Signs of Spring!

You knew, somewhere in the back of your mind, that this was going to happen!

The February thaw came at last...at least a little bit of a thaw. Me and the Doodles were just being lazy at the BirdMobile and thought we could feel a little more 'spring' in our step. So, off we went, on another adventure to see if we could find any signs of spring out there. We stopped at Northwood's Nature Trails Park, always a good place for a walk...

AND! We found a few signs of spring...it wasn't easy either...but I do these things for you...really.

A pair of American Tree Sparrows showing their utter disgust for me.

Don't turn your back on me! I'm just looking for signs of spring!

Horned Larks frolicking in the snow?
I don't think that's a sign...

We don't see these guys very often...
It'll be even less often if they keep playing in the street!

Oh, there's a sign of spring!
Buds on the trees!

Bald Eagles are busy with their nests...and their eggs!
Except for this guy...he's making a grocery run.

This is the Doodles being patient.
For "Birthentines"* day, she got to pick where we went, though she still had to put up with me.
*Birthentines is the combination of her birthday and Valentines day which fall way too close together!

Spring is coming up almost everywhere you look!
Sometimes you have to look really hard!

No, this photo isn't sideways OR upside down!
It's a Red-breasted Nuthatch and they're just a little screwy.

Poor Squirrely, he's gotta eat leaves for lunch.

Well, I still think spring is in the air!
And I have the photos to prove it!
So there.

The end.


* Have I mentioned the "Featured Bird(butt) Blogger of the week yet?
Huh, I could have sworn I did.
GO THERE!
GO THERE NOW!
*MAGIC LINKY THING HERE*

Doodle-oo in Too-lee-doo!

The National Center for Nature Photography is in the Secor Metropark.

We weren't quite cold enough sitting at the BirdMobile, so we(meaning the Doodles!) decided to take a tour of two of Toledo's Metroparks where it was even colder. We started at Secor, the home of the National Center for Nature Photography where none of my photos are on display. I can't understand why.

We took a quick walk about then went inside to view the action at the feeders and to thaw out a bit. When the Photo Center opened we went in to view the excellent photos on display(again, I don't understand why I haven't received a call yet!) While there, a very helpful naturalist type of guy told me about good areas for birding and the surrounding trails. He had a familiar look, but I always say that. We looked at some gorgeous photos of Kellys Island by Art Weber. Then the light went on in my tiny brain! That helpful guy IS Art Weber! We talked about his book "Wild Ohio" that I remembered selling when I worked for The Nature Company. Small world, eh?

Then back out into the arctic tundra for a walk in the woods...brrr...

The reason this Black-capped Chickadee is still?
He's actually frozen solid.

You can tell this is a Dark-eyed Junco by his dark eyes.

Dear me. Deer Mouse.
Needs a John Deere plow.

The Doodles wrapped up against the cold posing with someone that didn't wrap up.

Okay, I haven't gotten a single Accipiter right yet.
I'm gonna say Sharp-shinned Hawk and you're gonna tell why it isn't.

He's sure lookin' sharp in any case!

We made Bobb leave the house, that smile on his face is deceptive.
He 's planning more chaos...

Secor, home of the evil, angry Squirrels.

At least they have a few cute Tufted Titmouseseses...or is it Miceses?
I can't wait to get the next edition of Kenn Kaufman's Peterson Advanced Birding Guide to find out which is correct!

"Hey buddy! You're headed the wrong way!"
Silly Nuthatches...

You can tell by the dejected look on this White-throated Sparrow that he's sick of snow too.

The Black-capped Chickadee is still here...and still frozen...from behind.

By the way, check out my new friend Marci's blog...and look where she located the link to "Birds From Behind"...I got the best fans!

RARITY DISCOVERED NESTING AT MAGEE MARSH!

The Great Lake Erie...iced over...not unlike my feet.

What an amazing sight to behold! And not a soul stirring other than your intrepid host and his side kick, the delirious Doodles! We had the boardwalk at Magee Marsh all to ourselves. It was a very cold day with the trail deeply covered in freshly fallen snow. The only signs of life were the tracks left by the squirrels, desperate to eke out a living for their squirrely families...and the occasional Downy Woodpecker, pecking wood as only a woodpecker can.

