LOESS BLUFFS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUDGE

 A DAY AT LOESS BLUFFS 
(Click on any image to enlarge it)

Loess Bluffs (formerly Squaw Creek) is a 7,350-acre refuge, established in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a resting, feeding, and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. It is home to 301 bird species (including nesting bald eagles), 33 mammal species, and 35 reptile and amphibian species. During spring and fall migrations, Loess Bluffs' wetlands attract as many as 400,000 snow geese and 100,000 ducks. During the fall and winter, as many as 400 bald eagles have been spotted. Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge includes forest, grassland, cropland and wetland. It is an Internationally Important Bird Area (IBA.) A 10-mile, self-guided driving tour is available.


This was another outing with Bob Colvin. Lots of planning involved. I texted him and said you want to go to Loess Bluffs for the day? He replied, when we leaving? Bob's pretty easy when it comes to outdoor photography. Bob lives in Jefferson City, MO and I live three miles away in Holts Summit, MO. This was a 4 hour, one day trip for us. We left at 5am on a Saturday morning on November 24, 2018 and arrive around 9am. For the most part it is interstate all the way so it was a nice drive.

Nikon D500, Sigma 150-600mm lens, f/13, 1/1600 sec., ISO 500 

When we first arrived Bob called my attention to the entrance to the area.  My first reaction was O-shit.  The snow geese looked like a plague had descended on the water.  The day we were there the number of snow geese was estimated at 100,000. Based on what I saw I would not have doubted it.  How they count such a flock is a mystery to me.  You could hear their honking a block away.  There are always hundreds maybe even thousands constantly hoovering above the group.  I honestly don't know how they land without getting injured.

Nikon D500, Sigma 150-600mm Lens, f/8, 1/2500 sec., ISO 640

Most wildlife photographer photograph anything that flies, moves on land, or swims in water.  While watching the snow geese I observed something moving in the reeds near where I was standing.  Sure enough it was a Muskrat. Never got a really clean shot of him and was amazed that I was able to focus on this guy.

The common muskrat is a medium-sized mammal that has short front legs with small feet, stronger hind legs with large feet, and a vertically flattened, scaly tail that is slightly shorter than the combined length of head and body. The hind feet are partially webbed. The back is blackish brown, and the sides are lighter brown with a reddish tinge; the underparts are still lighter, shading to white on the throat. Their musk glands produce a mild and offensive odor. The principal concern with the muskrat is damage to earthen dams caused by their burrowing. Tunneling into dams can result in leaks or even complete dam failure.

Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm Lens, f/8, 1/5000 sec., ISO 500

We continued our drive around the marsh pools. The marsh pools are about three feet deep, replenished by Squaw and Davis Creeks, a well on Mallard Marsh and natural precipitation.   The road around the various pools is 10 mile in length and well maintained.  One of our reasons for this trip was to capture images of Trumpeter Swans.  Reports had indicated there were a large number of them here and we weren't disappointed.  There were quite a few the day we were there and they were easy to photograph and not intimidated by the cars and photographers.  I was using a Nikon D500 with a Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary Lens and Bob was using a Canon 7D Mark II with a Tamron 150-600mm Lens.  Neither of us had any trouble getting some decent shots.


Trumpeter Swans once nested over most of North America, but disappeared rapidly as civilization advanced westward. By the 1930s, fewer than 100 remained south of Canada. With protection from hunting and the general public, populations have rebounded in parts of the northwest.

Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm Lens, f/8, 1/5000 sec., ISO 500 EV +0.67

Largest of the native waterfowl in North America, and one of our heaviest flying birds, the Trumpeter Swan was almost driven to extinction early in the 20th century. Its healthy comeback is considered a success story for conservationists. 

Ordinarily the Trumpeter is quite sensitive to human disturbance; in protected areas, such as some parks and refuges, it may become accustomed to humans and allow close approach as I mentioned above.

Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm Lens, f/10, 1/800 sec., ISO 400 EV +0.67

These birds favor large but shallow freshwater ponds, or wide, slow-flowing rivers, with lots of vegetation. They obtain food from underwater, and/or above water's surface; sometimes on land, especially in winter. To forage in deeper water, swans upend with tail up and neck extending straight down, finding food by touch with bill.  To me this is one of the most regal birds on water. There is an elegance and grace to them.  Did you know that prior to taking flight they will bob their heads up and down, honk, and start swimming in a line positioning themselves to lift off into the wind.  This helps give them elevation when taking to the air.

Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm Lens, f/8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 400 EV +0.67

As we continued around the refuge we spotted Canadian Geese as well.  What interested me was they appeared to be resting or even nesting on top of Muskrat dins. I noticed some of the swans doing the same thing.  

The Canada goose, also called the Canadian goose, is a large wild goose species with a black head and neck, white cheeks, white under its chin, and a brown body. Native to arctic and temperate regions of North America.  The farther north you go the darker and smaller the Canada Goose is.  The Cackling Goose is a smaller version of the Canada goose with shorter necks and bills.

Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm Lens, f/10, 1/1250 sec., ISO 400 EV +0.67

Driving along the tour route you will have no shortage of spotting Bald Eagles.  We noticed what appeared to be several nesting pairs.  Visiting areas like this during the winter, when there are no leaves on the trees, affords you the opportunity to easily locate nests.  There are several along this route. 

