Northern Light Show

Northern Lights over the standing remains of Concordia Pioneer Lutheran Church

A major solar geomagnetic storm struck the earth's magnetic field the night of May 10th, 2024. The storm started in the afternoon which gave time to plan on where best to try to capture the resulting Aurora Borealis. I chose a favorite structure in rural Roberts County, SD not far from Sisseton. Pioneer Concordia Lutheran church originally stood about two thirds of a mile east of its current location. The cemetery is still there. According to another photographer met while taking in the light show, three brothers decided to purchase the building and move it to one of their fields rather than see it knocked down. This church meant a lot to them as their parents were both married as well as their respective funerals were held in the church. So in a way, this is one of South Dakota's grandest memorials to loved ones now passed on.

On my way home I also stopped at Zion Evangelical Lutheran just to the east of the Brandt exit off Interstate 29. The light show had shifted to a dancing ribbon of pale green directly overhead that stretched across the sky from the eastern to western horizon. Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for stopping by.

Looking southeast over my Suburu

Zion Evangelical Lutheran of rural Deuel County, SD

A winter of frost and snow

Frosted tree branch in front of a red barn

Red, white and blue along the Big Sioux River near Baltic, SD

Frost on weeds with Sioux Valley Baptist country church in the background

Bald Eagles along the Big Sioux River near Trent, SD

The beginning of a heavy snow event at the Sioux Falls Outdoor Campus

American Tree Sparrow in tall grass

Snowfall at Terrace Park in Sioux Falls

White-tailed deer near Oldham, SD

Lake Whitewood Church (eastern Kingsbury County) on a frosted morning

Trinity Lutheran in rural Kingsbury County

American Goldfinch at the Dells of the Big Sioux near Dell Rapids, SD

A red barn after a foggy morning east of Dell Rapids, SD

September 2022

Sage Creek Wilderness - Badlands National Park

Sage Creek Wilderness - Badlands National Park

Painted Lady Butterfly

Orange - harvest haze at sunset

Yellow - Aspen leaves

Blue - Downy gentian wildflower

White - Great Plains Ladies-tresses orchid

Red - Common serviceberry leaf

Northern Black Hills highlands in late September

Northern Black Hills highlands in late September

Vanocker's Canyon Road

Mirrored September sunset

 

May 2022

Rain shower over Badlands National Park

Spring came late to South Dakota in 2022 so May was quite the month. From finding first flowers on the plains and in the draws to massive wind and rain storms across the wide open sky... The great outdoors seemed a little wilder than other years. As they say, bad weather makes for great photographs, and I can't argue with that. Here are a dozen favorite photos from May. Some showing the smaller details of spring on the prairie and others showing the vast views that can take one's breath away. Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in!

First cherry blossoms of spring

Bumblebee on plum brush

Carolina anemone

Canada Warbler

Sunlight lighting a rain shaft receding over Badlands National Park

Double rainbow over an abandoned home

Kinnikinnick or red bearberry blossoms 

Spotted mission bells also called chocolate lilies

Prairiesmoke in light rain

Bighorn sheep ewe

Derecho cloud with dust

 

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