My books have been published!  <---- Click here to visit my page at the Blurb Bookstore or order via my email address.      Click to order the book!

Kip's Tick Count for 2008 is currently at: 6 Ticks

Kip's Mosquito, Fly, and Gnat Count for 2008 is currently at:

9,336,889 and Box Elder Bugs are at 983,665.

An update to this website...

I'm working on a project to categorize my wildlife images.  The project has begun with bird and snake images.  My intent is to categorize all of my wildlife photos.  Please be patient; I have many images to work through.  Thank you!   

 Click here to view the first few classifications: Iowa Wildlife Images.

One Last Day Out This Year (12/31/08)

As the unusual year 2008 finally closes, I felt it appropriate to spend some time watching my backyard birds.  The regular visitors were present, but so too were several American Tree Sparrows, the White-crowned Sparrow, and the bobbed-tail house finch.  I did not see the rusty blackbird today.  Although each of my visitors has been photographed before, I still practiced for future opportunities.

American Tree Sparrow:

American Tree Sparrow (R) and White-crowned Sparrow (L):

Dark-junco (Slate Race):

Downy Woodpecker:

Mourning Dove:

A First In My Backyard!! (12/30/08)

This afternoon I spent time in the "Man Cave" - also known as my bird blind.  Imagine my surprise when I had not one unusual sighting, but also a first that I am aware of.  The unusual sighting was this bobbed-tail female house finch.  I'm not sure what happened to her tail feathers, but she lost them.  Hopefully hers will grow back as quickly as the junco's feathers have over the past couple of weeks.  (See below for details.)

Then I noticed a surprise avian visitor peering over the feeder setting.  It never did approach any closer or move so I had a clear view, so I have to be happy with the following composition of a Rusty Blackbird:

Other visitors to the feeders were the juncos, including the lone Oregon Race birds, and sparrows, including the single white-crowned sparrow (immature).  Notice the white patch under its beak.  Note: I incorrectly identified this bird in earlier postings.  It is not a field sparrow.

A small downy woodpecker enjoys the beef fat packed into the tree bark:

Finally, I want to share with readers information about the 2009 Iowa DNR Non-Game Certificate.  Each year the Iowa DNR sells the numbered certificates for $5.00.  The 2009 Non-Game Certificate features one of my images - Three Bonaparte's Gulls.  Revenue generated from the sales of the certificates benefits non-game species.  If you appreciate those species that aren't hunted, please consider purchasing a certificate.  Details are at this link:

2009 Iowa DNR Non-game Certificate Details

The Snow is Still Deep in the Timber (12/29/08)

Our snow piles outside the back door may have gone down quite a bit, but there is still plenty of snow in the timber to raise your pulse rate.  I did a mile or so hike and really worked hard.  The effort was rewarded with a close encounter with a beaver and raccoon in the same area.  The 'coon pics didn't pass muster and the beaver shots needed some work, but I've posted them anyway.  It was fun to get out again.

Backyard Birds and Squirrels Galore! (12/28/08)

After yesterday's ice storm and last night's snow, I didn't think I'd do much but move snow today.  But, when the snowplow startled me awake at 4:30am, I just stayed up and moved snow.  That meant I had time this afternoon to watch the backyard critters.  I was pleasantly surprised when a white-crowned sparrow appeared multiple times at my feeders.

I've posted an image of a female house sparrow for comparison purposes.  This is another example of why it is important that all sparrows aren't considered bad or undesirable.  Many attractive sparrow species exist.

Other birds at the feeders included a male Northern Cardinal:

Several dark-eyed juncos, including this one that is now growing new tail feathers (seems very late in the season for molting):

Blue jays and mourning doves:

After waiting quite a few days, I now have a hairy woodpecker coming in to feed on beef fat.

The squirrels continue to consider my feeder arrangement a buffet.  Believe it or not, I've been enjoying watching them at close range.

Carrion Clean-up Crew (12/23/08)

I received a telephone call this afternoon that wildlife activity had been spotted along a road I was traveling on.  Since I was nearby, the birds didn't have time to move on.  I watched and photographed for only a few minutes.  During that brief time I observed three bald eagles feeding on a deer carcass.  The older bird clearly dominated the younger bird.  I'm amazed how little was left of the deer.

Finally, Another Species at My Feeder (12/22/08)

I don't want to complain, but I was in need of a little variety at my bird feeder.  Since a mix of species wasn't occurring often, I upped the ante by providing even more varied food.  Now, in addition to finches, juncos, and sparrows, I'm also attracting cardinals, blue jays, and chickadees to one very small area near my blind.  I hope to add more photos as time and lighting allows.