We walked quickly at first, then we slowed to a crawl as we heard nothing, a nothing like nothing we had never heard before! It was a fluffy quiet that hits your ears like an over cottoned q-tip. We took every step, step by step, being sure not to make any mis-steps that would be mistaken for a step that was not. "Shhhh. Did you not hear that?" The Doodles ear-muffed ears heard a muffled nothing closing in on us. Let's step up our stepping, stepping carefully of course...

The only steps to be seen are the steps of the Doodles stepping carefully around her steps to photograph the steps left by her steps.

The shock and stress caused her to faint and fall as a flake of snow would fall, falling into the snow like snowflakes do!

"OH. MY. GOSH."
Said I. Still in shock while driving after stepping...and picking up the Doodles.

And here it is!
The FIRST photographic evidence of a nesting "Carpodacus Ninguis" or Snowball Finche!

Your intrepid host crept quietly while stepping stealthily to nab a close up of this Snowball Finche upon her nest.
Its obvious from the field marks that this is a female.

Of course I would never think of blogging a blog without the behind of the bird!
It's ventral aspect is astounding!

As you can tell, even the Downy Woodpecker had to stop pecking wood!
A sight to behold, of that I am sure.

I'll be waiting for that call from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology...
or some sort of professional institution...

Dux Delux...redux...

An American Wigeon doing the flappy thing.

Dux Delux...redux...If you've been following this blog for a little while(sorry if you have!) you may remember my posts from last year with lots of dux! This weekend we finally made it out for a little more duck hunting. We were planning on meeting the fine friendly folks from the Wilderness Center and the Greater Mohican Audubon for an outing to Castalia Pond. Due to the fact that I am a dawdler...especially when it's TWO degrees outside, we missed them.

No matter...the ducks were still there.

This pond is spring fed and the water is always open. When Lake Erie freezes, this is a great place to visit to spot many species of duck...just pay attention to which way the wind is blowing. That lovely aroma of rotten eggs from the spring water can alter the location of your breakfast.

Let's see...there's a Northern Pintail, Canada Geese, Mallards, American Black Duck and a Bufflehead.
And that's just at that end...We also saw Redhead, Lesser Scaup and Gadwall!

Did I mention a few Canada Geese?

I heard this Belted Kingfisher calling and couldn't spot him until he was coming right at me!
Don't worry, I'm okay.

Loosey Goosey? Nope, it's more like those Mallards that are the loose ones!
What is your mother going to say?

The Doodles got out of the car to make like a birder...

...and when she realized how cold it was, back into the car she went!
Doodles aren't cold weather birds...

Please note, the ONLY footprints around the pond were mine and one goose.
I would have jumped in, but I can't swim...and I live by a lake.
Go figure.

I don't know about you, but Northern Shovelers give me the willys.
Something about the way they stare at you...

This guy was down right evil looking!

Luckily he just gave me the butt shot!

Swan Lake, Act I...

What a day to be on the shores of Lake Erie! Very crisp and clear...and very loud!

We decided to check out Metzger Marsh to look for ducks..and maybe even a gull(you know gulls, those white and gray flappy things.) When we pulled up, we couldn't believe the sight in front of us, lots of ice and off in the clear patches, Swans! Dozens and dozens of them! I counted 102 Trumpeter and Tundra and 2 Mute Swans before more started flying in and I got dizzy.

The sounds of these huge birds can be deafening when they all get riled up at the same time, the high pitched Tundras and the honky Trumpeters and the...wait the Mutes didn't say much...
Add to that the sound of the lake cracking and popping as the water moved under the ice.

The wonders of nature...let's try to save them, shall we?

I was so excited to see 3A0, my favorite Trumpeter Swan!
She was born in August of 2004, and I first saw her in March of 2009.
I've spotted her a few times a year ever since...along with her mate and many cygnets!

There's always a loner...

Sometimes you just got to get flappy!

Those two dark spot in front of the cooling tower?
They're a pair of Bald Eagles feasting on fresh frozen duck.
We saw five Eagles out on the ice harassing those Canada Geese and ducks.

That's the Doodles and Judy on the icy pier at Metzger.
You don't want to go swimming today!

Poor WRBLRZ, frozen solid and covered with road salt!

By the way...if you own a cat, keep them indoors!
These two were hunting the American Tree Sparrows that were feeding in the area.

The beauty of Lake Erie in the winter...