Blog Archives
Cedar in a Cedar
Friends, this cedar waxwing was posing from a dead cedar tree in the badlands of North Dakota. This spring, we found a dead tree with 25 cedar waxwings perched from top to bottom. I had never seen these birds in the badlands, but my mother who lived there in her younger years said that they were often present and were not a rare sighting. til Tomorrow MJ
A Blue Bird in the Badlands
Friends, not sure of the id of this bird, but loved the blue feathers on his back and tail, since it rained much of the time that we were in the badlands this summer, i took a lot of birdie pictures. Some are immature birds and some are females and all are birds that i don’t normally see in Wisconsin. til Tomorrow MJ
Badlands Bluebird
Friends, this wet bluebird is in some stage of molting, not sure if he is juvenile or adult bird but something is going on with his chest feathers. I love the pink and blue together and his hunched up posture. The rain had stopped momentarily and he was hanging out on a branch to dry. til Tomorrow MJ
Badlands Spotted Towhee
Friends, this spotted towhee was caught out in the rain hence his ruffled feathers. In the North Dakota Badlands, rain is not expected in the month of August, but it rained the whole week we were there. The rain was great for the plants and animals but not so good for photographers who wished to do some hiking. I am not afraid of a few drops on my head, but the slick gumbo under my feet is heavy to haul around, kind of like mud snowshoes. And did I mention that it is slippery, my camera has chunks of muck on it from the last spill I took trying to chase down a pincushion cactus. So this was taken from the safety of a pickup blind, and i learned that these birds like to perch on dead sagebrush rather than high in a tree. til Tomorrow MJ
Storm on the Horizon
Friends,his storm was photographed in May when the girls and i visited the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We are heading there again on Sunday to sit among the hoodoos and maybe a hike into the petrified forest. Hot weather is predicted so maybe we will have a rest and relaxation with photo runs at sunrise and sunset. til Tomorrow MJ
Turn Around
Friends, this is a picture of my friend at sunset, she is also shooting the sunset. We girls went to the badlands in the last week of May and had a glorious trip. When in the North Dakota Badlands you can often have the whole hillside to yourself. I shouted at her to turn around to see what was happening behind her, 🙂 til Tomorrow MJ
Peek a Boo
Friends, this shy fellow is one of the foals of the wild ones in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I love his bald face and his mane standing up on end. He was curious but very shy. til Tomorrow MJ
Badlands Flicker
Friends, this Northern Flicker is hanging out in the North Dakota badlands on a rock covered with lichens. I was surprised to see him out in the open on the prairie dog town, no trees on the prairie. til tomorrow MJ
Help! Sunset Six
Friends, yes, this is six versions of the same photo, a storm coming over the hill at sunset. I am trying to decide which of these is the best. Maybe you can help. Which of these versions do you like and if you care to share your reasons, I would greatly appreciate. thanks til Tomorrow MJ
Sunset in the Badlands
Friends, yes there are trees in the North Dakota Badlands. These cottonwoods are along the Little Missouri River near Medora and the cedar and junipers are on north-facing slopes.. At sunset. the mule deer bucks head over the hill. Hope you like the sunset in the badlands. til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 