Signs of Spring!

You knew, somewhere in the back of your mind, that this was going to happen!

The February thaw came at last...at least a little bit of a thaw. Me and the Doodles were just being lazy at the BirdMobile and thought we could feel a little more 'spring' in our step. So, off we went, on another adventure to see if we could find any signs of spring out there. We stopped at Northwood's Nature Trails Park, always a good place for a walk...

AND! We found a few signs of spring...it wasn't easy either...but I do these things for you...really.

A pair of American Tree Sparrows showing their utter disgust for me.

Don't turn your back on me! I'm just looking for signs of spring!

Horned Larks frolicking in the snow?
I don't think that's a sign...

We don't see these guys very often...
It'll be even less often if they keep playing in the street!

Oh, there's a sign of spring!
Buds on the trees!

Bald Eagles are busy with their nests...and their eggs!
Except for this guy...he's making a grocery run.

This is the Doodles being patient.
For "Birthentines"* day, she got to pick where we went, though she still had to put up with me.
*Birthentines is the combination of her birthday and Valentines day which fall way too close together!

Spring is coming up almost everywhere you look!
Sometimes you have to look really hard!

No, this photo isn't sideways OR upside down!
It's a Red-breasted Nuthatch and they're just a little screwy.

Poor Squirrely, he's gotta eat leaves for lunch.

Well, I still think spring is in the air!
And I have the photos to prove it!
So there.

The end.


* Have I mentioned the "Featured Bird(butt) Blogger of the week yet?
Huh, I could have sworn I did.
GO THERE!
GO THERE NOW!
*MAGIC LINKY THING HERE*

A 'Nutty' Kind of Day...

After a day of chores at the BirdMobile, removing and cleaning window screens and installing the storm window to prepare for (ick)winter, we took time for the birds. We've always had good luck at Northwood Nature Trails Park, in Northwood, Ohio. It's not far from Magee Marsh, aka "Heaven on Earth" and we needed a little change.

It started off a bit on the slow side...one White-breasted Nuthatch at the top of a tall oak. Then we spotted a Red-bellied Woodpecker...at the top of a tall oak. Then there was a Blue Jay, you guessed it...at the top of a tall oak. At last we came out into the pine area...and we heard these strange little beeping sounds...Red-breasted Nuthatches! Dozens of them! They were zooming in and out all around us. Doodles was pointing at one, "It's right there in front of me!" Meanwhile I was aimed in the opposite direction... I managed to get a few before they zoomed off to another more delicious looking pine cone, beeping all the way...

This is what the majority of my pics look like...

This little bundle of buzz was busy trying to extricate lunch and ignored me.

He was so proud of himself!
"Hey Mister! Look what I got!"

I don't know what they are, but they looked good!
I asked the Doodles to try one...she politely declined...

There's still a few autumn leaves on the trees.

Dark-eyed Juncos remind me of snowy winters here.
The temps have gone done to the thirties a few times, but no snow...yet...

The pines were full of activity today, from the Nuthatches to many of these Downy Woodpeckers.
There's plenty to eat for everyone!

The Doodles even got a photo of this Deere running through the farm field next to the park!

The only thing faster than the Nuthatch was this Golden-crowned Kinglet!

I caught him before he dived back in to the "lunch tree."

Here's a group of Mallards holding a secret meeting in the "Pond of Silence."

The Milkweed pods have popped and the seeds are spreading.

A little, tiny Ruby-crowned Kinglet playing peek-a-boo!

You can always count on a White-throated Sparrow to pop out when you pish in the shrubs...

The wrong end of a Red-breasted Nuthatch!

*Editorial Comment:
Three Billion Dollars. That's how much money has been wasted on political ads so far this year. Most of it came from big, 'un-named' corporations. Funny how they can't afford to hire anyone because business is bad, but they have the cash to insure their buddies get into office and help to remove regulations designed to protect our citizens. I just don't understand the logic.

The Conservatives are blaming our current situation on the Liberals and vowing to block any bills they bring up. I would like the Conservative politicians to explain how that logic is going to help America rebuild.

I'm going back into the woods to be with the birds...they don't have TV ads...