What Day Is It?

 It's hard to sneak up on American Goldfinches to get the proper angle!

 Today's post goes back to two days in late November and early December when I visited my buddies at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory and Magee Marsh. (Yep, you're right. I haven't been out much lately with the camera...)

No lil warbly things out this time of year, butt there's always something to see out there...plus the people are nice!

 The Goldie caught me!

Sorry!

 Eastern Fox Squirrels ALWAYS seem to be eating...I wonder what that is?

 Still not a fan of European Starlings since they take over cavities that our native birds need to nest in.

 It was a bit on the cold and windy side and this Great Blue Heron was trying to hunker down to stay warm.

I asked if he wanted to sit in my car for a bit, he declined.

 Be vewy, vewy quiet...this Great Egret is hunting fwogs...shhhh...

 A Red-bellied Woodpecker striking a dramatic pose.

 Why looky there! They really do have a red belly, and this one is banded too!

Must have been a friend of Black Swamp!

 It's always fun to hear the crazy sounds these Rusty Blackbirds make!

There was a flock skulking through the wetlands.

 And he even turned around for me!

 Tufted Titmouseseses look so cute...butt I'll bet he would try to eat my face off if he was bigger.

I can tell by that look in it's eye...

 Speaking of face eaters, this White-breasted Nuthatch was busy eating the faces of bugs under the bark...

There were dozens of Wooly Bear caterpillars wandering across the boardwalk.

That stripe doesn't actually predict the harshness of the winter by the way...

One of these days I'll post something new...or more warblies from May to chase away the winter blahs!

Looking for the Last of the Warlbies...

 Sneaking up on a Blue Jay isn't easy, butt I got this one...

...then he started screaming and scared everything away...loud mouth.

 I had a nice walk along a different trail at Brust Park in Munroe Falls. I noticed a cut off through the woods that looked seldom traveled and decided to travel it. Some of it looked more like a deer path through the scrub, but there were more birds back there than along the paved path...and no ticks today! 3 hours, but not much to show for it. Some days are like that. It was a great wander though, and I'll have to add it to my spring list!

 The leaves are still full, but the colors are changing!

This Downy Woodpecker was busy finding snacks in this snag.

 My last time here earlier in the summer, I saw an Eastern Kingbird sitting on this nest.

No Kingbirds in sight today...

 Some days you really have to contort yourself to get a shot through the leaves and shrubs!

Gray Catbirds don't always take kindly to being spied on...

 THAT looks like the feathered fanny of a Warbly Thing!

Woo-Hoo!

 The only warbly species I found on this day, Magnolia!

There were a few of them working their way through the tangle of wildflowers.

 My only view of a Song Sparrow today...

He refused to turn around....cranky pants...

 This was the first Wooly Bear caterpillar I spotted so far this year.

I forgot if that stripe means a short winter or a long one...

 I only got a few awful shots of this bird way up in the tree tops.

The light wasn't the greatest, butt at least it's from behind!

Looking at the dark tail and the narrow wing bar, I think it's a female Scarlet Tanager.

The second best bird of the day!

Warblies always come first you know...

 Yes, it was a day of peek-a-boo birdy.

Red-bellied Woodpeckers seem to enjoy that game.

I posted pics a while ago of this Osprey on it's nearby nest.

On this day I watched him fly in circles carrying a fish.

I think he may have been lost and didn't want to ask for directions...

And there he goes, off in another direction.

Someone's going to get yelled at for being late with lunch...

Until we meet again...see ya out there somewhere!

I Can't Find the Bog!...

 Uh...wait...this is Springfield Bog?

So,...there I was...speaking with a naturalist last spring about wetlands in Summit County and she said a great place was Springfield Bog. Then she said it was actually more of a prairie than a bog, but there is a bog there. Apparently late August is the wrong time of year to see the bog. Leave it to me...

I had a great walk in the warm(HOT!) sun searching for birds and bugs. Probably not my best decision walking the prairie path with a big lens on a hot windy day. But, what the heck, better than sitting at home with a cool drink in the air conditioning relaxing in my lounge chair...hmmm...well too late.

This really is a nice quiet place away from everything. The path is flat and winding and you're surrounded by the prairie plants and some nice woodland. LOTS of butterflies were out, though this time of year isn't the easiest for birding. I did see a few Field Sparrows out in the middle of the prairie, but the sun was too bright for photos of those guys...not to mention the fact that they were popping up and down playing hide and seek. "Whack-a-Mole" is much easier!

 I took a pic of the sign because I knew I wouldn't remember this...

 There were dozens of fledgling American Goldfinches begging for food!

This guy was picking at the flowers and buds trying to figure things out.

 He gave up and decided to wait for dad to come in with lunch...or was it breakfast?

 Good time for the wind to pick up again!

Shooting in an open area on a windy day makes me say naughty words out loud...

"Poopy poopy pooiness!"

Like that.

 Another hungry mouth to feed!

 I learned something today!

See the ear spot on this Bull Frog?

If it's about the same size as the eye, it's a female.

I never knew that.

 These frogs were in the man made "mini-bog."

 Well I'll be!

It's a Milkweed Tussock Moth on, of all things, a milkweed!

 See those large bugs on the milkweed?

They're called "Large Milkweed Bugs."

Finally, a name that makes sense...

 I looked at him and said...

"Snatch the pebble from my hand, Grasshopper."

He didn't get it either...must not watch enough old TV.

 Walking down the trail, I followed a cut off into the woods.

There I found this sign...and lots of tall scrub...I think the bog is under there...somewhere...

 Ya know, if that Clouded Sulphur would have stayed  still this would have been a lovely photo.

They don't listen well...

 This Clearwing Moth was trying to stay out of the wind...and out of my field of view.

They are really cool moths that fly in the daytime nectaring of flowers.

 

 ...and then we have this Pearl Crescent gang...nectaring on...uh...well...

Let's just say that not every dog walker takes care of their business...

 Pearl Crescents are a rude bunch.

I've never had a butterfly stick its tongue out at me before.

Not nice.

 Pterodactyl.

Tell your friends you saw it here first!

Really.

I Don't make this stuff up you know!

Well...sometimes I don't...

But still, it's a Pterodactyl. 

Really.

 Well, this is a Red-tailed Hawk.

It really is and I saw it with my own wacky eyes.

 LIFER!

I was chasing these dark little butterflies all over with my awkwardly large lens.

A few folks walking by, I'm sure, thought there was something wrong with me.

(Watchit! I can hear you!)

This was the first time I got a photo so I could look it up.

 I love it's name..."Wild Indigo Duskywing!"

 Hmmm...can't find this one in ANY of my field guides!

 

 Silver-spotted Skippers were all over the place!

 ...like I said...everywhere....

 I was trying to catch that Bumbly Bee on the flower, but the wind kept blowing him around.

Being a bumbly is hard work...

 Ooooo...pretty flower!

 You didn't think it could be done...

"Flowers From Behind!"

Another Dave Lewis blog coming soon to an internet near you...

(Hide your children!)

 It was sooo hot, even the Song Sparrows wanted to sweat...but they can't because they're birds.

So they just hang around with their beaks ajar.

Wow, the lessons learned here are amazing, aren't they?

Or not...

 

Just in case you're wondering, there aren't any otters in a bog...or a prairie...or anywhere I am.

Until me meet again...tata!