Showing posts with label Merganser. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Merganser. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 29, 2017


I've been asked quite often lately why I haven't been posting anything on this blog. I've avoided answering most people or just saying I haven't had anything interesting to share.

The real answer? With all of the news of the world, I've felt this blog and my humor were pointless and had nothing to add to or help with the current situation. Discussions of politics have alienated a few friends so, I just thought it best to not say a word.

This may be my last post for quite some time, so I'm going to say what I think and you can comment if you like, call me names, whatever you like...or just delete this. People often forgot that they don't have to view or read everything in front of them, you have free will, at least for now.

Let's just stick to the main problem right now...that man named Trump. He's an obvious racist, making a joke of the Native Americans that were WWII heroes with his snide comments, his constant attacks on Muslims, going as far as re-tweeting anti Muslim hate videos. He is supposed to be a leader. A leader should be tactful...unless of course your hero is Hitler, then I guess what Trump is doing would be fine...Muslims, Jews...what's the difference?

He and so many of his rabid followers claim to be good Christians, yet they profess hatred and greed. Aren't Christians supposed to help their neighbors? Love everyone as they were your equal? I'm not a religious person, so maybe I'm mistaken...To Trump and his ilk, getting rid of health care has been one of their priorities. Health care is bad for America, we need to keep our citizens weak and starving and struggling to pay for over priced meds. Escalating our war machine is a better way to spend tax dollars in their minds.

And then there's those wacky Republicans trying to force through their own tax agenda. Democracy? That has no place in our government any longer. Tax breaks for the rich and large corporations, the middle class and the poor will pick up the slack as usual. Trickle down didn't work for Reagan and it won't work now.

There's so much wrong with him and the policies he's trying to force upon us...The lack of gun control, mass murders must not be a big deal after all...gotta build that wall! The wall will save Mexico from our mass murderers and gun dealers, maybe it is a good idea. And don't forget about the environment...a few hundred temporary jobs building a pipeline...or cleaning up oil spills is much more important than clean air and water. More Coal! It's clean!

Read faster! Net Neutrality is going away along with First Amendment rights and blogs will be a thing of the past, unless you're rich enough to able to afford internet service and have the right lobbyists backing you. 

Well, I better stop now before my blood pressure gets too high, I won't be able to afford my drugs soon.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

A Dark and Dreary Day...and damp...and drizzly...and actually two days...that were damp...and dank..and...

 Yes. That American Wigeon IS crashing into the butt of the one in front of him.
Some kids just don't pay attention...must have been texting...

So...it really was a dark and dreary day in Shreve for the annual  Migration Sensation....and damp...and cold...I wonder why I was sick the following week...hmmm...at least I kept my camera dry. Remind me to re-waterproof my boots...

I must say I did have a great time even with the questionable weather. I met up with a lot of old friends that I only see once a year, and made some new ones too! I spoke with my good buddy Karen from Black Swamp Bird Observatory and Robert from Time and Optics(watch for their new catalog coming soon with a few photos from yours truly!) Oh, did I mention PIE? HOMEMADE AMISH PIE? Yeah, I had that too! After wandering around the Shreve Elementary School where the festivities are held and listening to a couple of great talks from Jim McCormac and Cheryl Harner, I finally made it out for  some bird cruising around the farmland of Shreve.

Wright Marsh is always a great place for duckies and them lil wet birds...I would recommend bringing a scope...or a 1000mm lens if your budget allows. Some days you can get fairly close, this day, not so much. Oh, and when it's like this a flash would be better on your camera and not at home. At least I remembered my rain cover for the camera and lens...I spent the longest time slogging through the muck at Wright, I love that place. There's always something good to see and you never know from year to year. Remember waterproof boots. I'll remember next year...

This year brought the largest quantity of Sandhill Cranes I've ever seen! Probably a dozen on Saturday and another dozen on Sunday! And a few thousand ducks...and Tundra Swans! If you've never been to the Shreve Migration Sensation, look it up next year and make the effort to go. It's a small town and they put a lot of effort into it. It's very inexpensive to attend, only $15 this year. And there's pie.

