Wetlands...

 You never know where you'll find wetland habitat.

This is in downtown Columbus, Ohio

 This Saturday, June 22nd 2013, the Ohio Wetland Association will be holding their annual meeting AND jamboree at the historic Homer Page Farm near Milan, Ohio. You know Milan, Ohio! It's the birthplace of Thomas A. Edison. Wow...three plugs in one sentence! I think that's a record for me...

A lot of people don't think about our endangered and disappearing watery habitats very much. They should. Especially birders. There's so many species to be found migrating through these areas and breeding and nesting as well. For decades, wetlands were considered nuisance areas and should be drained for farmland and development. "Let's make something useful out of that marsh!" Not realizing that these marshy areas help filter and clean out water that we so kindly pollute.

Now that we're hitting the summer season and the migrating warblys have passed us by for Canada, this would be a good time to visit your local misty moisty area and take a peek. You'll be surprised by all that's going on around you!

 Hey Doodles! 

Look at those Common Moorhens, oops, Gallinules fighting over who's gonna get the photo taken!

We're just starting to see more dragonflies appearing for summer buggy fun!

These Black Saddlebags are easy to spot as well as dozens of other species.

A good substitute for warblys in the summer!

 

 Oh yeah... Magee Marsh.

Definitely my favorite marsh in May!

You can find warblys and migrants in May, dragonflies and marsh birds in the summer, 

and shorebirds and ducks flying through in the fall.

 Every time I see a Green Heron, they look a little different.

This chubby guy was at Sanibel Island, Florida.

 

 Speaking of Florida...

We saw this Limpkin's butt while on a visit, give me a minute and I'll remember where...or not...

 

 Meadowbrook Marsh is very close to Magee.

The folks in this town realized how important this type of habitat is and restored it. 

Three cheers for them!

 

 You'll also see Midland Painted Turtles among others...and frogs...and snakes...and bugs...and...

 You didn't think I would forget one of my favorite wetland nesting warblys did you?

Oh boy, it's a Prothonotary Warbly thing!

Everyone gets excited when they see on of these bright little birds!

 

 Then there's the National Wildlife Refuge Systems.

These are supported by hunters when they buy their duck stamps.

Have YOU bought a duck stamp? Hmmmm?

This is Ottawa NWR.

 

 So, where do you think Sandhill Cranes nested?

Yep, marsh moisty wetlands.

 This Virginia Rail was not in Virginia...though I think it's name was Virginia...or Bob...

 Sandy Ridge Reservation is a great place to visit with woodland and wetland habitats.

You can spot Bald Eagles, Sandhill Cranes, herons, ducks and shorebirds there.

 Ummm...these Sora are not fighting...they're...ummm...making more Soras. Yeah, that's it.

 

 Look closely and you may be surprised at what you see in a marsh!

Besides Wood Ducks...and yes, this is a real photo and I DO NOT use Photoshop in any of my photos!

 

And now for the token booty shot!

We found this Common Snipe sharing the boardwalk at the Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation with us.

He's so kind to lead the way.

NOW GET OUT THERE AND GET YOUR FEET WET!

Lost and Found...

I remember taking this photo at Sandy Ridge, butt I could never find it..until now!

This is the beginning of the "Lost and Found" photos. I guess the crashing hard drive has its good points. It has forced me to go through all of my files and photos. It brought back some good memories of birding with the Doodles and our buddies. And also the nightmare of trying to identify all of the shorebirds...argh! I may post the shorebird photos unlabeled, because they all look alike and I can't remember anything more than an hour or so ago...

This is the beginning of the "Lost and Found" phot....wait a second...I just typed that...I guess my hard drive has a few bugs too...

We saw this Black Phoebe on our San Diego, California trip two years ago.

I found a whole days worth of pics that I never titled, it's just like Christmas!

Blue Gray Gnatcatchers (pronounced 'GA-natcatcher!) are one of those little birds that hate to be photographed, at least in focus.

Too much sugar or something...

Oh yeah, another good butt shot! This Hooded Merganser was in the San Diego,CA area also.

That's my brother Phil on the left, choking in the smoke of the fire at the BirdMobile.
The Doodles actually built that fire all by herself! (with a little help from the Loop! Shhh!)


This is my first view of a Limpkin. The wrong end of course...
There where a few shots from Florida last January that I somehow overlooked.


I have two folders from Sandy Ridge that I missed somehow.
There are an amazing number of Red-headed Woodpeckers residing there.
We had a visit from Kelly the Peanut a couple of weeks ago and made a trip out there to show her these gorgeous birds.

You would be as cranky looking as this Song Sparrow if you were out in a snow storm.
I remember this walk because the snow was up to the Doodles knees and she couldn't go any farther down the trail! Poor, poor Doodles...


Huh, a Western Gull, in focus and from the front. How did this picture get in here?

This shot of two Wilson's Snipes was taken on an evening while we were searching for a Ruff.
We were at Sandy Ridge five nights in a row looking for that rare bird and never found him.
Butt, we did see more than half a dozen Snipes and Soras and one crazy looking Virginia Rail zooming through the marsh!

I still have a number of files to go through and hopefully I'll find a few fantastic fannies to show!

Life butts...part one...

Of course, the ONLY shot in focus is a rump shot...go figure...It's a Purple Gallinule by the way...

Maybe you've noticed I haven't posted much lately. Maybe you're happy because of that fact. Well, tough, I'm back in business again! The computer is back together, and yes, the wires are sorted out. Wise guys...I have lost a few files of photos somewhere in cyberspace, oh well. I've also come across a number that I never labeled, so over the winter I may post some "Lost and Founds."

In the meantime, I am going to share, whether you like it or not, our life birds of 2009...and maybe even a few from the front...

The only shot that came out of the White-winged Dove is this one on a feeder.

I made the others go away...DELETE,DELETE,DELETE!

This Painted Bunting was the reason we went to Florida in January...besides no snow there.
I'm not sure whether he was flashing me or trying to sell me a Rolex in this shot.

Yep, Mottled Ducks, very motley.

This may be my favorite butt of 2009.

Even this Limpkin is trying to bend around to see his own fantastic fanny!

As you can tell, we started off the year with a bang in Florida. What a place to visit in the winter to see birds, so many, so big and so patient!

I have to give special thanks to our birdin' buddies, Norma and Lloyd for spending some time with us on our visit and showing us the choice birding spots!

Lost for words today...

A Green Heron at Green Cay, almost too close to get a shot!

I'm still going through the Florida pics and working on a slide show about the birds down there, as well as finishing up a show on birding in Britain. So, I have birds on the brain and I decided just to post photos today...some are even from behind, go figure!

An American Coot, just like me!

Uncommonly attractive Common Moorhen.

Our lifer Limpkin! Great pose, why is he looking at me like that?

A Little Blue Heron taking a break and looking suave.

I think Pied-billed Grebes are the cutest little things (corny, eh?)

Don't Royal Terns remind you of Peter Boyle?

A White Ibis, even being color blind, the eyes and bill are amazing to see.