After almost two weeks in the cool, scenic landscape of northern Michigan, we are back in central Missouri. It is warmer here and the autumn colors are just beginning to unfold but the terrain is hardly spectacular.
Nevertheless, it is a glorious, sunny day in the Heartland and I opted for a visit to the Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, southwest of town; stretching along the Missouri River floodplain, it is an excellent birding area during any season and offers a pleasant mix of wetlands, fields and riparian woods, backed by the forested bluffs of the river valley. Today, hundreds of turkey vultures dominated the scene, gathering on levees to await the mid morning thermals; killdeer were also abundant and there was the usual cast of great blue herons, blue-winged teal, red-winged blackbirds, bald eagles, northern harriers and migrant shorebirds. A special treat was provided by a trio of sandhill cranes that circled across the refuge.
Following vacations to areas with magnificent scenery, many of us are dismayed to return to our familiar and seemingly mundane surroundings. But, as naturalists know, every region of this planet offers a tremendous diversity of native plants and animals; unfortunately, most people never bother to explore that natural bounty. Today's visit to Eagle Bluffs reminded me that the opportunity to enjoy the wonders of nature is always close to home.
