Geese Geese

Geese Geese and more Geese!

The weather has remained extremely mild for January here in Iowa. Open waters or partially open waters have kept geese situated in urban locations around our capitol city of Des Moines.

I found geese sitting on a  sand pit in Johnston, a suburb of Des Moines along I-80/I-35 on January 5th, but didn't stop to get a picture. My path was leading me over to Fisher Lake where the Bald Eagles had a reported presence since December 21st.

November 28, 2010

The following picture is being pulled out of my archives...Hubby and I were headed north on I-35 following a family Thanksgiving.

We were driving our pickup that had slightly tinted windows and the light of the late afternoon left the digital exposure dark.My intent on getting the picture was to catch the moment as the geese were flying s from west to east over the interstate headed in the direction of the airport. Going in for a landing perhaps?!?

Getting more pictures in Ankeny, a growing city north of Des Moines, on I-35 back on December 29th, 2011 kept me in awe. The birds like to congregate in the vicinity of the airport due to some water features created by corporations and a hotel.

Parked at the gas island of a Casey's convenience store I started snapping pictures ...

The car filled with gas I was on my way.

The geese are definitely focused on the way they want to head. Waves and waves of them passed by with the same thing in mind.

No stopping to chat, for the target lake was almost under foot as they reached this point.

Just a few more wing flaps for these tired natural aviators.

Then I moved over to the lake by the  Comfort Inn hotel where they were coming to rest.

I didn't want to look straight up as the geese passed over in the event something would come following the  gravitational pull of our atmosphere.

Luck was with me...no bombs came to rest in my vector.

Ice shelves gave some of the geese enough support to stand on one leg for a nap.

My visit was short so I don't know how long these guys and gals actually were able to tuck there beaks under a wing.

As I stood taking pictures another car pulled up behind me. A young woman headed closer to the group.

I stayed back to keep stress for the geese to a minimum.

Yesterday, on a trip into town I stopped at Bondurant, a little town I pass on this route to my destination. They have a little sports complex/park situated by  highway 330.

This  group was but a small sample of all the geese that were scratching the ground or sitting at waters edge preparing for whatever direction the winds were about to take them.


Each year it seems as though we host these winged water fowl longer and longer. Some have decided our marshes and farm ponds are great places to raise a family...oh to see how many will return to set up their own households.

Our weather has taken a turn towards winter over the last 24 hours , snow was a dusting, and flurries persist  here at Timber Life. The blustery winds are finally sending its chill and I imagine the waters will begin closing up for a few months- our winged visitors will have to finally get on their way further south...

Serene Setting

Iowa highway 330 went from two to four lane several years back. This marsh was one among several created during road construction. Increasing the number and quality of water bodies for our feathered friends has certainly helped them to stay around longer locally.

I usually pass by this marsh once a week and say to myself - "Now why didn't you bring the camera?" Well,today was the day,there are always birds of interest in or around the water. The weather was fantastic! So, I stopped to catch some varied waterfowl species.

I am not an expert in waterfowl identification. I have tried to locate information on a couple of the birds seen bobbing in the water,but at this writing I am unable to name them. My lack of foresight in bringing binoculars has left me without sharp definition of the two sitting mid-picture. I assume one is a male duck because of his bright colors. The other partially covered by upright vegetation, appears to be in the duck family, sitting on a nest?

This little goose was sitting away from the more populated island, in the company of a Red-Winged Blackbird, who was also enjoying the wetland experience.

It was interesting that for the most part life went on while I was there...My presence wasn't that disturbing. I suppose with cars and trucks going by at all hours they have developed a tolerance for outside stimulus.

I plan to keep an eye on things to see if baby ducks and goslings will become an addition to this serene setting in the future. ;)

The Vs Are Here

It is with great excitement I write this post!

Sadie and I were on our almost daily trek to the mailbox this morning. I had gone back into the house to grab the camera because I had caught two tall standing whitetails in the pasture watching our every move. I knew we would be seeing wild life today...Well, of course the deer weren't there when I got back outside!

Found some raccoon tracks going the full length of our half mile drive.Hubby saw the black eyed bandit going out last night on his way into the house after dark.

Heard Red Winged Blackbirds, water birds, and the not so pretty crow was being raucous.

The Cardinals have been doing a fantastic job of calling in the sunrise as of late, just a very positive time of the morning to be out and around.

Got a picture of our melting mountains of snow and perennial plants that are showing new life.

The Lavendar is starting to green up at the tips.

The sedum has started new growth which seems to have become food for ground hugging animals.




Then there were Vs and Vs of geese flying by.

Caught the undersides of these guys going over when I stopped to snap some shots by the airplane hangars on my way back from retrieving the mail.



It is shaping up to be a great day!

Geese In The Mist

Before 9:00 A.M. today - Sadie and I were given a concert by at least 4 different V's of Canadian Geese flying around treetop looking for a place to set down. The August fog started building around 11:00 last night. The moon made the gradual development over the bean field to above the treetops rather ethereal. The first V came last week on August 6th, a group of approximately 20, flew low over the end of the drive a half mile to the west of the house. Beginning to make me wonder if they are getting started on their way south ,because winter is going to be early this year??? ;)

Birds, Birds, and MORE Birds!

Look what the warmer temperatures are bringing north. Twice a year we experience over populations of a bird called the Common Grackle. Migrations from the far north to the south in the fall and back again this time of year. So, after snapping the pictures above, there was a pair of birds that seemed to be walking around looking things over. Placing human values on their activity; it was if they were checking out the surroundings in an effort to find suitable accommodations. We have had geese in the neighborhood for years, because of a pond they adopt for raising a family on their return from the south, but until now, they have only visited the surrounding fields. It wasn't long after I got this picture they felt the need to flee, hmmm... or is that fly?

Marsh Count

Hmmm, 1-2-3-4-5-6 Canadian Geese, 1-10-25 American White Pelicans. Today is rainy and cool. Only supposed to get to be a high in the middle 50's. I'd send some cooler temps south to our friends there if I could so the hunts wouldn't be so steamy... Passed the Marsh going into town , decided to take a bird count after going home to get the binoculars and a couple of my Bird Identification books. Really nothing spectacular to see. Didn't stick around for hours to see if the population would change. The pelicans did seem to tuck their heads more as the rain fell more briskly. Later today I am planning another check to see if the waterfowl have taken the chance to head off or will stay to wait out the weather...