Washburn’s Outdoor Journal

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.  You don’t have be crazy to sit inside a turkey blind in 84-degree summer heat; but it sure doesn’t hurt either.  I was reminded of this fact the moment the sun hit […]

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.    Bill’s Pond — June 1, 2018:  Although serious photographers hate to admit it, many of their favorite wildlife shots have absolutely nothing to do with skill but are the result of

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.   Magnolia Warbler    American Redstart   For Iowa birding enthusiasts, there’s no better time than late May; the grand finale of the spring migration. Yellowthroat Spring migrants come in all colors, shapes and

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.   By now, it had become obvious that the gobbler was getting plenty cranked up. Couldn’t blame him. I was getting plenty revved myself. The turkey and I had been playing an

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.  Ventura Heights wildlife enthusiasts have found reason to celebrate. Following weeks of mixed speculation, the female Canada goose which serves as the Height’s unofficial mascot has been successful at hatching her eggs.

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.   There is no sound in nature that stirs my blood like the daybreak call of the wild turkey. No wild chorus incites more anticipation, produces more goose bumps, or penetrates deeper

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.  It’s the 23rd of April. For today at least, it appears as if spring has finally arrived in Northern Iowa. With sunny skies and temperatures soaring into the lower 60s, we’ve melted

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved. For those of us living in Northern Iowa, it’s been a spring to remember. Or perhaps I should say, a spring to forget. Our extreme weather has been so over the top

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.   Iowans are used to dealing with extreme weather. We take it in stride. But you have to admit that at 19-degrees, winds gusting to 26 mph, and several inches of bright

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.   Early April is not only a good time to put the finishing touches on spring turkey scouting; it’s also a great time to hone your calling skills.  Nothing sounds more like