2023 Hindsight

Welcome to the online version of the Loess Hills Audubon Society’s 2023 Holiday celebration! Here are highlights of the year from our chapter’s photographers and videographers. Each contributor has their own section. Contributors are organized alphabetically by their last name. Please explore and enjoy!

Jeanne Bockholt

All above images copyright 2023 by Jeanne Bockholt, used with permission.

No comments were provided.

Mark Haindfield

Above images copyright 2023 by Mark Haindfield, used with permission.

  1. Hooded Merganser - Summit Lake, Nebraska State Recreation Area near Tekamah Flared ‘hood’ during breeding display.

  2. Sora Rail - at ‘The Square’ near Owego Wetland Complex Foraging on floating seeds as wind blows them onto the water.

  3. Lesser Yellowlegs - Owego Wetland Complex Foraging for aquatic invertebrates.

  4. (4 images) Loggerhead Shrike - near our backyard along the Missouri River Feeding on grasshoppers and regurgitating a pellet

  5. (3 images) American Avocets - private pond near Salix Some observations of various behaviors

Ed & Karlene Hohenstein

Above images copyright 2023 by Ed and Karlene Hohenstein, used with permission.

  1. Pelicans

  2. Egrets near San Juan, Puerto Rico

  3. Great Egret

  4. Loess Hills

  5. Roseate Spoonbills and an unidentified duck

  6. Tricolored Heron (South Padre) by Ed Hohenstein

  7. Tricolored Heron by Karlene Hohenstein (Stepping in the Shadow)

  8. O’Conner House Glass Ornaments

  9. O’Conner House Tree - Merry Christmas from Ed and Karlene

Bill Huser

All above images copyright 2023 by William F. Huser, used with permission.

  1. Song Sparrow

  2. Sandhill Crane

  3. Beaver

  4. Louisiana Waterthrush

  5. Sage Thrasher

  6. Upland Sandpiper 1

  7. Upland Sandpiper 2

  8. Wilson's Snipe

  9. Common Nighthawk

  10. Grasshopper Sparrow

  11. Buff-breasted Sandpiper

  12. Limpkin

  13. Mushroom

Kevin & Marla Kerr

Above images copyright 2023 by Kevin & Marla Kerr, used with permission.

  1. Cordilleran Flycatcher, Hill City, SD - 7/21/23

  2. Female Crossbill, Hill City, SD - 7/21/23

  3. Bull Elk, Rocky Mountain National Park - 9/27/23

  4. Green Heron, Bacon Creek - 8/27/23

  5. Dickcissel, Owego Wetlands - 8/5/23

  6. Nashville Warbler, Stone Park - 10/4/23

  7. Song Sparrow, Adams Homestead - 4/25/23

  8. Lincoln’s Sparrow, Rock Mountain National Park - 9/27/23

  9. White-throated Sparrow, Sioux City - 4/26/23

  10. White-crowned Sparrow, Rocky Mountain National Park - 9/28/23

  11. Harris’s Sparrow, Snyder Bend - 11/4/23

  12. Savannah Sparrow, Prairie Park - 5/6/23

  13. Red-headed Woodpecker with ants 1 - 7/8/23

  14. Red-headed Woodpecker with ants 2 - 7/8/23

  15. Female Common Merganser, Brown’s Lake - 11/4/23

  16. Merganser and bluegill (?) - 11/4/23

  17. Swimming off with a prize! - 11/4/23

  18. Ring-necked Duck at Riparian Preserve, Gilbert, AZ - 3/13/23

Bob Livermore

Jerry Mennenga

All above images copyright 2023 by Jerry L. Mennenga, used with permission.

Adams Homestead

  • Duckling

  • American Avocet

  • Avocet and Canada Geese

  • Geese on the wing

  • Canada Geese and Tundra Swan

  • Tundra Swan

  • Turkey portrait

  • Complaints about the food service!

  • Feeding Time!

Backyard Birds

  • Mourning Dove

  • House Wren

  • American Goldfinch

  • Cooper’s Hawk (3 images)

Little Sioux Park at Correctionville

  • Bald Eagle along the river

  • Objecting to the visitors

  • Eaglet at Little Sioux (2 images)

Little Sioux, IA

  • Bald Eagles along the river

Big Sioux River / Stone State Park

  • Immature and adult

  • Immature in flight

Owego Wetlands Complex

  • Eagles at the nest (2 images)

  • Dragonfly

  • Dickcissel

  • Great Blue Herons (2 images)

Brown’s Lake

  • Great Blue Heron fishing (2 images)

  • Claiming the fishing hole!

