2022 Hindsight

Welcome to the online version of the Loess Hills Audubon Society’s 2022 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!

Mike Greiner

All above images copyright 2022 by Mike Greiner, used with permission.

  1. Trumpeter Swans.  One of the very first thing I noticed close to home was the number of swans on the Minnesota River bottoms not far from my home.  Learned that they are in large part decedents of the reintroduction program that began back in 1966.  Swans are a common resident along the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge system.

  2. Great Egret.  Luckily we share a small pond in the back yard of our town home and from time to time we have visitors looking to cash in.  Egrets often feed for a few weeks in the spring until the food supply was diminished in part due to the severe drought we are experiencing.

  3. Yellow-crowned Night Heron.  A rare visitor to Minnesota this heron was a big draw to the birding community in the metro area.  This one bird perhaps is most responsible for getting me off my duff and start investigating the natural world the area has to offer.

  4. Barred Owl.  I was happy to locate this Barred Owl hunting this dwelling of Bank Swallows nesting above the river valley.  Owl were particularly hard hit by the avian flu in the metro area so I was great full to find this silent hunter.

  5. Prairie Rattlesnake.  On a trip to the Badlands of SD for a photo workshop to shoot the night sky, great friend Doug Conrad along with several photo enthusiasts from all over the country discovered the wonders of nature in the dark of night.  I enjoyed this creature of the night while waiting for deep darkness to set in.

  6. Philadelphia Vireo.  My first photo of this species, migrating south with hundreds of others in the oak savanna of Wisconsin along the Saint Croix River.

  7. Gray Wolf.  Quick trip to Crex Meadows in western Wisconsin I was treated to this rarely photographed Gray Wolf crossing the road just before dusk,  I was frustrated that I had missed a shot as it disappeared in the tall brush.  Knowing I had passed and passed a maintenance lane a short distance ago I backed up and sat hoping it might pass where I might get a shot.  Well it did but was very alarmed when it saw me parked in the road it bolted back into the cover.  One last ditch effort I howled, poorly executed wolf howl, but it worked.  It appeared one last time to investigate then off it went.  Great experience.

  8. Greater Sandhill Crane.  Speaking of great here is the namesake crane showing off for my camera.  Crex Meadows as most of you already know is the staging area for the Greater Sandhill Crane and holds more crane numbers that anywhere on the fall migration.

  9. Piebald Whitetail deer.  Those who know me best understand this is where my heart is, in the deer woods.  This well known deer called “Pi” resides in the Fort Snelling State Park where the Mississippi River and Minnesota River meet.  Reminds me so much of my old home near the Point.

  10. Confluence.  Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers meet just yards from where I stand to take the image, beautiful location this time of year.

  11. Warning.  Then of course I could not end without a buck in RUT.  This in early November 2022, my favorite time of year, my favorite creature.

I would like to end by saying how much we miss Siouxland and wish all our friends the very best.  This group perhaps more than any other I have ever been associated with has tough me to not sit back and let time pass you by, Don't Let The Old Man In...

Mark Haindfield

All above images copyright 2022 by Mark Haindfield, used with permission.

Brian Hazlett

All above images copyright 2022 by Brian Hazlett, used with permission.

  • Burning Colters Prairie, November 2021 (11 images) - Come to the February Loess Hills Audubon meeting to hear an update from Brian about On Common Ground, an interdisciplinary project intended to promote stewardship of Iowa’s Loess Hills.

  • Encore Las Tintoreras Isla Isabela Galapagos (1 image)

Bill Huser

All above images copyright 2022 by William F. Huser, used with permission.

Marla & Kevin Kerr

All above images copyright 2022 by Marla and Kevin Kerr, used with permission.

  1. Bald Faced Hornet’s Nest on Walking Trail at Chichaqua Bottoms Wildlife Area (County Park near Bondurant IA in Polk County, IA) 

  2. Bald Faced Hornet’s Nest on Walking Trail at Chichaqua Bottoms Wildlife Area (County Park near Bondurant IA in Polk County, IA) 

