October 2022

Late afternoon at Palisades State Park

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Nashville Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Autumn farm along the Big Sioux River near Baltic, SD

Backlit leaves at Palisades State Park

Leaf detail at Palisades State Park

Autumn afternoon at Palisades State Park

Sunset over Zion Lutheran church and cemetery south of Hartford, SD

Macro of Autumn leaf - Family Park - West Sioux Falls

Sunset reflection at the fishing pond at Family Park

Sunset reflection at the fishing pond at Family Park

February thru April 2022

 

Barred Owl

The latter half of winter kept me indoors for various reasons. Therefore this is the first post since January of this year. Eleven of the twelve photos are from April excursions, but the first Barred owl photo came from a day hike on Super Bowl Sunday in February.  Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in!

Snow Trillium emerging

Snow Trillium with land snail shell

Three Trumpter swans in flight

Meadowlark singing

Inside a pasqueflower

American kestrel

Easter sunset

Bloodroot flower

Pasqueflowers

Pasqueflower fuzz

Rain drops on pasqueflower petals

January 2022

Late January sunset sky with lone prairie windmill

I finished up a road trip west river in early January and then was stuck indoors for most of the rest of the month with other duties and short daylight hours. I was able to get out a couple days late in the month to  explore areas around the Big Sioux River as well as chase an exquisite sunset into Turner County. From these forays come this month's favorite dozen photos. Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for stopping by!

American Bison at Wind Cave National Park

Frost on grass at Wind Cave National Park

American Bison at Wind Cave National Park

American Bison at Wind Cave National Park

Bear Butte framed

Thunder Butte sunset

Snow flurry macro

Leaf in ice along the Big Sioux River at Newton Hills State Park

Ice detail

Turner County sunset

Turner County sunset

December 2021

December sunset beyond St. Ann's Catholic Church near Badus Lake (Lake County, SD)

The last month of 2021 proved to be a grand flourish of photography that included many colorful sunsets, a 10-inch first snow event and then a particularly wonderful trip West River to close out the year. Picking a dozen photos from these events proved difficult, which is good problem to have. Click on an image for a larger file to view and thanks for checking in!

Last of the day's sunlight striking St. Paul Lutheran of Union County, SD and the Loess Hills of Plymouth County, IA in the distance

Northern Cardinal in heavy snow

Phillips Avenue - Sioux Falls, SD

Sculpture with snow - Downtown Sioux Falls, SD

Dawn's first light on Skresfrud Lutheran of rural Lincoln County, SD

Single snowflake

Christmas morning Snowy Owl in southern Sioux Falls, SD

Badlands mule deer in snow

Badlands black and white in winter

Bighorn ram at Badlands National Park

Snowfall through sunlight at Badlands National Park

 

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