NATURE CLICKS #454 - SCARLET TANAGER

Scarlet Tanager ♂️

Male and female Scarlet Tanagers are some of the prettiest visitors we have here at this time of the year. The tanagers like this oak in front of the house as a landing place before they approach the suet feeder. The frost at night a few days ago has damaged some of the fresh leaves on this young oak but the tree recovers quickly. With the cold weather we had lately these neotropical migrants come in very frequently. Later during the summer they spend most of their time in the canopy of the forest and forage for insects. That’s when we hardly see them anymore.

Scarlet Tanager ♀️

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…

KILLDEER FLEDLINGS

Killdeer fledgling out for walk

I always worry when I go to the Green Island Wetlands and see a Killdeer, a larger plover, running around in one of the gravel covered parking lots. The parking lots are empty for most part of the year and only during the duck hunting season you may see a number of pick-up trucks with boat trailers there. But visitors use them to turn or look around. And that’s where the danger for the Killdeer starts. They lay their eggs in a shallow depression in gravelly areas or grass and the parking lots are obviously a preferred habitat for breeding. The incubation time is between 24 and 28 days and that’s a long time when bad things can happen and the brood is at risk.

Back under the wings

Killdeer are masters in luring an intruder away from the nest. I have seen this Killdeer and its partner running around and had an idea where the nest would be. I avoided the area and just watched with my binoculars or through the long lens from the distance during the last weeks. Yesterday evening I spotted a fledgling for the first time and a little later a second one. One of the adults was still on the nest while the other one foraged nearby. The adult bird on the nest called the young ones but they had their own mind and took their time to go back under the wings. The second photo tells the last part of that story pretty good.

We all hate rules, but there is one I like to bring to mind. When birds are active with nesting you have to remember, no photo is worth sacrificing the welfare of the animal! Keep your distance and don’t keep the parents away from the nest for a long time.

FLYCATCHER IDENTIFICATION

Least Flycatcher

The identification of small flycatchers is not very easy in my humble opinion, although we have more tools for identification to our disposal than ever. I have three apps on my phone and the number of printed bird guides in our home library has increased over the years. If you think my selection is not correct, please let me know. I always value the input of other birders, photographers, and nature lovers.

This photo was made earlier this week in Bankston County Park. I made a few more with different poses of the flycatcher that helped with identification, but this one I liked the best.

Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S,Induro GIT 404XL tripod, Induro GHB2 gimbal head,   @ 600 mm, 1/1000 s, f/6.3, ISO 400, photo cropped

SAME PLACE, TWO STORIES

Middle Fork Little Maquoketa River, Bankston County Park, Iowa

Today’s blog post has actually two stories, both from the Middle Fork Little Maquoketa River, that flows on the bottom of the valley in Bankston County Park. My eyes scanned the trees for little warblers and other birds when I realized how gorgeous the light was and how it was reflected on the surface of the water. It doesn’t happen very often that I use the shortest focal length of the Sigma 150-600 but I didn’t want to change lenses, because of the chance to miss a bird.

Female Wood Duck

A little while later this female Wood Duck swam hastily around and called. I didn’t see any ducklings and was wondering what she tried to accomplish. They nest in tree cavities and suddenly it became clear that she tried to call them out of the nest for their first dive into the water.

Number one in the water

I backed off and moved away but when I briefly turned around, I saw that her calling seemed to work. The bravest of the ducklings had joined her already. Wood Ducks lay between 9 and 15 eggs and hopefully all of her babies will make it.

THE UNEXPECTED

Barred Owl

I’m an advocate for going out on a shoot prepared and with a goal in mind. But sometimes things take their own turn and the best intends become obsolete or an opportunity comes up, totally unexpected. While driving home last night from Bankston County Park I suddenly saw an owl from its backside beside the road, perching in a tree and overlooking a field, just doing what owls do when the night starts. I turned around at the next opportunity, prepared the camera in my lap, and drove back. It was a Barred Owl and it turned its head at me as expected. I stopped in the middle of the road, framed, and fired a few shots. With the field below still in the sun, a third of a stop exposure compensation was all what it took to expose for the owl’s face.

