Badlands Lark Sparrows
Friends, this lark sparrow is a cheery bird of spring in the badlands areas, they fly and flit through the spring air and show off for the females. They are found mainly west of the Mississippi river on the open prairies. His head has distinct black white and chestnut markings, til Tomorrow MJ
Pronghorn
Friends, this handsome fellow is an American Antelope or Pronghorn. The large pronged horns in front of his ears indicate that he is a male and is alert to all challengers. This particular animal was with a smaller buck and the two of them are in the image below. til Tomorrow MJ
Red – Head
Friends, this beautiful bird is a first for me, I have never seen the Red-headed Woodpecker before and at the same time being able to photograph. The image is a bit grainy but i wanted to share with my friends on WordPress. This bird was found in Custer State Park in South Dakota and along the 4 mile Creek road. til Tomorrow MJ
Bird on a Wire
Friends, tiny swallow is a Barn Swallow of the South Dakota Badlands. He posed for my camera on this barbed wire. They were eating the pesky mosquitos and other flying insects. There was not a barn in sight. til Tomorrow MJ
Prairie Songster
Friends, this songster is a Western Meadowlark and he is singing from a tree, usually you find them on the ground or on a fencepost, singing singing singing. This time of year they are everywhere on the prairie lands of South Dakota and I always stop to try to capture an image of them. That yellow shirt with the black tie looks a bit formal but daring at the same time. I think they are my favorite bird and the state bird of North Dakota. Too bad I couldn’t capture their pretty song. til Tomorrow MJ
Killdeer
Friends, this little bird is the Killdeer, who builds a nest on the ground. If you venture near, the bird will put on an act looking like he has a broken wing and will try to lead you away from the nest. Here he stands in a puddle in Crex, no doubt looking for a nesting spot. Leaving South Dakota behind today and going to North Dakota. til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:Escape
Friends, this rough-legged hawk has escaped from our summery weather back to his frosty north land. This is a dark phase hawk who hung around later than usual this spring. The dark patch in the wrist area is the id mark that i look for to identify this bird. We are also escaping, running away to the badlands where it is typically hot and dry, a desert area with clay ridges and cliffs. til Tomorrow MJ
Yellow warbler
Friends, this tiny yellow warbler has returned to Crex. He was so hungry that he did not notice me creeping closer to him, he just kept pecking and snapping up tiny insects to fill his crop. After his long migratory flight, he was very hungry. still on the road in South Dakota, til Tomorrow MJ
Beaver on the Sand
Friends, this beaver was found strolling down a sand road in the sand barrens, what an aquatic animal like him was doing on the sand was not known, but he is wet so he must have water around somewhere, he was sampling the air every so often, maybe he could smell water, hope he finds his home, til Tomorrow MJ
Jumping for Joy
Friends, this dancing male sharptail grouse is jumping into the air to celebrate the arrival of spring, the weather is starting to warm up and thoughts turn to love, in this case grouse love, showing off for the girls, the males dance around the lek and occasionally at the end of the dance, they fly into the air, such a sight,yes the wings are blurred to emphasize the action we are in the badlands fighting with the wind til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 