The Biggest Week in American Birding...part too...

 All the leaders, drivers and volunteers that help The Biggest week be a success! I'm in the back row, far right...obviously not my political views...

What a great event it was! Everyone had a great time, at least no one complained to me...yet. I had the privilege to drive some wonderful folks and guides all around northwestern Ohio in search of birds. I was even lucky enough to find a couple lifers for some lucky birders! You can't ask for more than that. I am so looking forward to next year...starting a little later on May 9th! Mark it down and I'll see you there!

In the meantime, here's a few photos from my first weekend...or was it the second...anyway...birds!

It's always good to find nesting birds like this Orange-breasted Ground Thrush.

(uh, American Robin...)

As you can see, I'm a pretty crappy photographer some days. But I try to capture every bird I see...such as this Baltimore Oriole.

This Blue-winged Warbler was a rare bird and a lifer for many! This photo was highly enlarged, and that's not my finger at the top...

This Canada Goose had one lone fuzzy beebee following along.

This was the first time I got more than one decent shot of a Clay-colored Sparrow! I had to trust everyone that this bird is clay colored because I'm red/green color blind...ha...

I know that this is a dragonfly...with very fresh wings...I still have to find out which one...

I like Eastern Bluebirds. Blue is one of the colors I can see best!

Eastern Bluebird from behind because that's what I do.

I also love Gray Catbirds because of the simplicity of their outfit and the goofy nature of their singing!

Purple Martins don't appear to be purple in this photo, but I guess they are.

Another of my favorites is this relatively common Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly. fairly tiny, they are often overlooked or mistaken for a moth.

Another great find was this Spotted Sandpiper next to a farmers field. It's always good when you spot a sandpiper...

I was trying so hard to get a nice photo of a wonderful Song Sparrow and he turned to be a creep and dove for cover as I clicked the shutter. Burds...sheesh...

Anyone for a bowl of spider?

A curious Tree Swallow checking out his new crib...from behind...

 Once again, I thank you for visiting my bloggity! I forgot how much fun it is to share my photos and some occasional silliness! Until next time...happy birding!!

 

 

We interupt the regular programming...First Warbly of the Year!!

They're back!

First of the year! Yellow-rumped Warbly!

I left work early a few days ago...actually I leave work early everyday...getting ready to retire in October! Woo-hoo!! Anyway, the weather was warm and beautiful so I thought I should get outside. And I did!

I live very close to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Cascade Valley Parks of Summit county. Today I had a nice walk in the Cascade Valley View area, which is undergoing a redesign near the Cuyahoga river. They have nice easy trails that will lead to the river soon. I wandered down those trails, petted a few dogs, and saw a few birds...so here ya go!

A walk wouldn't be complete without an orange-breasted ground thrush...or what most people call an American Robin...whoops...wrong end...

A helpful couple and their floofy dog told me about a bald eagle nest a bit of a distance from the trail.

I could see an adult on the nest and at one point a little wiggly head!

 

A very naughty bird! Brown-headed cowbirds will lay their eggs in other birds nests for them to raise. The young will try to push the natural babes out of the nest and hog all the food.

Another invader! Cabbage White butterflies were introduced to North America in about 1860 in Quebec and have spread all over the continent.

BOB?! Is that you?

Nope, just another eastern chipmunk trying to hide in the leaf litter...one day Bob may be back!

Just a couple of puddle ducks playing in a puddle...

AKA Mallards...

I could head red-bellied woodpeckers everywhere, calling and slamming their heads into trees in search of a mate.

I rarely take flight shots, they make my vertigo kick in.

I took a chance with this red-tailed hawk and didn't fall over!

I like to watch red-winged blackbirds inflate.

I haven't seen one burst yet...

A female red-winged blackbird giving her hotsie- totsie pose for the males...

My favorite non-warbly! I like song sparrows, they sing all year just because they're happy.

They put a lot of effort into their singing!

 One last shot...the male yellow-rumped warbly showing off the yellow patch on his crown.

 

The Biggest Week in American Birding starts May 2nd!! I'll be there driving a few van trips and leading 2 beginner bird walks at Pearson Metropark near Toledo. If you see me, say hello!! 

See ya soon!

 

More from Costa Rica...Toucans to Waterfalls...

That's a very distant Yellow-throated (or black-mandibled, depending on your field guide!)

Yep, still living the Pura Vida! I have so many memories of great times with my new and old friends in Costa Rica...not to mention the number of photos I took!

Most of these shots were taken during our trip to a finca, or farm, which I can't remember the name of, and of the Nauyaca Waterfalls. I do remember the heat of that day! Close to 90 degrees with all the humidity there is! I was soaking wet, even before the waterfalls! Even with that I would love to go back to do some serious birding!

In the meantime, enjoy a few more photos of our adventure!

I finally got close enough to get a good shot!

Another yellow-throated toucan trying to hide...he needs to find some bigger branches...

Woo-hoo! A lifer warbly! It's been a while since I've gotten a new one...this is a buff-rumped warbler hunting in a small stream.

Uh...moo amigo...

After the hike to the waterfalls and a wander around the finca property, we were parched to say the least. Our host made this very refreshing drink with pure and fresh cane sugar, lemons delivered by horseback(really!) and various spices. It tasted like sweet tea and was fantastic!

This is one of the views from the farm.I would love to wake up to this everyday!

This is definitely a flower...I could tell. Pretty clever, aren't I?

A pair of golden carpenter ants...with bad attitudes!

These are about a half inch long with serrated mandibles. I would not want to be chewed on by them, nope.

Under that leaf is a leaf cutter ant. They cut leaves. And carry them. I carry a camera, not leaves.

This was a big surprise to me! It's a Montezuma oropendula, normally found much further north of our location. Birds have wings and their territory is spreading.

Ken and I, kings of the rocks! That's Brian's head just to the left...what muscles I have!

This is the lower part of Nauyaca Waterfall. That man gives you some scale. He later climbed up much higher and leapt off...nope, not me!

So many streams branched off of the falls...with nice cool water!

Mini-falls!

Here we go...who's that skinny bald guy in the second row?

One of the only butterflies that sat still long enough for me! A white satyr.

I was truly surprised to see white-tailed deer in Costa Rica...they're a bit smaller than the Ohio deer.
 

Thanks again for visiting! Stay tuned for more of PURA VIDA!