Powder Valley

This pic is just so cute I had to post it.

I spotted this little coon at the Powder Valley nature center at Watson Rd, Geyer, I-44 and I-270, to give you an idea where it is (in St. Louis, Missouri for any out of staters reading this). http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/areas/cnc/powder/

This is a great little nature center with one of those nice visitor centers with big windows that look out on feeders that attract all kinds of wildlife. Deer, Turkeys, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, cedar waxwings, the list is extremely long. For photographers who aren't blessed with good health or the ability to stay out very long on hot days, this spot is a God send. Small children will enjoy learning about wildlife with the center's exhibits for kids, including a bee hive inside that is housed with bees that enter from the outside.

The outdoor paths are not very long and make a nice manageable hike. The longer loop has some steep hills though so I wouldn't take that one if you have trouble with hills.

Photography tips for the center: Bring a log lens to get the shots of the hummers and close ups of birds as well as bigger animals like turkeys that might be farther from the building. A polarizing filter will help reduce window glare. The best shots of birds will be when they aren't at the feeders, so watch where they land before and after feeding and focus on those spots.

This little coon must have figured out that the feeders are filled in the morning and deviates from his nocturnal lifestyle to fill up before the birds get it all. He stayed on the back side of a feeder for about a half an hour, reaching around and grabbing handfulls of food, mostly out of site. Once he finished he moved very fast and I had to run to the next room to get a shot of him washing his hands in the pond. He was off into the woods in an instant. So watch your subject and don't hesitate to stick with them or you may miss a golden opportunity.

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