Tag Archives: seasons

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©)

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©)

Seeing Chicks in Siouxland, or Eaglets, rural Woodbury County

30 Apr
American bald eagles are raising young in a nest high atop a lone tree near the Owego Wetland Complex seen Friday, April 7, 2023 in rural Woodbury County, Iowa. Owego was an early settlement now abandoned and comprises of over 1,300 acres of recovered agricultural land. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Lately I find myself looking for migrating birds and critters more than exploring new places in Siouxland. This year has been a good year for finding eagles nearby, that is, not having to drive an hour to watch them soar and behave. Some local birders are happy because it seems the eagle population in Iowa is beginning to come back. There was a ban on using lead shot for game hunters since a number of eagles were dying from lead poisoning, by eating and ingesting wounded and later dead game that hunters did not recover and through eating that game the birds then became ill and some died.

So it was by happenstance that I came upon an eagle’s nest I was not aware of in rural Iowa after exploring a nearby wooded grove. And then got even luckier when I spied through a telephoto lens that it appears that two young (baby) eaglets were somewhat undercover of the adult’s body in the nest.

American bald eagles are raising young in a nest high atop a lone tree near the Owego Wetland Complex seen Friday, April 7, 2023 in rural Woodbury County, Iowa. Owego was an early settlement now abandoned and comprises of over 1,300 acres of recovered agricultural land. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
American bald eagles are raising young in a nest high atop a lone tree near the Owego Wetland Complex seen Friday, April 7, 2023 in rural Woodbury County, Iowa. Owego was an early settlement now abandoned and comprises of over 1,300 acres of recovered agricultural land. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

One of the adults was waiting for the other to return with a fresh food supply. It was a very windy day and it was tough to get a clear photograph of the birds in the nest as the branches get swaying about along with 25-30mph gusts of wind that kept pushing my lens about.

Finally the returning adult brought back some kind of waterfowl as it appeared there were webbed feet hanging from its talons. And there were waterfowl hanging out in a nearby stream.

The little chicks kept peeking above the rim of the nest and the adult seemed to be keeping them in check and also munching on something nearby as it kept pecking on something within the nest. The more time spent outdoors watching and trying to photograph nature the more interesting it becomes. While I don’t fancy myself a great or even good wildlife photographer, the challenge of capturing an image of nature in action makes me a better photographer all around. Anticipating what might occur, if that’s even possible, and then photographing the moment keeps one on your toes waiting for a telling moment.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

American bald eagles are raising young in a nest high atop a lone tree near the Owego Wetland Complex seen Friday, April 7, 2023 in rural Woodbury County, Iowa. Owego was an early settlement now abandoned and comprises of over 1,300 acres of recovered agricultural land. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
American bald eagles are raising young in a nest high atop a lone tree near the Owego Wetland Complex seen Friday, April 7, 2023 in rural Woodbury County, Iowa. Owego was an early settlement now abandoned and comprises of over 1,300 acres of recovered agricultural land. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
American bald eagles are raising young in a nest high atop a lone tree near the Owego Wetland Complex seen Friday, April 7, 2023 in rural Woodbury County, Iowa. Owego was an early settlement now abandoned and comprises of over 1,300 acres of recovered agricultural land. (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©)

Watching the Wildlife in Siouxland, American Bald Eagles, Little Sioux

4 Apr
American bald eagles eating fish on frozen parts of the Little Sioux River Monday, Feb. 13, near Little Sioux, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

While driving about Siouxland this winter in search of photographic opportunities involving the American bald eagle, I never tire of just watching them. Their mannerisms and interactions with one another. I fell lucky that I have been able to watch and photograph them on different occasions.

