Baby Cardinal at the feeder 9-22-09

This was pretty exciting. Last year was the first year we had cardinal 'couples' in the yard. This summer we were rewarded with our first youngling! Mommy and Daddy cardinal were both busy feeding themselves and the baby (although I must say mommy was much more concerned about feeding baby). Here are just a few pics taken in the twilight.

Weston Bend and Lewis and Clark SP

Lifer today

1. Wood Duck (no picture)

Bird trip today from 8-2 to Weston Bend SP and Lewis and Clark SP. Not a huge amount of activity. Best picture of the day was this juvenile Little Blue Heron, not in full blue plumage yet.

Late pics from Platte Falls CA on 8-22-09

Lifers today:

• Cliff Swallow

On a hot buggy day last month I drove up to Platte Falls CA in search of a wood duck. I did not find one. Hightlights of the day, hearing two Yellow-billed Cuckoos calling to each other, and hundreds of barn and cliff swallows eating bugs like crazy.

Barn Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Eastern Kingbird

Eastern Phoebe

Indigo Bunting

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Eagle Bluffs 9-17-09

I met up with a nice group of birders in Columbia to find out more about Eagle Bluffs. Not a lot of activity but we did see some fun things. I 'sort of' saw the Marsh Wren flitting around, but not enough for me to really count it as a lifer. Also we heard a Sora calling which was very fun. Lots of egrets and herons, blackbirds. The corn and grasses are too high right now for good looks at many birds.

Lifer today:

• White-eyed Vireo

House Finch Deformed Bill (crossed)

Pictures taken today September 7, in the backyard. Liberty MO Clay County.