Snyder Bend

  • American White Pelican

  • Trumpeter Swan and pelicans

  • Geese at Snyder Bend

Pam Miller-Smith

Jan Null

Above images copyright 2023 by Jan Null, used with permission.

  1. It was unbelievable how many Bald Eagles were perching in a tree over the Big Sioux River at Riverside Park on February 23 2023.  

  2. This Eastern Bluebird is fairly common in open countryside, meadows, golf courses, parks, and areas like Oak Ridge Conservation Area near Oto, IA.  That is where we heard him singing his warbled chatter song on June 6, 2023.

  3. We were so excited to find the rare bird for Iowa, the Sage Thrasher!   He was singing his song – a long series of warbled phrases as he stood like a king, on the top of a dirt pile in Plymouth County on June 12.    He is usually found in the sagebrush plains!   He was a life bird for some of us!

  4. You will need to look closely in the center of the photo to see this bird! The Northern Harrier is soaring over the beautiful prairie at Owego. The Loess Hills show their beauty in the background.  (Did you know the Harrier has an “owl-like “face?)

  5. On February 18 at Blue Lake we were watching a family of Bald Eagles.  It seemed that they were teaching their young how to find food during the cold winter season.

  6. This little Snow Bunting in his wintry “toasted marshmallow” colors was resting as the others in the little flock were tumbling in flight across the barren farm fields near 220th Street looking for seeds on a cold winter day, February 26.

  7. This Baltimore Oriole with beautiful colors was singing a melodious song in the upper canopies of the deciduous trees at South Ravine on May 13, 2023.

  8. Stone Park was hosting many warblers on May 17; there were many “aaahs” as we spotted the beautiful “firethroated” Blackburnian Warbler.   They are often at the very tops of trees and not very often down low.  They are partial to evergreen trees.

  9. The little “Lone Ranger” looking bird, the Common Yellowthroat, was hanging out at Oak Ridge Conservation Area on June 6.   He likes to hide and sneak around low in bushy areas, tangles and marshes.  We know he’s there as we hear him singing his “witchety, witchety, witchety” song!

  10. Always fun to see and photograph the colorful, common woodland Scarlet Tanager which was also seen at Oak Ridge Conservation Area on June 6. He is surprisingly difficult to find even though he is an unforgettable red color. 

  11. September 9 this Grasshopper suspended in thin air joined the photo shoot at Snyder’s Bend!

  12. Video #1:  American White Pelicans at Snyder’s Bend performing their Synchronized Swimming and Feeding act!!  They herd the fish and then shovel them into their pouch like bill.  So fun to watch!

  13. Video #2: Wishing you a Merry Christmas with the Blue Grosbeak singing his greetings  in  his long rolling warble.  We heard him at Owego on July 9, 2023.  (Christmas in July)

Below videos copyright 2023 by Jan Null, used with permission.

Sharon and John Polifka

Images and video copyright 2023 by Sharon and John Polifka, used with permission.

Paul Roisen

Above images copyright 2023 by Paul Roisen, used with permission.

  1. Green Heron, 1.17.23, Kiawanis Park, Maricipa County, AZ

  2. White-winged Scoter, 1.17.23, Kiawanis Park, Maricipa County, AZ

  3. White-winged Scoter, 1.17.23, Kiawanis Park, Maricipa, County, AZ

  4. Red-tailed Hawk (calurus_alascensis), 1.19.23, Tonto NF Payson, Macicipa County, AZ

  5. Red-tailed Hawk Harlan's, 1.31.23, E. Sahuarita Rd, PimaCo, AZ

  6. Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, 1.19.23, Sycamore Springs, Maricipa Co, AZ

