November 2021

An early November sunset sky over the Falls of the Big Sioux River in downtown Sioux Falls, SD

November of 2021 was tough for me to find time to get out into nature for photos. I did, however, get to shoot photos from the sidelines during my nephews 9A Football Championship game. Also, I was able to take a leisurely day of backroads on my way back from visiting family for the Thanksgiving holiday. This trip yielded great birding opportunities as the last of the snow geese were on their way through and plenty of raptors were around. At Blue Blanket lake alone, I saw up to eight bald eagles keeping their eye on a group of geese resting near the last of the open water. I didn't know if I'd be able to have a full dozen photos to show this month, but the post Thanksgiving trip also produced a superb sunset in Clark County as you will see below. Thanks for checking in and as usual, click on an image for a larger file to view and have a great holiday season!

Faint northern lights above the calm waters of Scotts Slough near Hartford, SD

My nephew at the 9A FB championship game in Vermillion, SD

My nephew at the 9A FB championship game in Vermillion, SD

Juvenile Bald Eagle at Blue Blanket lake near Selby, SD

Juvenile Bald Eagle in flight

Bald Eagle at Sand Lake National Wildlife Reserve in Brown County, SD

Bald Eagle along Highway 10 west of Britton, SD

Short-eared Owl at Waubay National Wildlife Refuge in Day County, SD

Sunset skies in rural Clark County, SD

Good Hope County church in rural Clark County, SD

Sunset skies in rural Clark County, SD

October 2021

Autumn arch along the Big Sioux River near Newton Hills State Park in SE South Dakota

October in this part of the world consists of much beauty. But like most things wonderful, it is fleeting. I happened to be in Butte County, SoDak when the first sunlight of October, 2021 cleared the horizon and bathed the wide open prairie with warm light. Just north of Hoover, I stopped to get a photo of the Autumn colored trees along the south fork of the Moreau River with the Deers Ears Buttes in the far distance. Later I stood atop a rock outcropping taking in the fall colors accenting the Cave Hills in Harding County. You will rarely see a "selfie" here on this photo blog, but I'm adding one this month. Mostly to remember the glorious day that was.  As the month moved along, I was able to spend a couple afternoons and evenings on the complete opposite corner of the state at Palisades State Park. This little park is an Autumn wonder if you can catch the leaf change and evening light right. It was tough to see another Fall season wane away, but all good things must come to an end I'm told. As always, click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in!

The south fork of the Moreau River with Deers Ears Buttes

Yours truly at the Cave Hills of Harding County

Early morning fog near the Mighty Missouri north of Bismarck, ND

Leaf detail found at Palisades State Park

Leaf detail found at Palisades State Park

Early evening at Palisades State Park

Early evening at Palisades State Park

Queen rock at Palisades State Park

Autumn hues at Palisades State Park

Autumn leaf along the Big Sioux River

October sunset

September 2021

Traffic at dusk on the Spearfish Canyon scenic byway

September is a month of transition here on the northern great plains. Early in the month, the last of the summer wildflowers bloom and by the end of the month the high country is ablaze with Autumn colors. Thankfully I was able to get out and enjoy a little of both flavors this month.  Here are a dozen of my favorites from those excursions. Click on an image for a larger file to view and enjoy!

Northern plains ladies-tresses in bloom

Friday night football with a spectacular sunset in Selby, SD

The nearly full harvest moon rising with mule deer in Perkins County, SD

Sica Hollow State Park canopy in late September

An abandoned house along the base of the Coteau des Prairies of northeastern SoDak

Late summer Milky Way over Pioneer Concordia Lutheran of Roberts County

Headlights and taillights along the Big Foot Pass at Badlands National Park

White-tailed buck at Custer State Park

Autumn in the high country of Lawrence County, SD

Mountain Bluebird standing out against the Autumn-hued background

Little Spearfish Canyon fall colors near Savoy, SD

 

August 2021

White pelican at sunset

Here are a dozen of my favorites from August of 2021. It was a good month in that the rains seemed to have returned giving some relief to an otherwise very dry summer. Also I had a difficult time narrowing this post down to 12, which is another good sign of a productive month. Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in!

Cordgrass florets

Skullcap buds

Bottle gentian at sunset

Fawn at Newton Hills State Park

Ten petal blazing star at sunset

Sioux Falls Riverfest under the Arc of Dreams

Regal fritillary on blazing star blooms

Lesser-fringed gentian

Viceroy butterfly on Spotted Joe Pye bloom 

Fog droplets on a Blue lobelia flower

Monarch butterfly on goldenrod blooms

July 2021

Mating Monarch butterfly wings

July of 2021 was hot, smoky and relatively dry. Getting out into nature was also tough for yours truly with a very busy regular work schedule. Typically I chase rainbows and storm clouds on weekends and evenings in July, but storms and rain were few and far between this year. Even so, there was enough rain on the eastern side of SD and southwestern MN, that wildflowers were still found and enjoyed. I also looked for the federally endangered Western Prairie Fringed Orchid over a couple weekends in Rock County, MN to no avail. Then a friend told me where I could find this elusive (but quite showy and lovely) wildflower up in southeastern ND at the Sheyenne National Grasslands. So I spent a long Saturday on the road to find and photograph the wildflower with a couple stops at a few favorite places in northeastern SD on the way back. Here are the photos from all these July forays for you. Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in.

Prairie larkspur in the evening light

Wood Lily

Northern green bog orchid

Pale-spike lobelia

Western Fringed Prairie Orchid

Western Fringed Prairie Orchid

Smooth Oxeye

Storm clouds over Esmond, SD

Kalm's lobelia

The underside of a new Great Blue Lobelia bloom

Prairie blazing stars