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!!

 

 

King of the Marsh!...

 This is an Eastern Kingbird, very kingly, but not king of the marsh...

 I had a birdathon day last Friday with trips to Sheldon's Marsh, then Magee Marsh and finally Howard Marsh...10 hours of wandering not including the driving...I was beat! I need to remember to eat once in a while as well...

I show pics from Sheldon and Magee later on...butt right now I had an exciting find at Howard's! It was the end of the evening for me, the wind picked up and it was getting chilly...and dark. So...I decided(or actually my stomach decided) to turn around and head back to my wee little bird mobile and head for home...and food!  As I was heading back I heard some crazy sound coming from the marsh just ahead of me. It sounded like a rail, but it was LOUD!  I walked a little faster then stopped when I thought I was in the right area of the thickening reeds.

I stood there for about fifteen minutes before I heard the call again, watching intently for something to move. Every time it called I tried to find the center of its call. I wanted someone else to hear it, but I was the lone fool enjoying the marsh with the mosquitoes. Should brought more bug spray...add that to food. Finally there was some movement in the darkening marsh. Hot dog! There's the bird!

I watched it moving very slowly around in the background, carefully finding little meals hidden away. Amazingly it was walking towards me! I could see it look up at me a few times when my camera was clicking away. Ooooo...I thought at first Virginia Rail, butt looking at the size of it, like a small chicken, I thought "Hot Diggitty, it's a King Rail!" I saw one only once before, from a distance and got no photos of any quality. It was about 8:30pm now and I actually got a few decent shots.

I wonder if he'll find his soul mate in this amazing area?

 The King of the marsh!

Playing peek-a-boo through the grass and reeds.

 This American Coot was nearby doing a crazy dance to get my attention...it worked.

 I think he was a little embarrassed of himself...

 I swear I heard this lil angry Barn Swallow bark at me...

 Get your hip boots out! There's more little fuzzy poopers on the way!

(aka Canada Gooseseses...)

I forgot to mention the Snowy Egret...

 For you lovers of gray and white birbs...

Terns and Gulls...left terns I believe and gullibles.

 This is way I don't show more shorebird photos.

Uncropped image of Dunlin....waaaaayyy back there!

 Great, another Egret.

(Get it? Great Egret?!)

 And a Snowy Egret showing off his spring finery.

Looks better on him than some rich ladies hat...

 Until this Osprey flew into the nest, I didn't notice it was occupied.

I wonder if there's beebees yet?

 Yep, still love those Song Sparrows!

 A rude Spotted Sandpiper, just walking away form me while I'm talking...

Just in case you were wondering...I did indeed get a life butt shot of the King Rail!

Until next time...love those burdz from all directions!

Living in the Past...Still...

Yes, it is.

 Oh my, it's a young American Coot!

(As opposed to me being an old American Coot.)

One day I'll catch up on my posts, nah...what fun would that be? Today in the WaBac machine, we're going to Howard Marsh just past Magee Marsh and Ottawa NWR. This is a newer reclaimed marsh area, and it's a truly great place to visit. Every year will be a little different as things settle in and more birds arrive.

This visit was in mid September, a little quiet and a little late for the shorebirds, butt still a great day to wander their trails. Enough yammering, let's look at the birdies!

Another young Coot...

An American Coot...older than the younger, butt not as old as me.

O S, M R Ducks. Blue-winged Teals to be somewhat precise.

You can't tell from her, butt he has one wing tucked into his vest.

Yep, it's a Bonaparte's Gull.

Bonaparte's Gulls and Common Terns chillin' out on a former tree planted just for their enjoyment.

As you may know, I'm not the biggest fan of those gray and white burds...butt I'll make an exception for a Bonaparte's Gull.

They're not noisy and obnoxious like some other gulls we won't mention.

Just sayin'...

Canada Geese aren't good at being graceful when landing.

A Caspian Tern on the prowl for some fresh fish sticks, never frozen...

And there ya go!

Still a couple of butterflies out like this Clouded Sulphur.

Double-crested Cormorants have a habit of diving under as soon as you point your camera at them. This guy wasn't paying attention.

That's a WHOLE LOTTA ducks!

A not so graceful landing. I feel his pain, I've had a few not so graceful landings myself.

Much better! This Great Blue Heron was looking regal as he paraded across the meadow.

The Great Egrets were all far away on this day.

It took me a while to figure this one help, luckily I had help on Instagram!

Juvenile Horned Lark.

Of course all of my shots were from behind...

PEEPS!

Killdeer, something else small and a Semipalmated Sandpiper.

One day I'll figure them all out...maybe...

KILLDEER! YES! I know this one!

A couple of naughty Northern Bluet Damselflies.

Sheesh, right out in public, no shame..

Lots of trail to wander!

One of the high points of the day was this Northern Harrier zooming around the marsh grass.

I watched her diving down over and over!

Maybe this time!

I think she found lunch at last!

Gotta love those young Pied-billed Grebes!

A Red Admiral hiding in the grass.

It took me a while to get back up...

This looks like a Solitary Sandpiper to me...and he was solitary...

The last of the wildflowers for the season.

I believe this to be a Spreadwing Damselfly, but I'm not sure of the exact species.

I'm sure we'll find out in the comments...

A flock of Trumpeter Swans flew right over me.

The sounds of their wings and feeling the air movement was definitely the high point of my day!

This one was at the edge of the flock, just far enough away to be able to focus on.

And of course, one last butt shot for your enjoyment!

See you again soon!