I've been doing more research on the juncos, including the sub-species.  I'm not convinced I have many pink race subspecies visiting my feeders.  I'm becoming more convinced they are a phase of the slate-colored birds.

How Wildlife Copes With Extreme Winter Weather (12/22/08)

As I type this you can almost hear a whistling noise as the thermometer attempts to hit bottom.  How blustery can it get this winter, of which we're only into the second day?  I'm often amazed by the techniques wildlife uses to survive.  Some call it evolution, others suggest they learn to adapt.  After this past weekend and the many times I shoveled and blew snow, I think the wildlife, at least this squirrel, has adopted mimicry.  To think I led by example is humbling.  I can't help but wonder where this one shops.

Junco Mania - Day 2!! (12/21/08)

Today's non-stop strong winds blowing deep snow meant the backyard birds were willing to eat anywhere food was present, including near me.  I spent several hours watching the birds today and did not see the Oregon race Dark-eyed Junco.  I did however, notice this junco that probably suffered from conjunctivitis recently.  The illness obviously cost the bird its right eye.

While watching the birds I noticed two new visitors - female purple finches:

When I noticed this bird I quickly identified with its "bad feather" day.  There are some mornings my hair is so messed up it hurts.  I'm guessing this purple finch was approaching the same threshold.

I'll end today with this simple image that I really like.  The pale blue sky, white snow, green evergreen, and junco with catch-light in the eye make for a pleasing picture.  This is now the background for my monitor! 

For the record, I picked up two more bags of bird seed tonight.  With the deep snow, my feathered friends need all the help they can get.

What a Surprise...Not Santa but the Holiday Rodent! (12/20/08)

With all of the snow, wind, and frigid temperatures we've endured lately, I've been wondering if Santa will even want to stop in the area next week.  Apparently the wildlife in my backyard can understand my feelings.  This festive holiday rodent paid me a visit while I was photographing birds!  How nice!!!

After the shock of seeing a decorated squirrel, I concentrated on bird subjects.  My goal was to photograph a bird I believe is a Dark-eyed Junco of the Oregon race.  Having seen the odd junco many times over the past few days, I've noticed that the other juncos seem to dominate the loner bird.  Of course I don't know if that is associated with a possible species difference or just junco hierarchy.  While I was shooting,  I also photographed the other two common junco species for comparisons (again!).  While I was working on juncos, I photographed an interesting junco with a tail consisting of a single white feather.  I'm not sure what the bird's story is, but I'm wondering how much more difficult it is for the junco to fly.

Dark-eyed Junco - Oregon Race (possible):

Dark-eyed Junco - Pink Race:

Dark-eyed Junco - Slate Race:

Dark-eyed Junco - Single White Tail Feather:

Another fox squirrel image:

A Study in Sub-Species (12/13/08)

Saturday was an unusual day.  First, the weather was exceptionally warm and sunny.  Second, it was the opening day of the second deer season, and third, the birds in my backyard were extremely active.  I spent part of the afternoon "practicing" my skills on ordinary backyard birds when I noticed what might be a visiting subspecies.  I'll post the birds in order of numbers in the backyard and let viewers decide species identifications.

House Sparrows (female):

Dark-eyed Junco (Pink race):

Dark-eyed Junco (Slate race):

Dark-eyed Junco (possible Oregon race) - I base my suspicions on the distinct dark cape.  When compared to the images at the Cornell Lab site, a striking similarity exists between my image and their image of a female Oregon sub-species of dark-eyed juncos:

It Might Be Deer Season For Some... (12/6/08)

One of the many benefits I enjoy as an outdoor photographer is that I can "hunt" year-round.  I do, however, give up my favored haunts for a couple of weeks each year when the shotgun deer season is open.  Today was the opening day, so I stayed out of Sweet Marsh, out of the timber, and stayed in my backyard bird blind.  Since I have a huge number of photos of typical Iowa backyard birds, I use the time for practice and to try out new techniques with my camera.

Today's observations did not include any new species.  My regulars were visiting nearly non-stop, so I worked on focus and depth-of-field.  I also tried to capture the various sub-species of the juncos that were visiting.  The pink-sided sub-species was the most common of the Dark-eyed juncos.  

I also had a few of the slate-sided versions of Dark-eyed juncos.

Of course the house sparrows were present too.  I am not trying to insult anyone's intelligence by explaining the genders of the sparrows.  Over the years I've learned that some people do not recognize male from female of many species, so for those folks I'll explain...this is a male:

This is a female:

I'll try to photograph a few other species tomorrow.

For more information, feel free to email us at this link:

Ladage Photography.