6/16 SE Missouri Trip Part 1

Maintz Wildlife Preserve • Duck Creek Conservation Area • Mingo National Wildlife Refuge • Crowley Ridge Conservation Area • Below Wappapello Dam
First stop on trip with Paul Bauer was the Maintz Wildlife Preserve to view the Barn Owls if they were still there. Success, there were three visible through the openings. We drove through Duck Creek and Mingo but it was too hot and didn't see much activity. Our next stop was Crowley Ridge and we found a few nice birds while scouting for Chuck-will's-widow habitat. We stayed at the Wappapello Dam area and finished the day below the dam. Very hot and humid, temps 89-93°F.

A few of the birds seen, complete set and larger sizes in gallery. Click here to view the gallery.
For location of birds click for Map here.

Maintz Wildlife Preserve Click thumb below for large version. • • • Hover thumb for names.


Crowley Ridge Conservation Area Click thumb below for large version. • • • Hover thumb for names.


Below Wappapello Dam Click thumb below for large version. • • • Hover thumb for names.


Preview of Photos in gallery

6/12 Columbia Bottom Conservation Area

Columbia Bottom Conservation Area
After a few hours at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary and not seeing much I headed to Columbia Bottom Conservation Area. Nothing at the feeders so headed up the gravel road and in the first fuddle (field puddle - flooded area in field from rain water) on left found two Black-necked Stilts. Stopped to talk to Charlene a bit up the road and she mentioned hearing a couple Black-billed Cuckoos by the first kiosk along the asphalt road. I called Paul Bauer, as he's looking for these, and he said he will be over shortly. Nada on the Cuckoos. We finally settled in on a small wet area with willows as a backdrop just to the East and found a few interesting birds visiting the area. We left when it started to rain. Very hot and humid, temps 93-95°F.

A few of the birds seen, complete set and larger sizes in gallery. Click here to view the gallery.
For location of birds click for Map here.

Click thumb below for large version. • • • Hover thumb for names.


Preview of Photos in gallery

6/07 Lost Valley Trail • Weldon Spring CA

Lost Valley Trail • Weldon Spring Conservation Area

Spent a short time at Lost Valley Trail in Weldon Spring Conservation Area this morning and added one new bird photographed in Missouri, a Yellow-throated Vireo. Luckily I found it at the start of the trail as the mosquitoes and gnats were really bad on the trail.
The Yellow-throated Vireo is my 286th "Bird Species Photographed in Missouri".

A few of the birds seen, complete set and larger sizes in gallery. Click here to view the gallery.
For location of birds click for Map here.

Click thumb below for large version. • • • Hover thumb for names.


Preview of Photos in gallery

6/03 Columbia Bottom CA • RMBS

Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary • Columbia Bottom Conservation Area

Not much was seen at Riverlands but did see about a dozen sandpipers far out in Ellis Bay. The best guess was White-rumped Sandpipers. Continued on to Columbia Bottom CA and spent some time looking for Grasshopper Sparrows with no luck, lots of Dickcissels and RW Blackbirds. I ended the day on the short boardwalk just inside the spur to the confluence point were Prothonotary Warblers are now active.

A few of the birds seen, complete set and larger sizes in gallery. Click here to view the gallery.
For location of birds click for Map here.

Click thumb below for large version. • • • Hover thumb for names.


Preview of Photos in gallery

May Birds around the Yard

Hummingbirds finally showed up here the other day. Also caught one of the resident Cooper's Hawk feeding.

A few of the birds seen, complete set and larger sizes in gallery. Click here to view the gallery.

Click thumb below for large version. • • • Hover thumb for names.
Mourning Dove


Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Preview of Photos in gallery