Saturday, April 30, 2011

A Day at Carlisle...

"Don't call me Butter Butt!"
Yellow-rumped Warbly things tend to be a little sensitive...

I really need to visit Carlisle Reservation more often...AND SO DO YOU! Ya know why? Because I have an exhibit of my pics there. It's titled "Things With Wings" and it will be up throughout the month of May. (Shameless plug.)

It seriously is a great park to visit in Lorain county. They have wonderful trails with different habitats and lots of birds! The also have an equestrian center if you feel like horsing around...
Anyway, click on the links hi-lighted in red for more info about Carlisle and their events!

Oh looky there! It's a picture of me, from behind!

This wall is all birdy things, the other wall has dragonflies, butterflies and more flighty things!

Their Raptor Center houses birds that can't be released back into the wild.
That Red-tailed Hawk kept a close eye on me!

Speaking of the Raptor Room...

A whole wall of bee-yoo-tiful raptors!
My ego is getting out of control now, the only photos they hung are mine!
Autographs anyone?...I'll pay you...

There are very large meadows with Swallows, Bluebirds and Sparrows.

The trails wind through the woods to wetlands, ponds and more.
WARBLY THINGS ARE HERE!


They have an indoor wildlife observation area with feeders packed with birds.
Along with this American Goldfinch, we saw Titmouseseses and Nuthatches!

AND they have a handy guide of the common birds seen here...with photos by...ME(and a couple others)!

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher...catching gnats I suppose...

That "Witchety-witchety" sound gave this guy away!
Common Yellowthroats don't like their pictures taken.


When I first saw this butterfly, he looked a little ratty.
Then I noticed the little 'comma' on the wing...

It's an Eastern Comma, good name!
It's unusual wing design makes it very well camouflaged in the woods.


I kept following, and annoying, this little Sparrow.
I just couldn't figure him out, he was so plain.
He's a Field Sparrow!
I should have known, he was in a field after all...


I see the Frogs head...where are those bubbles coming from?
Now I know why ponds smell so bad...

Yea! It's my first Gray Catbird of the year!

Yes, you're right. That Muskrat IS saying "Duh, what?"
Not one of the smarter Muskrats in the marsh...

Whenever I get a Northern Cardinal in focus, no matter how distracting the background is,
I will post it.
One day, I'll get a good one...until then...


This bird confused me.
I saw the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and first thought this was the female.
(Sorry Jim, I was wrong!)
It's a Purple Finch, I haven't seen one of those in a few years!


This Red-winged Blackbird thought he was intimidating.
His stare down just made me laugh.
Then he flew away...mad...


Here's the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak, first of the year!
Maybe next time he'll turn around.
Butt, then it wouldn't be Birds From Behind, would it?


A matching set of Song Sparrows...stereo...cool...

Tree Swallow. Shiny.
(I woke up twenty minutes later...)

A White-breasted Nuthatch.
My friend Bonnie, thinks bird names are pornographic.
She may be right...


Yellow Warbly Thing booty!!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Snakes in Trees!!!

*with apologies to my favorite Icelander, Chris...

Isn't that cute? A Black-throated Blue Warbly thing...and a snake.
I was so confused...I didn't know what to focus on, so I didn't focus on anything.
One of my many motto's...


Rough week. Framing photos for my up coming show at the Carlisle Visitors Center in the Lorain County Metropark system...plus that thing called work. And then there's that gardeny thing that needs tending to. I need to go birding, SOON! Otherwise, who knows what will happen next on this bloggity thing!

Gotta get me one of those snakey thing books...
This MAY be a Black Rat Snake.
It's black and all...


This is not a black snake.
It may be a Northern or Midland Brown snake though...

...or not.

Even snakes give me the crazy eye!
Northern Water Snake...yep.
It's in water and this is kinda north...


This is just a crazy snake giving me the crazy eye.
He's the crazy one, he's up a tree.
Weird-o.


This is not a Cobra.
He is trying to convince me he is.
But, he's not.
I promise.

He is a snake none the less.
Just not a Cobra.


This is what is commonly called a "Palate Cleanser."
(Please don't confuse that with a "Pallet Cleanser," that would be someone who cleans wooden shipping pallets.)
Anyway, after viewing what some may consider distasteful,
you are shown a pleasing, happy picture.
Since I have no cute baby photos for you, here's a birds butt.
It's a Black-throated Blue Warbly Things butt.
I hope you like it.


Aren't you glad that's over?

Now don't forget! I'll be setting up my show, "Things With Wings," at the Carlisle Visitors Center this Saturday morning, so stop by and say hello! The show will be up through the month of May...Just in case you are afraid to meet me in real life. I understand.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Birdin' In The Rain, Just Birdin' In The Rain!

Even the Pine Warbly thing was singin' in the rain!

What a glorious feelin' I'm birdin' again!
I'm laughing at clouds so dark up above
There's warblys in my heart and I'm ready for a dove
Let the stormy clouds chase everyone from the fens
Come on with the rain, I've a rain cover on my lens
I walk down the boardwalk
With a happy little squawk
Just birdin',
And singin' in the rain!

Don't aim up for too long when it's raining!

Coots don't care...

More rain=more mud for the Robin's nest!

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher remind me of Groucho Marx for some odd reason...

PHEW! If you flew this far, you'd smell a little tangy too!

The Hermit Thrush after airing out a little...

A Northern Harrier trying to scare up a little lunch in the marsh.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Crazy eye expert.


Speaking of Singin' in the Rain!

Veery well hidden, eh?

White-throated Sparrow double booty shot...
You can only find this stuff on Birds From Behind!
Luckily.

Speaking of only here...why won't Winter Wrens sit still for me?!

Toodles from Loopy and The Doodles!