"What a thousand acres of Silphiums looked like when they tickled the bellies of the buffalo is a question never again to be answered, and perhaps not even asked." -Aldo Leopold
The male Hooded Warbler’s song can be heard within the Ozark National Scenic Riverways longer into the heat of the day than many other songbirds. This guy, singing alongside quite a few other males occupying adjacent territories, was photographed on the Greer Spring Trail this spring.
Week five and the birds flight feathers were really growing in.
A few more assorted images from the nest, chicks about four weeks old.
From Harrison on the Worm-eating Warbler nest: “On the ground, concealed under drifts of leaves, usually protected overhead by shrubs, briars, saplings. Built of skeletonized leaves; lined with hair moss (Polytrichium), fine grass, hair. Typically on hillside or bank of ravine.” As cryptic as the birds themselves, the nest of a Wormy would only be found with the combination of utmost patience and fortune. If found, it has been reported that one can get quite close to the nest, the female only flushing if touched!
Click here to listen to the Worm-eating Warbler song.
During what was assumed to be the chicks fourth week, dark flight feathers start to be seen. The chicks were more mobile, moving around the nest, and much more aware of things outside the nest.
At week two the chicks were much more mobile, able to hold their heads up for more than a couple seconds at a time. Mom always gives them a thorough look over when arriving at the nest.
Here one adult vocalizes on the nest while its mate circles the river valley treetops.
Below is one of the melting looks that the chicks give when the adults are at the nest. This is my favorite type of photo to capture in the nest.
The only visit where I observed both parents at the nest simultaneously was during my week two visit.
Finally, even at this early age, the chicks exercise their future flight muscles.
Hello there. I am ready to announce an ongoing project we have started recently. A friend of mine informed me of a newly built Bald Eagle nest on his neighbor’s property. With his help and that of the property owners, G & C, we discovered some viewing locations that worked well for photography while not stressing the birds too terribly. We are keeping the location secret, but I will say it is found along the Meramec River in St. Louis County, MO. Thanks so much to everyone involved who has helped me get these images. It has been an incredible experience. The chicks are now approximately five weeks old. The images in this post were taken when the chicks were less than a week old. I hope to continue weekly monitoring and photography until they fledge, which should take place at 10-12 weeks.
The nest is located ~ 75 feet in a large sycamore. The reason we have such an excellent viewing angle into the nest is that the nest tree grows at the bottom of the river valley’s ridge. We are placed at about the same height on the steep ridge, about 200-300 feet or so from the nest. An uncomfortable place to watch, but worth it.
We have all been shocked by their speedy growth rate. These are likely first time parents, but they have been doing an excellent job of raising these two, as far as I can tell. 😉 There is an obvious difference in size between the two chicks, that can still be see today.
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
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 