R.I.P.

Pogo Possum

?-2010

Sorry to say, Pogo has passed on to the great swamp in the sky...or a hole in our neighbors back yard...He had a great last few days, plenty of seed and cracked corn, sunshine and warm temps, and then...R.I.P., Rabies infected Possum.

He was doing a funny dance on our neighbors porch, kind of living up to his name, POGO! First they thought he was just jammin to the kids music, then they realized the very sharp teeth and squirrely(sorry squirrels) attitude meant his little cranium was crashing.

The proper authorities were called in to "take care of the situation at hand" as they say. The Doodles said toodles to Pogo...

Pogo's last visit to the sauna. He may be crazy, but he was clean.

Sunny Sunday...

How often do you get a shot from under a Red-bellied Woodpecker?

Another gorgeous weekend...WITHOUT SNOW! Sunny blue skies and warm temps, a great cure for the cabin fever that was setting in. We decided to get out to the local Cleveland Metroparks for some fresh air and a little birding.

We started out at the Canalway Reservation, in the heart of the city over looking the Cuyahoga River and the Ohio & Erie Canal. After our visit to the Canalway Visitors Center we left for Rocky River Reservation...and that will be continued later...

It's always a little odd to see a Red-bellied Woodpecker perching on a branch.

This park runs through the center of a heavy industrialized area of Cleveland. They have fishing in the river and canal, bird walks, folk music concerts, and a train festival every year.

A sure sign of spring on the north coast!

Lots of Red-winged Blackbirds today!

Must be spring fever...I've never seen Blackbirds hanging upside down before.

Black-capped Chickadee checking me out.

"You got any seed?"

Every other tree had a Downy Woodpecker.

Aren't they cute, all cuddly-wuddly.

They don't know Mourning Doves are Hawk food!

Cardinal booty!

Since Bob was being so good(for a change!), we let him play on the see-saw.

He couldn't find a friend to 'see' with, so the Doodles gave it a try.

She went down, he flew up a tree...

Stay tuned for the further adventures of "Pogo Pigs Out!"

Pogo and Pals...

This was one piggy 'possum!

He cleaned out the cracked corn on the "squirrel" feeder...almost as bad as the Starlings!

I hope somebody besides me remembers POGO! If you don't, click on his name! He was a possum that lived in a swamp in the bayou. We have one living in our swamp...though our swamp is rather snow covered at the moment, and cold, and above water, and no bugs...hmmm, I guess it's not really a swamp...anyway, we have a possum!

I spent everyday this past weekend clearing the drive and the sidewalk of snow, snow and more snow. I don't like snow. WILL IT NEVER END?!

Yes, the snow is up to the seat on our bench!

That's a two foot high fence with about a foot still showing, it's not supposed to snow this much here...where is spring?

During the storm, a Red-tailed Hawk stopped by for a break.

Of course his butt was facing me and he was in the very back of the gardens waiting for the snow to subside, and checking the menu...

"Squirrel I am" said:

I do not like this Hawk.

This Hawk I do not like.

I do not like his squawk.

I do not like his walk.

I do not like him, I can not like him, ack....

(The Hawk liked him...)

A Mourning Dove waiting to be "liked" by the local Cooper's Hawk.

Meanwhile back by the house where it's safe and quiet...
...a House Sparrow in the tangle of vines on our privacy fence.


A House Finch watching the snow fall (and waiting for me to fill the feeders!)

O Boy! The American Goldfinch is starting to get his bright feathers!

And of course, a snowy day wouldn't be complete without a Northern Cardinal from behind.

Think spring.

Playing Possum?

The Doodles spotted this Opossum not playing 'possum, I think...or is it a Possum not playing Opossum...I'm confused...never mind.

While at the BirdMobile, there would be no excuse for not making the trek to Magee Marsh and the boardwalk. I had hopes with the 'warm' temperatures the weatherman spoke of we may find a few birds, maybe an early warbly thing(hah!)...too bad the warm temps were still at the freezing point and the birds, once again, were smarter than the birders and stayed hidden from us.

Maybe next time...

The south end of a north bound Opossum.

Is this what they mean by 'feeling a little grubby'?

The only birds that sat still long enough were Downy Woodpeckers, and quite a few too!
This one threatened to poop on me if I didn't move along.
I gotta find a poop cover for my lens one of these days!


I was going to save this for "International Crappy Photo Day", butt I thought I would share it today...ha.

Who's the cozy bunnie? Wouldn't he make a nice warm lining for my gloves?

(It's only a joke...thinsulate is warmer...and not as messy.)

Dam.

Remember my favorite fish head at Magee? It's under there somewhere.