English: Plain Antvireo
Portuguese: Choquinha-lisa
LB: Dysithamnus mentalis
Song
Tag: ozark bill
Nesting Birds of Missouri – Grasshopper Sparrow
Sarah helped me nab this shot of a singing Grasshopper Sparrow recently at Confluence State Park. It was interesting to me that out of such a large area of potential habitat, the only two birds we had singing this day were right on top of each other.
A Spring Day at Victoria Glades
Following up a Saturday morning spent at the Eagle’s nest, Steve and I traveled to Victoria Glades to finish up the day during the perfect season to spend time on Missouri Ozark Glades. We decided to focus on the MDC side of things as we explored The Nature Conservancy holding about the same time the previous year. My primary goal of the day was to get some acceptable shots of a Prairie Warbler while performing his song. I had no idea how relatively easy this would be. We were able to find this male almost immediately along the trail as he patrolled his territory – focusing on trees isolated within the glade habitat.
Lovers of the treetops and focused more on trees that make up the forest edge border with the glade, the Yellow-breasted Chat is a bird I have wanted to get photos of for quite some time. Not perfect, but acceptable. Steve and I watched and listened as neighboring males carefully partitioned the area into well established boundaries that they seemed to know so well.
What’s that? Getting bored with yellow? Okay, let’s change things up a little and look at this Scarlet Tanager male that we found within the forest canopy. With a song similar to the Summer Tanager, the chip-burr call note of the Scarlet Tanager is most diagnostic. We were somewhat surprised to find a couple of Summer Tanagers singing in the open areas of the glade near sunset later this evening.
And now for something downright plain. Well, at least from the front, which is not the Field Sparrow’s best side. This female was definitely not interested in us as we got these close looks of her trying to feed on insects and seed at the same time. We watched her and listened to her mate advertise his rights to their home with his dropping ping-pong ball like song.
Just when you thought we were done with the yellow… Along with the Chat, these were my first photographs of a Blue-Winged Warbler as well. After we discovered what the hell was going on, Steve and I discovered and learned the dawn song of this feisty bird.
On our travels through the glades we couldn’t help but take note of this truly magnificent Post Oak, surrounded by blooming prairie/glade forbs such as Fremont’s Leather Flower and Lance-leaved Coreopsis. Mostly secluded on a low hill, this was the spot to wait and see if the sunset would turn into anything special. As we watched the progression of dusk we were most fortunate in hearing a special symphony composed of Woodcock, Whippoorwill, Chuck-Will’s Widow and Barred Owl. Twas quite the memorable day and it goes without saying, I can’t wait to get back.
Here’s to Fishin’
There are so many reasons I love spending time at Clarksville watching the eagles. One of the primary reasons this is so much fun for me is the glimpse that it provides of the biology and everyday life of these birds. I can never predict what the birds will be doing or even where they will be on a particular day. Try and use the weather patterns to predict their numbers and when and where they’ll be fishing or finding a meal. More than likely you’ll be wrong. Just recently I was somewhat disappointed during a trip where I thought the conditions would be perfect for some photography of some wild fishing activity. Nope. During that day the birds were in the hundreds, but primarily concentrated near the ice-line about a half mile downstream. I guess maybe they were finding meals in the disappearing ice?
So, here are a few interesting things that I think only still photography can give one a glimpse of.
You see this in a lot of the eagle shots that I post. I love that the birds always look closely at their catch, even as they are still getting the air back underneath their wings. Every-time they do this. I’m not sure if they’re inspecting the size of their meal, or if perhaps they’re just ensuring a good foothold on their prey.
Next is something I noticed while I was watching in the middle of one of our extreme cold spells this winter. There were not great numbers of birds fishing immediately below the dam, but those that were there were fishing like crazy! I saw several instances of what you see here: birds with obviously stuffed crops were still picking them up left and right. I wondered if these might be animals with chicks in nests nearby.
Finally for tonight, here is one I was fortunate to catch a frame of. This fish was so large and the eagle was travelling so quickly that the inertia rips the single leg that had a strong hold backwards. The bird seemed to barely hold on.
The Catch
This youngster plunged a bit deeper than they usually do. I like this series and am presenting it here in a pretty large size for viewing. Happy fishing!
OZB’s Favorite Images from 2013!
