Saturday, November 21, 2009

Sandy Ridge

The ducks are starting to arrive for the season. This Green-winged Teal came pretty close, but wouldn't stay still!
Eating is more important than posing...

A few weeks ago, before the "Crash of 2009" (computer that is), I went out to Sandy Ridge Reservation with our friends from the Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society. What a gorgeous day it turned out to be, 60 degrees and sunny, very unlike last Novembers cold and wet weather. We all had a good time and even managed to see a few birds in between the conversations!

The amount of ducks in the marsh was outstanding and this is one of the areas best locations to view them. Though most stay pretty far out in the ponds, too far for me to get postable pics. I shoot them anyway for evidence of what I saw. Some folks write down their bird lists, I photograph mine, and hopefully I get at least one fuzzy photo of everything I see.

This was my first weekend at home and not at the BirdMobile. I was supposed to be catching up on all of the yard work and gardening that I put off...since May...but there's always time for a little birding! The leaves in the yard weren't going anywhere...

This Red-tailed Hawk was one of two that circled way above us.
I think they were enjoying the sun and warmth also.

And then we spotted a Northern Harrier! This was an outstanding day for Raptors.

It's great to bird with a group and so many eyes.
There goes a Coooper's Hawk through the trees!

Barely visible, these two American Tree Sparrows were playing hide and seek with me!
What was I saying about getting a more powerful lens some day?...

This juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker was busy moving his cache from tree to tree.
I don't think he liked me taking his picture and giving away his hiding places...

There were even a few White-tailed Deer out and about.
One day I'll get a photo from the right end...or not...

Thursday, November 19, 2009

I'm Back!

Another banded beauty! 5A3 will be reported to the United States Geological Survey.

Trumpeter Swans trumpeting my return! Not really, they're actually falling asleep, like you will be upon reading my blogs once again...

As you can tell (I hope!) I have my computer back in working order with two new hard drives and much less hair. I still have a few glitches to work out, but that's part of the fun of living in the twentieth...oops...TWENTY FIRST century. I'll catch up one day...

I really need to give a shout out to the Doodles' boy, Ryan! He found the missing drivers to get me back on line so I can annoy all my bird buddies once again. If you are not happy about that, let me know and I'll give you his address.

Speaking of Swans...While at the Ohio Young Birders Conference, we spotted dozens of Tundra Swans as well as the Trumpeters.

And just in case you've missed the booty call, here's a Field Sparrow in the proper pose!

Speaking of butts...here's our buddy Paul Baicich...I don't mean he's the butt,
though the butt of this joke I suppose...butt he managed to find a butt decoy at the Easton, Maryland Waterfowl Fest!
What kind of duck will fly in to that I wonder?

When I catch up with the photo downloads and labeling, computer glitch removal, yard work, gardening, filing, auto repairs, and whatever else comes up, I'll post a new blog...actually, I'll do that before all of the other work...
Thanks for your patience!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Bold, Successful, Bedazzling, Openhearted

B.S.B.O...
Those are the words I can use to describe Kim Kaufman. Everyone that has the pleasure of knowing her would say the same...and more. I could add obsessive, bonkers, sleepless and more, but I'll leave it there.

Kim is the director of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory(you've heard about them in this blog!) and the founder of the Ohio Young Birders Club. That club is being copied all over the United States right now! It's great that someone cares enough about getting kids involved in conservation and birding and getting them outside and away from the television and video games. She teaches them about habitat loss, bird banding, crafts, silly songs and more.

The Toledo Naturalist Association had a lovely annual banquet at the Toledo Zoo Saturday evening with Julie Zickefoose as the keynote speaker. Great food, great company and a great award presented to Kimmay! She was honored as the 2009 Naturalist of the Year. And more than well deserved I might add.

Me and the Doodles are lucky enough to count her and Kenn as good friends and it has been amazing to watch them and all they do for our feathered friends. And they're not done yet...

Kim giving her heart felt acceptance speech...and she didn't cry at all...really...

By the way, if you're wondering why I haven't been blogging lately...
Another hard drive crash, not to worry, all my photos are backed up on an external drive. If you haven't done that yet, DO IT NOW!
In the meantime, I'll try to do a little on the laptop until things get squared away.
Thanks for your patience!