The Biggest Week in American Birding...part 3?...

A wee lil American Goldfinch...

For me, this was a very strange festival. Normally I would be out everyday at Magee looking for them lil warbly things. This year I was asked to be a bird guide! Luckily for me, maybe unfortunately for them, I led two beginners bird walks at Pearson Metroparks just outside of Toledo, butt still close to Maumee Bay and Magee Marsh.

I was happy to have the company of Diego and Jay from Costa Rica along for the first walk. We had some great birds, great-crested flycatcher AT EYE LEVEL!, Nashville warbly, palm warbly and more. Everyone had a good time and saw some great birds!

The second day I had the company of three reps from Zeiss Optics! I felt awkward with my (lovely) Swarovskis! Another great day with the flycatcher still present! We had about a dozen folks on each trip and I kept my humor to a minimum...very difficult! I'm looking forward to seeing the surveys!

I left my camera behind(OUCH) both days to "focus" on the birds and beginners so I missed the flycatcher when I went back in the afternoon. Next time...

I did manage a few shots though! 

The Black-capped Chickadees were plentiful!

Gotta love those beebees! Wee lil Carolina Wrens...

Searching for food on the shelter roof...

A little snack for the kiddies...

This is what happens when there's a leaf partially blocking my view. There really were two Downy Woodpeckers on the tree...no ghosts!

Hello MODO!

This Red-bellied Woodpecker was keeping an eye on me...

My first Rose-breasted Grosbeak of the year!

Here's a puzzlement...I know it's a thrush...maybe a Veery...it took off before I could see the breast...

This Wren was playing air guitar and singing "Carolina in My Mind!" Honest, it was...I heard it!

 I'll have more photos from the Biggest Week at Howard Marsh and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Unfortunately, I came down with covid and had to quarantine for the rest of the festival...next year! Warblies look out!

More May at Magee!...

 This was the first May at Magee Marsh that I didn't see an American Woodcock.

I did see this nest with eggs right next to my car though!

Another May of mayhem at Magee Marsh is but a memory...now I'll dream of spending more time at Magee next year to see my favorite lil warbly buddies. In the meantime I'll go through the thousand or so photos I shot this year and relive the memories, one fuzzy photo at a time....and make you look at them too!

I also went to Ottawa and Howard Marsh after this morning at Magee...I'll share those soon...

 The Bald Eagles were busy at their nests tending to obnoxious kids begging for food.

 This was the first year I managed to get a couple decent photos of Bay-breasted Warblies!

Even one singing!

 I love pointing out black racer snakes...there's always one person in the crowd that says "Ewwwww!" and runs away.

Now there's more room for me to get some warbly shots!

 This was the popular pose for Black-throated Green Warblies this year.

I saw more than one like this...odd, very odd.

 All the Cape Mays were high up today...and giving me the crazy eye and laughing.

 Terrible pic of a beautiful Cedar Waxwing...they can't all be good...one would be nice though...

 The invisible Eastern Screech Owl.

I never would have noticed him excpet for the fact that he roosts in the same tree most days...

 This Magnolia Warbly was confused by the Maggie tattoo on my arm...

 Amazingly that young Mourning Dove managed to stay in that rickety nest all cozy under mom.

Playing peek-a-boo with a Red-winged Blackbird...as usual...

 Even a color blind guy like me can see a Scarlet Tanager!

 Yummy! Caterpillars for lunch!

This Yellow-rumped Warbly doesn't seem too excited though...nor would I...

I'll leave you for now with a Baltimore Oriole booty!

See ya soon!

Meandering in the Meadow...

 The saddest American Goldfinch ever.

He knows everything is going to be snow covered soon...

Holy Cowbird! This is an actual true to life almost up to date bloggity post! And no, I'm not even close to being caught up, butt what the heck, we're going to skip around and sing tra-la- tra-la. Whee.

So...this short extravaganza of avian photo journalism was made at the Tallmadge Meadows in Munroe Falls Park just a mere week ago. The weather has been very unusual, in case you haven't noticed in your neck of the woods. It was a Sunday that was very warm with even a little sun peeking in and out! I had a great walk for a few hours, spoke with a few other walkers and annoyed no one that I can recall.

So here ya go...some burdz...

 I noticed a man with a camera wandering off trail into the meadow(bad, very bad!) and looked up to see this American Kestrel parked at the top of a tree.

Of course, when said wanderer got to close the burd sped away.

 Don't you hate when you don't notice a stick in the middle of the frame because you can't see it in your tele lens?!

Anyway, this was a lone American Tree Sparrow...that flew after this one crappy shot.

