I've been asked quite often lately why I haven't been posting anything on this blog. I've avoided answering most people or just saying I haven't had anything interesting to share.

The real answer? With all of the news of the world, I've felt this blog and my humor were pointless and had nothing to add to or help with the current situation. Discussions of politics have alienated a few friends so, I just thought it best to not say a word.

This may be my last post for quite some time, so I'm going to say what I think and you can comment if you like, call me names, whatever you like...or just delete this. People often forgot that they don't have to view or read everything in front of them, you have free will, at least for now.

Let's just stick to the main problem right now...that man named Trump. He's an obvious racist, making a joke of the Native Americans that were WWII heroes with his snide comments, his constant attacks on Muslims, going as far as re-tweeting anti Muslim hate videos. He is supposed to be a leader. A leader should be tactful...unless of course your hero is Hitler, then I guess what Trump is doing would be fine...Muslims, Jews...what's the difference?

He and so many of his rabid followers claim to be good Christians, yet they profess hatred and greed. Aren't Christians supposed to help their neighbors? Love everyone as they were your equal? I'm not a religious person, so maybe I'm mistaken...To Trump and his ilk, getting rid of health care has been one of their priorities. Health care is bad for America, we need to keep our citizens weak and starving and struggling to pay for over priced meds. Escalating our war machine is a better way to spend tax dollars in their minds.

And then there's those wacky Republicans trying to force through their own tax agenda. Democracy? That has no place in our government any longer. Tax breaks for the rich and large corporations, the middle class and the poor will pick up the slack as usual. Trickle down didn't work for Reagan and it won't work now.

There's so much wrong with him and the policies he's trying to force upon us...The lack of gun control, mass murders must not be a big deal after all...gotta build that wall! The wall will save Mexico from our mass murderers and gun dealers, maybe it is a good idea. And don't forget about the environment...a few hundred temporary jobs building a pipeline...or cleaning up oil spills is much more important than clean air and water. More Coal! It's clean!

Read faster! Net Neutrality is going away along with First Amendment rights and blogs will be a thing of the past, unless you're rich enough to able to afford internet service and have the right lobbyists backing you. 

Well, I better stop now before my blood pressure gets too high, I won't be able to afford my drugs soon.

Where Do I Start?...

I've been thinking about this post for the past week...do I just give up and post pretty photos of birds on my latest outing? Or do I go on an endless rant about the imbecile president of the US and the white "supremacists"(that are FAR from being supreme!,) Neo-Nazis" and other scum that are attempting to ruin America and the rest of the world. That would be like shooting ducks in a barrel.

It's just too easy to point out how flawed the personalities of those people are. Everyone knows it. It's been said a hundred times on the media. And yet the "president" and his vp and other cronies don't see a problem with racism or the Nazi party and what it stands for.

Something just came to me...why haven't I heard anything from the religious right? They have always been quick to comment on the beliefs of liberal thinking people. And yet they are strangely quiet about this blatant racism by these politicians and the hate groups they fail to condemn.  

Maybe it's just me. It's 2017. Are they all that ignorant of history? Apparently so.

No nice photos today.

Maybe next time...

Meanwhile, Back in Carolina...

 Somewhere, back in there are a few Wood Ducks and a Great Blue Heron!

 Ah, another beautiful day in Asheville with birds singing and wonderful sunshine to start my morning walk around Biltmore Lake. I had a quick walk in the morning and a much longer walk in the evening with Caron and Brian. I'll tell ya, it's really rough having to visit the boss...and spend time wandering around looking at nature...I mean talking about the inner workings (this short video shows what REALLY goes on!) of Clearsonic Mfg...yeah, that's what we talked about...all day...honest...

But anyway...

 The American Goldfinches have it made down here!

 With all of the lush greenery and juicy worms, this American Robin was still cranky!

Must be all the obnoxious tweets he hears...

 

 I had a few nice shots of this Brown-headed Nuthatch, but this one was just a bit Nuttier...

 I rarely get a nice close view of a male Northern Cardinal. 

