COLLECTIVE EFFORTS

American White Pelicans, Mississippi River, Lower Sabula Lake, Iowa

It was so nice to see some colors again after a gray and nasty cold day yesterday. It was a good Sunday for checking out spring migration of the birds along the Mississippi again.

I have never seen so many pelicans fishing together before. This squadron contained more than a hundred birds, with many more on the water around, but choices had to be made what to leave in the frame and what not. First it looked and sounded like they all were fighting for the fish but pretty soon it was clear that it was a well organized collective effort by these American White Pelicans, as you can see in the second picture. I don’t know who was in charge to give the command, but suddenly they all took off and flew across the water to a different spot and started all over hunting for fish again.

All photos: Nikon Z6II, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z Teleconverter TC-1.4x.  @840 mm

NATURE CLICKS #593 - YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER

Male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

I’m aware that this photo will not win me any awards, it took too many steps in post process to make it what you see here. However, it is an important picture for me because it has been two years since I saw the last sapsucker here in our woods.

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is an interesting woodpecker that we mostly have seen in April while they migrate up north to Minnesota and Canada. Beside hammering trees for insects they also create sap wells, often several in a row, to collect sap and trap insects.

There is a lack of sharpness in the original RAW file due to the fact that this was shot through the glass of the balcony door. Too make things worse I had to shoot from an angle and about five feet away from the glass because the minimum focus distance of the Nikkor Z 600/ f6.3 lens didn’t allow me to get any closer and not enough time for a lens change.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE CARDINALS

Northern Cardinal, male

With no significant success in the wetlands this evening a couple pictures from last week, when we had some fresh snow, might be a good substitute today. The Northern Cardinals often flock together during the cold season and we had about two dozen of them here during the last snowfall. It was the bird I haven’t photographed this winter until now and I was happy to see them late morning. Most days they show up before sunrise in the morning, and then again during night fall, pretty much the times without sufficient light. A slow shutter speed (1/160s) was key again to capture the snow flakes in motion and make them the story telling element in the background of the pictures. The snow? Of course, it melted away within a few hours and today I saw 22ºC (72ºF) on the thermometer. Spring is at the door step, or isn’t it?

Northern Cardinal, female

”THE REGULARS”

American White Pelican, Mississippi River, near lock & dam #14, Le Claire Iowa

Any time I go out shooting along the Mississippi River there are critters that we can see more often than others and it is easy to ignore them. Are the Canada Geese ugly birds just because we see so many and almost any time of the year? I don’t think so. Well, I do a fair share of documentary shots just for my own biological interest. I like to remember what was out there in previous years and get an idea how populations develop over time. But most of these pictures will never be exposed to the public. But I also believe if the light has a certain quality even the ”regulars” deserve their minute in the spotlight of our attention. Here are some examples what I mean.

This pelican was hunting for fish together with about another dozen. I underexposed by -1.66 f-stops to keep some details in its feathers, eye, and beak. Look at the ice on the bird’s chest and the feathers on the head. It really tells the story about a frigid and windy day during the recent polar vortex. It is my favorite shot from the recent visit to lock & dam #14 in Le Claire, Iowa.

Young Common Muskrat, Green Island Wetlands, Iowa

Last weekend the ice melted in the Green Island area. This young muskrat went into the water when I stopped, but after a short time accepted my presence and returned to this stick and climbed on it again. I guess sitting on. a stick wasn’t as cold as on all the ice floes around. I love how the little critter’s thick fur is presented through the light.

Canada Geese, Green Island Wetlands, Iowa

Making a photo of Canada Geese is not a difficult thing here in the Mississippi Valley. The pairs are getting ready to nest soon and if the light and colors are right, we can look for a gesture that shows their bond.

ENJOYING THE TRUMPETERS

Trumpeter Swans, Mississippi River, Potosi, Wisconsin

I spent quite a bit of time on both sides of the mighty Mississippi River this weekend and like to share a some photos with you in the next few days.

This morning I saw about 25 Trumpeter Swans at the end of the John Deere dyke here on the Iowa side but all too far in the distance for a picture. A different scenario this afternoon at the Potosi boat landing on the Wisconsin side of the river, where close to 100 swans had congregated. Several family groups were feeding, resting, or socializing with each other and their loud trumpeting calls, that sound like a french horn, could not be missed.

Trumpeter Swans feed mostly with their head under water. I watched them today using their webbed feet to stir up roots. An adult swan eats up to 20 pounds (~10 kg) of food per day.

THE GEESE ARE MOVING

Greater White-fronted Geese migrating north, Green Island Wetlands, Mississippi Valley, Iowa

I had the feeling the time was right and didn’t get disappointed this evening. Spring migration has started and about an hour before sunset several hundred of Greater White-fronted Geese headed north in the Mississippi Valley. I think it’s just the beginning and the next few days may open more opportunities. If weather permits I hope to go out again and see more geese heading to the arctic regions in northern Canada.

