Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

One of my favorite birds. Extremely small, active, very inquisitive, and a native of Missouri and Ozark county in the summer. This one responds to whispering and comes to see what I'm doing.

Reflections: Great Blue Heron

Picture taken last evening 6/15. These birds are common on the North Fork f the White River.

Ozark County leads Missouri in Black Bear sightings

MDC recently announced that Ozark County leads the state with 102 bear sightings. Howell and Douglas County rank 2nd and 3rd with 60 and 51 sightings respectively.

I was lucky last May 2009, to see a good-sized Black Bear while leaving the River of Life Farm property, but never reported it to MDC.

The bear so quickly crossed the road that I had no chance at a photo.

House Wren on a late June afternoon

The pair have now fledged their first brood of 2010. Looks like five chicks.

Redheaded Woodpeckers nearing fledging brood one

This pair of birds has been mating and nesting since 4/14; starting building nest in tree cavity on 4/22; began feeding chicks on 5/18; and now are making continuous trips to feed. My guess it that the fledglings will emerge tis week sometime; stay tuned. I try to visit the nesting site ever other day.

Summer Tanagers 2010

They have arrived in eastern and southern Missouri i good numbers. This young male visits a mulberry bush a dozen times per day. They will readily eat ripe fruit along with insects. Click to enlarge.

Unusual birds in action

These pictures were taken over the weekend at a Mulberry tree. Many species of birds were gorging themselves with ripened berries. Pictures female Baltimore Oriole, juvenile male Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole male and female and a Robin. Taken with Canon 7D with 400mm f 5.6.

Hello Followers

I have not posted for many weeks, but am back now. The job, you know. Ill start off with a beautiful Baltimore Oriole in a Mulberry Tree that i took with a Canon 7D and a EF400 DO IS lens on 5/26.