Return to Nature Lee's Summit

06/18/2026

"Least Flycatchers don't waste any time on the breeding grounds. It takes them about 58 days to find a mate, build a nest, lay eggs, and raise their young from nestlings to independence, and they only spend about 64 days in their summer homes. That doesn’t leave them much free time."
"Least Flycatchers travel between 60 and 72 miles per day to reach their wintering grounds, a journey that takes them about 25 days."
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/least_flycatcher

*Pictures taken May 2026 in Lee's Summit, MO 📷

06/17/2026

"Eastern Warbling Vireos are fairly plain birds with gray-olive upperparts and white underparts washed with faint yellow. They have a mild face pattern with a whitish stripe over the eye...
"You can likely find Eastern Warbling Vireos in almost any sizable deciduous woodland. They are fairly drab and tend to stay high in trees, so find them by listening for their loud, caroling song. Because of their habitually slow foraging speed, you can often track down the singer fairly easily."

*Pictures taken May 2026 in Lee's Summit, MO 📷

06/16/2026

Bluebird youngin with Poppa stopping by for snacks and sips--And maybe admiring himself in the last pic?? 😄

Such beautiful young birds!

*Pictures taken June 2026 in Lee's Summit, MO 📷

06/13/2026

Have a few minutes to kill on this gloomy day??? 😃
Check out this video about some of the commonly asked questions about birds and birding with Christian Cooper!! ⬇️🐦🐦‍⬛🦉🦅💻🖥️

https://youtu.be/pzR8CeP53J4?si=R_0KmIY9LGdg-Une

Professional Birder Christian Cooper joins WIRED to answer your questions about birding and birdwatching. How does a birder actually find the birds they're l...

06/12/2026

"Listen for Northern Yellow Warblers singing when you’re in wet woods, thickets, or stream sides—they’re one of the most commonly heard warblers in spring and summer. Their song isn’t hard to learn—a tumbling series of whistles that sounds like sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet. Look for them in the tops of willows and other small trees."
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Yellow_Warbler/overview

*Pictures taken May 2026 in Lee's Summit, MO 📷

06/11/2026

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Baltimore Orioles hanging out in the trees: 👀
Already miss having these beautiful migrant birds around!!

*Pictures taken May 2026 in Lee's Summit, MO 📷

06/10/2026

Yellow-rumped & Black and White Warblers!! 💛🤍🖤

"North America hosts over 50 species of "New World" wood-warblers. While many are famous for their vibrant splashes of bright yellow, orange, and blue, others are subtly patterned, like the Black-and-white Warbler. Because they are constantly flitting high up in the canopy, finding them can challenge even the most experienced birders, often causing a sore neck affectionately known as "warbler neck""

*Pictures taken May 2026 in Lee's Summit, MO 📷

06/09/2026

Adorable spring/summer visitors!!

These cute little migrants were busy hunting for bugs, and sure don't hold still for long! (except maybe the thrush!) 😄

-Blue-headed Vireo
-Wilson's Warbler
-Common Yellowthroat
-Ruby-crowned Kinglet
-Swainson's Thrush

*Pictures taken May 2026 in Lee's Summit, MO 📷

06/06/2026

We added a new feeder setup to the back deck last week for the Bluebird youngins, and they seem to love it. 😋💙🧡

Mr. Blue Jay thinks it's "just his size" too! 😄🖤💙

*Pictures taken 6/1/2026 in Lee's Summit, MO 📷

06/05/2026

Check this one off our Life List! ✔️

This beautiful Scarlet Tanager blessed us with his presence last week with a very brief visit to our back deck! I was able to open the door and snap a couple shots before he flew off: 🤩

*Pictures taken May 2026 in Lee's Summit, MO 📷