  3. Baltimore Oriole in our backyard

  4. Coopers Hawk sitting on top of the bird feeder area

  5. One of the three White-tailed deer fawns relaxing under shade of Oak tree in our backyard

  6. Downy Woodpecker on our deck

  7. American Goldfinch waiting for turn at bird feeder in our yard

  8. Grasshopper Sparrows at Owego

  9. Grasshopper Sparrows at Owego

  10. Green Heron at Gilbert Riparian Preserve, Gilbert, AZ

  11. Pine Siskin in our yard on icy branch, sleeting

  12. American Robin thinking about a bath, taking a bath, and finishing his bath with a face wash

  13. American Robin thinking about a bath, taking a bath, and finishing his bath with a face wash

  14. American Robin thinking about a bath, taking a bath, and finishing his bath with a face wash

  15. Song Sparrow Singing and Singing (and Singing) at Spearfish Canyon, SD

  16. Swallowtail on thistle

  17. Wild Turkeys taking drinks from the Bird Bath in my yard

  18. White-crowned Sparrow in Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, Albuquerque, NM

  19. White-throated Sparrow in Bondurant, IA

Tucker Lutter

All above images copyright 2022 by Tucker Lutter, used with permission.

Hello everyone, greetings from Minnesota! I am living east of Fargo, ND in Barnesville, MN. We live where tallgrass prairie, deciduous forests, and coniferous forests meet. I have two kids now and have been married for 3.5 years – how the time flies! I am now a graduate student at North Dakota State University studying Natural Resources Management. Here are some photos from the past year.

The birds up here are amazing – I have seen Sprague’s Pipits, Baird’s Sparrows, Burrowing Owls, Greater Prairie Chickens, Yellow Rails, Ruffed Grouse, Pine Grosbeaks, Boreal Owl, and nesting Clark’s, Western, Red-necked, and Eared Grebes between North Dakota and western Minnesota.

  1. Northern lights, east of Fargo, ND with my dad. September 2022

  2. Left to right: Tucker, Lily (2.5 years), Gianna (11 months), Laura

  3. Tucker and Lily camping at Devils Lake, ND.

  4. Tucker and Lily on a glacial erratic at the 7,000 acre Bluestem Prairie near their home in NW Minnesota. What are they looking at?

  5. a Prairie Skink!

  6. Tucker researching birds in Fargo, ND and Moorhead, MN along the Red River.

  7. Tucker is volunteering on prescribed burns with the Nature Conservancy in eastern ND and western MN. Tucker has seen many Greater Prairie-Chickens during the fires!

  8. Tucker is still involved with archaeology. I occasionally work for a cultural resources management firm out of Bismarck, ND. This photo is me in a tipi ring near the Montana/Saskatchewan border. One site had over 200 rings!

  9. Prairie chicken statue in Rothsay, MN, 10 miles from where the Lutters live. There are lots where we live!

  10. Maplewood State Park, 30 minutes from where the Lutters live. Ruffed Grouse, Black Bears, Gray Wolves, and Common Loons call this park home.

  11. Wilson’s Phalaropes at Tucker’s in-law’s ranch in Emmons County, ND.

  12. Pectoral Sandpiper at the same place as the phalaropes.

  13. Western Grebe in North Dakota.

  14. Burrowing Owl in North Dakota.

  15. Trumpeter Swans in Minnesota. We have an incredible amount of breeding swans in the area.

  16. We get lots of Snowy Owls in Minnesota and North Dakota!

  17. River Otter in Minnesota.

Jerry Mennenga

All above images copyright 2022 by Jerry Mennenga, used with permission.

  • Nine images from Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve.

  • Six images of backyard birds.

  • Osprey and Belted Kingfisher from Bacon Creek.

  • Bald Eagles at Gavin’s Point Dam (2 images).

  • Bald Eagles at Lee Simmons Wildlife Safari Park (2 images).

  • Great Blue Heron at Winnebago.

Jan Null

All above video copyright 2022 by Jan Null, used with permission.

LHAS Christmas 2022 by Jan Null

Photos (included with the video presentation):           

  1. Barred Owl.  I spotted this Barred Owl by scanning deep in the woods by the Lodge at Stone Park on May 20, 2022! It was amazing to spot him with my binoculars, perched, maybe a football field away! # 6917

  2. Blue Grosbeak.  I’m always delighted to find the Blue Grosbeak! There are certain roads at Owego that I can almost count on finding him waiting for a photo shoot. July 4 2022 JN01 #7129

  3. A pair of Hooded Mergansers on April 4 at Owego Wetlands.

    • Buffleheads on Blue Lake March 19 on a LHAS Outing.

