Success at Last!

 Northern River Otter

 We had gorgeous "summer" weather this past Friday. With temps rising into the 80's AND no rain, I went out to Cuyahoga Valley N.P. and the Ira Road beaver marsh for a little walk after work. I just got my 500mm lens back from repairs and needed to test it out. And what a way to test it!

I spoke with a few birders that were out searching for signs of the spring migration and, of course the subject turned to the invisible otters that everyone claims are real. As we were talking up popped this guy along a log. In the seconds it took me to get on him, he dived under. Nutz...no photo...then up he popped again! He looked around, then right at us and under he went not to be seen again. At long last! I now believe that otters exist.

 PLOOP! He's gone...

 This photo will now be retired...YEA!

 There were things other than otters!

This is a Midland Painted Turtle...lots and lots of them on logs and rocks.

 This Downy Woodpecker was trying to figure out what I was so excited about.

He sees otters all the time...

 Pied-billed Grebes are always smiling...cause they dive under water and see otters...

 Do not pet Snapping Turtles.

They don't care for it.

 The Song Sparrows were singing up a storm...really, a storm came through later.

 Wood Ducks still don't look like wood to me.

 I wonder if this Common Grackle knows the ones that empty my feeders within an hour of being filled.

I asked, but I don't think he heard me.

And to top off a great day...a Yellow-rumped Warbly!

They're back!

Last Month at Munroe...

 A rude little American Goldfinch giving me the razzberries...back atcha bub!

 Yep, yep, yep...really behind...waaaayyyyy behind...oh well. This was from mid July at the lovely Munroe Falls/Tallmadge Meadows Park. And it's only two of the three days in a row I went out there to try to get a better shot of the Yellow-breasted Chat, former warbly thing and still hiding from my camera. They're kind of the feathered version of the "Wack-a-Mole" game...up for a second and back down as soon as you point at them and almost focus. He's up there with that stinking otter...furry jerks...

At least I have lots of photos to look at...and to eventually torment you with...not to mention my slightly deranged commentary. One day I'll get therapy...and I'll probably make the doc go off the deep end too. Wheeeee! Burdzburdzburdzburdz!

 I'm used to looking up for Cedar Waxwings...this guy was creeping along in the weeds and wildflowers.

 I was also playing peek-a-boo with this Common Yellowthroat.

I believe he has a nest just below camera view. I saw him pop down there with a bug, then a little rustling in the weeds, then he was up and out and back shortly with more goodies for junior.

 This is a Cooper's Hawk looking for dinner.

 This is a Cooper's Hawk dinner.

Some people call them Mourning Doves...mourning for each other...

 

 Oh those wacky flycatchers!

I'm sticking with Eastern Wood-Pewee on this one.

I gave up on last weeks pics...

 This is a Groundhog trying to find his shadow.

I didn't have the heart to tell him that he won't see it until February.

Maybe he was just practicing...

 I knew where two sets of Indigo Buntings had nests this year.

I was lucky enough to catch this young one sitting out in the open waiting for dad...and food.

 Indigo Buntings are quite handsome birds...almost up there with warblies in my book!

 

 Here's a happy lil buddy with what looks like grasshopper filet.

Juicy!

 And of course the Song Sparrows were still singing!

 One day I will leave the NOTTER out of a post...nah...

 This is a Red-bellied Woodpecker pretending to be part of the tree.

Needs a little more practice...

 This is a juvenile Common Yellowthroat (thanks to Brian Tinker! )...a lucky find for me!

I never did see an adult...

 The way he was begging, there must have been one near by.

 ...and the Song Sparrows are STILL singing...

 

 If you ever wondered why your cell phone reception goes on and off...wonder no more.

A popular game with Turkey Vultures is  spreading their wings to block your signal.

Another true fact you won't find anywhere else!

(I'll bet I could get a job in the White House!)

 I took a photo of this teasel(maybe a teasel?) just because I thought it was pretty....

