Bloggity Block...

I'm going to say that this is a Short-billed Dowitcher because it's bill looks short.
I hope that's not to technical...

Bloggity, bloggity, blog. Don't you just hate when you can't think of anything to write? I guess I'm a little out of practice. Just to make things a little more difficult, let's go look for shore birds migrating through! PEEPS! They really do look alike...almost as frustrating as those silly gull things that are all gray and off gray...

We visited a soon to be destroyed area called the Lorain Impoundment...in Lorain(duh.) It is situated next to a marina and is an amazingly busy place. But within a few hundred feet stands this wetland and mud flat that is teeming with shore birds. When they find a good place to feed they don't care about anything else. From what I understand the Army Corps of Engineers is planning on leveling this area. I guess they know something that the birds don't...

Yep, a little warm last Saturday...

These are Peeps.
These are Small and Medium Peeps.
They are in mud.
Oh, and one Killdeer.

Oh great.
Zoom off.
That makes it so much easier to identify you.
Stoopid peeps.

Hey, I know these guys!
They're American Avocets.
Spell check says they're "American Avocados." I know better.
And that duck with the REALLY HUGE quacker attached to his head, that's a Northern Shoveler.

This poor Killdeer was trying to take a bath while being ogled by a gang of peeps.
You can't trust peep gangs.
A bunch of perverts.

Least Sandpiper.
Or not...

I know this one!
It's a duck!
It's a Mallardy kind of duck!

Uh...how about a peep and a Pectoral Sandpiper?

I was very worried about these Semipalmated Plovers.
They kept watching us and following us.
I think they were planning on kidnapping the Doodles.
Watch out for these guys...

Semipalmated Sandpipers are much nicer.
Spell check says they are "Semiprivate."
I believe it.

LAKE ERIE BIRDING TRAIL

This is a new website that covers all of the hot spots for birding along the lake front. We are so lucky to live in this area and have all of these great places to see resident and migrating birds.
As the site states, we have over 400 species of birds that can be seen here...not to mention the wonderful habitats, dragonflies and butterflies.

Take a moment and visit this site, you'll love it!

And...one last thing...

A Red-tailed Hawk trying to steal the Doodles duck decoy at the garden pond.

You can this fun activities like this every day in our wonderful gardens. Our home is for sale and has been visited by 68 species of birds.
It's listed as a Certified Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation.
Feel free to contact us for more information!

A message we may have forgotten...

Though this Kirtland's Warbler is on the rise, it's still one of North America's top ten endangered birds.

In 1970, a speech was given at the United Nations by it's Secretary General, U Thant. I think it's very important to think about it once again as the media is saying "All is well in the Gulf!" All is not well...not in the least.

"As we watch the sun go down, evening after evening, through the smog across the poisoned waters of our native earth, we must ask ourselves seriously whether we really wish some future universal historian on another planet to say about us: 'With all their genius and with all their skill, they ran out of foresight and air and food and water and ideas,' or 'They went on playing politics until their world collapsed around them.'"

Piping Plovers are also in the top ten most endangered list.

The Verdin's population declined 85% between 1966 and 2003.

The Short-eared Owl dropped 80% between 1966 and 2003.

The Rusty Blackbird population, according to some studies, has dropped more than 90%!

Can you remember the last time , if ever, you saw a Loggerhead Shrike?...

...Or a Henslow's Sparrow?...

This was my first encounter with a Cerulean Warbler and I hope it won't be the last.

Will the name "Common Tern" need to be changed one day?

Black-throated Sparrow populations have also dropped dramatically.

I recently came across a book titled "Bald Coot and Screaming Loon" by Niall Edworthy. Along with an enormous amount of fun facts and trivia, he has a chapter entitled "The Battle to Survive." Looking back, this is very apropos at this point in our struggle to save what healthy habitat we have left on this planet.

What my shorebird photos would look like if Canon would be kind enough to loan me an 800mm lens, thank you.

Western Sandpipers and a Willet bringing up the 'rear'.

Gotta get those butt jokes in more often...

Dear Canon,

I have been a very good person and a passable birder and I have tried to not be a menace to society. Please send one 800mm telephoto lens as soon as possible for my inspection and approval.

Thank you,

Dave Lewis

PS- You can contact me through this blog, or ask the CIA, I think they have my current address.

I liked this Buff-breasted Sandpiper...even though he's one of those right wingers...I think he's a CIA plant...

I'm sure even with a bigger lens, I would STILL end up with more than my share of butt shots.

I'm sure this is a Stilt Sandpiper, even though you can't see the stilts in this shot.

You can tell this is a Solitary Sandpiper because it's the only one in this photo.

And because I said so.

See Spot stare. Stare Spot, stare!

I Spotted this Sandpiper.

Trust me again,it's a Semipalmated Plover.

You can tell by the single band around his neck and the way he runs 'pigeon-toed' away from me.

Piping Plover. If you look closely, you'll see the bits of pipe on his leg, hence the name.

I wouldn't make this stuff up, really.

Getting so many butt shots is only the "Least" of my problems. Ha. Get it?

Least Sandpiper...do I have to explain everything?

So, after posting such crappy peep pics, I thought I would show you a few that I've shot over the past couple years of Sandpipers that have come close enough to get in focus shots! Wow, and some of them are actually in sand too! Go figure...

When the lens arrives, I'll let you know...

PS- A special thank you and hello to Kimmay and all of our buddies at Black Swamp Bird Observatory!