  7. Chestnut-collared Longspur, 1.31.23, Las Cienegas NCA, Santa Cruz County, AZ

  8. Chestnut-collared Longspur, 1.31.23, E. Sahuarita Rd, Pima County, AZ

  9. Loggerhead Shrike, 1.31.23, Las Cienegas NCA, Santa Cruz County, AZ

  10. Neotropic Cormorant, 1.31.23, Canoa Ranch CP, Pima County, AZ

  11. Barn Owl, 2.1.23, San Simon, Cochise County, AZ

  12. Barn Owl, 2.1.23, San Simon, Cochise County, AZ

  13. Barn Owl, 2.1.23, San Simon, Cochise County, AZ

  14. Acorn Woodpecker, 2.1.23, San Simon, Cochise County, AZ

  15. Chihuanhaun Raven, 2.1.23, San Simon, Cochise County, AZ

  16. Chihuanhaun Raven, 2.1.23, San Simon,Cochise County, AZ

  17. Red-headed Woodpecker, 2.1.23, San Simon, Cochise County, AZ

Maria Rundquist

All still images above and below videos copyright 2023 by Maria Rundquist, used with permission.

No comments provided.

Sage Thrasher in Plymouth County, IA

Rex Rundquist

Above images copyright 2023 by Rex Rundquist, used with permission.

Jerry von Ehwegen

All above images copyright 2023 by Jerry vonEhwegen, used with permission.

AN ODE TO OWEGO ROAD

Have you ever been on Owego Road?

It is only 6 tenths of a mile long.

It runs NW to SE parallel to an abandoned RR track.

It connects Fayette Avenue to 300th Street.

300th Street then goes ½ mile East to Franklin Avenue.

The RR track serviced  the abandoned town of Owego.

It is found in the Owego Wetlands Complex.

Owego Wetlands Complex is managed by the WCCB.

Which contains over 1300 acres of wildlife habitat.

Why I love Owego Road.

I have been on it hundreds of times.

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Here are some things I’ve found there!

  1. Great views of the Loess Hills!

  2. Wild Roses—Iowa’s state flower.

  3. American Goldfinches—Iowa’s State Bird.

  4. Dickcissels-they never stop singing!.

  5. Butterflies.

  6. Birders nearby on Fayette Avenue. (Owego Road in background.)

  7. Upland Sandpipers.

  8. Lots of Blazing Star.

  9. Blue Grosbeaks

  10. White-faced Ibis.

  11. Beautiful Prairie

  12. Nesting Orchard Orioles.!

  13. Another Birder!

  14. Maybe some long time birders!

  15. I think these birders have been there!

AND MUCH MUCH MORE!

225 SPECIES HAVE BEEN RECORDED AT OWEGO!

GO AND BIRD ON OWEGO ROAD!!

Todd Wheelock

All above images copyright 2023 by Todd Wheelock, used with permission.

No comments provided.

Randy Williams

All above images copyright 2023 by Randall D. Williams, used with permission.

Little Sioux Park, Correctionville, IA

  • Bald Eagle photography with Jerry M.

  • Bald Eagle objecting to the paparazzi

  • Barred Owl along the Union Bridge Trail

Prairie Park, Sioux City, IA

  • Prairie Park pond

  • Red-breasted Merganser

  • Eared Grebe

  • Least Sandpipers

Siouxland Birding (and a little more)

  • Red-tailed Hawk at Bacon Creek

  • Immature Bald Eagle and half-moon at Riverside Park

  • Fox Sparrow in the neighborhood

  • Yellow-rumped Warbler at Bacon Creek

  • Western Kingbird along the Lewis & Clark Riverfront Trail

  • Lincoln’s Sparrow at Adams Homestead

  • Grasshopper Sparrow in Plymouth County

  • Cooper’s Hawks in the neighborhood (3 images)

  • Limpkin at Bacon Creek

  • Cicada in the neighborhood

  • Snapping Turtle at Adams Homestead

Siouxland Cycling

  • RAGBRAI Day One, on the way to Kingsley

  • Valley fog on the way to Kingsley

  • Steamroller 60 from Sioux Center to Hawarden and back

Siouxland Trails

  • Along the Floyd River

  • Railroad bridge across the Big Sioux at North Sioux City

  • Electric unicycle on the Floyd River Trail

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

  • Little Missouri overlook

  • Wild horses within the park

  • (Bison) Bull’s Eye

  • Prairie Master

Bill and Dotty Zales

Above images copyright 2023 by William Zales, used with permission.

No comments provided.