Friday, January 29, 2010

I think we saw a Tree Sparrow...I think...

"I don't see any Tree Sparrows!"


During our visit to the icy cold BirdMobile, we made a stop to Maumee State Park. On the shores of Lake Erie, with great trails for hiking and birding, swimming in the lake or a natural pool and more. They have a wonderful nature center ( Hi Dana!) with plenty of activities to keep everyone busy plus a boardwalk.

Once again, we listened to the weatherman (MORON!) and expected the temps to be above freezing...and once again they were...by about a half a degree! As you can tell, we weren't dressed quite warm enough! At least we had boots on and could trudge through the snow on our search for birdies!

Can you say "Brrr!"?

A sleepy eyed American Goldfinch.
I think I woke him up...sorry!

Oh look, it's an American Tree Sparrow!...on the ground.

We were out with our birding buddy, Judy.
She took somewhere close to four thousand photos of this icicle trying to get a shot of the water drop falling.
I took one. Ha.
Oh look, it's an American Tree Sparrow!

...and an American Goldfinch.

Oh look, it's an American Tree Sparrow!...on the ground again.

Oh, that's a different one, a Northern Cardinal!

And another American Goldfinch.
This one is starting to get his dark head feathers in!

One of my goals, one of a million or so, is to get a photo of a Red-breasted Nuthatch, in a tree, in the frame and in focus.
Maybe someday. You have to have goals you know!

A Red-breasted Nuthatch cleaning up the seeds under the feeder.
Wait, is that a Tree Spa...nope, just a House Sparrow

There's a good little birdy, hold still!
These White-breasted Nuthatches make the cutest sound!
If you ever talk to the Doodles, listen carefully and you'll hear her making that same sound!
Don't tell her I said that...shhhh....
I think we missed them...

Oh look, an American Tree Sparrow!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

THIS AIN'T BIRDIN' WEATHER!

Ack! What kind of crazy people think this is fun for birding?!
Oh, that's "Hudy" and me...stoopid snow birding!
It's actually warmed up to a balmy 30 degrees this week. Still no warbly things. Smart birds. Stay in South America. Wish we were there.
I was going to post the rest of our last weekend bird walk, butt...I just finished reading the latest issue of "Birding" magazine, an ABA publication. I found myself mumbling and drooling...and that was just from staring at Jen Brumfields glorious cover art!
The north coast of Ohio is well represented in this issue. Jen's a local girl. Then we have an article about the wonderful Magee Marsh by our favorite 'bass-birdist' Kenn Kaufman, don't forget Black Swamp in there! There are some fantastic warbler photos by Magee regular and fellow Canon photog, Brian Zweibel. And a couple of our newest converts to the Miracles of Magee, Sam Woods of Tropical Birding and Paul Baicich. Sam, a migrant junkie, spent most of last spring next to the BirdMobile (in another trailer, not in the marsh!) and Paul will be staying this spring in our little park. The birders are taking over!
Find a copy...steal a copy...just read it and you, too will be dreaming of spring and warbly time!

A jumpy Bay-breasted Warbler...I can smell spring!

Even a bad photo of a Blackburnian Warbler is a good photo!

Who's this fetching femme fatale?
A Black-throated Blue of course!

A Cape May Warbler getting ready to attack an unsuspecting little buggy. Yum.

I miss getting the 'crazy eye' from my favorite little Chestnut-sided Warblers!

BOOTY!
A female Common Yellowthroat. A hard one to id from any angle...

My only pic of a Connecticut Warbler. This May...look out! I'm gonna get ya!
Maybe by the next post I'll come back to reality...or not...

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Playing Possum?

The Doodles spotted this Opossum not playing 'possum, I think...or is it a Possum not playing Opossum...I'm confused...never mind.

While at the BirdMobile, there would be no excuse for not making the trek to Magee Marsh and the boardwalk. I had hopes with the 'warm' temperatures the weatherman spoke of we may find a few birds, maybe an early warbly thing(hah!)...too bad the warm temps were still at the freezing point and the birds, once again, were smarter than the birders and stayed hidden from us.

Maybe next time...

The south end of a north bound Opossum.

Is this what they mean by 'feeling a little grubby'?

The only birds that sat still long enough were Downy Woodpeckers, and quite a few too!
This one threatened to poop on me if I didn't move along.
I gotta find a poop cover for my lens one of these days!


I was going to save this for "International Crappy Photo Day", butt I thought I would share it today...ha.

Who's the cozy bunnie? Wouldn't he make a nice warm lining for my gloves?
(It's only a joke...thinsulate is warmer...and not as messy.)

Dam.

Remember my favorite fish head at Magee? It's under there somewhere.