekend, on Memorial Day in the Green Island Wetlands. At this time of the year it is nothing but pleasure to paddle this area, and always good for a surprise. During the heat of the summer algae usually effect the area and sometimes it is impossible to even maneuver a kayak through the thick green carpet.

On the way back to the boat ramp I suddenly saw a movement of a big bird on my left hand side. A Great Horned Owl took off from the dense grass on the dike, immediately attacked by some Red-winged Blackbirds. I made a U-turn, paddled a few meters back and saw the owl in the tree you see here. The interesting thing about this encounter is, that we have watched a Great Horned Owl in the same spot before, but several years ago. It seems they like a depression in the dike to perch and ambush for a potential prey. The photographer had a smile on his face while going back to the boat ramp… 😊

Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S;    @600 mm, 1/400 s, f/6.3, ISO200

THE LOW PERSPECTIVE

Muskrat, Mississippi River, Mud Lake, Iowa

We used Memorial Day weekend for two kayak trips. The first one on Sunday took us to the backwaters of the Mississippi River and we paddled in the Mud Lake area, not far from home. All photos in today’s blog post are from this enjoyable tour.

Bald Eagle

Paddling a kayak is a relaxing exercise for body, mind, and soul. Sure, it can be risky taking the gear into the small boat. Who wants to loose a camera or lens? They can sink darn fast…😉 If you are a paddling novice or need still all your attention to deal with the ins and outs of kayaking or canoeing, you don’t want to take any valuable photo equipment on a trip. If you are comfortable doing it, it will open new doors for your photography.

Map Turtle

I think the biggest advantage is the low perspective you have in a kayak, very close to the water surface, and quite often near eye level to the animals that are out there. The boat allows to approach a critter very quiet and many animals stay in place much longer than they normally do when they are approached on land.

And when you think you finally have him in the viewfinder,  the American Beaver makes a big splash with its tail and dives down again…

All photos: Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S

AUTUMN IN MINNESOTA #5

Lake Itasca, Minnesota

On our first evening, just before sunset, I watched this angler paddling to shore at the campsite of Itasca State Park. A little bit of rim light from behind made him standing out even in front of the darker background. A peaceful scene and an easy click at 200 mm focal length.

Ozawindib Lake, Itasca State Park, Minnesota

We brought our kayaks with us on top of the car but during the next two days we had some doubts if that was a good decision. Heavy winds during the day kept us on land. This photo was made at Ozawindib Lake, which is a lot smaller than Lake Itasca, and the whitecaps and blurred leaves tell the story about the weather. With or without boat, the fall colors were just stunning.

Lake Itasca

Finally during our third and last evening we were able to launch the kayaks at Lake Itasca and enjoyed the beautiful scenes from the perspective of a paddler. Our dog Cooper knows this game very well. He jumps into Joan’s boat before it is even in the water…

This time I took the 70-200, f/4 with me. This lens is a lot easier to handle in the kayak and better to protect from the wet elements than the Sigma 150-600.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER STORIES 2018 #05 - COMMON BIRD, OR NOT?

Bald Eagle, Mississippi River, Johnson Slough, Iowa

I went out for another kayak paddle tour on the Mississippi River last Sunday. Johnson Slough paddle trail is in a backwater area about an hour north of Dubuque, Iowa by car. For the first half you have to paddle northwards in the slough against a mild current, then take a sharp turn to the right, and paddle down south in the main channel of the big river, back to the starting point.

No “killer light” this time but a thin overcast made for some soft light. The slough has not much traffic and the wildlife feels obviously comfortable as long you will approach it slowly. This adult Bald Eagle saw me probably already when I came around a bend of Johnson Slough and when I was still more than 200 yards away. It is a lot easier to make a click during winter season, when open water dictates where Bald Eagles will fish and a lot of migrating eagles are present. At this time of the year you only find the birds that nest along the Mississippi River. Sure enough, shortly after I took this picture I saw a juvenile bird changing locations just on the opposite side of the slough.

Hey, 15 years ago, while still living in my home country of Germany, I knew Bald Eagles (Weisskopf-Seeadler) only from TV or nature magazines. Seeing them now any time we want here in the Mississippi Valley is the result of smart decisions for their protection after they have been almost extinct. Reading about that the current administration has 36 proposals to change the ESA (Endangered Species Act), of which nearly one-third are expected to have at least partially negative impacts on conservation, makes me sick. I just hope the people with a broader view about the future of this country have the longer arm.

PADDLING ON THE VOLGA RIVER, IOWA

Volga River upstream from Albany Bridge ------

Joan and I had a wonderful weekend. Together with our dog Cooper we paddled the Volga River again. Someone was funny and asked on Joan’s Facebook page if we were in Russia! No folks, this river is right here in northeast Iowa! It is a gorgeous river valley that reminds me a lot of the Sächsische Schweiz (Saxonian Suizerland), back in Germany near my home town, a mountain area with sandstone bluffs, rocks, and steep valleys.

It was a different challenge this time. The water level was a bit lower than some weeks ago and we had to incorporate “a few” short portages into our kayak tour. Joan counted over 30, oh well, it was a great way to exercise getting in and out of the boat on this almost 14 km (8.5 miles) trip…

The photo above was made this morning about a mile upstream from our campsite. The water of the Volga River was very clear and some yellow leaves on the rocks tell already the story about fall will knock at the door very soon. 

Nikon D750, Nikkor 24-120mm / f4, @ 38mm, 1/6s, f/18, ISO100,

SUNSET AT THE BOAT RAMP

Joan and I checked out the canoe access near Motor Mill, Iowa around sunset last Friday. We had pitched our tent at the campsite and looked forward to paddle the Turkey River on Saturday and the Volga River on Sunday with our kayaks again. Despite heavy damage on trees and parts of the river bed in both rivers from the flooding about a week ago, both paddle tours were very delightful and we had no problems.

Some people had left their rental kayaks and canoes at the boat ramp and these made for a great story telling element in this photo.

THROUGH THE FENCE

Red Fox (captive) --------    

This photo has nothing to do with our main activities last weekend. We went out camping to the Volga River Recreation Area near Fayette, Iowa and paddled the lake and finally the Volga River this weekend. It was a gorgeous tour and time well spent. The river had a good water level and was much faster than other times in July according to the park ranger. Unfortunately I’m not brave enough to take the D750 on a river tour with some whitewater challenges. With other words, no images from the paddle tour.

On our way home we stopped at the Conservation Park and Iowa Welcome Center in Osborne. Beside a lot of other interesting places, like an arboretum, a nature center, and a pioneer village, the center has a native wildlife exhibit. Owls, hawks, a black bear, wolf, coyote, and other animals that can’t make a living on their own in the wild anymore are hosted in this facility.

To be honest, I’m not a big fan of animals in captivity, although I understand the value for education. I’m just not excited anymore. However, the light on this Red Fox intrigued me and making a picture with the fence between me and the critter was a challenge I could not let pass by…

NATURE CLICKS #344 - COMMON LOON

Mijinemungshing Lake in Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada

If there was one photo I really wanted to make during our tour around Lake Superior, it is this one. Up north you can hear the calls of the loon at many forested lakes or ponds. They often call at night and I think it is one of the greatest sounds in nature. Getting close to the bird and making the click is a big challenge if you sit in a kayak. The loons eat mostly fish and forage by diving from the water surface and chase down their prey underwater. They can dive up to 65 meters (200 feet) below the surface and the eyes of a loon can focus both in air and water. For a photographer it is not really predictable where the loon will show up next and I’m glad you couldn’t hear me cursing many times…

The photo was made during a paddle tour on Mijinemungshing Lake in Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. There was no other car in the parking lot next to the boat landing and at the end of the gravel road, means we had the lake for ourselves. Paddling doesn’t get any better than that!

 

TURKEY RIVER (THE ONLY SHOT)

I’m sorry, it does not happen very often that I can’t choose from many pictures during a weekend filling event. Joan and I paddled the Turkey River here in Northeast Iowa, and of course, “kayak dog Cooper” was in the boat too. For the local visitors of my blog, we did the stretch between Elgin and Motor Mill, Iowa in three stages. Our last take out was at Motor Mill, between Elkader and Garber, and that is the location the photo was made. The Turkey River isn’t really difficult to paddle but I decided to leave the camera at shore this time. We stopped counting Bald Eagles sitting in the trees along the river after a while. They are here in Iowa in abundance and I think it is one of the best stories about bird restoration that is worth talking about. Many other birds, like Belted Kingfishers, Eastern Kingbirds, Cedar Waxwings, and several unidentified flycatchers drew our attention. We saw the biggest White-tailed Deer buck I have ever seen and many fawns told the story about a new generation of deer growing up this summer. With other words, wildlife in abundance.

Sure, this sounds like a lot of missed opportunities but in reality shooting out of a fast floating kayak, with hardly any way to stop, may most likely not lead to a good photo.

However, here is the shot I made after the kayaks were back on the roof of the car. Motor Mill is an old Wheat Mill, built in 1864, and in a very good state of preservation. It is listed on the National Register of Historical sites.