For some reason, this guy was very patient with me...and I thanked him.

Caron and Brian kinda ignore me when I talk to birds...smart...

 Something up above really got the attention of this Chipping Sparrow.

Maybe and evening snack?

 Pfftttt.....

 This is very rare photographic evidence that Green Herons do the Hokey-Pokey.

"You put your left wing out..."

 "You put your right wing out..."

And then you vote the bums out of office.

Sorry...had to do it....I have a bad case of Trumpitis... 

Sad, very sad...

 This guy loves looking at himself too...

"I'm so handsome, I'll make Heron great again..."

 Anyway, it's getting dark out(not unlike America's future) and the birds are getting harder to photograph. This juvenile American Robin took once last look around before bedtime.

 BIRD OF THE WEEK!

Brian is getting good at spotting birds!

This Black-and-White Warbly was skulking in a darker corner of the trail when Brian saw it.

I just shot quickly without adjustments, you never want to dawdle when a warbly is involved!

We'll have to make a "Warbly Award" for him!

 I saw House FInches that were more on the yellowy side in Florida once. 

I was surprised to see them here as well.

 One of my last shots of the evening was this Eastern Kingbird surveying his realm.

Somewhere behind us we could hear a Yellow-billed Cuckoo calling.

I went back to the area the following morning and heard him calling again, but could never locate him. I guess I'll have to go back...

 While we were watching the sunset, the moon rose and gave us an equally lovely view.

 One butt for the road...and I dedicate this ass to the republicans that believe everyone should have a gun to shoot their neighbors, and Right to Life is only important until you're born, then you have no right to live a healthy life.

Only in America...great...

Until we meet again...

And So It Begins...

 All hail the first warbly of May(sort of...) at Magee!

Yep...it has begun...the insanity of chasing warblies and migrants all over Magee Marsh...and Ottawa...and Metzger Marsh...and Sheldon Marsh...and...I'm tired already! So far I have 7 folders of photos taken in the past few weeks and the migration madness that I haven't labeled. So, the heck with it for now!

The first few pics here are from April 15th at Magee, a very quiet day, but a day off of work AND a day with the birds and good friends at Black Swamp! All in all it was still fun to be out searching through the tangles for anything moving. I love the hunt!

 I think this Great Egret was rather enamoured with itself...

 Blanding's Turtles are endangered, so it's always good to see one in Crane Creek!

 Sorry, but Horned Grebes still scare me.

Those screwy eyes!

 No time for you...sorry.

"Why is everyone ignoring me?"

 I felt bad for the dozens and dozens of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, just because they aren't warblies doesn't mean they aren't beautiful too!

 The last of the White-throated Sparrows...on the way to Canada...sounds like a good idea right now...

 These are from my second day at Magee. Off of work...and of course it's going to be a drizzly day. It is spring along Lake Erie after all! There was a little more excitement along the boardwalk on the 30th...and a few more people to say hello to. This time of year I see so many bird buddies that I only see at Magee during the Biggest Week. It's like a reunion...a reunion with my warbly friends too!

 You know you're having a good day when you open your mouth to sing and a bug flies in!

(Look real close!)

 

 The lone Black-throated Blue Warbly of the day.

 

 ...and the lone Blackburnian Warbly of the day too!

You can't always get a great photo, but you can always get a great memory!

 Holy cow! A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher sitting still for me!

 Did I mention that I saw a "few" Yellow-rumped Warblies?

 It's always a good day when you get a Chestnut-sided Warbly!

 

 There were also plenty of tail waggin' Palm Warblies  out too!

 I need to start shooting video so you could see his tail bobbing!

 

 I need to thank the nice couple that spotted this Green Heron along the creek on the opposite side of the boardwalk. 

I never would have seen it...color blind...and not too bright either(me that is.)

 

 Hahahahahaha!

 Okay fine. Here's a proper photo of a Great Egret...

 This is the look I'll give you if you dare say "Oh, it's just another Yellow-rump."

