Victoria Glades

Discovered a new hiking area just outside of Hillsboro, MO.  About 2 miles south and east of Main Street and Hwy 21.  It is called Victoria Glades and is 239 acres of scrub Oak, Cedar and some open glades.   Ran into 3 guys from the Missouri Dept. of Conservation who were cutting down the Cedar trees and trying to open up the glades.  They had also brushed all the leaves and debris from a large portion of the trail in order to make a fire line.  They told me the plan is to do a controlled burn in the next few weeks in an effort to create more grasses and wildflowers.  I will have to go back in the spring to see if they were successful.

On the trip home, I took old 21 and came across a nice Cooper's Hawk who posed for me on the overhead wires.  He let me get right below him before he flew off.  After that, I stopped at Sandy Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site (just north of Hillsboro off Old 21.  The bridge is only open to pedestrian traffic today.

Swung down Meramec Bottom Road and saw the turkeys again.  Final sighting was 2 small deer in somebody's yard off Hageman Road.

Ross

Warmer Weather

Nice sunny day, but still a little chilly.  About half way through our walk yesterday, I heard an owl hoot and headed off in that direction to see what I could see.  After about 50 yards I heard another hoot.  This one was much closer.  It was two Barred Owls calling to each other (probably looking for a date).  This was about 12:30pm and full sunshine.

I was able to find the 2nd owl and got his picture before he flew off deeper into the woods.  I was about 10 seconds too slow.  He was looking right at me, but the brush was so thick, I could not get focused in.
He turned his head, I took the shot and he flew off.

Ross

Ashtray

Bubbles

Condensation

Flood Moss

Goldfinch

Red Bellied WP

Red Headed WP

Single Serving

Sparrows

Tiny Tree Perch

Birds, Birds & More Birds

Yesterday we stumbled across a herd of about 10-12 deer in Lower Meramec Park.  They were running across an open field and Bogey took off after them (about 200 yards away).  They all headed for the woods when they saw him, but one of them went brain dead and started running the opposite way.  When she finally figured out where everybody went, the dog was closing in.  She circled back and headed for the rest of the herd, Bogey in hot pursuit.  I guess he got within 30 yards before the deer kicked in the afterburners and left him panting in the dust.

Cloudy and raining today.  Had to walk on the sidewalk in the subdivision so the dog would not get too muddy.  Don't get me wrong, he loves to get muddy, I just don't like cleaning him up so he can come back in the house.

Saw a huge flock of Snow Geese going north, then drove down by the river and saw 4 Great Blue Herons.  After that, I decided to head south for a little bit and ended up on Lion's Den Road in Jefferson County.  Drove back to the camp we used to go to back in the day with the Boy Scouts.  The camp is still there but it is called "Living Well Village"...The old lake is still there and all the cabins.  That is where I saw the Belted Kingfisher.

On the way home, drove down Meramec Bottom Road and saw BD's turkeys (8 of them)

Ross