New Years Eve is for the Birds!

Some folks go out to party...I prefer to go birding!
Sandy Ridge has a fantastic wetland and meadow to meander in.

New Years Eve and it's over 50 degrees! AND sunny out! If you're not from northern Ohio you might not understand how odd this is. I'm not complaining though! I went out and spent the late morning and afternoon at Sandy Ridge Reservation, part of the Lorain County Metropark system. If you've never been out there, give it a try. Every season has something special to see.

There were quite a few people out on the trails, and a very friendly group too! A nice fellow birder asked if I had spotted the Great Horned Owls that are nesting here. I hadn't and he was kind enough to lead me over the icy paths to both of the owls. Birders are great folks!

I spent some time along that area showing a few other people the Owls as well. On my way back I met Vic, a great photographer and offered to show him the Owls. Go figure, I couldn't find them again. It's rough getting old...

Where's Waldo?
That lump in the middle is the first Great Horned Owl.

I STILL didn't get that 800mm lens(Santa, are you listening?!)
Here's Great Horned Owl number two.

Oh look! An American Tree Sparrow in an American tree...

Trees in marshes don't fair too well.
The Red-headed Woodpeckers love to nest in these dead trees.

The only ducks about were these Mallards and a dozen of their relatives.
I don't understand why they were flying around so much...

Oh, here's the reason!
This is a female Northern Harrier, she was being chased by...

...this male Northern Harrier. He, like most men, gave up and went wandering away.

They were closely followed by this Bald Eagle.
Amazingly, they have a nest close by, right over a large housing development.
It was a good day for raptors!

I watched a pair of Red-tailed Hawks circling high above.
I had hoped they would come lower...and closer.
At least one came lower!

Not all of the ice has melted.

The Song Sparrows were enjoying the warmth.
I could hear them singing in the cattails!

Near the feeders at the nature center I found this Tufted Titmouse chowing down
along with Black-capped Chickadees and a White-breasted Nuthatch.

This grumpy little White-crowned Sparrow wants to say "Happy New Year", but he's a bird and birds can't speak. Duh!

Birding along the lake...or...

Lovely Lake Erie in January...No swimming please.

...What crazy birders do in the winter in Cleveland...

I went out without the Doodles(smart girl) this morning with our buddies from Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society for a 'bird' walk at the Dike 14 wildlife area just outside of downtown Cleveland. The temperature was a tepid ten degrees with a nice breeze from the north. In July we'd all be happy campers...in January...not so much. It really wasn't that bad as the sun was out early in the morning and the snow wasn't more than four to six inches deep.

Unfortunately, the birds are still smarter than us and layed low in the warm and cozy shrubbery and undergrowth. There was ONE American Tree Sparrow, well camouflaged in the scrub along a break wall. He didn't want his picture taken, at least that's the excuse I'm using.

Aye, thars a balmy breeze a-blowin' off the bow.

Believe it or not, this is the frozen lake with critter tracks going out towards Canada.
I don't think he'll make it all the way...

Oh my gosh! A bird photo! How'd that get in this post?
This Northern Mockingbird was digging for something in this patch of grass still visible in the snow.

I don't think this Praying Mantis egg case is going to make it to spring...nope.

A day of birding wouldn't be complete without at least one 'Bird From Behind!'

The Mockingbird may have been mocking me!

He was soon chased away by this Downy Woodpecker, also showing a proper pose!

We saw a lot of tracks from different mammals. Sorry to say, the only photo I have is of this fresh frozen little mouse.

I showed this pic to Bob, the Chipmunk when I got home...

He promised to be a good boy from now on!

"Please don't take me out there!"