Cat

Such a nice kitty.

Eagle Photo Fail

THIS PAST WEEKEND, I visited the old Chain of Rocks Bridge in north Saint Louis, which is a popular Bald eagle winter feeding area.



Some years I've seen up to a hundred of these magnificent birds, well known as the symbol of the United States, but now there is only one individual due to the mildness of weather lately. I managed only to get this shot. Is it an eagle or a boomerang?

Hawk

A hawk, seen at Tillies Park in Saint Louis. 

Birds, Beasts, and Bugs

SOME PHOTOS of fauna, which I've taken over the past few weeks. Locations include the World Bird Sanctuary, the Saint Louis Zoo, the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Butterfly House, and the Shaw Nature Reserve.

Mystery Bird

I saw this charming little bird today, and I can't recall if I've ever seen anything like it before. Its long pointy beak (always open) and an unusually long running stride made it look rather different than what I usually see around here — more like a shore bird than an urban bird. Anyone know what it might be?

Cicadas

Cicadas have made their periodic appearance in this part of the world. This video gives you a tiny glimpse at the huge numbers of these insects that are found now. Turn your volume up all the way for the best effect — these bugs are nearly deafening.

Spring Wildflowers

SPRING WILDFLOWERS, found at Silver Lake Park, in Highland, Illinois. Photos taken last Saturday.



Spring Beauty, Claytonia virginica



Dutchman's Breeches, Dicentra cucullaria



White Trout Lily, Erythronium albidum



Many White Trout Lilies do not bloom, but just send up a single leaf.



Common Yellow Violet, Viola pubescens



Wake Robin, Trillium sessile



Common Blue Violet, Viola sororia



Pink variety of Spring Beauty.  All the flowers show above are native to eastern North America.

Here are some more photos taken at Silver Lake:



This being Passion Week, here I show the thorns of the Hawthorn tree (Crataegus punctata). Sharp and painful.



Some mushrooms. I met some people looking for Morel mushrooms, which are currently in season.



I don't remember what this is.



This is a crawfish, a small freshwater variant of lobster. It is a delicacy, used in many recipes handed down from the early French settlers.



Another Spring Beauty.

A ranch, near Valley Park, Missouri.

Nice Kitty

A Flock of Geese

Geese flying overhead, at Willmore Park, in Saint Louis.

Butterfiles

At the Saint Louis Zoo.

So Close...

Birds get fed, and cats get entertained.

Some Recent Nature Photos

A FEW NATURE pictures, mainly taken at Babler State Park, in western Saint Louis County.









The following live animals were inside of Babler's nature center:







This Zinnia was taken somewhere else:

A Cute Kitten