 Yep,  m r ducks.
LOTS of them!
And that's not dirt on the top of my lens...that's more ducks zooming back and forth.

 There's otters out there...somewhere...I didn't see one...as usual...

 This is why you should never fly below another American Wigeon.
That's gonna leave a mark...

 Canada Geeseseses are loud.
VERY loud.

"Derp."

 Whatever this Downy Woodpecker just ate made his hair stand on end...
Must have been a spicy one...

 This male Hooded Merganser was trying to keep a low profile as he was stalking that female...

 I saw a couple of Horned Grebes during the weekend.
This one even decided to get closer to see what I was doing on the ground.
"Silly man, you should be in the water!"

 ...still no...

 This pair of Sandhill Cranes were walking along the dike at Wright Marsh.

 There were dozens and dozens of my little Song Sparrow buddies singing up a storm.
Hey, maybe that's why it was raining!
 
 There must be good nom-noms in there!

 So many ducks, so far away...
The noise from the Tundra Swans was amazing to hear!

 The swans almost drowned out the Red-winged Blackbirds...almost...

 There's always an argument when you get that many together...
"We should migrate now! No, tomorrow!...No! NOW!...NO..."
Kids...

 A few decided to leave...

 Anytime there was any movement, from me, the trains going past, the bald eagle flying over, everyone was up and away...flying in aimless circles, then landing again.

 I also went to Shreve Lake and the area around Funk Bottoms(I love that name!)
This was one of the Sandhill Cranes that zoomed around that day.

 It's always worth your time to check the flooded farm fields.
There were a few Northern Shovelers  on this day, there have been Eurasian Wigeons on other occasions.

 Yes, that's all ice  around there.
These early arrival Tree Swallows had to fly through and look for openings in the ice.

 Funk had dozens of Northern Pintails...and a Great Blue Heron...among the Mallards and Green-winged Teals in the area.

 LOTS of Pintails!

 That's all for now!

I'll see you soon with more birdies...and no otters!


Wednesday, January 25, 2017

"Alternative Facts..."

 Oh those Gully things! Those are my FAVORITE birds!

I have decided to adopt the Untied(yes, that's what I meant) States glorious leaders motto of "Alternative Facts." From now on I shall use my alternative reality and its accompanying alternative facts on my blog.

Did you know?...there is no global climate change, no wars that can't be won with more weapons of mass destruction, no harmful pollution, chemicals in your food are good for you, drilling for oil is promotes healthier birds and the Trump administration is COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT with the public...Yes, it's all true...in our alternative reality.

Thank you for listening if you're still here. That will be my rant for the month, after all, it's been a while since I've lost my cool here. Lucky you.

Speaking of alternative facts...a couple of weeks ago I called in...uh..."sick" from work on a Wednesday. The temps were going up to 60f! Ack-ack...I don't feel well...ack-ack... Plus there was a special visitor near my old house that wanted desperately to be photographed from behind. And I got the mad skills yo!

 Early in the morning and it was friggin cold out there!
Maybe it was the wind blowing across the ice...

 Hey look!
Out in the clear water was a Hooded Merganser!
Of course they weren't going to come any closer for me, butt at least he gave me the right view.

 I should mention that I am quite close to downtown Cleveland at Wendy Park.
And of course there's a Double-crested Cormorant searching the Cuyahoga River for something unfrozen to eat...

 Yep, more of my favorite gully type birds...hmmm...are those Lesser or Greater Black-backed Gulls on the breakwall?
Who cares...they're gulls.
Oh wait! I care! I almost forgot that I live in Bizarro World now.

 Right, and I saw 79 Northern River Otters walking through Public Square.

 Cold Duck.
Mallards to be exact.
Brrr...