Eagles can be opportunistic feeders and a lot of the water fowl will die as a result of exhaustion.  Eagles have been know to prey upon them if hungry enough. 

They will go from a dark headed, dark-bellied bird in year one to a white-headed, dark-bellied bird in year four. In year two, the belly is mostly whitish flecked with brown, but the entire head and breast are still dark, giving the bird a hooded look. In year three, the head whitens and the belly darkens. Early on in this year, bald eagle bellies will be predominantly white with brown flecks, but the brown will win out, replacing most or all of the white. The face, crown, nape, and throat will go from mostly brown to mostly white.  The image above appears to be an eagle over one year of age. It's iris is beginning its transformation to yellow and white plumage is beginning to show.

Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm Lens, f/8, 1/640 sec., ISO 400 EV +0.67

I am not an expert on frogs but I think this is an American Bullfrog.  If so, it is Missouri's largest frog. It ranges from green to olive to brown. The back may have small brown spots or dark, indistinct, irregular blotches. The hind legs are marked with distinct dark brown bars. The belly is white, and the throat may have some gray mottling. The external eardrum is large and round. On adult males this tympanum is much larger than the eye; on females, it’s about the same size as the eye. This species has been known to reach 8 inches from snout to vent. Call is a deep, sonorous “jug-a-rum, jug-a-rum” that can be heard from half a mile away or more.

Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm Lens, f/8, 1/800 sec., ISO 400 EV +0.67

Most birds will take flight as your car approaches and will definitely take flight if you stops. However, Bob stopped the car and to my surprise this Grackle made no attempt to leave.  He was in a bush right outside my car window.  The sun was shining through some clouds and it hit him just right.  At first they appear to just be a black bird but they have a lot of iridescent colors in their feathers. 

A Common Grackle's black plumage is glossy and can show bright purple, bronze, or green highlights, especially on the head. Adult common grackles show a pale yellow eye, contrasting sharply with the dark head.  They eat mostly insects but they are opportunists and will eat nesting bird's eggs, small fish, mice, and frogs. In winter their diet shifts to seeds and grain. The impact of foraging winter flocks on crops has earned the common grackle a reputation as an agricultural pest. Most of the grackle’s foraging is done on the ground, where the birds toss aside leaves and rubbish to uncover their food.  Did you know that Common Grackles will capture bats in the air and eat them? They also ambush House Sparrows in parks and near bird feeders, knock them on the head, and eat them as well. Now that is according to Bird Watchers Digest.

Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm Lens, f/6.3, 1/800 sec., ISO 400 EV +0.67

One of my all time favorite challenges is to photograph hawks.  Why?  Because unlike eagles they are skittish and prone to taking flight.  See one on a fence row?  Stop your car 100 yards away and watch how fast they take to the air.  It was a treat when we spotted this guy and he was so intent on something that he did not see me get out of the car and start taking his picture.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Mr. Hawk. 

This appears to be a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. They are pale below with broad and brown belly band.  Head is brown mixed with white feathering.  Tail barred brown and whitish. They inhabit open terrain such as farming or forest clearing.  Look for red-tailed hawks along highway edges, over farm fields and forest clearings, and in almost any other open habitat with at least some telephone poles or trees on which they can perch and scan for prey.  

Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm Lens, f/8, 1/1000 sec., ISO 400 EV +0.67

Continuing our drive we come across another pair of eagles. Bald eagles migrate to the refuge by late fall and early winter. As many as 300 immature and adult bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle may be seen during the migration peak, usually by the first of December.  This may have been a nesting pair as they were close to a nest and stayed together in the area. Most birds will defecate prior to taking flight so have your cameras ready to get that lift off image.  These two were quite comfortable and we left before they did.  They could have been protecting their nest from squatters.

Nikon D850, Sigma 150-600mm Lens, f/8, 1/1250 sec., ISO 640 EV +0.67

We saw a fair share of juveniles in the area.  Juveniles have been know to hang around their parents for the first year or until mom and dad run them off.  More than likely this is a fledgling.  We met some ladies from the State of California who came to Loess Bluffs to photograph and a gentleman from Oklahoma.  They, along with Bob got some killer shots of a juvenile starting a fight with an adult.  That was short lived. The driving tour takes you around the pools and marshes and affords many opportunities to observe and photography wildlife.  

Nikon D750,  Nikkor 24-70mm Lens, f/10, 1/500 sec., ISO 200 EV -0.67

For me no trip anywhere is complete without taking in and photographing the area landscape.  I was attracted to this setting sun reflecting on the marsh areas near the banks as well as the clouds in the background.

Nikon D750,  Nikkor 24-70mm Lens, f/10, 1/500 sec., ISO 200 EV -0.67

I am a sucker for a good sunrise or sunset.  It was an overcast day but there were areas where the sun was breaking through the clouds.  It was still early in the afternoon but the cloud cover was low and the sun above was bouncing ambient light off the clouds and providing a nice reflection on the water.

Well that completes another weekender trip photographing nature.  If your ever in the area be sure and plan a visit.  For more information follow this link.https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Loess_Bluffs/.  Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you've enjoyed our adventure to Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refudge.  Please leave me a message and let me know where you are from.

John Gilbert
https://www.jmgilbertphoto.com/
 https://www.flickr.com/photos/gil-bear