    • Three Cedar Waxwings at Waterman Prairie on the LHAS Outing on January 22, 2022. #6063

    • Note the red crown of the Common Redpoll at Graceland with the group feeding on Feb 19.GBBC

  4. A feathery flash of blue makes birders smile as the Eastern Bluebird makes his appearance. The first was at Oak Ridge at the GBBC on Feb 20, 2022. #6333.  The second photo was taken at the Prairie Seminar on June 2, 2022, under the direction of Ed Brogie.  His wife spotted this Bluebird sitting on a roll of wire fence across the field.  # 6986.

Video:

  1. Bald Eagle Video on Whispering Creek St. January 28,2022 #6106 15 sec.

  2. Common Yellowthroat singing a duet with a Bell’s Vireo on June 4, 2022 at Owego 14 sec.

  3. Great Horned Owl in a Sunflower Patch Video at LWAS 8.26.22 JN 7715 43 sec

  4. Drink Your Tea! Eastern Towhee at Stone Park. 5.20.22 10 sec

  5. 30 Swans, Canada Geese, a Blue Goose JN01 RSCN67.  There were 30 Swans, Canada Geese, and a Blue Goose taking a bath at Blue Lake January 31, 2022 . # 6112 24”

  6. This Belted Kingfisher welcomed us to Little Storm Lake from his line near a fisherman’s loss on a windy day 7.22.2.   JN 01 Video DSCN7347 24 sec

  7. You don’t often see baby American Coots, but here they are swimming in the reeds with their parents at Little Storm Lake on June 20,2022. JN 01 Vid DSCN7106 22 sec

  8. A Common Redpoll showing his red crown on the GBBC at Graceland Feb.1, 2022 JN05 Video DSCN6351 -24 sec

  9. The prize!  After searching at Little Storm Lake to see the Limpkin on July 22, he finally appeared!  It is so-o-o Windy! Video.  DSCN7372   18 sec

  10. The Great Blue Heron That Came to Dinner on my Deck from 8:00-9:00 PM on July 19,2022.  An hour photo shoot of elegance, suspense, and comedy! JN01 DSCN8019 35 sec.

  11. The Great Blue Heron who dined on the Deck makes TV Weather News Ch 14! DSCN80 16 sec

Paul Roisen

All above images copyright 2022 by Paul Roisen, used with permission.

  1. Limpkin 6.23.22 Wehrspannmitigationpond.SarpyCo.NE 6600.jpg Limpkins are usually limited to the SE United States but have recently been seen in some unusual locations like Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, and Iowa.

    • First Record of Limpkin in Nebraska June 23, 2022. The Nebraska Limpkin was seen on and off all summer and recently into late October.

    • First Iowa record was also June 23 by Jay Guilliam. I was blessed to see it the following day but did not get a photo that evening.

  2. Limpkin 7.17.22 LittleStormLake.BuenaVistaCo.IA 6774.JPG. 2nd Iowa record

  3. Limpkin 10.25.22 WoodlandLake.PolkCo.IA 0017.jpg. 3rd Iowa Record. A fourth record for Iowa was seen in Lee County in late October of this year.

    Photos From Colombia August 5-14, 2022 with Tom Schilke Colombia was a fantastic place to visit. Generally very clean and well kept up. Wonderful interaction with Colombian people wherever we went. Food was superb and scenery stunning. Country with the most bird species, most Orchid species, and butterfly species. Too much to see and do I need to go back for a longer trip.

  4. Collared Trogan 8.7.22 LaParqueRegionialUcumari.Risaralda.CO.SA 7640.JPG. One of many Trogans in this country

  5. Torrent Duck Family 8.7.22 LaParqueRegionialUcumari.Risaralda.CO.SA 7770.JPG. Duck species that thrive in the rapids. Amazing how they can swim UPSTREAM in heavy currents.

  6. White-napped Brushfinch 8.7.22 LaParqueRegionialUcumari.Risaralda.CO.SA 7549.JPG. Sparrow family bird.

  7. Andean Motmot 8.8.22 SFFOtunQuimbaya.Risaralda.CO.SA 7909.JPG. 9 species of Motmot have been identified

  8. Cinnamon Flycatcher 8.9.22 Finca Cortaderal.Risaralda.CO.SAA8544.JPG. One of my favorite birds from the trip.

  9. Black-throated Mango 8.10.22 Finca Romelia.Caldas.CO.SA 8838.JPG. One of 150+ species of hummingbirds found in Colombia

  10. Golden-breasted Puffleg 8.11.22 PNN Los Nevados.Paramo.Caldas.CO.SA 9634.JPG. Beautiful hummingbird.

  11. Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan 8.12.22 HaciendaElBosque.Caldas.CO.SA 9851.JPG.One of 24 species of Toucan found in Colombia

  12. Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant 8.12.22 HaciendaElBosque.Caldas.CO.SA 9872.JPG. Gorgeously colored 0.3 ounce 4.3 inch bird

  13. White-vented Plumeteer 8.13.22 HotelTinamuBirdingNature PreserveCaldas.CO.SA 9721.JPG. Another hummingbird - one of the larger species.

