Evening Walk

The Coot Patrol

Tonight after work my wife and I went for a hike out at the lake, we stopped at several places, left the truck and walked. The trails at Bone Creek Reservoir are starting to green up, the trees are still leafless allowing you to watch closely for deer who watch you just as closely. we did not see any but plenty of waterfowl out on the lake.

Moon over the trail

Wood Rat Home on an old rock wall.

With all the rain we have had as well as the snow melt, little streams all have water flowing down to the lake.

The trail

Reflection on the lake.
Birds we counted along the walk
Coot Fulica americana
Greater Scaup Aythya marlia nearticia
Turkey Vultures Cathartes aura (first ones we have seen this spring)

Over the White River

Inspiration Point near Eureka Springs Arkansas

For more Window Views visit here.

What a differerence a day makes.

Two days ago we were on the bank of the white river, sitting in the warm sun dozing off in short naps waiting for the trout to bite. We headed home and arrived to a beautiful 70 degree evening.
Then yesterday the first day of spring we woke to freezing rain, blowing winds and temps in the upper 20s. Even the dog wouldn't stay out, I didn't blame him. Charlie gave me that "Dude don't even think about closing that door, I will be right back!"
It snowed all day, the winds blew well into the evening and this morning the freezing rain has begun again. Today rather than sitting by a river in the warmth of the sun Ill be sitting by the warmth of the fireplace. Tomorrow is suppose to be near 50 degrees, what a difference a day makes here in the great plains.

Robins in the pasture

We have been visited this week by flocks of Robins in our pasture, and Ive noticed just about every open field, and lawn around town. A sure sign of spring, some have been singing at dawn.
Most of the time they just kind of wander around as if they had lost some cars keys out there in the grass. Resembling a convention of bird physicists deep in thought, I imagine pondering some Robin string theory problem. Keeping a polite distance from one another for the most part they occasionally sample some tidbit on the ground. I'm enjoying their visit, another reason to convince my wife we need to invest in a telephoto lens.

Skywatch Friday

Prairie State Park
Southwest Missouri

Prairie State Park
SW Missouri

Clouds
McDonald County Missouri

Cloud over Stubble Field
Crawford County Kansas

Some photos taken on a clear blustery day recently here in SE Kansas and SW Missouri.
For More skywatchers visit here.

Snow Stories

While hiking the other evening I found this impression left in the snow by a bird. You can see wing tips to the right, a mystery. These kinds of signs always leave me with questions and provoke a need to make sense of things. I have always been drawn to these kind of mysteries.
Near the bird impression I spotted a set of tracks. Were they related? Rabbit tracks? The distance between them changed over the field, obviously moving quickly and then slowing, another mystery. I followed them for a while along this field edge.


They led to a small blackberry patch, thorns! safety? You can see in the above picture where the rabbit pushed down the thorny branch which left an impression in the snow. If you look closer at the branch you will see bits of underbelly fur.

Rabbit Track in crisp snow.

Crossing paths, another mystery.

Wintry Week

We have had snow, sleet, ice pellets, ice fog and rain this week here in SE KS, the sun did peek out a few times.





I have been busy thumbing through seed catalogs thinking of spring.