Huffman Prairie Reserve

Huffman Prairie is a natural prairie and a preserve, but what makes it even more special is that it was the very first "airfield" where the Wilbur and Orvill Wright advanced their skills as the very first aviators and developed the first practical airplane. Later, it became the very first aviation school and was used until 1916.

A trail is cut through the tall grass prairie and I was able to take some time early in the morning to photograph some wild flowers, grasses, vegetation, and even some wildlife. Here are just a few photos from my first and second expeditions.

Photos from the Trace

Coyote

As I drove past a small field, the coyote was focused on prey hidden in the clumps of mowed tall grass. It seem to have not noticed me and I barely picked its tan and straw colored figure which blended into the environment so well. I drove past a little ways, stopped and turned around. As I drove by the small field again, I did not see it. Disappointed, I found another place to turn around, and started slowly back up the highway, northeast - my original direction, with the passenger window down and the telephoto lens mounted and the camera ready. I really did not expect to see the coyote again - but there it was. About 100 yards off and it noticed I was not just a passing car - I was going much slower than previous traffic. About 50 yards out, she took off for the brush and I barely was able to get a few shots before she slipped out of sight.

The composition of the uncropped image tells how I was lucky to get her at all.

This photo was taken this past Thursday evening on the Natchez Trace Parkway, not far from Tupelo, Mississippi.

As a side note, I've seen alligators, turtles, beaver, deer, coyote, turkeys, pheasant, raccoon, lizards, skunk, groundhogs, stray dogs, and a cattle stampede while traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway.