Autumn at Ottawa...

Last of the fall warblys.
I don't often get the opportunity to see the yellow stripe on the head of Yellow-rumped Warblys!
I usually see the yellow spot at the other end...

Just a couple of minutes down the road from my favorite Magee Marsh is Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, my second favorite place to be. It was a great autumn day for a walk through the woodland area of the refuge. It was a sunny and warm day with just enough insects buzzing about to keep our feathered friends full...and the Doodles swatting at thin air. It's fun to watch!

Oh, almost!
I'm getting closer to shooting an in focus portrait of a Brown Creeper...one of these days!

This is a Canada Goose that was hard of hearing.
"What's that? Speak up!"

This pretty little Dark-eyed Junco means it's going to snow soon. Nuts.

Golden-crowned Kinglets move at lightning fast speeds in and out of shrubs and trees.
Sometimes you just have to keep shooting and up they'll pop!

Waaaaay back there in the deep, deep woods is a bird.
Well, looky there, it's a Northern Flicker!

Be very, very quiet, I'm hunting Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
Now say it like Elmer Fudd...go ahead, it'll be fun...huh-huh, wooby.

Look at that very fine streaking, I do believe this is a Savannah Sparrow!

Remember my post of last week when I asked for ID help?
Figure this one out, I dare you!
I'll give you a hint, it's a Thrush...and this was the only shot I got.

This is a little bird that must be on crack.
I have never watched anything jump up and down and in and out of a log as fast as this Winter Wren.
I gave up on him...

This is my token autumn leaf photo.
Appropriately enough, that's an Autumn Meadowhawk too!

There's still a few butterflies flitting about, like this Clouded Sulphur...

...and this Eastern Comma.

I hope this Grasshopper knows about Aesop's Fables!

I'm so cheap...instead of giving the Doodles flowers, I just say
"Hey, look at these flowers!"
(and watch out for the bee...oops, too late.)

I'll leave you for now with this very cute Golden-crowned Kinglet.
If you look hard, you can see his golden crown!

No Mysteries Monday...

No mystery here...it's Doodle-Booty!
Actually it's not a Doodles Booty, it's a Wilson's Snipe!(thanks Paula)
My stealthy stealthiness paid off this time!
Well, not really, after I spotted him from the car, I slammed on the brakes of the DoodleMobile,
put it in 'R' and jumped out, got the camera and started shooting.
He didn't care, he just did his wobble walk...off into the grass...toodles doodles!

We made it back to our peaceful place, Magee Marsh this past weekend. It's always great to go to your special getaway...and get away from all the moronic political TV ad's...idiots. Anyway, two days, no TV, nice happy birds, dinner with friends and a roaring fire...that will be in a later post. Very warm.

Walking along the boardwalk in autumn is outstanding. It's so tranquil, just hearing the fallen leaves crunching underfoot as you walk along. Aaahhh...

This Wilson's Snipe stayed still long enough for me to get a butt shot and a profile!
This is the first time I saw one's under carriage this clearly.

Serenity.

These mushrooms may explain the Doodles giggling...

If you look very closely at this Ruby-crowned Kinglet's crown, you will notice a bit of rubyness!

And this would be my normal view of the Kinglet...ZOOMIES!!

No amount of preening can make that rustiness go away!

It's always exciting when we get to see these Rusty Blackbirds.
They are always skulking and well hidden
As David Sibley says, listen for the gurgling "chrtldltlr."

I've developed a special pishing technique that makes birds pop up facing away from me.
It works especially well on White-throated Sparrows. Really.

After they pop up, I give them a quiet 'psst' and they turn around.
I don't make this stuff up. Ask the Doodles.

Yellow-rumped Warblys know enough to not eat anything bigger than their head.

I had to post this pretty photo of a Yellow-rump to brace you for the next shot...

Hey everybody! It's the cute Doodles and the obnoxious as always Loopy!
I have my BSBO gang sweatshirt on and my vest with the Birdman patch...we're so cool...