Saturday, May 30, 2009

So sad.

I'm sooo sad.

I'm still working on all the photos of Warblers and others from Magee Marsh and the surrounding areas. I'm just found this one and it struck a chord in me and I thought I would share this one tonight. Be happy, little bird!


Friday, May 29, 2009

Our home... from behind...

Yep, a LONG time ago, this was all grass, through to the back of the garage. I made it go away. Ha. I am king of my domain.

I thought about "Yardbirds", but then I would have people looking for photos of Eric Clapton and band or Charlie Parker, the original "Yardbird!" So, here ya are, our little abode...from behind...


And this is the other side, the one the neighbors are confused by. "Where'd yer grass go?, Looks like ya got some weeds there, buddy." "I have more birds than you, nah-nah!" (I say that with my inside voice.)



The amount of birds we see everyday still amazes me. When we first moved in, nearly ten years ago, this place was your typical, sterile suburban yard. Lawn in the front. Lawn in the back. A couple of token, and very small, shrubs here and there. And a rusty swing set. BUT, we did have seven very large, old trees to give us shade and the birds a place to live too. We've since had to have three cut down due to wind and insect damage, but we've planted more small ones to replace them eventually, in fifty years or so.




I've removed most of the grass in the front and all of it from the back gardens. Doodles likes to watch me dig holes. Lots of wildflowers. Another reason for Dr. Bob, the chiropractor. We have plenty of native plants and shrubs, both low and high for the birds to play hide and seek in. "We" also put in two small ponds with waterfalls and fountains. I think I really hurt myself digging those holes. Happy, happy for the birds, frogs and everyone else though! It's fun to watch the birds, squirrels and chick-a-munks climb onto the frog fountain to get a drink. I also have three bird baths spread around, just in case the ponds are busy. Customer service is first and foremost here in LoopyLand!

Even the frogs like the frog. I'm not sure what's going on here...

If all that wasn't enough for these spoiled brats of nature, we have ten feeders, including Hummer, Oriole and peanuts to keep everyone satisfied. They even get suet in the winter.


Yesterday I watched another House Wren singing his brains out and building a nest in one of the houses on the garage. The Baltimore Oriole's have been hitting the jelly and orange feeder on a regular basis, but I can't see the nest. We're up to 65 species in the gardens including the ones in the photos here and sooo many more...Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Redstart, Warbling Vireo, Red-bellied, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers...I could list them all...but I won't. You're welcome.


You may think this is a ground feeder for Chipmunks, squirrels and the like. Actually, it's a very clever feeder for the bird in the next photo!

This Red-tailed Hawk is a regular visitor in our little city lot. He appreciates the ground feeder...me too! The moles and chick-a-munks don't like him.

I've shown photos of 'Bob' the Cooper's Hawk before. This IS a bird feeder after all! He's had two Starlings, a Red-winged Blackbird, a few Mourning Doves among others in the past month or so, he ate House Sparrow today, I had chicken, tastes the same.


This American Crow has been coming all spring. I finally found out why the lid to the hopper is always laying in the tray, he likes to take it off, very carefully, to get the sunflower seed easier.



Eastern Towhees are regulars in the gardens. They seem to like what's left of the lawn, I guess I'll save that part for him.

While doing a little gardening a couple weeks ago, I spotted this Lincoln's Sparrow in the back along with an American Redstart.


This Northern Flicker used to nest in the huge Oak in our front yard. The tree was 113 years old when we had to have it removed. The butterfly garden is there now. The Flicker moved a few houses down and doesn't mind the commute to our feeders.


This Pine Siskin and a mate watched us eat pizza on the patio this past Saturday. Aren't they supposed to be in Canada now?


This is the bird we look forward to seeing every year! Even though he gives me the crazy eye, I love this Red-headed Woodpecker. We'll see the juveniles at the feeders before you know it!


The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds always arrive early in May and find the feeders right away. When the vines and flowers start to bloom, they have a regular smorgasbord!


We also have our yard registered as a certified wildlife habitat with the National Wildlife Federation and and the wildflower area registered with Monarch Watch. Our butterfly garden is going crazy this year! I'm not sure what we planted and what might be weeds...oh well...nature, gotta love it!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

The Search for the Yellow-headed Blackbird

This Baltimore Oriole called out, "Does my head look yellow to you!" I guess not...



It was a dark and stormy night...