 A poor lonely Lesser Scaup looking for friends.
I wasn't good enough.
Maybe because I can't swim.
"It's cool...I'll be fine...don't worry about me..."
Poor lil duckie.

 Yeah, it wasn't 60 standing by the lake.
Not even close!
I've been out there in worse though.

 I watched this Red-tailed Hawk chasing pigeons.
No luck for him...he gave up and had a rest atop this pole.
I never saw one chase pigeons before.

 This is one of those hidden picture photos.
Find the gull.
Good luck.
Prize winners will be announced in 4 years...

 I'm still like a little kid(watch it!) 
I get excited when I see tug boats chugging through the harbor.
 
 This is why I took the day off...wait, I was sick...yeah...and on the way to the doctors office I saw this Ross's Goose!
Yeah, that's the answer...yep.

 Why are you looking at me like that?
Would I lie?
Shoosh!

I'll leave you now with this lovely feathery fanny.

And good luck with that other behind in Washington. That's a butt shot I can live without.

See ya!

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Urban Developement...

 An American Redstart decided this new park would be a good place to live.

So...where were we? Let's see...crazy rant that no one listened too...crazy bird spin drying...yep, that's it. Cleveland Lakefront State Park, aka Dike 14, number 15 on the "Longest Twitch" countdown!
 I have a new toy, a Bushnell BackTrack gps device that tracks where you go with loads of info!

Great weather and a wonderful place to visit just minutes from downtown Cleveland, this place is great escape for folks in the city. We spent 4 hours and walked three miles and, as you can see by the above map, we only covered a small bit of the area! The amount of wildlife in this reclaimed area is astounding, snakes (watch out Chris!), birds, butterflies, dragonflies and mammal! We really need to visit this park more often.

 This is the female American Redstart, skulking around and waiting for us to move on before entering her nest. 
These are uncommon nesters around here.

 

Why it's a Speckle-breasted Worm-eating Ground Thrush...
or an American Robin juvenile...

 The city of Cleveland just down the shore line and a beautifully calm Lake Erie.

Those good birds are "always on the wrong side of the tree!"
I finally found a skinny (like me) tree!
This Common Yellowthroat thought he was being sneaky...

Loopy and The Doodles birdin' on the lake front.

 An Eastern Comma butterfly warming up after a long winter hiding in the woods.

This place is very lush for a former dredge pile!
When they dredged the Cuyahoga River, all the much was piled up and this place was created.

 Part of the bazillion Gray Catbird welcoming committee...

 The Doodles only gives the place a "one bench" rating.
No where to take a load off when you get inside the park, but they do have picnic tables and a visitors center outside.

Great Egrets Batman!

 The only shot of the only Magnolia Warbler I saw...and it wasn't a butt!

This is a Question Mark. Really. That's what it's called!
If you look at the underwing, the little white marks form a question mark.
Clever, eh.

This is a Red Admiral.
He took off his navy hat so it's kind of hard to tell.
 I'm a professional.
Don't be jealous.

Wacky Red-breasted Merganser trying to tan his REALLY white belly.
Give it up, no one cares...
 
This Red-winged Blackbird laughs at my jokes...
or was he just laughing at me?

Yes you are correct,  this Song Sparrow IS sticking his tongue out at me.
No one respects me...I'm so sad...boo-hoo.

What's with these birds out here? It must be the city attitude!
Even this Swainson's Thrush is giving me the crazy eye!

You can tell your in the city from certain angles.
Willow Flycatchers don't care.

LOTS of them!

Dozens and dozens of Yellow Warblys chasing each other all over the park!

 And of course, none sitting still long enough for a portrait.

May a Maniacal Merganser give you a big booty flash splash if you don't call your representatives NOW to help save our state parks from drilling, mining and logging!
 
Check out these links:
Mohican Advocates has letters and petitions for you to sign and use.
You can find your Senator here:
You can find your state Representative here:
The Nature Conservancy:

The National Audubon Society:

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds:
 
Thanks for your help!