Riveroflife

Click on image to enlarge

These pictures were taken from the Tree Top Loft on April 20th, 2009 with a 600mm f/4 and 1.4TC which yields 840mm on a Canon 5D MK II. This bird was in a pine grove close to a few hickory trees. The are really beautiful against the leafing out trees.

When I first started using a good DSLR and long lens. the Red-headed woodpecker landed on a pine tree about 20 feet from where I was standing in the Mountain Log Lookout. I took about 50 shots of him and got a few I liked. I had not looked at them for over 2 years; but now I see how clear this picture was of this beautiful bird. These woodpeckers are more common to the open country, and mixed open country and woods of southwest Missouri and Central Missouri, but I have seen a few at River of Life Farm. The male and female look almost the same which is not usual for woodpeckers, where the male wears the red cockade.

Catching wild rainbows in high water in mid-April, notice the redbud.

They cover fields near River of Life Farm. Each on white and beautiful, but grouped together the form an outstanding picture in the late evening. This is from nearby County Road 370.

Click on image to enlarge

The drive into River of Life Farm is one of the most spectacular roads for viewing early April to mid-April dogwoods. I some locations on that road, it appears the woods is covered in snow. Once you have seen it, it is very hard to get out of your mind; and makes you dream the Aprils to come. These pictures are from this April 17th, 2009.

Taken at Caney Mountain Refuge (about 20 miles from River of Life Farm). They are also common near the cabins at ROLF, and especially vocal on rainy days. Also, known as Rain Crows by locals. A very secretive bird. One of my favorite captures. Canon 5DMII with Canon 600 f/4 lens while perching comfortably in a thorny Black Locust tree.

I love these birds, this is on the Conservation Departments split rail fence at the office in Caney Mountain Refugee, a must side trip for any visitor to ROLF.

I caught and released completely unharmed, 7 nice smallies (up to 14″) from this run near Indian Creek in summer 2008 with crawdad colored bead-headed jigs.

Always a beautiful time.

This was taken on a cool mid-May evening.