My neck still hurts from bending far enough backwards to get a shot of this Blue Jay at the top of the tree...owie... 

AAAHHH!!!

I never saw a faceless Cooper's Hawk before! 

 Oh, nevermind...he was turned around looking at something...

 He was getting buzzed from above by a number of yakky burbs trying to chase him away.

He was deciding which one would taste better...

 I was surprised...and delighted to see a half dozens Eastern Bluebirds flying in and out of the berry bushes chowing down.

 The berries furthest away always taste better!

 I wonder if any of those were fermented yet?

 This is a Mourning Dove.

They are also known as Cooper's Hawks main course.

Bye-bye Mourning Dove.

A good day for burd buttz! 

Even a Northern Cardinal posed politely for a second.

Well, that's it for now, see you soon!

Looking for the Beaver at the Beaver Marsh...

 A day without a Song Sparrow is a day without sunshine...

...And this past Sunday starting out looking stormy, had some bright sunny patches, started looking gloomy, had some bright sunny patches...and so on. In other words typical weather for north east Ohio. To play it safe and ensure the weather would be great for the other Cuyahoga Valley National Park visitors, I brought the rain cover for my camera. Works every time.

So...anyway...the beavers at the beaver marsh. Remember how I was searching for northern river otters for so long? Well this is the place where I finally saw an otter...for a couple of seconds. The beavers dam has been pointed out to me numerous times, after which a scowl appears on my face. Then someone points out a "beaver" right in front of us...it's a muskrat. "Are you sure? looks like a beaver..." Nope, it's a muskrat. "Well, I don't know..." I do, it's a muskrat. The beavers are hiding with the otters. "my, my...you're kinda cranky..." Shut up and leave me alone to sulk...

I don't understand why folks don't want to be my friend...

 WOW! It's an Orange-breasted Ground Thrush in a tree!

(I can call them anything I want! It's my blog!)

 A pair of very nice ladies walked past and asked if there had been any Bald Eagles sighted recently.

Uh...as soon as you leave I'm sure one will arrive.

And presto...

 Excuse me, Mr. Snek...there's a bug on your beak.

 For some reason folks flip out when I point out the Black Racer that's basking a few feet from them.

Snakes are good!

I'll admit I like watching people jump and run.

 This is a Blue Dasher dragonfly I'm posting for my brother Phil cause he hates bugs.

You're welcome! When's dinner?

 Besides, it's an insect not a bug. There's a difference.

 This Common Grackle picked an appropriate spot to chill out on.

It adds to his spookiness.

 Eastern Kingbird booty!

 A Gray Catbird singing his happy little ditty.

 A Gray Catbird displeased with me singing along.

 A Pterodactyl landing in the marsh.

 I think he may have landed on the Bittern I was trying to find.

 I like when big birds like Great Blue Herons are so close I have to back up to get a shot!

No cropping needed...

 You know your scratched the right itch when your hair stands up.

 The fearsome Green Heron in full stalking mode...

 And a mighty lunge and strike at an unaware little innocent fishy.

 And no fish, just a mouth full of water and duck weed.

Better luck next time...

 Okay, everybody say "Awwww!"

Little fuzzy Mallard!

 Poor Midland Painted Turtle...his front feet don't touch.

I think he got high centered on this log...call AAA for a tow...

 He later got off and didn't think my joke was funny.

You probably didn't either...

 This Mourning Dove looks innocent...until he poops on your car.

 I love hearing the Northern Cardinals singing back and forth.

 Once again, my whistling along was not appreciated.

 Oh dear, this Red-bellied Woodpecker is going to have a very sore neck!

I hope that snack was worth the effort.

 This poor Red-tailed Hawk was just chillin' out minding his own business...

A gang of Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds were dive bombing him...

 He finally gave in.

 There were quite a few Silver-spotted Skippers working along the wildflowers.

 If you would have stayed in the nest, you'd be eating a juicy dragonfly right now.

But, nooo...you have to be a big bird and leave the nest early...

 And there's a few of his siblings now...still one hiding in the nest waiting for a free meal.

 Getting ready for a hot date...gotta check for a nice fresh smell...

 Tree Swallows are just amazing to watch in the sunshine!

 The water lilies are starting to bloom!

 Mrs. Wood Duck and two of the kids relaxing by the pool.

 Mrs- Wood Duck has a bad temper and wants me to leave...fine, I'll leave...

 Another one wonders why I keep staring at them...

It was a great day even if I didn't see that non-existent beaver.

Maybe next time...

Stay tuned!