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Winging It in Siouxland and Just Passing Through, Snyder Bend Park, Woodbury County

24 May
A great blue heron flies over a pond of water at Snyder Bend Park Thursday, April 6, 2023 in rural Woodbury County near Salix Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

While out and about in Siouxland looking for critters and migrating birds, I never really know who or what may be a local resident and just out and about, or just passing through on its way to another destination.

I don’t know if I will ever become a serious birder, but I find that I now recognize a few more birds that I previously did. And I only a few thousands (hundreds of thousands?) to go. But photographing them, or at least trying, has been a nice past time and a skill set I still need to work on. A newspaper photo editor once told me I only need one photo to tell a story. I didn’t respond about how many photos I might take to tell that story. Of course, he never asked.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A great blue heron flies over a pond of water at Snyder Bend Park Thursday, April 6, 2023 in rural Woodbury County near Salix Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Sharing with Siblings in Siouxland, Stone State Park, Sioux City

22 May
Two juvenile American bald eagles work out perching from the same tree top as another watches from a separate branch above the Big Sioux City River near Stone State Park Sunday, Feb. 12, in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

If one grew up in a family and was not an only child, there were those days when siblings were expected to share. And sometimes I am guessing the same is true in the animal kingdom, even in Siouxland. This past February on a cold day I hiked into an area along the Big Sioux River near Stone State Park. Eagles were congregating there and hanging out until it was time to move along.

And on one particular day, it seemed two related juvenile bald eagles liked sitting on the same branch and in the same place.

Two juvenile American bald eagles work out perching from the same tree top above the Big Sioux City River near Stone State Park Sunday, Feb. 12, in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Two juvenile American bald eagles work out perching from the same tree top above the Big Sioux City River near Stone State Park Sunday, Feb. 12, in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Human siblings will exhibit the same behavior, each wanting to occupy space that another might already occupy, or want depending on the circumstances. I find the behavior fascinating while also chilly waiting to see how everything played out. And remember thinking one of them flew to another branch probably only to continue the battle of wills another time and another day.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Two juvenile American bald eagles work out perching from the same tree top as another lands on a separate branch above the Big Sioux City River near Stone State Park Sunday, Feb. 12, in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Getting Lost in the Weeds in Siouxland, Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve, North Sioux City, SD

10 May
A Lesser Yellowlegs looks for a meal along the shoreline of Mud Lake at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Sunday April 23, 2023 in North Sioux City, South Dakota. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Sometimes when trying to photograph wildlife at various parks and preserves in Siouxland I swear they really work at trying to avoid me and my endeavors. A red-headed woodpecker a year or so ago would always land near me and make its call. And just as I raised my lens it would fly off, only to land nearby and start the process over again. I guess on some mornings I was cheap entertainment.

Watching wildlife feed and stalk its food sources is fascinating. And although some of these birds are the same species I have photographed many times before, they still give me a challenge in capturing their movements. Autofocus is great, but sometimes that muscle memory and manual focus is a needed skill. But with age and glasses, technology is still welcomed. And I am happy to utilize focus peaking when manually focusing. Most mirrorless camera bodies now incorporate that feature, which is great for crowded subject fields as well as shooting in low light situations.

Now if I could get that woodpecker to cooperate.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A Lesser Yellowlegs looks for food along the shoreline of Mud Lake at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Sunday April 23, 2023 in North Sioux City, South Dakota. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
A Lesser Yellowlegs spots something as it looks for food along the shoreline of Mud Lake at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Sunday April 23, 2023 in North Sioux City, South Dakota. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Seeing the White of the American White Pelican in Siouxland, Brown’s Lake and Snyders Bend in rural Woodbury County

8 May
American White Pelicans at Snyders Bend Park in rural Woodbury County Sunday, April 2, 2023 near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Recently on an outing in Siouxland at Brown’s Lake and Snyders Bend in rural Woodbury County, a number of American White Pelicans numbering between 100-200 were seen between the two places and bodies of water. Moving in tandem they swarmed and fed together circling areas of water then turning bottoms up while others soared overhead and skimmed the water’s surface, just enjoying a day out as they migrated back to wherever home is.

The pelicans put on quite a show and their graceful agility is pretty amazing to watch. Recently a few numbers can be seen flying about various parts of Siouxland soaring high on the air currents and circling climbing ever higher until they swoop toward the earth only to repeat themselves.

American White Pelicans take off at Snyder’s Bend Park in rural Woodbury County Saturday, April 1, 2023 near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
American White Pelicans fly over the water as an egret watches in the background at Snyder’s Bend Park in rural Woodbury County Saturday, April 1, 2023 near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Watching nature is always fascinating I believe, and away from all the white noise and other distractions that so easily encroach on one’s days and time. It’s just good to get away and birds times appear ready to perform their floor shows while on the road.

