Steve’s Blog
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Just a pretty 1/2 hour drive from ROLF. A great place to spend a half day. There is a 16 mile driving loop through the Ozarks backwoods and many Trailheads for real hikes along creeks and springs. These pictures are from June 2007. Bottom fields, mountains, and glades to explore. Watch for wild Larkspur, Purple Coneflowers, Butterfly Milkweed, and Ox-eye Daisies.
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A boldly-patterned warbler of second growth woods, the American Redstart frequently flashes its orange and black wings and tail to flush insect prey from foliage. This is one of the most beautiful warblers I have ever seen. There are at least 2 pairs nesting in 2008 at ROLF. They are very curious and will respond by coming closer and still closer when you make a “pssst” sound.
The treetop cabins make an ideal place to observe these small birds. This long-tailed bird of deciduous forests and scrublands, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher makes itself known by its soft but emphatic “spee” calls and its constant motion. By flicking its white-edged tail from side to side, the gnatcatcher may scare up hiding insects.
A very common bird to watch for at ROLF is the Common Yellowthroat. A skulking masked warbler of wet thickets, the Common Yellowthroat is far more frequently heard than seen. Its “wich-i-ty, wich-i-ty, wich-i-ty” can be heard from some distance. This bird looks like a bandit and will often respond to a loud “psssst”.
The wild daisy, called Ox-eye daisy, is in full bloom in May and early June at ROLF and in other every field in Missouri. I have always thought they were the most beautiful of all daisies, maybe because they are early compared to Shasta daisies. There may be as many as several million blooms in larger un-mowed hay fields in most of Missouri. I saw many at ROLF in mid-May this year.
Although many warblers are yellow, the Yellow Warbler is the most extensively yellow of any species. This widespread species of willows and sycamores, is the only warbler with yellow tail spots. Much different than the Goldfinch which has a black head spot and tail feathers. You will find the Yellow warbler near the North Fork River banks.
5/18 water too high 2200 CFS and very turquoise in color.
5/19 river looking nicer but needs another day; went up to Topaz and floated to Hale with a friend. Smallmouth spawning beds are everywhere; did not fish.
5/20 1500 CFS and clearing nicely. Caught 4 fish, all rainbows, 17″ (WOW; maybe the strongest fish I ever hooked; took all the backing), 14″, 12″, and 12″.
5/21 1380 CFS. Caught 5 fish, Brown 14″, Rainbows, 15″, 14″, 10″, 10″.
5/22 1220 CFS. Caught 3 fish, Rainbow (19″ – largest wild rainbow I ever caught; I think this fish pushed about 3-4 pounds), 14″, 10″. 19″ fish on golden stone #10.
5/23 1200 CFS, Fished an hour caught 1 fish; rainbow 13″ on golden stone.
Fished with a long rod, 5 DT silk line, 9′ 5X, plus long tippet. Most fish were caught drifting a #14 Prince bead headed Nymph with plenty of split shot; no indicator (I forgot them).
Unforgettable trip. A few pictures; some from under the falls.
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Beautiful permanent resident of ROLF. Molts in late fall to an olive green color but molts to bright yellow with a black spot on it’s head in April. Undulating flyer. Loves seed heads of all types. In fact, nest in August just so it can have available seeds to feed the fledglings.
