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!

 

I Fell....

 Lots of berries  ready for fall picking!

 I didn't really fall....but I didn't make it out birding last weekend, so you get stuck with me making stuff up. As usual. Not really, I never make anything up...everything here is for real and for true...sorta...in my mind anyway.

So, where was I? Oh, It's autumn. Yep, I always fall for fall...the sound of leaves crunching under foot as you're trying to sneak up on unsuspecting birds, the gorgeous colors(even though I'm color blind, I can still see them, mostly.) And then there's that lovely smell of rotting vegetation! I should reword that...but I won't. You get the picture.

After the slow birding of late summer, we now have all the migrants coming through for brief visits, as I've mentioned earlier. We also have our winter friends coming in to enjoy our mild autumn and the upcoming winter(ick.) White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows, American Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos are popping up now.  Our seasons are so much milder that where they nest in northern Canada, Lake Erie weather is like a visit to the tropics! At least for them.

We also have ducks coming through and hunting season is on for quackers! Trips along the lake front will afford you views of thousands of ducks and Mergansers flying along the shore line. Soon the inland lakes and marshes will be full of Teal, Mallards, Pintails, Wigeons and more.

So, unlike me, get out there and enjoy the foliage, and I don't mean raking leaves! Visit your area parks, pond, creeks and lakes and see what this seasons colors have to offer! I'm looking forward to getting out this weekend...and not falling down!

 Eastern Chipmunks are getting their nests ready for the coming cold weather.

 I took a photo before I stomped all over them to listen to the crunchy cripsy sounds!

(Yes, I said CRIPSY)

The Chipping Sparrows are gone and the American Tree Sparrows, like this one at Pond Brook, will replace them for the season.

Dark-eyed Juncos are being seen all around our area now.

 I love the pattern on the White-crowned Sparrow crown.

 White-throated Sparrows are out and about as well!

 

Still no otter...maybe this weekend?!

Sometimes those White-crowned Sparrows make me nervous...

Until we meet again!

Guess What I Saw?!

 Ha!

No.

 Though I did hear what sounded to me like otters giggling in the brook...

An unmistakable sound...

 Yep...another trip to visit Pond Brook, part of the Summit Metropark system(and my favorite!) Still looking for the River Otters that reside in the area...still... I've asked most everyone I've met along the trails about them. Most had no idea that otters lived in our area. A few had ACTUALLY spotted them. I think they were teasing me...

Anyway...it was a lovely autumn morning to be out, a lovely sky, nice temps and loads of Yellow-rumped Warblies in the trees and shrubs! Does life get any better than warbly time? Nope. Next to Magee Marsh in May, this is my favorite time of year to wander in the woods. The smell of the fallen leaves...what I like to call rotting vegetation...is so relaxing. Though it is hard to sneak up on birdies when those leaves are crunching underfoot. I can deal with it. I've never been known to be graceful or subtle when hiking anyway.

I must also mention the folks I've met walking here. All pleasant and enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. I met a very nice young woman with her son out exploring along the trail Sunday morning. It's really great to see a young boy out in nature and liking it! We discussed aphids(you never know what you'll find interesting out there!) and the young man enjoyed checking out my camera. A future birder? I now have hope for the future of our natural world!

 Great trails and a boardwalk if you're afraid of tromping through mud.

I personally LOVE to stomp in the mud!

 Yep, Yellow-rumped Warbly!

Everywhere you looked at the woodland edges and tree tops!

 Ruh-roh...

White-crowned Sparrows were out in full force as well...

You know what that means...winter is coming! 

And these guys were getting crabby...

 I didn't like the way this Turkey Vulture kept circling over my head...

HEY! I'M NOT DEAD YET!

I told you the Yellow-rumps were everywhere!

 A very handsome...and fluffy...White-crowned Sparrow.

 I think the first year White-crowned Sparrows are gorgeous.

 Yep, another "butterbutt"...like I said, everywhere.

 The Song Sparrows were still singing.

I think this was one migrating through...he had an odd song, maybe a slight Canadian accent...

 Freshly seeded areas attracted a number of Red-winged Blackbirds that were passing through.

I think the females are striking...

 You'll never guess what this is?!

Yep!

 Hard to believe this used to be access for drilling rigs.

It's much better now.

 Speaking of warblies(I always am!,) there were quite a few Palm Warblies feeding along the trail and in the "weeds."

 There's beauty everywhere if you look closely.

 This Northern Cardinal actually sat still...for almost a second and a half.

Palm Warblies don't usually sit still very long...

 The light coming through the forest was great!

This is one of my favorite shots of a Palm Warbly.

 They have to really chow down to prepare for their long journey south!

Sounds like a good plan to me...ROAD TRIP!

 Look, but don't touch!

 I was very surprised to see this Monarch butterfly out in the grass.

Must be a straggler. I hope he makes it south!

 Of course, House Sparrows are always found where there's a meal...

 This day was so beautiful that I even took a photo of a European Starling.

Very bad and destructive invasive bird, but still attractive in the fall.

 This Eastern Chipmunk froze on the boardwalk as I came up on him.

I told him no worries lil buddy and he smiled and trotted off with a wave of his tail.

My reality and your reality may be a little different...a little.

 There was an Eastern Bluebird pair sitting in this tree, but I think I startled the male and he flew off.

 This is the dirty look I received for shooing off her mate.

But it was an accident!

Oh well...the same look I get from most women...

 The American Goldfinches seemed very sad today.

They miss their bright and cheery summer apparel.

I know the feeling.

 Poor sad little finchy...

 All the young American Robins were in the meadow hunting for worms and grubs.

Good eating this morning!

I had a sausage McMuffin.

Better than worms...but not as healthy...

 Rude little Black-capped Chickadee...

 This Blue Jay and his buddies kept a close eye on me as I walked around the parking area.

They have trust issues.

 I finally found the ideal BirdMobile!

No roof and I can see all around...just gotta watch that car ahead of me...

Oops...

Once last Yellow-rump for the road!

Until we meet again on the trails...Happy Birding!