It was the first time that I tried to photograph this nature event with the Nikkor Z 600 / f6.3 lens, which I use since about six months. Today I got the final proof that buying this lens was a great decision. With about half the weight of my older Sigma 150-600 S lens it is so much easier to track birds in flight and keep a sharp focus over a long period of time while panning with the lens. To make the challenge a bit bigger the 1.4 TC was attached, extending the focal length to 840 mm. Still, no problem to keep up with the birds.

Less than an hour later I just had to turn around for this final photo of the day.

NATURE CLICKS #592 - AMERICAN TREE SPARROW

American Tree Sparrow, Little Maquoketa Valley, Iowa

I’m glad that I was able to make a number of pictures of the American Tree Sparrow last weekend right here at the house before all the snow melted away. I said it many times before that I love how the light bouncing from the snow on the ground wraps around the critters.

American Tree Sparrows have their breeding range from Alaska all across northern Canada and so we have them in Iowa only during winter. They prefer deciduous woodlands along streams and it is not very often that we see them up on the bluffs here. Although they are called tree sparrows, they actually built their nests on or near the ground.

I know winter is not over yet, but with the snow all gone for now we have to revert to other means of lighting again for our bird photography. Each of the four seasons have their highlights and challenges. During times with snow cover finding enough light is the easiest part…😉

Nikon Z6II, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z TC-1.4x,    @ 840mm, 1/3200s, f/9, ISO 2000, image slightly cropped

BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER

Pair of Bald Eagles, Mississippi Valley, Green Island Wetlands, Iowa

Shortly after I started shooting pictures of this pair of Bald Eagles the female left the tree. At that time I didn’t know it was the female. She returned after three minutes The eagles greeted each other with loud vocalization and another minute later the male seemed to understand that his partner was receptive and ready for copulation. Most Bald Eagles are monogamous and mate for life and they can live up to 30 years in the wild.

The metadata of my images reveal that it all lasted for about 13 seconds. Afterwards the pair sat together in the light of the setting sun, which is generally interpreted as a sign of strong partnership and a renewal of their bond. I never witnessed this important ritual for a healthy Bald Eagle population and I felt rewarded by watching some essential biology.

All photos: Nikon Z6II, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z Teleconverter TC-1.4x

…@ 840mm, f/9, ISO400, 1/1000s - 1/1250s

Although I had the teleconverter already on the lens I felt it was still a little bit too far away and I cropped the final pictures by about 18% in post process.

FUN AT #14 TODAY

American White Pelican, Mississippi River, near Le Claire, Iowa

With the temperatures becoming more moderate, just slightly below the freezing point, I thought it was a good time to go down south to lock & dam #14 near Le Claire, Iowa today. While the Mississippi River is still covered with ice for the most part up here, 90 miles further down the main channel had all open water.

While most people come here for watching Bald Eagles I was wondering what else could be found this time. Beside some other birds a large squadron of American White Pelicans owned the place and provided many photo opportunities and that’s what I like to offer today.

SUDDEN SURPRISE

Cooper’s Hawk, Mines of Spain, Dubuque, Iowa

With all the snow on the ground that finally made for a ”real” winter here in eastern Iowa any place where birds are attracted to feeders would have been a good place for some wildlife photography today. I went to the E.B. Lyons Nature Center in the Mines of Spain, where the feeders are filled regularly by Ken, a photography friend and active birder. People of all ages can watch the birds from inside the nature center or like me, just stand outside between the trees and wait what happens.

While I watched a flock of Dark-eyed Juncos and American Tree Sparrows a much larger bird came suddenly from behind, flew right by me within a 3-4 feet distance, and finally landed in a nearby tree. This one was bigger than our Sharp-shinned Hawk and its rounded tail tells me it might be a Cooper’s Hawk. They are hard to tell apart from each other and I wasn’t able to see its chest pattern. Since all the little birds were long gone, the hawk didn’t waste any time and moved on after a few seconds.

Dark-eyed Junco

It didn’t take very long and all the woodpeckers, finches, nuthatches, chickadees, and sparrows came back to the bird feeder area at the nature center. The Dark-eyed Juncos feed mostly on the ground or seek shelter in the dense branches of nearby bushes. They scratch the loose snow or leaf litter with their feet and try to find something to eat, often little pieces of seeds other birds have dropped below the feeders.

1.  Nikon Z6II, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S,    @ 600mm, 1/1600s, f/8, ISO 800, image cropped,

2.  Nikon Z6II, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S,    @ 600mm, 1/3200s, f/8, ISO 800, image slightly cropped,

ALL LINED UP TODAY!

