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!

Back to the Present...

 A hot day in the neighborhood! Even the Ruby-throated Hummers were sitting still.

 Hard to believe, but I'm actually posting from this weekend! Yes, there's more from the crazy migration month...we'll save that for later...In the meantime...YOIKS! It was hot on Sunday when I went to Tallmadge Meadows for a "short" walk through the woodland and around the meadow. The temps were already in the low 90's when I got there in the morning. By the time I finished my "short" walk it was 99 on the car thermometer! And I could feel it. I wonder why the birds were all hiding in the leaves and scrub?

I planned on leaving before lunch when the temps were going to burn me alive, butt I kept seeing a bird here and there...AND THEN...the wild call of a Yellow-breasted Chat...the non-warbly warbly! I followed him back and forth through the scrub and into the trees...for an hour and a half...back and forth...forth and back...and...anyway...stoopid burd never came out. Nope, time spent on fire in the full sun and not a single photo to chat about...jerk burd. All I got was a sun burn. Stoopid human...

Oh well, I had a good time anyway and even managed a few good shots!

 This is a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird winding up for a take off...

 You could even hear the sonic boom when he let loose!

This photo was taken at one millionth of a second...really...fast camera...maybe...

  (Alternative facts are my life.)

 Please note the "rising" icon and the temp alert.

I should have noticed that earlier...

 A smarter than me American Goldfinch, aka imitation warbly, hiding in the shade.

 I could clearly hear this Brown Thrasher laughing at me...a lot...another burd that's a jerk.

 Uh...Cedar Waxwing being fluffy?

 These two were confused by the fluffiness as well...

 This is a Chipmunk frozen in time pretending to be not there.

He needs a little more practice.

 Any day I can sneak up on a "Common" Yellowthroat and get his photo is a good day!

 There was at least a dozen singing in the meadow, I found two!

This one yelled at me for blowing his cover.

Angry little guy...

 This is a dragonfly.

It's not really a dragon or a fly...

 This is another dragonfly that isn't a dragon or a fly.

I need to find a "Dragonflies From Behind" field guide.

 This is a guilty looking Eastern Gray Squirrel.

I think he stole that nut from the frozen Chipmunk.

 Lots of flycatchers out today catching flies.

Except for this Eastern Kingbird.

Please note the juicy bumble bee in the upper right.

Flew right past his face.

Must not like sweet bees.

 Speaking of far sighted birds.

This Eastern Wood-Pewee almost got clobbered by that Virginia Ctenucha moth!

 The moth was being a daredevil and strafed him again!

 "Doh...did you see a juicy bug fly by?"

Love that look of bewilderment...

 Wow...when a Field Sparrow sings, his whole body shakes with those trills!

I need to learn to shoot and post video...

 Okay, first, to the lady that was standing behind me while I was calling out "HARRY!," that's how you talk to a Gray Catbird. I'm not crazy...well...mostly not.

By the way, the catbird called back "David!"

I heard it.

I'll bet that lady talks to herself...at least I only talk to birds...and chipmunks...and bugs...and snakes...

 I also occasionally talk to Midland Painted Turtles when they're sneaking through the wetland.

 ...and sometimes Raccoons...

 I don't talk to Red-bellied Woodpeckers.

That would be silly.

 Enough of that...this Red-winged Blackbird told me to be quiet...

 Um...excuse me, butt you got a little something stuck in your beak. Might want to wipe yer face.

Those Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are messy eaters...

 

 All the Ruby-throats I saw were just chillin' out...or trying to.

 This poor Song Sparrow was singing his brains out, butt sinking lower and lower on that branch.

He needed to take a break.

 This one told me he just wanted to sit for a few minutes and rest.

Me too.

 This is the look you get when you ask a Tree Swallow if he's ever swallowed a tree.

Not evne a chuckle out of him.

Nothing.

 Just the crazy eye...

I think feeding all of those kids did a number on his sense of humor.

 Hey Look!!

It's that Virginia Ctenucha moth that the flycatcher couldn't catch!

 Hmmm...those wacky Empidonax flycatchers...

I think it was a Willow, he disappeared right after this shot...

 Lots of Yellow Warblies were singing...and hiding except for this one!

I got you!

 Just like this Pewee, I waving bye-bye for now!

See ya soon!

Uh...Where Am I and What Day Is It?...

 This is a photo of my thoughts on an average day...

 So...more pics from a few weeks ago...or maybe longer...at Tallmadge Meadows. Great birds, a nice long walk, and even good folks to talk with, what could be better? One day we'll be up to the current date, butt I doubt it. What fun would that be?

In other news, due to my gracefulness, inattention and vertigo...I learned that a Canon 7D MkII, 1.4x converter and 500mm lens do not bounce when dropped from a very tall tripod onto cement. The noise was not good...the noise that came out of my mouth that is. I've since apologized to my neighbors. The camera has been serviced, and amazingly quickly, and works fine. The converter is still away being serviced by the slowest warranty company available. I'm still working with the lens as is. It seems to focus well, at a far distance not so much. It too will go away soon and I will be sad until I get to hold it again. Yes, I'm weird. 500 is my only friend. We're very close.

I'm getting too emotional right now...on with the show...(boo-hoo....)

 Lots of American Goldfinches greeting me straight away!

Just getting out of the car, and there's plenty to see!

 Yep, that's an American Goldfinch playing peek-a-boo while building a nest.

 I was hoping to get a few shots of this Baltimore Oriole...butt...

 "We'll have no photos today!"

 "Annoying paparazzi!"

 And poof...gone.

Next year...

 The insects were more obliging.

This Bumbly Bee stopped for a second to check things out...

 Deciding I was safe, he landed and called his friends for a Bee Balm Banquet.

 Peeking through the wildness, I spied a Chipping Sparrow.

Seconds later it disappeared...

 Just below this Common Yellowthroat, with a beak full of bugs, is a whining kid screaming for dinner.

 I do believe this is the female Common Yellowthroat.

 Aren't you glad you don't have to scratch your neck with your beak?

 Oops! I got caught laughing at him...

 Like so many birds today, this Downy Woodpecker was trying to hide from me.

I used deodorant!

 Name that bird!

I think it may have been a Willow Flycatcher...or not...

 My day of birding wouldn't be complete without at least one Song Sparrow!

 Quite close to the Common Yellowthroat nest was this young Gray Catbird...also screaming for food.

Kids...

 I was getting a severe scolding for being too close to the kids.

I respected their space and left.

 The fields were full of wildflowers and nectar loving insects like this Hummingbird Clearwing moth.

I saw more of these gorgeous moths this year than ever before.

 On the other hand, the butterflies have been sparse.

I saw a few of these Eastern Tiger Swallowtails today.

 Some like to eat upside down.

I tried that when I got home.

I'll never try it again...

 Even Song Sparrows like to stop and smell the flowers.

 What a beautiful voice!

 Junior is listening to dad sing with rapt attention.

Next year it will be his turn.

 Song Sparrows always get my attention too!

 This is one of the few Monarchs I've seen.

People really need to stop using so many chemicals in their gardens.

They kill more than pests!

 This was the only Spicebush Swallowtail I saw in the meadows.

I did see a few skippers, too small and distant for photos, and lots of Cabbage Whites which aren't native.

 I think I was standing still too long looking for butterflies.

This Turkey Vulture started circling me....with a smile on his face...

We're all behind sometimes!

I'll post a few newer photos this week and we'll see what shape the lens is in...crossed fingers!