Laurie Mathes Photography

07/09/2026

07/09/2026

I've really missed my Eagles lately but today I got a gift...taking Hwy 10 because Cty B is closed...spotted an Eagle in a tree right next to the highway just west of Cty BB!!!! Quickly turned around in a driveway and got some photos...50 to be exact...I hope you enjoy as much as I do!!!🦅🦅🦅

06/12/2026

My Niece, Sara, has been visiting from Des Moines since Tuesday and of course I had to give her a ride in our Ranger!! So yesterday morning we hopped in and headed to the Killsnake Wildlife area. I took her to the Orange Bridge for some "old memories" and then we headed south. Got to the corner of Lemke & Aebischer Roads and this cute bird was flying beside us and then it stopped. It had a long beak and I had never seen a bird like it before. Of course I had my camera along and I was glad I did!!

It kinda reminded us of a Killdeer but it was a bit different. Turns out it was a Wilson's Phalarope, which I never heard of before!! It is a shore bird and they like to visit marshes and wetland areas. They normally breed in the western Great Plains. Google says "they are an uncommon but regular migrant and an uncommon summer resident. The state lists them as a "Special Concern" species."

Wilson's Phalarope have reverse roles: the females are more brightly colored than the males and they are the ones who do the courting! The males are also responsible for incubating the eggs and raising the chicks!!!

This was your birding lesson for today!!🐦🦆🐦‍⬛🦅🦉

06/12/2026

Yes, this does happen to me!!!

I would have preferred a Twix.