Our cabin in the Ozarks is lovely with a great view. Branson is well over one hour distant, and not the focus of our vacation. Spring has just sprung down here with temperatures in the 40’s pm at night rising to about 70F at 6 pm. Our one mistake was believing we could bicycle in this area. While the region is a meca for mountain bikers, the roads are very crooked, narrow and steep (no sight lines for drivers). Thus, we hike daily … not a real problem!

While I have not seen unusual birds down here, and the total numbers is not overwhelming, it has been fun to see birds which will not reach the Duluth area for a few weeks. The numbers of these species I have seen suggest most are migrating through the area.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds

Indigo Buntings

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Eden Falls … this morning’s hiking destination. Just upstream from the falls, the stream comes  directly out of caves in a mountain.

The big surprise is to see the HUGE numbers of these blacking / purple butterflies in the yard. They love the purple flowers growing wild. I have discovered I do “not” know my swallowtails. I always thought the yellow swallowtail pictured which I see often in northern Minnesota was a tiger swallowtail. The purply black ones are tiger swallowtails. I never see this specie at home. See all the kinds of swallowtails.