Tag: “bill duncan”

Falling Spring

landscape, Ozark Grist Mills

Twenty years from now…

“…you want me to tell you that story that happened that night at Falling Spring?  You sure?  Alright, it’ll be your sleepless night.

 Me and my cuz were giggin’ frogs down in that beaver pond one spring night when out of the blue we saw a fella wearin’ a strange hat walkin’ alone.  We asked him what he was doing out here all alone and where he came from.  He answered he came from a place with tall buildin’s and he was searching for answers that nobody had. 

He stood there, the palest, most pathetic creature you’d ever seen.  Paler than the moon standin’ above us, when all of a sudden eery red lights started comin’ from inside that old mill shack!  Now, we had been standin’ outside there fer hours and hadn’t seen a soul inside or out.  Before we could think, a sound that was louder and more fierce than a 10′ tall hoot-owl started and the trees began moving back and forth, even though there tweren’t a bit a breeze on the air to be had!

My cuz and I had grabbed our poles and slowly backed ourselves out to the road and the safety of the truck.  We looked over to where the stranger had been and noticed he was walkin’ towards the old shack!  We shouted something to the effect of what the Sam Hill are you doing?  He replied that he was going to see if the agnostics were right.  I couldn’t get at what he was sayin’, and we couldn’t get him to stop movin’ towards that obvious poltergeist.

The last question I asked was what his name was.  He said something like Beelzebub, Bufford, Ozark Bill, or somethin’ like that.  The last time I saw him he was walkin’ inside and stripping down to the suit he was born in.  The lights got brighter and hotter.  So hot and bright I had to turn away.  We heard a screech worse than a Tom cat trying to mate with a pot belly stove and all of a sudden everything went back to normal.  

As we were making dust away from that place I heard a really sweet, low and soft voice singing…

‘Way down in Missouri where I heard this melody
When I was a little feller on my mommie’s knee
The old folks were humming the banjos were strumming so sweet and low‘

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A Flooded St. Francis

landscape, Uncategorized

Early this May, Steve and I had the good fortune to visit a couple spots along our St. Francois Mountains the day after a front brought about three inches of rain to the area.  One of these spots was the Einstein Dam at Silvermines Recreation Area (St. Francis N.A.).  The power of the water surging through the breaks in the dam was mesmerizing.  A sense of near vertigo became apparent as I stared into the sheet of water that dropped nearly ten feet downstream.  I knew Steve would have almost no chance if he slipped into this torrent, but my photo needed some scale!  So I asked him to have a seat on the edge.

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We arrived with little light left, but tried to take it all in while I made a few images.  We had visited the previous autumn when the water was much lower

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Imagine dropping into this in your kayak?  We pondered if this would be advisable or not.  If you think it doesn’t look all that bad from this photo, be sure to watch this.

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Water moving in every conceivable direction!

Summer Tanager Nest

birds, wildlife

This image of a mamma Summer Tanager visiting her newly developing nest was taken a few weeks ago.  She should now be busy raising young.  I have decided not to invade her space unless I can get to this location and set up in a blind before first light.  Unfortunately, this would be quite the feat at this time of year.  The drive to Hawn SP, where the nest is located, is about 1.5 hours from my front door.  I wish her luck and thanks to Steve who found the nest and provided a great map and directions for me.

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A Few Spring Wood Warblers

birds, wildlife

Spring migration for the “land birds” is pretty much over.  As usual, I am not happy with the amount of photos I was able to get of these guys as they pass by.  But, I did enjoy every moment I got to spend trying.  Here are a few that I have gotten around to processing so far.  These were all caught at Monsanto’s World Headquarters, one of my favorite migration traps in the StL metropolitan area.

A large warbler, the Bay-breasted Warbler is a rather uncommon migrant.  The lighting was terrible in this scenario and caused a good deal of C.A. However, this was my first usable image of this species.IMG_3443

Lovers of the tree-tops, I find that Northern Parula are easily heard but more difficult to spot.  They can be found in large numbers across Missouri and do nest throughout the Ozarks.

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The oh so cute, Palm Warbler, or “Palmies” are one of the species I seemed to spot more often than normal this spring.  These guys are usually found on or near the ground on lower tree branches and bushes.

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The Blackpoll Warbler’s migratory trek is one of the longest of all the songbirds.  These guys nest throughout the northern boreal forests and go as far as northern Alaska.  They winter in South America.