You can imagine, after several first sightings of some warblers (see the last blog post) I was already very happy. Well, the unexpected photo opportunity with the Barred Owl made a “cocktail hour” mandatory after arriving at home… 😊

Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM, @  600 mm, 1/160 s, f/6.3, ISO 400,

WARBLER DAYS

The herons were not the only birds we saw yesterday evening in the valley of Bankston County Park. Several warblers were foraging along the river but it was already late and my shooting results were not that great. With other words, I went back today and tried my luck again. The sun was out this evening and I took the tripod and gimbal head with me. Yes, that slows you down a little bit but I knew my best opportunities would be near the water and due to the thick brush along the river, light was not available in abundance.

Black-throated Green Warbler

This was a first sighting for me! This male is on its way to Canada or northern Minnesota.

Wilson’s Warbler

My first sighting in Iowa. We have seen the Wilson’s Warbler in Colorado a few years ago. Their breeding range is from Alaska eastwards to Newfoundland. It spends the winters along the Gulf Coast and south into Mexico. The black cap makes it easy to identify this beautiful bird.

Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler

The first yellow-rumped showed up already a month ago and we see them more often than other warblers even in our woods here.

Yellow Warbler

Iowa is breeding territory and it is a warbler you may find even during the summer in Bankston Park or other areas. It is more difficult to spot them when the leaves are fully developed. The best way to find one is listening to their songs and calls.

Northern Waterthrush

Another first sighting! It is possible to confuse the bird with a thrush but it is actually a warbler. Joan discovered this bird yesterday and that’s the best I came up with while handholding the camera. I was debating if I should show the photo with its lack of sharpness and heavily cropped, but for a first sighting, hey, an exception can be made, or not? 😏

NATURE CLICKS #453 - BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON

What was supposed to be just a short trip to give our little dog Cooper his evening exercise turned out to become a nice bird watching and photo walk. We went to Bankston County Park, a nice wooded location along the Middle Fork Little Maquoketa River, less than twenty minutes away from home. I have reported about this little gem before last year here in my blog.

There is a small little pond and the first bird we saw was this Black-crowned Night-Heron. The only place I have seen this bird in Iowa before was twice in the Green Island Wetlands. The heron was perched on this big branch, hanging over the water. They are opportunistic foragers with a varied diet. My experience with the black-crowned has been that they are pretty relaxed and stay in place as long as you move slowly. We also flushed a much smaller Green Heron, who just moved to the other side of the pond. Green Herons seem to be a lot more nervous and I have missed many photo opportunities before because they are so skittish.

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

PHOTOS OF A GRAY BUT EVENTFUL DAY

As my headline already says, it was a rainy, windy, and gray day. No reason to stay home. There was a lot going on in the Green Island Wetlands. Yes, photography sucks a little bit if sky and water look gray but a number of clicks were made. 

Forster’s Tern

Shortly after arrival in the wetlands I spotted a Forster’s Tern flying at me. This is not a bird we can see every day in the Mississippi Valley, although I have photographed them before. Not the sharpest image either but I want to mention its presence.

Sandhill Crane

I saw this single Sandhill Crane twice today. No partner around. Two weeks ago we still saw a pair in this area and it makes me wonder if the other bird is on a nest somewhere between the reeds. Sandhill Cranes mate for life and both parents incubate the eggs during the day, but at night only by the female.

Barn Swallow

Hundreds of swallows have arrived. I saw Barn Swallows everywhere in large numbers, desperately hunting for insects. With the cold weather we had today, it may have been a challenge for so many birds to find enough food after the long way of migration. Among them were Tree Swallows, but this species has been here since a few weeks already, and also a few Bank Swallows were present.

Cliff Swallows (and possibly a Bank Swallow)

A kettle of at least 200 Cliff Swallows used one of the parking lots for boat trailers as a place to rest, warm up, and for catching insects all around. The Cliff Swallows build mud nests, mostly on a sheltered cliff or underneath bridges. I look forward to watch them here in the Little Maquoketa River Valley again this summer.

