Saturday, May 7, 2011

"Hey! You're that Bird Butt Guy!"

A little Yellow Warbly thing showing of his yellow warbly bits...

So here we are at the Biggest Week in American Birding at Magee Marsh...our first night at the opening festivities and I hear someone say..."Hey! There's that bird butt guy!" Yep, that's me.

I dreamed of fame as a photographer when I was younger(MUCH younger) butt, little did I know it would be because of the south end of little birdies. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Well, actually I think there may be something wrong with that, butt we'll save that for the therapist...

Where was I...oh, that "bird butt guy"...Friday morning we hit the boardwalk and start seeing our first warbly things. We meet a couple from San Diego and we're having a good time and I hand him my card...once again "You're that Bird Butt Guy!" He saw my car in the lot with the Birds From Behind signs on it. Kenn Kaufman and others are at Point Pelee warbling...when Kenn spots a warbly high up, facing the wrong direction and says "There's a Dave view of a warbler!" At bird banding this morning they had an uncooperative warbly that kept sticking his tail up...they showed everyone and told them "This is the Dave end of the bird."

I wanted to be famous. Be careful what you ask for, it may not be what you expect. I'm just happy that you're all behind me in this!

Cape May Warbly...pointing towards Cape May...

Hard to tell that this is a Golden-winged Warbly isn't it?
Not for me, I'm used to this...

Even the Ovenbirds flip me the tail...

Not quite a Black-and-White Warbler from behind, butt...close enough for me!

How could I leave you without a Yellow-rumped Warbly showing off all of yellowy goodness!

We give special thanks to our great friend Kimmay Kaufman of BSBO for all of her help and encouragement over the years! She is a great person and a great friend of the birds.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

INVASION OF THE GROSBEAKS!!!!!

You gotta believe that his breast is all rosy!

Doodles was looking out of the kitchen window Sunday...she stares out of the window a lot lately...ANYWAY...she spots a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and calls me over. Then we spot a female. Then we spot a youngster...then another...then another...THEN ANOTHER! Holy Grosbeaks Batman! A veritable Rose-breasted Brigade, a riot of rosiness, a gaggle of Grosbeakiness! Wowzers.

And we shall call him Number Two(not to be confused with #2!)

Number Two was curious about every feeder in the garden.

Number Three was casual and aloof.
I like that word...aloof...cool.


Number Four could only think of food.
"What? I've been flying a long time!"


Thinking about going for a quick dip in the pond...that fish is a little scary though...

Hey look! There's one hiding in the French Cafe!
What, doesn't everyone have a French Cafe in their garden?

There's the hot babe!
The reason there's so many Grosbeaks in the garden!


By the way, we had our first Purple Finch Sunday as well.
The first in at least two years to visit our feeders!

AND our first Baltimore Oriole of the year!
Of course the stoopid Mourning Dove just HAS to get into the picture...


This is Hoover. He's named after the vacuum cleaner.
You can plainly see why...


He picks up more than our vacuum too!
If you need any Chipmunks, I have plenty to spare.
Please.
Pretty Please!?


Hey! It's time for...
THE BIGGEST WEEK IN AMERICAN BIRDING!!
If you'll be at Magee Marsh this weekend, look for me and the Doodles and say hello!