Look at the colors and the patterns! You don't see that everyday!

 

 The Gray Catbird saying "Harry!"

Listen closely next time and you'll hear it!

 Folks sometimes go right past our regular residents like this Downy Woodpecker.

They deserve some lovin' too!

 Yep, lots of Palm Warblies...yep...

 

 This is, by far, the fattest Rose-breasted Grosbeak I have ever seen.

AND he just got here!

 Take a break from looking up and scan the mud in the marsh.

There's a Solitary Sandpiper and a Lesser Yellowlegs out there.

I'm sure there were a few others as well...and ducks...and...

 The couple that spotted the Green Heron also spotted this Sparrow.

For some reason people think I know what I doing...this time I got lucky and knew that was a Swamp Sparrow...hard to believe...

It's easy to believe this is the best shot I took...skills...yep...

 A little Muskrat love...

 And of course...a Yellow-rumped Warbly from behind!

You know I have a few of those!

 And for now, I'll leave you with this Chestnut-sided Warbly booty!

Enjoy the May Madness!!!

I hope to see you on the boardwalk in the upcoming weeks...make sure to say hello!

*A little rant to all of the folks that believe healthcare is only for those that lead "good' lives...I hope a bird shits in your mouth and you die of salmonella. I hope that wasn't too harsh...okay, back to birding...

"Alternative Facts..."

 Oh those Gully things! Those are my FAVORITE birds!

I have decided to adopt the Untied(yes, that's what I meant) States glorious leaders motto of "Alternative Facts." From now on I shall use my alternative reality and its accompanying alternative facts on my blog.

Did you know?...there is no global climate change, no wars that can't be won with more weapons of mass destruction, no harmful pollution, chemicals in your food are good for you, drilling for oil is promotes healthier birds and the Trump administration is COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT with the public...Yes, it's all true...in our alternative reality.

Thank you for listening if you're still here. That will be my rant for the month, after all, it's been a while since I've lost my cool here. Lucky you.

Speaking of alternative facts...a couple of weeks ago I called in...uh..."sick" from work on a Wednesday. The temps were going up to 60f! Ack-ack...I don't feel well...ack-ack... Plus there was a special visitor near my old house that wanted desperately to be photographed from behind. And I got the mad skills yo!

 Early in the morning and it was friggin cold out there!

Maybe it was the wind blowing across the ice...

 Hey look!

Out in the clear water was a Hooded Merganser!

Of course they weren't going to come any closer for me, butt at least he gave me the right view.

 I should mention that I am quite close to downtown Cleveland at Wendy Park.

And of course there's a Double-crested Cormorant searching the Cuyahoga River for something unfrozen to eat...

 Yep, more of my favorite gully type birds...hmmm...are those Lesser or Greater Black-backed Gulls on the breakwall?

Who cares...they're gulls.

Oh wait! I care! I almost forgot that I live in Bizarro World now.

 Right, and I saw 79 Northern River Otters walking through Public Square.

 Cold Duck.

Mallards to be exact.

Brrr...

 A poor lonely Lesser Scaup looking for friends.

I wasn't good enough.

Maybe because I can't swim.

"It's cool...I'll be fine...don't worry about me..."

Poor lil duckie.

 Yeah, it wasn't 60 standing by the lake.

Not even close!

I've been out there in worse though.

 I watched this Red-tailed Hawk chasing pigeons.

No luck for him...he gave up and had a rest atop this pole.

I never saw one chase pigeons before.

 This is one of those hidden picture photos.

Find the gull.

Good luck.

Prize winners will be announced in 4 years...

 I'm still like a little kid(watch it!) 

I get excited when I see tug boats chugging through the harbor.

 

 This is why I took the day off...wait, I was sick...yeah...and on the way to the doctors office I saw this Ross's Goose!

Yeah, that's the answer...yep.

 Why are you looking at me like that?

Would I lie?

Shoosh!

I'll leave you now with this lovely feathery fanny.

And good luck with that other behind in Washington. That's a butt shot I can live without.

See ya!