Thursday, March 17, 2011

A Snow Free Photo Spree At Magee...

No song is so sweet as the song of the Sparrow.

I know, I complained too much about the snow. Now I have one hundred and ten followers that are pi$$ed off too. Sorry about that. No more talk of that dirty white stuff. Unless of course, it snows again...

As I said in my last post, we finally made it out to Magee Marsh, AND THERE WASN'T SNOW ON THE GROUND! We were there a little late in the afternoon after our outings in other areas, so it was a bit quiet. Which is fine every now and then. A nice peaceful walk in the woods with the Doodles is always a good thing. Shhhh.

These three Bald Eagles broke the silence with their argument over this territory.

Another one of Loopy's crappy photos!
See that arrow? There's a Bald Eagle's head right there.
I try.


Speaking of crappy photos...how about this Common Grackle trying to get away from me?
Oh, I got talents...

Ya know how I'm always hoping that Canon is going to send me that 800mm lens?
See that Common Merganser WAAAAY out in the middle of the lake?
Yeah, that little black dot.
Imagine what kind of crappy photo I could get with that big lens.
Totally awesome I expect...

This is a Downy Woodpecker looking for the proper pecking area on the wood.
They got skills.

This would not be the proper pecking area.

Not Alaska...

Just as that little Bufflehead was coming on for a splash landing,
wacky Mr. Shoveler has to get into the picture.
Gotta watch those guys...


Fine, now I want to take your photo and you fly away...
Wacky ducks...

Flying Sandhill Crane booty.
What other blog can you find stuff like this?
Huh? Right. NO WHERE!



Ten Trumpeters trumpeting...

I'll leave you with my favorite Trumpeter Swan.
Good ol' 3A0!
I can always count on her to be around...just like the Doodles.
Except the Doodles doesn't honk.
Unless she's in her car...and some one is in her way.
Look out for the Doodles.
I'm getting a little punchy.
Must be this silly daylight savings time thing.
Okay...goodbye.
Really.
Go away, I'm tired.
Oh...wait...I'm the one that's typing.
Never mind.

Monday, March 14, 2011

"Hey Look! A Crane!"

A Crane on a hill...not a sand hill...

Me and the Doodles finally made it out to the BirdMobile after being snow bound for the last few weekends. We made a quick tour of all of our favorites, Medusa Marsh, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Magee Marsh and Meztger Marsh.

As you can tell, these photos are all excellent candidates for my "International Crappy Photo Day" post...but there are so many to choose from, I thought I would make you suffer through them only once. I'm such a nice guy...

The best part of these photos? There isn't any snow! Yep, no snow at the BirdMobile! It's amazing the difference 75 miles west makes...still didn't help my photo skills though...so...where was I, oh yeah...We're driving out of Meztger Marsh when the Doodles yells out "Hey look! A crane!" (Mind you, it's "spring" technically and Sandhill Cranes are due here soon.) Being the good soul mate that I am, I say "Oh...ha-ha...that's a good one." (read it just like that, with no emotion.) Then I look up a little, and what did we spy with our little eye...?

Why looky there! There really are Sandhill Cranes here!
Boy, you should have seen the look on the Doodles face!


A day without a Bald Eagle is like a day without sunshine.
Bald Eagle, check.
Sunshine? Nope.

We did end up with TEN Bald Eagles on Sunday, woo-hoo!

Add Buffleheads to the list of birds that don't like me.
Maybe because I was making fun of their big feet...

I walked to one side..they flew to the other.
Fine. Be that way. See if I care.
Stoopid ducks.


Honked off Canadians.

What?

Crappy Photo Award Winner!
Horned Lark butt.
I got mad skills.


I can even get a crappy profile.
Amazing aren't I?


Did I mention the ten zillion Trumpeter Swans that were flying north...then south...then north again...then west...
Wishy washy birds...


Look! A Killdeer that's not in a parking lot!

Oops, I spoke to soon...

Click on this shot and check out his eyes.
Yep, there is definitely something screwy about Shovelers!


Doodles thought this was a juvenile Bald Eagle, I said it was a Turkey Vulture.
Huh, we were both wrong, go figure!
It's a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk.

Cool.

Hey, just like politicians...these Coots can't figure out which way to go either!

Lucky you! That's all fer now!

Beware...Bobb the chipmunk will be back from hibernation soon! As you all know, chippers are afraid of hawks and Bobb will have info on how to spot them from a distance!