I See You!

Snowy Owl at the Grimes Farm Conservation education center, Marshalltown, IA.

Bug Eyed!

Praying Mantis at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.

Crows

Crows, they were going after the Cooper's Hawk that had been sitting atop the light pole a few minutes earlier.

Female Coopers Hawk

Thistle

In my garden.

Grasshopper

I've never seen one this color before, image was taken near Winterset, Iowa this past weekend. 

Thistle and Bumble Bee

I've been enjoying watching the butterflies, bees, bugs of all types, gold finches, and hummingbirds hang out in the thistle this summer.  This year it came up right outside my kitchen window, in the east garden, and is currently over 12 feet tall.  Luckily some of the blossoms were down low making it easier to snap photos.  The hummingbirds had a nest in it this year so I was able to watch the mamma and pappa bird tend to their baby until it fledged earlier this week.

Snake Weed or Horse Tail Rush

It all depends on who you ask as to what the correct name of this plant is, the only thing I'm certain about is that it's native.

Red Wing Blackbird

Wild Iris

Iris' growing in a nearby marsh.

Water's Up

Skunk River is closing in on it's banks, the water is definately up! 

Not Native But...

I am happy to see both of them none the less!

Redbud Blossoms

Iowa

Iowa at 55 mph.  Photo taken along Hwy 59, I think, somewhere near Lake View.  Not bad for fly over country eh?  Modern windmill on the far horizon.

Bloodroot

Ice Jam on the Skunk River

Ice Jam on the Skunk River

Rabbit Tracks

Frozen Marsh

Bjorkborden Marsh