Well, not really. It was a cool and windy morning when we set out on our adventure through Metzger Marsh and Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge on our quest to see the Yellow-headed Blackbird.
It had been seen in both areas lately, although spotting it had been difficult at best. Being out on such a windy and bright day wasn't going to make it easier! But, what the heck. We started out driving down the road to Metzger VERY slowly, searching the reeds off in the distance. I thought to myself, "This ain't gonna work!" We were looking into the sun it seemed not to mention the wind blowing what's left of my hair away. I was afraid the little Doodles was going to blow away too!
We went to the north end of the marsh and walked along the beach ridge and break wall that ran between the lake and the marsh...even WINDIER! Still no Blackbirds other than the Red-winged variety screaming at us as we went past. Time for plan B...
We drove out to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge to hike around the ponds and marshes. I lost circulation in my fingers having them crossed so tight! We parked at the nature center and begin our quest again.
At this point, the winds changed, but not for the better. Luckily, I have big feet and a heavy camera or I would have blown away! Not to mention poor Doodles! It's amazing how far forward someone can lean without falling over in a gust of wind.



We had views of three different American Bitterns flying overhead and they could be heard booming in the marsh later. Definitely not yellow...




We could hear a great number of Common Moorhens calling, but only spotted this one. Still no yellow.


Shy Common Yellowthroats were abundant. We had to sneak up on this one to get a shot through the tangles and reeds. Not the right yellow...

These poor Eastern Kingbirds were getting blown backwards in the strong winds. They were screaming and flapping, but not making any progress, and not yellow in the least...

Here's a smarter friend of theirs. He perched along a canal out of the breeze in his black and white suit.

Out at the back of Metzger, we spotted this family of Mute Swans. Big white birds...


Here comes the father! He saw us and didn't care for our presence. Still white...


This was a nice surprise. A pair of Sandhill Cranes feeding...and being dive bombed by Red-winged Blackbirds. The Cranes are seeing red right now!

Watch your step! Just like in Indiana Jones. Snakes were everywhere sunning themselves and concentrating on not being yellow.


I wasn't sure if this Song Sparrow was singing or laughing at us wandering around trying to find the "Yellow-headed Blackbird of Doom."


Nice Spotted Sandpiper. He's giving me the crazy eye. "Stoopid humans, do I LOOK yellow?"


Tree Swallows were having a grand time in the high winds. Definitely good zooming weather for non-yellow birds!

We even saw a pair Trumpeter Swans preening and sunning themselves in the golden yellow sun.

One day I'll do a post on dragonflies like this Twelve-spotted Skimmer. Hmmm, it does have yellowish stripes...nah.

You have to pay attention! This male Wood Duck flew out of the nearby woods and zipped past us. Still not yellow...

Yellow at last!!! Oh, wait. It's a Yellow Warbler building a nest...nutz.


We had a great number of birds...blowing past...that day. As you can see by the slightly blurry pics, we never did find that mailto:#%@%5E$ Yellow-headed Blackbird! I guess we have something to do on our next visit.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Yes, it's the BirdMobile at last...



This place IS for the birds! Or at least the bird brained...

This is it. Our weekend escape from reality, our respite from the workaday world, our happy little hide away.


Laurie, aka 'Doodles', aka 'Business Manager', aka 'Agent Doodles', aka 'Nuthatch', aka 'I'm gonna kill you!'...


We call it the BirdMobile or BM1 for short...(make your own jokes here.) Birders are slowly taking over this park! Our friends, Judy and Hugh (aka "Hudy") started it with this mobile home. They moved to a larger abode three lots down and we then took over the 'Cottage' as they called it.
By the way, Black Swamp plug, Hugh is the business manager there.

Our neighbors recently sold their vacation getaway. It's now owned by the folks of Tropical Birding, an outstanding world birding tour company. I said that so they don't sneak over at night and tip us over. They are a really nice group of people though!
It's like being on vacation every weekend. Waking up to the sounds of frogs croaking, the many insect sounds and the singing birds over the marsh...oh yeah, the #@#$&! House Sparrows building nests in our gutters...over the bedroom. They are SOOO lucky I like birds and don't own a pellet gun!
I just thought you'd like to see where we go to stare at birds...

The real reason for the BirdMobile...I needed somewhere to hang all of my photos! The living room is the 'Warbler' room.


Fine outdoor dining. Meaty burgers for me, Veggie burgers for the Doodles.

Watch your step, little crazy fledgling Killdeer on the run! Killdeer do not understand the concept of straight lines!

Sunset over the marsh. What a view from our little swing!

Another sunset view. That's a Black-crowned Night-Heron flying past the setting sun on his way to roost in the trees across from the BirdMobile.


Stay Tuned for...

The Further Adventures of Loopy and the Doodles in:
"The Search for the Yellow-headed Blackbird!"