Brown Creepers, Little Maquoketa Valley, eastern Iowa

More snow this morning and a great chance to tell winter stories with our photos. To get some snow trails in the picture it was required to extend the exposure time at least to 1/160 seconds or even slower. This all worked well and it also helped to employ the Westscott FJ80 II speed light to overcome the deep gray sky and have a little bit of color bouncing back onto the camera sensor.

And then it literally got all lined up and I was able to make a photo I was hoping for since a long time, but never was convinced it would happen. I knew we have two Brown Creepers in our woods and I have seen them both at the same time before. Unfortunately never really close to each other. Either one always seemed to mind their own business. While focussing on woodpeckers that came to our suet feeders today I suddenly saw both Brown Creepers lined up on the log below a feeder cage. They normally move pretty fast up a tree but for a few seconds both birds had stopped and waited until a Red-bellied Woodpecker had left the food source.

The Brown Creeper is the tiniest bird we see here during winter time. With their fast action it’s not an easy task to have them in sharp focus. As you can imagine, this shot made my day!

Nikon Z6II, Nikon NIKKOR Z 600 f/6.3 VR S, Nikon Z Teleconverter TC-1.4x, Induro GIT 404XL tripod, Induro GHB2 gimbal head, Westscott FJ80 II speed light,    @ 840mm, 1/160s, f/9, ISO 200, image slightly cropped,

OH, THAT BIG REFLECTOR!

Male Eastern Bluebird

Some of the followers in my blog may say, oh boy, he is posting Eastern Bluebirds again, we saw that a few times during this winter season already… And you are right, but as much I try to report about the variety of wildlife we have at a certain time here in the woods of eastern Iowa, the photography related questions make me change my focus about what I like to post here in the blog sometimes. So why the bluebirds again? First, the fact that a flock of about ten birds has been around all winter long has been a first time experience during the last twenty-one winters we live here on top of the bluffs of the Little Maquoketa Valley. But with all the pictures I took recently there is one big thing missing, the great reflector from underneath that a fresh layer of snow can provide. Gosh, I love this kind of light that make very critter pop because the reflections from the snow below give it a quality that no other season during the year can deliver.

Both photos were shot through the glass of the balcony door. As I mentioned sometime before, the distance to the next bird bath is too short for using the Nikon Z600/ f6.3. Well, it’s a good thing that the Sigma 150-600 is still in my possession and with its about 9 feet (2.8m) minimum focus distance it works well for this location…

With all the technical talk that hopefully helps other photography friends with their own endeavors , its all about the beauty of our wildlife we are able to enjoy.

SHARPI STRUCK AGAIN

Sharp-shinned Hawk

We received quite a bit of snow today, the first time this season worth to talk about. The numbers of birds visiting our feeders increased with every snow flake that hit the ground. The first thing I saw this morning while looking at the birds was our Sharp-shinned Hawk sitting in the snow of the driveway. I knew immediately what had happened because I witnessed it before at other times. The hawk had caught some prey midair and just rested with its kill for a moment. When the Sharpi finally took off I saw a small bird in its claws, probably a poor junco or a finch that wasn’t fast enough to hide.

The photo above is not from today but it lets us imagine what a fierce predator the Sharp-shinned Hawk is. With their distinctive proportions, long legs, short wings, and a long tail they can move in an acrobatic manner between trees and at top speeds in pursuit of small birds or mice.

LITTLE NAP IN THE SUN

Female White-breasted Nuthatch

After a few days with nothing but a cloudy and gray sky we are all happy to see the sun again for a while. The last day in January had plenty of it although it feels strange not having any snow on the ground. We humans are not the only creatures longing for light and warmth during winter. This female nuthatch usually hardly ever stops moving around, but it found a spot to sit down for a while, close the eyes, and take a little ”power nap” in the sun.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER STORIES 2025 #1 - BALD EAGLES

Adult Bald Eagle, Mississippi River, between Sabula, Iowa and Savannah, Illinois

A quick trip along the Mississippi River down to Green Island and Sabula this evening led to today’s photo. A couple Bald Eagles had perched in the dead trees along the road between the Sabula island and the bridge that crosses the main channel of the river over to Illinois. It was obvious that 600 mm focal length would not be enough to fill the frame with an eagle, but adding the Nikon Z1.4 teleconverter to the lens gave me 240 mm focal length more. I drove back to the birds with the side window down and the camera already in my lap. Made sure there was no car behind me, stopped briefly, and fired a number of shots until another car approached from behind. The light about an hour before sunset was just gorgeous for this kind of a shot. Back home at the computer I still thought I had a little bit too much ’wood’ in the frame and finally cropped the photo slightly.

Most of the Bald Eagle nests I saw today had already a pair of birds in or near the nest. It’s a big joy to see how this majestic bird bounced back from being almost extinct not that long ago.