1/28/14 No Elk in Boxley Valley Today

No elk visible this morning in Boxley Valley.

1/28/14 4 Uncollared Trumpeters in Boxley Mill Pond

Before the collared trumpeters, the migration experiment, there were only uncollared trumpeters at the Boxley Mill pond. After a long respite, 4 have taken up residence in the mill pond. My guess is that they won't be there long, but who really knows. The 2 collared trumpeters remain -- the 2 groups don't appear to be connected.

If you want to see them, I would not wait to visit.

Uncollared Trumpeters Visit Boxley Mill Pond

1/22/14 Elk Herd Locations -- Bugling Bull Today & Herd

Aside from small groups of bulls in the mid-valley area, a large herd showed up today in the south end just north of Smith Creek.

This herd is headed up by the second tier bull I call Chaos, a truly strange looking bull. He bugled this morning 5 times in the span of about 2 minutes. This is the latest bugling bull I have ever observed in the valley. His herd is about 40 elk.

Elk and Herd Bull by Smith Creek

2014 Wildflower Season Just Weeks Off

The annual spring wildflower season is now just over a month away. There are many outstanding Ozark wildflower venues in the Buffalo River region, probably too many to list. Virtually every feeder creek and river access point is pretty good.

Spring Beauty, Ponca Access

One reliable sign of the arrival of the wildflower season is when you first see daffodils popping up. I use the appearance of daffodil foliage as the signal to hit the trails to map out flower locations and estimate the timetable of the blooms.

The spring wildflower season is pretty long. If you wish to create a "bucket list" of species, you will have to visit often. Some species bloom across the entire spring season, others bloom only a couple of weeks. I like them all, and I enjoy the unfolding of the bloom across the roughly 3 month season.

Learning to take great wildflower photos will strengthen your photography because it forces you to understand the interplay between light, shadow and color to achieve what some call "cinematic lighting".

Cinematic lighting is what I seek when I stalk wildflower pictures. Master this lighting strategy and your creative expression will really improve with every photographic subject you tackle.

Touchdown Trumpeter Swan II

I like this one better.

Touchdown Trumpeter Swan 2

Eye Contact & The Critical Moment

We have an armadillo that hangs around our place we call Armondo. Many days I see Armondo hacking around the back woods dining on grubs and worms. When our chickens lay too many eggs, Armondo lives the dream dining on our surplus. He is dumb as a hammer, just north of an insect brain. 

Anyway, if you have seen armadillo pictures, you will note 2 things. They are shot at a high angle, and generally the armadillo is head down and sideways. To stand out from the crowd consider getting on your belly and waiting for eye contact and an unusual posture. This frame is 1 of about 50 I shot of Armondo. At most, I was 8 feet away from him. 

This is not your typical armadillo picture. Getting it is about observation, patience, and thinking through possible poses. In there somewhere is the willingness to lay down on the ground up close and personal. 

Armondo the Armadillo Checks Me Out

1/19/14 Elk Herd Location Map

Just a few bulls today, but they were close to the road and some photographers enjoyed shooting. Beautiful weather to hike, bird and just enjoy the day.