Baby Ruby-throat Hummingbird Preening

Taken 7/31 at 5:00 PM.

Large Diamondback Water Snake

Non-venomous but intimidating. This fellow was situated just below the Tree Top Hideaway at waters edge. Not long after this years May high water.

Ruby Throat Hummingbird female on Lobelia

Not taken at ROLF; taken in my backyard in Kirkwood, MO. But, these are so common at River of Life and easy to find when the Lobelia (cardinal flowers) are in bloom along the river in Aug-Oct.

Evening Storm over the lower North Fork River

This picture is from a year ago tomorrow; taken from the Tree Top Hideaway looking southeast.

Near Caney Mountain Refuge in late May

Pale purple coneflowers and ozark primrose in bloom. About 20 minutes from ROLF.

Eastern Missouri Birders Entry Point

is here =====> http://rolf-man.blogspot.com/2009/07/eastern-missouri-birders-entry-point.html

Enjoy and call Myron for a visit for at least 2 days starting in mid-August through Novenber.

Steve

Bluebird Myron and Bluebird Ann (top) at ROLF

Here is a picture of both the male and female bluebirds in the house closest to the falls.

Blair Bridge inhabitants

One hundred  Cliff Swallow nests hang from Blair Bridge, about 4 miles downstream from River of Life Farm. On this day in May, 2009, I tried to photograph them coming and going to their mud nests.

Couple of Bald Eagle pictures from ROLF

One juvenile (mine) from the Cedar Chest and one adult ~ Pilgrim's ~ from lookout point. Thanks for the contributions all. I always welcome fellow outdoor lovers pictures and comments.

Yellowthroat Warbler

This guy came everyday about 5-6 times to hunt insects under the from porch roof, and wasn't bothered at all by my walking around on the porch. This was mid-May 2009.

Eastern Kingbird

On a fence in County Road 370.

Juvenile Bald Eagle ??

I took this on May 22 from the Cedar Chest overlooking the North Fork of the White. Pretty sure by shape of bill that it is a juvenile bald eagle. They are nesting on a bluff downstream; this is a crop out of a larger picture.

Yellow Rumped Warbler at ROLF in April 2009

These pictures were taken from the Tree Top Loft on April 20th, 2009 with a 600mm f/4 and 1.4TC which yields 840mm on a Canon 5D MK II. This bird was in a pine grove close to a few hickory trees. The are really beautiful against the leafing out trees.

Brian, Myron, and Photographer

Catching wild rainbows in high water in mid-April, notice the redbud.

One of my favorite ROLF pictures from 2007

When I first started using a good DSLR and long lens. the Red-headed woodpecker landed on a pine tree about 20 feet from where I was standing in the Mountain Log Lookout. I took about 50 shots of him and got a few I liked. I had not looked at them for over 2 years; but now I see how clear this picture was of this beautiful bird. These woodpeckers are more common to the open country, and mixed open country and woods of southwest Missouri and Central Missouri, but I have seen a few at River of Life Farm. The male and female look almost the same which is not usual for woodpeckers, where the male wears the red cockade.

May 20th's moonlit Ox-eyed Daisies

they cover fields near River of Life Farm. Each on white and beautiful, but grouped together the form an outstanding picture in the late evening. This is from nearby County Road 370.

The spectacular Dogwoods of April

The drive into River of Life Farm is one of the most spectacular roads for viewing early April to mid-April dogwoods. I some locations on that road, it appears the woods is covered in snow. Once you have seen it, it is very hard to get out of your mind; and makes you dream the Aprils to come. These pictures are from this April 17th, 2009.

Eastern Phoebe on Split Rail fence at Caney Mountain

I love these birds, this is on the Conservation Departments split rail fence at the office in Caney Mountain Refugee, a must side trip for any visitor to ROLF.

Yellow billed Cuckoo

Taken at Caney Mountain Refuge (about 20 miles from River of Life Farm). They are also common near the cabins at ROLF, and especially vocal on rainy days. Also, known as Rain Crows by locals. A very secretive bird. One of my favorite captures. Canon 5DMII with Canon 600 f/4 lens while perching comfortably in a thorny Black Locust tree.

Smallmouth fly-fishing water on the upper North Fork

I caught and released completely unharmed, 7 nice smallies (up to 14") from this run near Indian Creek in summer 2008 with crawdad colored bead-headed jigs.

Sundown on the North Fork

Always a beautiful time.

American Goldfinches near the ROLF office

This was taken on a cool mid-May evening.

Tiger Swallowtail on Thistle Head

Taken late May 2009 with Canon 1DS Mark II and Canon 100mm Macro lens.

North Fork below Hammond at dusk in May

A fairly common scene to anyone who has waded to fish the North Fork above Rainbow Springs near dark. This picture is from May 20, 2009.

A beautiful Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

At River of Life Farm, of course. Near the Chalet; waiting to dive for an insect.

Louisiana Water Thrush (after high water)

This is a Louisiana Water Thrush (warbler), looking for aquatic insects and grubs after higher water in May begin receding back to normal levels. While I visited in May there was about a 2 foot rise after 2 consecutive nights of severe thunderstorms.

Nice new SC Missouri Streams Capsule River Data

http://mo.water.usgs.gov/surfwat/wscsection.htm

Stormy Evening in May 2009

This storm came up quickly this May, thundered for 10 minutes, then did not rain.

Carolina Wren April 17th nesting

A cute male Carolina Wren search for a mate in April. The House Wren (also pictured) is a summer visitor and nester. The Carolina Wren is a year round neighbor and spends the winter hunting for food. The Carolina Wren can be identified by the white line by his eye. Click to enlarge.

Doe drinking near Treetop Hideaway

May 21st Sunset at ROLF

After two days storms a few nice days upcoming.

Some of the many deer at ROLF in May

These deer scattered in the upper field, early in the morning; May 20th.  Click to enlarge.

The vociferous Eastern Phoebe

The ROLF there are probably a dozen, maybe more Eastern Phoebe nests. The are a member of the flycatcher family; close related to the Wood PeeWee. Thy have two favorite nesting site; cliffs and along the eaves or porches of country buildings; like the Cedar House, Whispering Pines, or the Treetop Lookout. The are easily identified by their continuous singing of their name "phoebe, phoebe, phoebe, which can become monotonous while they are nesting. 

There was a pair at each of the above listed cabins just beginning their nesting in late May.

April, what a difference 6 days make

The Ozark County hills on April 20th and on April 26th.

Cute House Wren with a Daddy-Longlegs

Picture of female House Wren taken from Cedar Chest deck. She made several passes through in the day; each time with a spider. Click to enlarge.

Fairly rare Lark Sparrow on the ROLF road

The Lark Sparrow is not real common in Missouri. I found this guy on the fence near the Blueberry Farm in mid-May. This a handsome bird and not sparrow sized as we know it; he is about 8" tall.  Click to enlarge. Taken fro my car with a Canon 1DS Mark II and a Canon 300mm f/2.8 IS Lens.

Another group of April pictures @ 4000 CFS

Starting at dawn the 2nd morning in Mid-April, a picture of the rising river later in the day, and finally a picture of the falls in early evening. taken from Treetop Loft, one of the earths prettiest views. Moon still up at dawn.