I just returned from a short tour in Arizona, my first serious travel in 14 months. Before I left for that though, spring migration in Missouri had ramped up completely.
I drove an hour south to see this MOTTLED DUCK, a rarity for Missouri:
On the same visit, this PECTORAL SANDPIPER posed briefly:
PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS were back in numbers and it was hard to lay off taking pictures of these bright, swamp-dwelling warblers:
Even the RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were looking sharp:
A very common species around here in spring and summer is SUMMER TANAGER:
This SOLITARY SANDPIPER was still moving through on its way north:
The thrushes were becoming a lot of fun; here's a couple shots of GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH:
... and a SWAINSON'S THRUSH for comparison:
Lastly, the Mississippi River as seen from Riverview Park in Hannibal:
