Blog Archives
Mountain Sheep
Friends, This young male Bighorn mountain sheep haunts the mud cliffs and clay banks of Badlands National Park in western South Dakota. He and a smaller brother were feeding near the road in a small patch of green, our presence disturbed them and they moved up the steep cliff and waited patiently for us to pass by. His horns will continue to grow and eventually will reach a full curl, but i think his partial curl is kind of cute. til Tomorrow MJ
The Singing Meadowlark
Friends, this Meadowlark is sitting on a small clay hill, no more than a bump on the ground. The clay has dried into a popcorn texture typical of the badlands cover. He chooses a high spot to sing his song and encourage his mate to build a nest on the ground, saying he will protect her. til Tomorrow MJ
Burro Baby
Friends, this beautiful baby is a wild burro from Custer State Park in South Dakota. His parents are not very wild anymore cause the tourists feed them and they tend to stick their heads into car windows looking for a handout. This little guy has not yet learned that trick and is still wild and shy. Custer is a great place to view wildlife and birds of the prairie areas. til Tomorrow MJ
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
MJ Springett 