Deer and raccoons squabble at a corn pile.

I continue to be surprised at the interaction between deer and raccoons at my corn sites. My Cuddeback trail cameras faithfully record all activities at the rate of one per minute, obviously leaving vast amounts of time that aren't photographed. But even so, I've gotten a good feel for what must go on as these two species vie for feeding rights.

Diving osprey a breathtaking sight.

September brings migrating ospreys to Kansas, offering a chance to see these beautiful fish eagles in action. Normally, a solitary bird may appear and stay on a local water for up to a week, hunting and putting on a spectacular fishing exhibition several times each day.

Timelapse shows beauty of a dark sky.

The nightly heavens in a dark-sky region are among Nature’s most awesome views. Urban dwellers, whose exposure to the night sky is always greatly polluted by manmade light, are usually amazed when seeing stars in their natural element – darkness. Even the moon in its fullest phases can dim a surprising portion of smaller nighttime stars. And the famed Milky Way, a truly amazing spectacle when seen in its full glory, is subdued by the light of a strong moon.

Cold weather and migrating waterfowl bring another welcome visitor to the Midwest – the bald eagle. Amazingly, this national symbol, once rare and seldom seen in the Central U.S., now commonly inhabits even city environs along open lakes and riverways. Bald eagles follow ducks and geese, taking up temporary winter residence where these birds flock together. Sick and injured waterfowl comprise a staple in the diet of eagles.