Real Signs

 "May Thunderhead"

photograph © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view) 

Its moving at a snail's pace but spring is beginning to show "real signs" of change. The familiar changes along the skyline in the late afternoon and evening has given us a few good looks at some great cloud formations and weather systems moving east.  Unfortunately they all seem to form east of us and we end up missing the rains.  We had a very dry April...the first 10 days of May haven't improved things much either, but the views are dramatic and well worth it!

 "Great Blue Heron Flight"

photograph © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view) 

 

The waterman Creek Great Blue Heron rookery has suffered some from the heavy winds since mid April.  A couple weeks back we had over 48 straight hours of non-stop 40-50+ mph winds.  The entire rookery was abandoned until after the weather settled to a tempo in the 30 mph range, then the activity started picking up again.  I'm fairly certain some egg laying had to restart.  But the "air traffic" is beginning to pick back up and we're seeing herons flying over the studio and acreage during the day...these are amazing birds to watch up close!

 

 

 "White-throated Sparrow"

photograph © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view) 

The White-throated Sparrows showed up on cue about 3 weeks back and the yard came alive with bird song.  We love their "Old Sam Peabody" phrasing whistles!

 "White-crowned Sparrow"

photograph © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view)

 

It was soon replaced by the musical buzz inserted music of the White-crowned Sparrows.  This is the heaviest influx of White-crowned I have seen here at the acreage; usually a half a dozen birds at a time could be seen or heard...we had a flock of an easy fourty just yesterday!

 

 "Harris' Sparrow"

photograph © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view)

 

The Harris' Sparrows have come in flocks equal to or better than the White-crowned, they are everywhere and their song is constanly intermingled with the others through the acreage.  But once the Wild Plums bloomed overnight, we were witness to some gorgeous warbler traffic.

 

 "Cape May Warbler"

photograph © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view)

 

 "Yellow Warbler"

photograph © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view)

 

We had several warbler species but the Yellow Warbler was the most common, with the Cape Mays as a bonus suirprise in decent number as well.  These little birds loved the insect buffet in the Wild Plum trees around the studio; Georgie and I just sat outside near the trees and watched (and "tried" to get photos!).  

 

Ya, I'd say there are real signs that spring is here and each day is a new treat!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our "Mountains"

Anviled Thunderhead in the Valley

Photograph © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view)

I get to feeling like a broken record around here in the spring, summer and fall.  The view here is very nice, but add the drama of the morning or evening skies and it can be quite amazing!

I've been working on some landscape photography and painting ideas the past couple weeks in the "neighborhood", and was processing several of the image files I'd taken yesterday afternoon and evening.  Georgie had alerted me to the cloud formations forming out across the road, so I took periodic trips out to the pasture and took some photographs...about every time I'd head back into the studio for more work, I'd look out the window and everything had changed and needed shooting again!  Its hard getting anything done here in the summer, especially in the late afternoon!

This thunderstorm (which I guess was actually in northern Kossuth County and into Minnesota) eventually "anviled" out and was very dramatic across the valley, with a blue sky backdrop and the evening sun lighting its facade!

I do say it a lot, but I'm gong to say it again...the clouds are our mountains out here on the prairie, and they are beautiful and awesome!