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!

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!