Yeah, I know. We are almost through two months of 2014, however that’s possible. But, I really wanted to make a post like this (I still don’t have all of 2013’s images processed) . I know it’s popular in the photo-blog community, but I think it really is a nice way to cap the year. I had quite a time in narrowing this list to ten. I’m not saying these are my best images of the year, but these are the ones I found to be the perfect combination of capturing something special, being meaningful for me and being at least competently captured. Follow the links to the posts that each image was featured in. I apologize to the images that did not make the list. 😉
Here we go…
#10) “Confluence Contradiction”
Taken on a trip to Big Spring this April, this one was something I had never seen in all of my visits to this feature. Sarah and I were really excited to see the Current in high water and I was lucky to make this image before the water from the river had overtaken the blue colored spring effluent later on this day.
Taken early one cloudy autumn morning following an evening storm, the diffused light, and saturated foliage worked well with the complacent attitude of the alpha buck.
Observing multiple Cerulean Warblers was one of several things that made putting up with the heat and insects worth our while.
#7) “Greater Prairie Chickens in Flight, February 2013“
Lifers for both Steve and me, spotting and photographing two of Missouri’s literal handful of Prairie Chickens was the highlight of our trip to Prairie State Park last winter.
#6) Untitled composition taken at Lee’s Bluff on the St. Francis River
This was a recent finding for us, and one in which I hope to get back to soon and often. This relatively easy S-curve was but one of many potential compositions that I tried to capture.
#5) Untitled composition of Short-Eared Owl
I’ll never forget the day when we were able to watch multiple SEOW up close and personal. The highlight was taking a shot of this one perched on an MDC sign at B.K. Leach C.A.
I had been looking for this spot since I first started exploring the MO Ozarks several years ago. This year I was able to find it, and just after an incredible amount of rain!
#3) Untitled composition of Sandhill Crane in flight
Taken with my newest bird lens, I was in the right place at the right time to squeeze off this keeper.
#2) Star Trails at Dunn Ranch Prairie
Among so many other unforgettable experiences from Steve’s and my trip, the chilly July night spent working on my first serious attempts at astro-photography ranks near the highest from 2013.
With my medically documented disorder for decision making, it’s an official miracle that I was able to narrow down the subject and the specific image for the top spot in my favorite images of 2013. Finding such a nest at just the right place and time to observe these parent Scissor-tailed Flycatcher raising a healthy brood was such serendipity. This image was taken at Tucker Prairie C.A., the first stop of this particular journey. We were torn between watching these guys until fledging and heading on to the other great spots along our route.
Well, I hope I did my 2013 collection justice with this list. I can’t imagine 2014 could top the experiences of last year. If the experiences and associated photographs of 2014 even come close in comparison, I will truly be a fortunate creature. Happy New Year.
Ozark Bill
“There are those who say that only spring is beautiful, and hie themselves to a warmer climate for the winter months. There are others, who, without the means of fleeing from the beauties about them at all seasons, waste their happiness with complaining. And there are some who must even go to Europe for scenery, and poets as well. But give me my native land at all hours of the day, all seasons of the year, and for all the years of my life; because its beauties, its interests and its ennobling influences are intended for its sons above all others. And have no fear, all who may doubt, that anyone by trying may get far more of use from a stroll over its hills, than even I did on this momentous ‘Tramp in November”
-Aldo Leopold
“Autumn Regality”
The Sedge Wren
Referred to as the “feathered mouse”, the Sedge Wren is most easily seen in his nesting territory during breeding season. During this time one must simply listen for his song and follow by ear. With patience, the vociferous little wren can be viewed. These guys were plentiful at Dunn Ranch and adjacent Pawnee prairies this past July. This species has been affected by the destruction wet prairies, meadows and wetland type habitats that they rely upon.
“Sunshine & Song”
“Con Fuoco”
Happy Thanksgiving
Don’t forget to thank a turkey today.
“Turkey Pride”
Upland Sandpiper
Every since I heard of the weird sandpiper that decided to live in the plains, away from considerable amounts of water, I dreamed of seeing and photographing them. Our trip this summer to Dunn Ranch Prairie provided for that, adding a new bird to both Steve’s and my life lists.
“Upland Sandpiper, Dunn Ranch Prairie, 2013”
“Upland Sandpiper in Flight, Dunn Ranch Prairie, 2013”
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 