 THen when I looked at it on the computer I noticed the fly and the caterpillar...and...

 ...Mrs. Spider and web he wove waiting patiently for dinner to be delivered...

It always amazes me what I find when I look even closer.

 More pretty wildflowers, thistle of some sort...no bugs...

 Another wildflower...I discovered amongst all of my field guides a Peterson guide to wildflowers...from 1968...I think I need a newer one with photos to assist my simple mind...

Maybe Spotted Cowbane...maybe not...let me know if you know then we'll all know...uh...

 I think I need a nap...one last bird butt and I'm out!

Have fun out there and don't forget to take a closer look...and when you arrive home tell your politicians to leave the parks for the people and the wildlife!

An Otter Has Been Seen!...

...BUTT not by me...

 The beautiful Beaver Marsh in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park...sans otters...

So...apparently everyone thinks it's funny to mention the otters they saw...one of these days, someones gonna go swimming in that marsh! I lied to my brother Phil to get him up early and took him to look at birds...and maybe even an otter! I thought he would bring luck(or at least lunch!) At least he made lunch at little later...

I bumped into quite a few birders that were looking for the Least Bitterns and their offspring. One nice guy(I forget names, sorry!) mentioned that he sees the otters often and has photos...I haven't seen the photos...he was making things up just to get a laugh between he and my bro...argh.

 Right...they're real...and the I'll bet you think the earth is round too...

 We did see the moon...I think it's flat too.

And the sun revolves, flatly of course, around us.

You can't believe fake science!

 So, anyway, I did manage to see two of the juvenile Least Bitterns

Phil saw a "fuzzy brown spot."

That would be a lifer "fuzzy brown spot" for him.

 They were a bit far out there in the branches.

This is blown up quite a bit.

 This is Phil walking away from me because I talk to strangers.

Too much apparently..."birdsbirdsbirdsbirds...birds..."

 That's  Phil walking even faster and further.

Poor Phil.

I drove.

He'll have to wait for me.

 This is a Bluet sp. of damselfly.

I did this for Phil.

He hates bug photos.

I like to bug him.

 This is a juvenile Least Bittern zooming away from me too.

Must have been something I said...

...or something Phil said about me...

 Enough of that silliness...here's a juvenile Cedar Waxbean.

 This is a very shy Eastern Phoebe.

And yes, I said "Cedar Waxbean."

 I asked Phil what species of flycatcher this was.

He was too far away to hear me.

I think it's a Willow...maybe...

Phil? PHIL!!

 

 I must admit, European Starlings are very attractive birds.

I just wish they would attract themselves back across the ocean.

The Tree Swallows and Woodpeckers feel the same way.

 If you listen very closely, you can hear that fish saying "Oooh Nooooo!"

That Great Blue Heron took his time, trying to shake off the veggies before he swallowed the fish.

 Oh my gosh! Two weeks in a row I managed to get a Northern Cardinal to stand still!

They're finally listening to me!

More than I can say about Phil...

 Another shy Green Heron.

 Oh! Signs of a beaver in the marsh.

Oh, and a Red-winged Blackbird too.

 I love them lil Song Sparrows!

 They like to play in the mud.

 Why I do believe that's the butt of a Swamp Sparrow!

 They look so much like Song Sparrows except they have little bitty beaks for eating little bitty buggies.

Another new one for Phil...where ever he went...

 

 A male Wood Duck dressed in a more casual mode.

 Easily distracted, I see Honey and Bumble Bees!

 And another male Wood Duck...

 And a female Wood Duck giving me the stare down...just like Phil!

I must have been doing something wrong that day...I can't imagine.

 Ooooo...pretty water lily...

 

 It was truly surprising how many younger Wood Ducks were swimming amongst the weeds and what not in the marsh.

There were some "busy" duckies this summer!

 

 One butt for the road!

I have to find Phil...

 Until next time kiddies! Happy birding!