The view somewhere WAY south of Ohio!
So, there I was, turning right out of my drive...and I blanked out! I awoke hundreds of miles away completely lost, or as I like to say "mis-directed." I must have been driving for hours. Up and down mountain roads, weaving round and round these crazy roads. Nothing was looking familiar. Uh-oh. Sometimes I like to take long drives to escape or to see a lost bird. But this?
By the way, I'm making this all up as I go along. I have a short attention span, and I need to entertain myself...as well as you. I was headed to lovely Asheville, North Carolina to visit my boss and buddies, Caron and Brian. (Shhh...we tell Brian he's in charge, it makes him feel better!) I had a fantastic drive through Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina. The weather was sunny and cool the whole way, made me sort of wish I was driving the convertible...next time...
You're probably wondering why it says "chapter 7" in the title...I decided to start with the last day of the trip...(because that was the easiest to edit!) I went birding every morning in Asheville and took more than seven or nine photos...AND I got a lifer to boot! So, stay tuned...
Why is it that all birds, like this Downy Woodpecker, love to give the crazy eye?
Am I that odd?
(Shut up.)
YEA!!!
I made it to beautiful Marietta, Ohio to visit my great friend, Dawn, at Bird Watcher's Digest magazine. I also met everyone that I hadn't met before in the office. Bill Thompson III was in and I got to speak with him briefly. (He thinks he's in charge too, but we really know Elsa is the boss!)
If you haven't seen this magazine, WHY NOT?! It's a great family run business with wonderful articles and photographs(including mine!) that comes out bi-monthly. Please go to there website and check them out. We all have to help small business!
After a great lunch with Dawn along the shores of the mighty Ohio River, I went to visit Kroger Wetland to get some natural healing before the long drive back home. It was only a block from the office and even in the afternoon, there was a lot to see...including a Cooper's Hawk being chased by American Crows...though I didn't get a shot of it. You'll have to trust me, hard I know...
Anyway, subscribe to the magazine and tell them I sent you...though they may charge you extra.
http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/
A nice peaceful spot for a rest...
There were lots of Black-capped Chickadees(that wouldn't hold still,) American Goldfinches and this House Finch that was pigging out on these seeds.
Oink.
Oops. He must have heard me making piggy sounds...
Sorry.
No stoopid Otters!
There were a number of Orange Sulphur butterflies in the field.
We had snow this week, that may have been their last hurrah.
Oh my!
That's one of my favorite non-warbly birds skulking there!
So nice of this Song Sparrow to come out and say hello.
Truly one of my favorites.
He even took a bow...so polite.
I think these are the best shots I've ever taken of a Songster if I may say so.
And to top off an already lovely day with friends, both feathered and not, I saw a Swamp Sparrow! And finally a good photo!
Stay tuned for the further adventures of...
On The Road With Loopy!...y'all...