NATURE CLICKS #452 - BALTIMORE ORIOLE ♀️

Oh boy, how much I love these sunny early mornings in May! The temperature is pleasant and the quality of light is awesome. We put some orange halves out and this attracts the orioles and other birds. The goal is of course to make the click while the birds carefully approach the food source. This young oak right in front of our porch is a perfect target to focus on. The food is between 6 -10 feet away and many birds use it as an observation point before they approach the feeders or for waiting in line while others, mostly bigger birds, take their turn.

The Baltimore Oriole is a great looking bird with wonderful sounding calls. Sure, they can chatter as well, but waking up in the morning to the sound of their calls is one of the best delights in spring…

Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S, Induro GIT 404XL tripod, Induro GHB2 gimbal head,   @ 600 mm (DX mode 900 mm), f/6.3, 1/2000 s, ISO400,

NATURE CLICKS #451 - NORTHERN PARULA (FIRST SIGHTING)

There is always a great joy when the migrating birds arrive in spring but when there is a new species in the trees, that we have never seen here before, the excitement becomes even bigger.

Yesterday morning was such a moment. While standing on the porch with a cup of coffee and aiming the lens at Scarlet Tanagers and Grosbeaks I suddenly discovered a wood warbler. I knew immediately that I had not seen this one before. Making the photo has priority, even if it is only a “documentary shot”, the identification can follow later.

Here is an interesting fact I quote from the The Cornell Lab website ALL ABOUT BIRDS: Northern Parulas have an odd break in their breeding range. They breed from Florida north to the boreal forest of Canada, but skip parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, and some states in the Northeast. The reason for their absence may have to do with habitat loss and increasing air pollution, which affects the growth of moss on trees that they depend on for nesting.

They feed often high up in the canopy, maybe another reason why we don’t see them more often. It was a nice way to start the day and I look forward to have many more moments like this one.

Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S @600 mm, 1/800s, f/6.3, ISO400, photo cropped

“ARRIVAL WEEKEND”

Rose-breasted Grosbeak ♂️

Have a look at today’s photos. It was “arrival weekend” for many birds in our woods here on top of the bluffs of the Little Maquoketa River, Iowa. If you try to write a blog about nature and photography and can’t decide what pictures to post, I tell you, it’s a nice problem to have. 😊 As always, click on the photo for a larger view and black background.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird ♂️ . Some females arrived as well.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak ♀️

House Wren ♂️, The first male arrived April, 25th and sings his heart out every morning and during the day. Today I saw a female inspecting one of our nest boxes. Maybe this guy gets lucky, but there are other males around and she can be choosy…

Scarlet Tanager ♂️, Not very many people will see a Scarlet Tanager. They don’t make a lot of noise. This one arrived this morning, a second one followed this evening. We are waiting now to see the first female…

BIRD ARRIVALS

Baltimore Oriole , Little Maquoketa River Valley, Iowa

This photo isn’t from this year but it was exactly the same view today when the first male Baltimore Oriole arrived in our woods. So far we haven’t seen any surprises and here are some other dates when we had the first sightings of the year:

  • House Wren: 1st male April 25rd,

  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 1st male April 28th,

  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 1st male April 29th, 1st female May 1st,

  • Baltimore Oriole: 1st male May 1st,

It is the most exciting time of the year. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

A MERCILESS FIGHT

3 Wood Ducks in a fight, Green Island Wetlands, Mississippi Valley, Iowa

No, I didn’t throw a big stone into the water. We just witnessed a merciless fight between three male Wood Ducks. It lasted only a few seconds and was probably all about the mating rights for a female. Driving along the west boundary of the bird refuge at Green Island, this scene unfolded just in front of us. Luckily I found a gap in the vegetation for pointing the lens at the birds. In areas where wildlife encounters are very likely I always drive with the camera in my lap. The camera stays turned on to increase the chance for a shot of a wildlife sighting or sometimes for an unexpected incident like this one.