American White Pelicans fly in synch at Snyder’s Bend Park in rural Woodbury County Saturday, April 1, 2023 near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
American White Pelicans set out to fly over Brown’s Lake in Bigelow Park in rural Woodbury County Sunday, April 2, 2023 near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

I also find it challenging to photograph them depending on the day and environment. The stark whiteness on an especially bright sunny day works well on the water in early morning light but more difficult as the day moves forward. The light skimming the area accentuates the blue water which contrasts nicely with the white bodies. Skyward, not so much. The images taken at Snyders Bend was the same morning as at Brown’s Lake, but the direction of the sun and the movements of the birds were different thus creating totally different types of images as the sun lit the two areas in a much different fashion. But still, capturing the pelicans’ movements and antics was still fun and nice being out in nature.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

An American White Pelican makes a landing at Snyder’s Bend Park in rural Woodbury County Sunday, April 2, 2023 near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
An American White Pelican flies along the surface at Brown’s Lake in Bigelow Park in rural Woodbury County Sunday, April 2, 2023 near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
An American White Pelican skims the water at Brown’s Lake in Bigelow Park in rural Woodbury County Sunday, April 2, 2023 near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
American White Pelicans on parade while others enjoy the sunshine amongst the reeds at Brown’s Lake in Bigelow Park in rural Woodbury County Sunday, April 2, 2023 near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
American White Pelicans and double-crested cormorants at Snyder’s Bend Park in rural Woodbury County Sunday, April 2, 2023 near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
American White Pelicans riding the “waves” at Snyder’s Bend Park in rural Woodbury County Sunday, April 2, 2023 near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
An American White Pelican joins friends at Brown’s Lake in Bigelow Park in rural Woodbury County Sunday, April 2, 2023 near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
A Trumpeter swan flies over two American White Pelicans at Brown’s Lake in Bigelow Park in rural Woodbury County Sunday, April 2, 2023 near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
A small duck tries to keep pace with an American white pelican at Snyder Bend Park Thursday, April 6, 2023 in rural Woodbury County near Salix Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

An American White Pelican flies overhead at Brown’s Lake in Bigelow Park in rural Woodbury County Sunday, April 2, 2023 near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Blending in, in Siouxland, Omega Wetland Complex, rural Woodbury County, Iowa

4 May
A northern Harrier, center left, flies with a group of waterfowl spooking them at the Owego Wetland Complex seen Friday, April 7, 2023 in rural Woodbury County near Salix, Iowa. Owego was an early settlement now abandoned and comprises of over 1,300 acres of recovered agricultural land. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Sometimes when visiting places in and around Siouxland, I find it best to try and blend in at whatever event or place I am visiting in order to photograph various scenes. And I am assuming the same is true in nature as animals do quite a good job fading into their surroundings.

Recently visiting the Owego Wetland Complex with a friend, we watched a Northern Harrier raptor flying over some ducks and Canada geese on the ponds. Eventually the ducks bolted even though they were in some respects the same size or larger than the raptor. And so it was surprising as I was editing my images after that outing to find the Northern Harrier flying in amongst the ducks, maybe sizing them up, or just enjoying itself in creating a little mayhem. No complaints, it just made a more interesting image I didn’t realize until later.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Nature by 2’s in Siouxland, Parks and Recreation Areas, Sioux City, Woodbury County

2 May
Sparrows sit on a branch in the backyard of a residence Saturday, November 19, 2022 in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Only after photographing animals outdoors in nature do I sometimes realize symmetry of some of the photographs. In some cases nature happens in twos. I am assuming the pairing of birds is one or the other mate staying nearby while they are out feeding either looking for something or at a backyard feeder.

Two juvenile American bald eagles fly in tandem above the Big Sioux City River near Stone State Park Sunday, Feb. 12, in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
American White Pelicans at Snyder’s Bend Park in rural Woodbury County Sunday, April 2, 2023 near Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Currently reading a book titled “Slow Birding”, one of the book’s chapters deals with House Wrens and whether or not mates are faithful and how this affects reproduction and the gene pool of the species. And it is amazing to see at what length researchers go to achieve a result without a pre-determined outcome on their part.

House finches snack on seeds fallen from a bird feeder at feeders at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Welcome Center Friday, January 28, 2022 in the backyard of a residence in North Sioux City, SD. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
A House Finch eats a seed at a feeder at the visitor’s center in Moorehead Park in Ida Grove, Iowa Saturday, Dec 31, 2022. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And it makes sense that humans reflect nature and visa versa from some sort of instinctive intuition for self-preservation, although I often have my doubts about humans because of the terrible things some individuals do to others. But that is a choice, a poor choice by most standards, but a choice nonetheless.

