The Prairie Ecologist

As I’m going through my 2020 photos, it’s clear that I apparently had a minor obsession with photographing the sun this year. Not that it’s a bad thing, but come on, Helzer, find a new crutch!

Thanks again for all your voting on these images. My son, last night, asked me if I’m actually tabulating all these votes. I responded by showing him the spreadsheet I’m using to track results. So, yes. Please put the numbers of your favorite images from September in the comments section. I really do appreciate it.

1.) Sulphur butterfly on curlycup gumweed. Helzer family prairie. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 400, f/13, 1/500 sec.

2.) Maximilian sunflower at the Platte River Prairies. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 18-300mm lens @300mm. ISO 400, f/13, 1/400 sec.

3.) Cardinal flower. Platte River Prairies. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/14, 1/60 sec.

4.) Skipper butterfly at sunrise. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/14, 1/60 sec.

5.) Southern plains bumble bee on Maximilian sunflower. Platte River Prairies. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 10.5mm fish eye lens. ISO 320, f/22, 1/250 sec.

6.) Meadowhawk. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/11, 1/50 sec.

7.) Bandwing grasshopper on a sandbar. Platte River Prairies. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/11, 1/50 sec.

8.) Maximilian sunflowers and morning sun. Platte River Prairies. Nikon D7100 and Tokina 12-28mm lens @19mm. ISO 320, f/22, 1/640 sec.

9.) Central Platte River. Platte River Prairies. DJI Mavic 2 Zoom Drone.

10.) Meadowhawk dragonfly. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/5, 1/5000 sec.

11.) Beggarsticks. Platte River Prairies. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 500, f/11, 1/60 sec.

12.) Southern Plains bumble bee and tree cricket. Platte River Prairies. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 400, f/14, 1/100 sec.

13.) Beggarsticks and wetland. Platte River Prairies. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 10.5mm fish eye lens. ISO 400, f/20, 1/160 sec.

14.) Virginia tiger moth caterpillar. Helzer family prairie. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 500, f/14, 1/200 sec.

15.) Virginia tiger moth caterpillars. Helzer family prairie. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 18-300mm lens @300mm. ISO 400, f/11, 1/800 sec.

16.) Grasshopper and cardinal flower. Platte River Prairies. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 400, f/18, 1/160 sec.

You continue to be generous with your help selecting your favorite photos from 2020. Thank you. Here’s the next batch. Please put the numbers of your favorite images from August in the comments section!

1.) Painted lady butterfly on native tall thistle. Helzer family prairie. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 500, f/13 and 1/500 sec.

2.) Long-horned bee and rosinweed. Helzer family prairie. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 500, f/13 and 1/500 sec.

3.) Ironweed and false sunflower. Helzer famiy prairie. Nikon D7100 and Tokina 12-28mm wide angle lens @12mm. ISO 500, f/13 and 1/500 sec.

4.) Rosinweed and the Helzer family prairie. Nikon D7100 and Tokina 12-28mm wide angle lens @12mm. ISO 500, f/22 and 1/125 sec.

5.) Woodhouse’s toad. Helzer family prairie. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 500, f/14 and 1/160 sec.

6.) Damselfly. Helzer family prairie. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/16 and 1/125 sec.

7.) Leaf beetle feeding on prairie cordgrass pollen. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/11 and 1/60 sec.

8.) Bush katydid and pitcher sage. Lincoln Creek Prairie. Nikon D7100 and Nikon 105mm macro lens. ISO 320, f/11 and 1/100 sec.

I tried to pick only one of the next two photos (#9 and #10), which were taken only moments apart from each other, but couldn’t decide between them. The family vote was split too, so I just decided to throw them both in. I’ll be very curious to see which gets the most vote.