Blue Winged Teal

Found Blue Winged Teal at a Wildlife area near where I live. I would guess there was about 200 to 300 there. I didn't see the whole area so not sure how many.

Pdsalm 145 4-7

"One generation praises your deeds to the next

    and proclaims your mighty works.

5 They speak of the splendor of your majestic glory,

    tell of your wonderful deeds.

6 They speak of the power of your awesome acts

    and recount your great deeds.

7 They celebrate your abounding goodness

    and joyfully sing of your justice."

Ducks on the Move

Caught a bunch of ducks on the move the other day. Bad weather may be holding them south. We got snow last Sunday and more snow is in the forecast for the coming week.

Are we moving forward in our life purpose, or do we go with the flow? The Lord will direct us as we trust in Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight."

Lord, I look to you to direct my paths as I acknowledge you in all I do. Thank you for making this real in my life.

Mallard Ducks in Flight

Watching ducks in flight is always interesting. When in flight they always seem to be in a hurry. Many times they are not in a hurry to land. They check the area for predators and hunters.

We should have the same idea in what we do. Look for God's help.

Psalm 25:15 "My eyes are continually toward the Lord,
For He will pluck my feet out of the net."

Father I look for Your help if I am trapped.

Sleeping Ducks

Here is a group of Mallards asleep on the water. A quiet scene in nature. If you let it nature can calm your soul from the rush of life. Wait on the Lord and let your heart take courage. He will do great things as we trust in Him and let His power flow through us.

American Coot

These birds are more like a Sandhill crane than a duck. On land they walk like chickens and don't waddle like ducks.

When I have seen them fly they don't get far off the water. It looks like they are running on top of the water as they fly to the other side of the pond. They are predominate in most rural area ponds that I have been to. In West central Missouri they are a little north of their year around range. Though I think some of them stay at a wildlife refuge I frequent, all winter.

Most people don't like to eat them. I read one article where a guy cooks them for his dog.

Psalm 77:11-15 "I shall remember the deeds of the Lord;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
12 I will meditate on all Your work
And muse on Your deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy;
What god is great like our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;
You have made known Your strength among the peoples.
15 You have by Your power redeemed Your people,
The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah."

Father, You make all things good for their place. Thank you for the beauty I see.

Blue-winged Teal

Got this shot of Blue Winged Teal in June.

American Coot

These coot run along the water to start flying. After they get airborne they can fly well.

These birds are seen in the water like ducks.

Voice slow low pitched slow grrrr, grrrr, or grrrt or katoot katoot.

When I hunted ducks, I never shot these. I guess they weren't good eating.

Common Merganser

When I saw the bird on the river I knew it was not one I regularly see. I took a photo of it and when I got home and downloaded it on my computer I ID'ed by the red head with white breast. Female Common Merganser.

I was fortunate to get this photo. The batteries to my camera were low and the back up batteries were dead.


Psalm 150:6
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord,
Praise the Lord!"

Tuesday October 3rd Watkins Mill MO State Park

I go to the lake shore near sunset. 3 ducks flew over. A Great blue heron landed in a dead tree to the west. A turkey vulture landed behind me and is rustling his feathers.

Clouds are orange. Air plane exhaust streaks can be seen going in 4 different directions. A train whistle can be heard in the distance.

The lake is still in the cove where I'm sitting. Out in the main body of water I can tell there is a little breeze. The tops of the trees are moving a little but now they are still.(Yes there was close to a full moon.)

A fish splashes about 30' to my right. The bat I saw last week is out catching bugs as it flies 20' in the air just off the lake shore.

Now the orange is off the sky and its blue gray. Clouds are in the western ½ of the sky.

A couple of fish splash in the water 3 or 4 birds chip, chip can be heard. A cow moos twice.

10 geese honk as they come in and splash land 100 yards in front of me.

The Great blue heron continues to watch from his perch on the dead tree. The turkey vulture continues to ruffle his feathers behind me.

A lot of fish are hitting the water now. It is getting hard to see to write.

The bat is still working the sky at about 20'.

The heron stretches his neck out and makes 4 deep guttural calls.

The night bugs are sounding in force. I can't see the lines on my paper. So I head back to my camp.

Wednesday morning 4 October Watkins Mill MO state park

7 small ducks on water. I can't see any ID marks. The gull I have been seeing has black wing tips. So it puts it to the ring billed gull or the herring gull.

I saw another Turkey vulture convention. They gather in the early morning and fly around in a mob for a short time then disperse to their areas.

I think of Colossians 1 in the Bible. It talks about all power if that wasn't enough it is according to God's glorious might. Which is unlimited. God has promised us so much. We need to acquire it by the prayer of faith. Just as there is so much to learn of nature and enjoy. God has so much for us. Go to Him, He wishes to lavish on us abundant life.

Honey locust leaves are 80% down. Last week it was just a few vines and sumac that had changed colors. Now there is a lot of color. What a difference a week makes. The Paw paws are bright yellow. They are a great tree for color. Honey locust leaves are raining down as I write.

Photo of Osage orange striking yellow green combination with an orange tree in the background. The background tree is a Pignut hickory. End buds less than 1/2” tight bark 5-7 leaflets. It is the best fall color tree I have seen today.