So time spent observing and appreciating nature is more enjoyable that reading about the cruelty the human race just can’t seem to get beyond.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

along the Union Bridge Trail in Correctionville, Iowa Friday March 24, 2023. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Sharing Space in Siouxland, Stone State Park, Sioux City

26 Apr
A deer crosses the frozen Big Sioux River as American bald eagles eat fish on the iced over river near Stone State Park Sunday, Feb. 12, in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Sometimes it is possible to find species sharing a little space without much fuss. At least in the animal kingdom. Over winter I went to Stone State Park and spent some time along the Big Sioux River which runs just on the outskirts of the park. And it was amazing to find various creatures within “spitting” distance of one another, minding their own business and focused on whatever task was at hand.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Canadian geese congregate near open water on the Big Sioux River as American bald eagles eat fish on the frozen river near Stone State Park Sunday, Feb. 12, in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Will Work for Food in Siouxland, Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve, North Sioux City, South Dakota

22 Apr
A white-breasted nuthatch makes its presence known before approaching a feeder at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Welcome Center Friday, January 28, 2022 in the backyard of a residence in North Sioux City, SD. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

When I began in earnest in photographing birds and other critters a few years ago in Siouxland, I began to slow down and observe the little creatures as I walked about nature preserves like Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve and the antics they displayed at various times. Sometimes it’s in watching them that these characteristics become apparent and entertaining to a certain extent.

A white-breasted nuthatch makes its presence known before approaching a feeder at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Welcome Center Friday, January 28, 2022 in the backyard of a residence in North Sioux City, SD. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
A white-breasted nuthatch grabs a nut from a feeder at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Welcome Center Friday, January 28, 2022 in the backyard of a residence in North Sioux City, SD. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A white-breasted nuthatch danced around a couple feeders, checking out its surroundings before giving into the temptation of a meal. Making certain its foray would end well and not imperil it as hunger made it move closer to a food source. I thought it was quite a “floor show” as the small bird danced about, attaching itself to the feeders, retrieving a morsel, flying away, devouring that morsel, then returning for another. All the while contemplating its advances to the food. Maybe humanities ancestors did the same when hunting for food in the beginnings of time, as opposed now to visiting a restaurant and getting in line at a buffet. Then returning again and again until sated.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A white-breasted enjoys some suet at a feeder at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Welcome Center Friday, January 28, 2022 in the backyard of a residence in North Sioux City, SD. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
A white-breasted swallows some suet at a feeder at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Welcome Center Friday, January 28, 2022 in the backyard of a residence in North Sioux City, SD. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Lurking in the Shadows in Siouxland, Owego Wetland Complex rural Woodbury County

18 Apr
A Great Horned owl looks out at a visitor near the Owego Wetland Complex in rural Woodbury County Sunday, April 3, 2023 near Luton, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Sometimes when traipsing about in Siouxland looking for critters I get surprised with what I might find. I have driven past the Owego Wetland Complex numerous times, seeing the sign along a highway but never took the time to really stop and explore. While walking about a wooded area that is surrounded by an open field I saw what I thought was an unusual shape in amongst tree branches. A big lump as it were that seemed out of place. I slowly made my way over and the realized it was an owl of some description that I learned later from a birding friend that it is a great horned owl.

It was a nice sunny, blue sky kind of day, but the dear was sitting in a tree grove, looking out from the shadows in the afternoon looking for a snack I believe. I would have preferred a better angle with a little more sunshine and sky with color, but the dense shadow on even an early spring type day didn’t happen. As I backed away and tried to make my way around so the sun would be shining into the shaded area, the little guy left. Its solitude shattered by a curious one-eyed cyclops.

Maybe another time.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Seeing Red in Siouxland, Adams Homestead, North Sioux City, SD and Grand Meadow Heritage Center, Washta

16 Apr
A red wheel on a show wagon at the Grand Meadow Heritage Center’s 46th Annual Heritage Days festival Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, Washta, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Sometimes it isn’t until after the fact when I have been out traversing Siouxland that I run across various images that may or may not have anything in common. By themselves they may be simple, nondescript kinds of photographs. And some folk may think that anyway even as a collective. But collectively images should have something in common.

A cardinal sits in the shade of a tree at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, South Dakota Monday, July 18, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
A Redwing Blackbird makes its presence known at Badger Lake Wildlife Management Area in Monona County Tuesday, June 14, 2022 near Sloan, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

It’s possible that even a tenuous element(s) can create a common factor. I find color is one such element. And it mostly depends on how one sees color and if color then becomes the main subject matter, relegating that actual subject of the photograph as a secondary subject. Beauty and art is in the eye of the beholder. Andy Warhol proved that time and again.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Red annuals bloom at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
A red-bellied woodpecker looks for food on a tree near a bird feeder at the Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022 in North Sioux City, South Dakota. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
A house finch watches the backyard at a residence in Sioux City, Iowa Wednesday, July 20, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
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