Ever hear of a turkey laying 17 eggs ??

What a surprise !!! I was hiking the canyon at ROLF, above the spring, when I ran across this nest on a wooded hillside.

Indian Paintbrush in the glades at Caney Mountain

About 20 minutes from ROLF. Definitely, worth the drive.

Female Eastern Bluebird entering flight

Taken by the bluebird house nearest the falls. 4/26/09.

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher in flying position

Taken from Tree Top Loft. 4/25/09.

A Cedar Waxwing migrating north at ROLF in April

This bird was the first I have seen since late November - early December, when they were migrating south. It is eating maple sap from a hard Maple tree with woodpecker holes leaking the sap out on warm sunny days.

Female American Goldfinch in landing position

This picture was taken from the Treetop Loft cabin. The bird was hovering and looking at the feeder attached to the railing. Lately, I have become interested in photographing birds that are flying at 1/1000th or 1/1250th of a seconds at f/4-f/5.6 with a Cannon 1DS Mark II.

Visited ROLF in late April for 8 days

There are plenty of good pictures to be posted and stories to be told. I have been tied up at work since I returned and should be able to post some entires 5/3/09. The bluebirds were nesting in every house and I spend a lot of time trying to photograph the nesting activity. The warblers and vireos were actively nesting; many surprises also. More later ......