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 Finally, the bird pictured below is the Black and White Warbler.  More abundant and easier to spot, these birds behave much like the nuthatches – climbing up tree trunks and looking under limbs for their arthropod prey.

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Ozark Bill’s Private Shangri-La

landscape, location spotlight

In a land of dolomite and granite, the chert-based rocks of Cowards Hollow Natural Area really stand out to the experienced Ozark traveler.  I first read about Cowards Hollow more than five years ago and had two previous and unsuccessful attempts at finding it.  Recently I had acquired some resources that helped me get a firm idea where to look and during our Big Spring break this spring Sarah and I went out to finally find it.  Literally within minutes of parking the car and heading down the trail the sky opened up and began raining.  Half-soaked, I retreated to the car and decided to try again later.  It would be about 18 hours and near five inches of rain later before I got back there the next morning.  I knew the area would be full of water and that the efforts would be worthwhile.   Here is the first look upon reaching the hollow named for the refuge it provided civil war draft dodgers.  I sure couldn’t blame anyone for preferring this place over the hell that awaited them on the battlefield or the chaos that was most of Missouri during that time.

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“An Ozark Shangri-La″

Technical details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 50mm, ISO 320,  f/14, 6 sec

At only 56 acres, this relatively small NA has so much to offer.  Seeps, a plant-fen community, a series of shut-ins, a shelter cave and lots of nooks and crannies to discover what plants and animals are waiting where are plenty to keep one busy for a full day’s visit.  That’s not to mention these fantastic waterfalls!

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“Flint Falls″

Technical details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 24mm, ISO 125,  f/11, 1.3 sec

I did not have too much time to spend here, unfortunately.  In the three hours I visited, the falls took much of my attention.  The birds and plants were screaming for my attention and I regret I could not give them more.  The Waterthrush songs were constantly ringing off the chert walls of the hollow and were pretty much the only thing I could hear over the roaring water.

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“Behind the Veil″

Technical details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 28mm, ISO 200,  f/11, 1.3 sec

Once again, mother nature did not let me down.  A perfect overcast morning allowed for great exposure settings for running water and allowed for that glorious limon-colored new spring green from mosses and trees to pop.  Anything lacking from these images is my own fault completely.

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“Cowards Hollow″

Technical details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 28mm, ISO 320,  f/14, 0.8 sec

Well, that was Cowards Hollow.  It is only about a 30 minute drive from Big Spring and is so secluded it seems to be a day’s travel from any sign of civilization.  I wish I had the opportunity to explore this area more, but the vegetation was not yet doing much during this April visit.  I can’t wait to make another visit in the near future.

I realized I had presented nothing but these masculine vertical compositions, so here is a landscape orientation…

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“Cowards Hollow II″

Technical details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 32mm, ISO 125,  f/9, 1 sec

Blackburnian Warbler

birds, wildlife

Relying highly on the abundance of spruce budworm populations in their boreal forest nesting grounds, Blackburnian Warblers numbers will rise and fall dramatically with numbers of this insect prey.

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“Blackburnian Warbler, May 2013”

Technical details: Canon EOS 7D camera,  EF400mm f/5.6L USM lens, ISO 640,  f/5.6, 1/200 sec

Disappointment at the Gnatcatchers’

birds, wildlife

Steve selflessly checked on the Gnatcatcher’s nest at St. Francois SP late this past week to give me an update to help plan for the weekend.  When he arrived he watched as the pair appeared to be deconstructing the nest and moving the materials!  This was surprising as they definitely were incubating eggs when I had visited about five days prior.  We found one description of this kind of behavior in Harrison’s Eastern Bird Nests:

“Unusual characteristic of this bird: it tears up a completely or partly completed nest and reuses the material to build nest nearby.  Author has seen this several times; believes that awareness of possible discovery during building may be cause.”

I have a few pieces of evidence to possibly explain why they would move a nest in which they were already incubating a clutch.

1) They built this nest ~20 feet above a rather popular State Park trail and the numbers of people walking underneath caused them to seek a different spot.

2) Egg predation.  Someone found the nest and relieved them of their brood.

3) Cowbirds.  The BHCB activity was apparent around the nest when I visited.  Perhaps they snuck an egg in and the host birds discovered the ploy?

I guess we will never know.  Steve tried his best to follow the “contractors” as they moved their building materials to the new construction site.  Their speed and the fully-leaved trees made this an impossible task.  Oh well, maybe next time.