  14. Green Hermit 8.13.22 HotelTinamuBirdingNature PreserveCaldas.CO.SA 9678.JPG. Heavily curved beak on this hummingbird species.

  15. Golden-collared Manakin 8.14.22 HotelTinamuBirdingNature PreserveCaldas.CO.SA 9776.JPG. Approximately 54 manikin species in tropical americas. Size 3 to 6 inches and weight of 0.28 to 1.06 oz

  16. Common Potoo 8.14.22 HotelTinamuBirdingNature PreserveCaldas.CO.SA 9812.JPG. Potoos are a group of 7 species of birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths. Nocturnal and insectivores with haunting calls. All found in Central and South America and the Caribbean

  17. Bean Goose 1

  18. Bean Goose 2

  19. Bean Goose 3

Maria Rundquist

All above still images and video copyright 2022 by Maria Rundquist used with permission.

Rex Rundquist

All above images copyright 2022 by Rex Rundquist, used with permission.

  • Twenty-seven images from 2022

  • Twelve images of a Cooper’s Hawk nest in Bacon Creek Park.

Jerry VonEhwegen

All above images copyright 2022 by Jan Null, used with permission.

  • Black and White Warbler

  • Northern Waterthrush

  • Ovenbird

  • Blackpoll Warbler

  • Cooper’s Hawk

  • Common Yellowthroat at Kiowa Marsh

  • Jerry’s Birthplace 1

  • Jerry’s Birthplace 2

  • LHAS August Outing to Adams Homestead and Elk Point Bend

  • LHAS September Outing to Stone State Park

  • Limpkin

Todd Wheelock

All above images copyright 2022 by Todd Wheelock, used with permission.

Randall D. Williams

All above images copyright 2022 by Randall D. Williams, used with permission.

Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve

  • Adams Visitor Center at sunrise, with fog

  • Hoarfrost along the River Loop Trail

  • Prairie plants at the Visitor Center

  • Dawn along the River Loop

  • American Woodcock

  • Lincoln’s Sparrow

  • LeConte’s Sparrow

Audubon Adventures

  • Ponca State Park in October

  • September Warbler Watchers in Stone Park

  • September Hawk Watchers in Stone Park

  • Sunrise at Adams Homestead in August

  • How many birders can fit into an observation blind?

  • Adams Homestead Trail in August

  • Broken Kettle Grasslands in July

  • July wildflowers at the Zales home

  • March birders at Gavin’s Point Dam

  • Red-tailed Hawk at Gavin’s Point

  • Common Loon at Gavin’s Point

Bacon Creek

  • Bacon Creek entrance with full moon

  • Winter Wren

  • Osprey pair

  • Bald Eagle

  • Brown Thrasher

  • Green Heron

  • White-tailed Deer

  • Beaver

  • Raccoon

Cycling Siouxland

  • RAGBRAI Day One

    • Along D-38, south and east of Bronson

    • Along D-38 between Bronson and Anthon

    • IV hydration therapy mobile facility in Anthon

  • Lewis & Clark Riverfront Trail between Chautauqua Park, Sioux City, IA and Adams Homestead Visitor Center, McCook, SD (10 images)

    • Red-tailed Hawk with the railroad bridge across the Missouri in the background

    • Red-tailed Hawk

    • Great Blue Heron in the channelized Floyd River

    • Great Egret at Adams Homestead before returning to Chatauqua Park

    • Immature and adult Bald Eagles in the Big Sioux River near Riverside Park

    • Immature Bald Eagle and Turkey Vultures along the Big Sioux in Riverside

    • White-tailed Deer along the trail

    • Bridge across the Big Sioux River connecting Riverside and North Sioux City, SD

    • Flatwater Crossing in fog on the morning of 10/31/22

    • New riverfront activity area in Sioux City

    • Dawn from the Anderson Dance Pavilion, Sioux City