Missouri Skink

As I pulled up my parent's driveway this afternoon this large Skink ran and hid inside this concrete crack.  He would let me get about 2 feet away from him before he would retreat further down into the crack.  He stayed this way for about an hour.

Giant Sunflower and Dragon Fly

Box-Turtle Embryo?

Michaiah found three, what I think are turtle eggs, in a pile of sand today.  This egg broke open.

Tree and Hummer-moth

Toad Racer...

Storm Moving In, Festus Missouri

I took these photos one evening driving home from work.  The clouds have been awesome here this month.

Baby Cat-birds and Wrens

The first photo is of hungry baby Cat-birds.  They remind me of my kids when I open the fridge or sneak M&M's.  The second pic is of 7 baby Carolina Wrens...wow 7 of them...poor mom.

On the way To Peoria Ill.

MOUSE RACER !

I think I have too much time on my hands.

Green Frog

"Green Frog" is this BullFrog Look-a-like's official  name.   He lives in our Koi-pond.  This spring we dumped many tadpoles into our pond from a nearby creek.  Maybe that is where he came from.

Animal Bones

Just found this small animal skeleton during my morning walk.  I have no idea what kind of animal it is.  I found the skull first then walked outwards in a circle and found the front legs next, then the spine and hind legs.

Three Toed Box Turtle

I found this beauty today after the rain.  For more info on Box Turtles try this link:

 http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/outdoor-recreation/nature-viewing/amphibians-and-reptiles/turtles/box-turtles

Frogs, Mouse Toy and Humming Bird's Nest

After looking in my Missouri's Toads and Frogs book, I think this Toad I found here matches the Narrow-Mouthed Toad, but I'm not completely sure.  Here is how these pictures evolved:  I found the Humming Bird nest three days ago in a Butterfly Bush which also had a Cat-Bird nest with the mommy sitting on her eggs...she startled me when I reached my arm in to grab the Hummer's nest.  Then the next day I bought this antique Japanese toy mouse at South County Antique Mall.  And now, this morning after a fitfull nights sleep, I adventured outside to my backyard and found the Toads under a log.  So I brought them all in together for a photo sessionin my brightly colored bathroom. 

Lizard Ridin' On A Flower...

Kudos to the Lizard- she was such a good model.  That flower would spring up and down from the wind but she still held on.  Later I gave her a kiss for her trouble and let her go on a wood pile.

A Glow Worm...For Real?

When I was out shooting fireworks tonight I noticed this green glow near a distant pile of wood.  I threw a bottle rocket towards it and it didn't move.  So I went to see what it was.  A Glow Worm?  I thought that was a fictional animal toy.  I never new there were Glow Worms- just Lightning Bugs.

Im all By Myself... Lighting Bottle Rockets...I'm all By Myself...

What a great night to live in the country and to be all by yourself under the stars.