Big Day Part Three: The Glades and Forests

After our prairie visit and our drive to the forests, rains delayed our birding just long enough for us to grab lunch in Ozark before heading down to Busiek Conservation Area. Upon arrival we tried to call up a Cerulean Warbler, but we were unsuccessful. We then headed to the limestone glade to pick up the Prairie Warbler. We were greeted by this Ruby-throated Hummingbird gathering nectar from an Indian Paintbrush.

All Photos courtesy of Marvin DeJong

Soon after we heard the chief avian residence of the Missouri glade habitat, the Prairie Warbler. He paused long enough to give us all great looks, and Marvin caught a bit of his personality in the photos below:


It was then time to head for the deep woods. We followed Prairie Ridge Road over to W highway, which is the gateway to the Mark Twain National Forest. The forests were alive with small birds as our list mount toward the 100 mark. A Red-shouldered Hawk posed near its nest just before the Red Bridge Bull Creek crossing.
Shortly after crossing the bridge, we spotted the Gray-cheeked Thrush, our 100th bird for the day! Pine Warblers become our 101st, where else but on top of Pine Ridge. It was 3:30, and there was much ground to be covered.
On the way to the mudflats of Palmetto Meadows and FR 166, we stopped by Linden to observe nesting Barred Owls and to see if we could add Prothonotary Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush. Unfortunately, we ended the day with neither of these warblers.

Onward we went, our mission then was to pick up shorebirds and waders. More on that later!