Thomewhat Themeless Thunday...

Well, actually there ith thort of a theme on thith Thunday.

We went out birding with our buddies from Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society at the CanalWay Reservation, just outside of downtown Cleveland. This is an amazing example of what can be done in an industrial area. The Ohio and Erie Canal once ran through this area and supplied water and a method of transport for early industrial Cleveland. It was once mostly abandoned and overgrown with the refuse of former steel mills and other empty industries. Now it's the home to a great number of birds and other wildlife along the canal, the Cuyahoga River and the restored woods and wetlands.

It always seems under used and under appreciated for such a magnificent habitat, though the local fishermen are well aware of the stocked canal! Anyway, here's a few of the photos from today's journey. You can find more photos and information by visiting the Western Cuyahoga Audubon site!

We spotted this Black-and-White Warbler, the mascot for Black Swamp Bird Observatory, off in the distance.

He stayed in this one location long enough for everyone to get great views of him working up and down this dead tree.

Okay, now for the main event!
I watched this Green Heron as he crept up this limb, inch by inch. When he arrived at the end he began to scream like a little girl...

...And then he made a mighty leap into the great reaches of the unknown(at least to him...) while still screaming like the afore mentioned little girl...

"Look at me, I'm a rocket, zooming into outer space!"

"Ooooooooooo! Zoomies!"

"YOIKS! Who put this tree in my way?!"

As you know, Green Herons are very delicate and dainty flyer's, well not really.

He did a header right into the tree. I didn't laugh at him...much...

Keeping with the Themeless Thunday mode...

How often do you get the 'CrAzY EyE' from a Praying Mantis?