American bald eagles eating fish on frozen parts of the Little Sioux River Monday, Feb. 13, near Little Sioux, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
American bald eagles eating fish on frozen parts of the Little Sioux River Monday, Feb. 13, near Little Sioux, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

By now the majority of them have moved on as migration is in full swing. Thousands of Canada geese and other waterfowl have been passing through the area. Sometimes almost too numerous to guess how many. A friend recently told me that seeing more opportunities to view eagles was encouraging because it meant they were coming back and not quite as endangered as previous years. But still, it doesn’t mean they are out of the woods, as the saying goes. I am hoping for a few more opportunities but the numbers may not be quite as plentiful, but it is still a joy to watch them.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

American bald eagles eating fish on frozen parts of the Little Sioux River Monday, Feb. 13, near Little Sioux, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
American bald eagles eating fish on frozen parts of the Little Sioux River Monday, Feb. 13, near Little Sioux, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Getting the Look in Siouxland, Feathered Friends, Sioux City

21 Mar
Summer and fall is winding down for some backyard visitors, in Sioux City, Iowa Friday, Oct. 8, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Many times when photographing birds in backyards I find them gazing at me or the optic I am using to photograph them and sometimes wonder what each bird might be thinking. The gaze seems intense and direct. Maybe interrupting a lunch plan, or that this intruder has designs on the feeder the bird is interested in. Or maybe it is just curiosity.

Summer and fall is winding down for some backyard visitors, in Sioux City, Iowa Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
A sparrow sits on a branch waiting for room at a bird feeder in the backyard of a residence Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021 in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Summer and fall is winding down for some backyard visitors, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021 in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

But I find it entertaining and also calming in a sometimes noisy world to just slow down and observe. The birds are on their mission to survive, eating meals and staying safe within the confines of bushes and trees. And just getting through that particular day as best as they can with maybe hopes for a tomorrow.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

As summer and fall winds down a blue jay looks for an opportunity as a backyard feeder, in Sioux City, Iowa, Sept.10, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
A house sparrow comments about a feeder in the backyard of a residence in Sioux City, Iowa Wednesday, July 20, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
Summer and fall is winding down for some backyard visitors, in Sioux City, Iowa Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Winter Scenes in Siouxland, Rural Monona County

19 Mar
A barn in a field with trees covered with hoar frost and fog along a rural country road in Monona County, Iowa near Onawa, Iowa Sunday, Jan. 22, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Some days driving about in winter weather has its challenges besides just trying to stay warm. A winter scene might look nice to the viewer’s eye, but is it compelling enough to “force” a person to stop and get out of a warm vehicle to walk about and select a composition and photograph the scene.

Besides, white is, well, white. Not always the most interesting of subjects to photograph. But one still needs to attempt and create an image and hope that it converts something about the area or scene that attracts a viewer, besides thinking what an idiot this person was to go out in freezing weather just to photograph something white. Guilty. Sadly, it is not the first time and probably will not be the last time this photographer attempts those winter forays into the countryside looking for something that catches the eye and is worthy of others’ time and attention.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Hoar frost and fog along a rural country road in Monona County, Iowa near Onawa, Iowa Sunday, Jan. 22, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A tree covered with hoar frost and snow along a rural country road in Monona County, Iowa near Onawa, Iowa Sunday, Jan. 22, 2022. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Soaring in Siouxland, Watching Eagles, Sioux City

15 Mar
A juvenile American bald eagle flies above the Big Sioux City near Stone State Park Saturday, Feb. 11, in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

As many times as I can get out into Siouxland and look for places that the American bald eagle might be hanging out these days during migration, I never tire of watching them. Sitting in tree tops, perched, alert, ever watchful. Of course if I was always looking for a meal I would probably do the same, except for perching in tree tops.

A juvenile American bald eagle flies above the Big Sioux City near Stone State Park Saturday, Feb. 11, in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
A juvenile American bald eagle flies above the Big Sioux City near Stone State Park Saturday, Feb. 11, in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
An American bald eagle checks out its surroundings above the Big Sioux City River near Stone State Park Sunday, Feb. 12, in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The winter season has not left the area as more snowstorms or wintry weather mix is still occupying most of the days recently and into the near future. It seems this year I have been out photographing on more overcast, cloudy and hazy days than I remember from last year. So while it may not be as ideal of photography weather with crisp blue skies setting off the eagles flying or perched, the joy and fun of watching them is still there.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A juvenile American bald eagle flies above the Big Sioux City near Stone State Park Saturday, Feb. 11, in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
An American bald eagle and a juvenile bald eagle check of their surroundings from a treetop above the Big Sioux City River near Stone State Park Sunday, Feb. 12, in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
An American bald eagle checks out its surroundings above the Big Sioux City River near Stone State Park Sunday, Feb. 12, in Sioux City, Iowa. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)
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