Prairie Park Morning

Bison Prairie State Park

Southwest Missouri

Bison Prairie State Park

Southwest Missouri

Indian Paintbrush
Verbena (Rose?)

I took a hike last Sunday at sunup over at Prairie State Park. The sun had actually rose by the time I arrived eager to see any new birds migrating through at this time of year. I wasn't disappointed. It was a cool clear morning with a slight breeze out of the north, no rain for a change. The first flowers of the season are appearing. There is a narrow gravel road with signs posted warning which parts of the park the bison herd is presently using. Usually they are quite a ways off but this morning I found a few grazing along the road. I stopped and watched the huge bull in the photos as he grazed almost alongside the car. His breath condensed into small clouds as he crunched the new grass.

Further along I stopped the car and hiked a short trail. The air was filled with birds singing. Dickcissels seemed to be the featured soloists this morning. I watched a Yellow Breasted Chat for several minutes making its way in the short trees in a draw. A white tail doe was moving silently to the stream just beyond the trees, not seeming too bothered by the hiker. Indgio Buntings flashed blue neon signs. I was ready to leave when I stopped and watched a bird sing, that I had not seen here before, a beautiful song that reminded me of a flute. I think it might have been a Wood Thrush. I found a quote in my field guide under Wood Thrush when trying to see if I was correct.

Its attributed to Thoreau:

"Whenever a man hears it he is young, and Nature is in her spring: where ever he hears it, it is a new world and a free country, and the gates of heaven are not shut against him"