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“Housing Crisis”

Technical details: Canon EOS 7D camera, EF500mm f/4.5L USM lens, ISO 640,  f/6.3, 1/200 sec

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher Nest Update

birds, wildlife

I spent a little time watching and shooting the BGGN nest this past Saturday.  Here are a few notes: -Nest is in action.  I believe there are likely eggs in the nest.  Not yet hatched.  One parent will stay on the nest continuously.  Every 5-10 minutes the other parent would come by and give a few quick, low call notes.  The parent on the nest will reply with a similar vocalization most, but not every time, and then leave to where the other parent is calling in nearby branch or tree.  The new parent then takes its place on the eggs.  The nest never stayed open for more than 45 seconds.  Cowbirds were definitely in the area and I believe are probably aware of the nest.  Migrant songbirds were everywhere.  Here is a quick list of birds I had in the parking lot or at the nest. TEWA OVBI REVI BLWA COBI GCFL PEWE SWTH NOWA LOWA SCTA.

If I make it back there this weekend, there is a good chance I could see feeding of the chicks.

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“BGGN Nest Update – May-11 2013”

Technical details: Canon EOS 7D camera, EF500mm f/4.5L USM lens, ISO 640,  f/6.3, 1/200 sec

Sutton Bluff Recreation Area

landscape, location spotlight

I have driven past signs for Sutton Bluff Rec. Area dozens of times speeding past on Highway 21, but had not visited until recently.  Located in Reynolds County about five miles or so from Centerville, it  is quite a drive over hilly and windy roads to this creation of the Black River as it bends its way across this hill.  This is a view on top of the bluff following a quick mile or two hike that is on an OZT spur.  Unfortunately, this is about as scenic a view you’ll find from here as the blacktop-covered recreation area covers the majority of this valley.  The rec. area is nice and clean, one of the nicest camp sites of this type I have seen.  I spoke briefly with one of the camp hosts and he was very helpful with some information and maps.  If this type of place is your scene, then it looks to be top notch.  It seems to me the best time to visit here would be in full autumn colors and the best compositions will likely be from the riverbanks below shooting up at the tree covered bluffs.

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“Sutton Bluff Recreation Area″

Technical details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 67mm, ISO 100,  f/11, 1/30 sec

Big Spring Handles Big Waters

landscape, macro

Sarah’s and my recent trip to Big Spring country provided us with lots of different looks that only the Ozarks in spring can provide.  On our second day the region was subjected to a strong storm front that dumped nearly five inches of rain in about a 12 hour period.  Although that limited the time spent outside cabin or vehicle, it did bring some learning opportunities.  I have often wondered with what speed and “precision” these large Ozark springs and their karst systems reacted to new rainfall in their watershed.  Would a deluge such as this become immediately apparent in the relative rate of discharge at Big Spring?  Or would the dynamics take a longer period of time?  My prediction would have been that the system would take up some considerable slack and act like a sponge.  That the effluent from the spring would rise eventually, but not as quickly as the rains came.  I turned out to be wrong.  During the first 12-18 hours, the increase of discharge from the spring seemed to keep pace with the rate of rise in the Current River.  This photo was taken at mid-morning the day after the rains.  Here the spring’s aquamarine  waters are flowing into the already mud-laden flood waters of the Current.  I estimate the waters were about two to three feet above normal at this time.

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“Confluence Contradiction″

Technical details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 58mm, ISO 320,  f/10, 1/25 sec

The next morning the scene looked quite different.  It looked to me the Current had gained enough water to rise over the shallow points of land this far into the effluent channel.  Water was everywhere, completely covering the lower section of the Chubb trail, completely covering the dock and railings surrounding it, and blocking access to the spring accept by the main road.  Even with the extra water the boil from the spring was still quite noticeable.

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“Current Rising″

Technical details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 65mm, ISO 640,  f/9, 1/20 sec

This scene is always one of my favorites.  This tree’s load of mistletoe is easily seen.  Thanks for pointing this out to me, Steve!

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“ ‘Planely’ Flooded ″

Technical details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 75mm, ISO 100,  f/10, 0.4 sec

Since the spring had lost a good deal of its potential for interesting compositions, I played a bit with some macro work.  Here is that symbol of Missouri’s Natural Area System, the Jack-in-the-Pulpit, taken within the Big Spring Natural Area.

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“Jack in the Pulpit″

Technical details: Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera, EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, ISO 160,  f/5, 1/8 sec