Um...a while ago...

I ran out of words...sorry.

 

 

  

 

Meanwhile Back in May....one of those days...

They always turn away when you press the shutter button...stoopid burds!

So, where was I? Oh yeah, Northwest Ohio at various locations driving and guiding for the Biggest Week in American Birding!! Since I've waited so long, these burds are from a number of places...and I don't remember which is which! Oh well, no matter.

Did ya ever notice some days no matter how prepared you are, things just seem to go awry (I love that word!) These photos are just a smidgen (love that one too!) of the delightful photos I am capable of taking And I'll bet you're gonna look at them too!...and say..."jeez, even I could do better!" Well, probably, butt this is my blog so you're going to have to wait your turn!

Enjoy the errors of my way...

 

My only shot of a Blackpoll Warbly...next time I'll get you!

Oh yes, a beautifully framed Magnolia Warbly...I was impressed with my skills with this shot...modern art,,,yep.

I was so excited to see a Northern Parula, I forgot about the tree in the way...oops.

What a beautifully framed and posed stick. Too bad that Prothonotary Warbly was in the background...jerk.

This one was not my fault! That silly Yellow Warbly fell down...I didn't laugh...much...

I gave up on Baltimore Orioles that day...nice behind though!

Playing peek-a-boo with a Blackburnian Warbly...thought he'd be fancy and flap at me! That's a rude gesture in burd language.

This is getting better! Only a piece of vine in front of this Chestnut-sided Warbly.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!! Snake alert! 

I forgot to warn you folks with snekaphobia. This is a lovely and harmless Eastern Fox Snake...

An Eastern Kingbird...he blinked...

One of my favorite shots of a Gray Catbird...too bad he has a little schmutz on his beak.

A lovely behind of a Magnolia Warbly...they're not all bad!

This Maggie was kind enough to point out the stick in the way...

Another butt shot! And again, this Northern Cardinal has a little schmutz on his chopper.

Such messy burds!

Well, it is "Birds From Behind!" This Northern Parula posed nicely for me. Everyone else stopped shooting...silly people...

Northern Parulas love to give me the crazy eye for some reason...

An excellent Prothonotary Warbly...and a leaf...

I don't do Photoshop!

Even 700mm of pure power couldn't bring this Red-headed Woodpecker closer.

Time for bigger glass!!

Oops...not a burd. A happy Snappy Turtle!

The skinniest Yellow Warbly I've ever seen!

There we go, that's more like it! Another chubby behind of a Yellow Warbly...

 

 And finally, butt certainly not least...the cutie patootie of a Prothonotary Warbly!

 That's all for now folks! I won't wait so long for the next installment of this silliness!

First Warbly of the Year!

First Warbly of the year, guess who?!

 

After one crazy year I finally made it out to find some of my birdy buddies!

I decided to stay somewhat close to home and went into the Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Station road. I've always had a great time finding something to photograph there and this day was no exception.

I haven't done much other than dust my camera since last May...and it was still a bit dusty. The batteries were dead...first thing, charge them up. All of my settings seemed to have disappeared as well...so, go in and reset date, time, name and my personal preferences. Next I did an inventory of what to take out with me...I went very light, being my first time out. Camera, extra batteries, polarizer for shooting in the water and a monopod.

Jeepers! After a year of only working and idle laziness, going out chasing birbs really hurts!  My out of shape body needs a lot of work, but, boy did I have a great time! Four hours and a few miles and even a few birds along the way!

With a little more practice, I hope to get back into burd butt mode!

 

A White-crowned Sparrow trying to hide amongst the new growth.

This Tufted Titmouse found something delightful to tear to shreds! 

Nom-nom-nom!

 Another Titmouse doing a few pull ups to keep in shape and impress the ladies.

 

I was surprised at the number of tadpoles swimming in the old canal and puddles.

 

There had been a dam running across this section of the Cuyahoga River for years and years. They finally removed it and the river is running much faster. It will add to the health of the river.

Another surprise was watching this crazy squirrel balancing on branches...

 The first peep of the year too! This Solitary Sandpiper was wandering up and down the canal probing for tasty morsels...

Woo-hoo! At long last, a burd from behind!

Believe it or not, there's a tiny lil fuzzy headed burb in that nest. He stuck his head up for a millisecond then disappeared....it may have been a raptor of some sort...hmmmm.

 All of the regulars were around today also...like this Northern Cardinal striking a dramatic pose....maybe Hollywood is looking!

 With all of the bright sunshine and warmth, the Midland Painted Turtles were out in force. This trio was having some sort of union meeting.

Mallard.....awake...

Mallard...asleep...

And I thought I was tall and skinny! This Great Blue Heron has me beat!

I seemed to have gained a little weight lounging about instead of birding...ruh-roh!

A very rare and elusive Treemunk! Cavity nesters, they are rarely see in the open...

Yea! A Choo-choo train!

CVNP has a rail line going through the park for sight seers and bicyclists that discovered they aren't in as good a shape as they thought...

Ribit.

I'm not sure what that means, but that's what the Bullfrog said to me.

I had a hard time finding a Black-capped Chickadee that would sit still for more than a second! I am wayyyy out of practice!

 I kept getting asked if I've seen the Bald Eagles...yep, I saw one...a juvenal too.

They also have a nest close by.

Yes, you guessed right! The first warbly of the year was a Yellow-rumped Warbly! 

How appropriate for me! 

 

Stay tuned for the further adventures of Birds From Behind!