Seen any Song Sparrows Lately?

 (I'm on the other side trying not to slide into that icy water!)

I didn't make it out this past weekend for birding...I managed to catch the lovely virus sweeping around our shop...ack-ack...so, these are from the previous weekend...so there.

After looking for bear, but not bare(too cold!) I spent a little time at the Pond Brook Reservation. After speaking with the naturalist, I found out there's four river otters living there now! Of course they didn't show themselves for me. Maybe next time.

Butt what I did see...SONG SPARROWS! Lots and lots of song sparrows...along the brook, by the trails, along the access road, in the trees...jeepers! I heard a few other birds singing in the hopes that spring would hurry along, but mostly I saw song sparrows...one of my favorite little birdies!

 The American Goldfinches are getting gold again!

 If you hadn't guessed already...Song Sparrow...

 A rude little American Tree Sparrow flashing me.

Such behaviour...tsk.

 Another Tree Sparrow playing peek--boo.

 What are the odds...another Song Sparrow!

 This angry Dark-eyed Junco was charging at me like a mad bull!

 ...and a Song Sparrow hopping down the bunny trail...

 

 A cold and hungry Eastern Phoebe looking for frozen bugs.

 This is what a Song Sparrow looks like when it slips on the ice....graceful...

 These two male Wood Ducks were merciless in chasing that poor female around...

 ...and yes, another one of those whachamacallits...

 And the Wood Ducks are still at it...reminds me of a Marx Brothers movie...

I'll leave you with one final Song Sparrow of the day...until we meet again...

Gettin' Bare in the Woods...

 Oops, I meant to say "Bear!" I just thought that would either get your attention...or make you run away at the thought of me baring my "soul" so to speak...ANYWAY...

I spent a lovely northern Ohio spring morning at Liberty Park along the Ledges Trail. There was quite a bit of "spring" on the ground this weekend...what happened to that 80 degree walking in shorts weekend I just had? I think we've been robbed my friends... This day was barely 25 to start out with about 3 inches of spring on the ground. I never realized spring could be so slippery and cold to walk through...

You may have noticed the close up of my friend the Black Bear. He's been spotted in this area, butt not by me...yet. This is(was?) his late cousin. He ate too much...he's feeling stuffed.

 This American Robin turned his back on me, probably like what you're doing right about now...

 I've had a difficult time finding Brown Creepers and getting photos of them.

That was my goal on this walk, and, go figure, I found one!

 

 Their camouflage is amazing.

I watched him for quite a while. Their tails are really cool!...and they're kind of chubby too!

 

 I saw this lone and freezing Eastern Phoebe working low branches and anywhere the snow was clear.

Every time he landed on a branch, his feathers puffed out to save the warmth.

 

 This was the only Golden-crowned Kinglet to sit still long enough for me to get a shot of...

..at least for a second...

 

 ...then, poof...off he zipped!

 I was talking to this Hermit Thrush, asking permission to get a nice behind shot...

 And, wouldn't you know it, he obliged!

Hermits are much friendlier than their name would suggest.

 There were quite a few Hermits on the move through the area.

When there's not much vegetation, they're easy to find.

Wait til May...

 Just as I was getting this guys portrait, a moron with an unleashed dog came tearing through the woods and scared him and everything else away.

Idiots.

 A couple of frozen Song Sparrows.

North and South views!

 

 The rules say I have to end with a butt shot, so...

I saw this bird following a flock of Robins through a wetland area.

At first I thought it was a Common Grackle, then it turned and it's tail was too short...and looky there, it was a Rusty Blackbird!

Stay tuned for part 2...a walk through Pond Brook...

I want to thank Janine, a park naturalist I met at Pond Brook for her info on the area...THANKS!

 Once again, I have a display of my photos at the Carlisle Visitors Center in the Lorain Metroparks. I think this is the 7th year for me. The folks out there are great(Hi Jennifer and Mary!) and the center is a wonderful place to visit. They have an activity room for children, a "window on wildlife" and gift shop, meeting rooms and fantastic trails through woodland, meadow and wetlands. This past weekend the trails I wandered on were especially muddy...I loved it!

Once I finished setting up my photos...somewhat straight and even...I decided it was time for a little birding. After an hour or so in the sun, the temps went from 30 to the upper 70's! Time for shorts and a t shirt and summertime!...at least for a day...northern Ohio changes from minute to minute. Me and my bird buddies enjoyed every moment in the sun!

 I caught this American Tree Sparrow dozing off  in the warm rays of the sun.

I was thinking of doing the same thing...

 The Black-capped Chickadees were all around...this is the only one that sat still for me.

 While I walked around the wetland I heard dozens of Rusty Blackbirds but couldn't get a single shot.

I did get one photo of this sparrow skulking in the clumps of vegetation.

It look like a Chipping Sparrow, but I can't say for sure...

What do you think?

 With the very warm temperature, the birds had plenty of insects out for lunch.

This Downy Woodpecker was busy digging into his meal.

 The Eastern Bluebirds were out in force on this day...in the wetlands and in the woods...

 Nest boxes are all around the center and you can watch the Bluebirds and Tree Swallows argue over property rights.

 I enjoyed watching these gorgeous birds fly catching from branch to branch in the woods.

( I should have taken a shot of my feet buried in the mud while I stood there and watched!)

 YEA! The first butterfly of the year, an Eastern Comma.

They hibernate through the winter in log piles and the hollows of trees.

 Hmmm...another mystery sparrow.

That dark streaking and big bill reminds me of a Fox Sparrow more than a Song Sparrow...

 The Midland Painted Turtles were also enjoying the warm sun.

I couldn't find a log my size to lay on...

 This Red-bellied Woodpecker was finding plenty to munch on in that old squirrels nest.

 Once again, standing ankle deep in the mud, transfixed on this beautiful singing Song Sparrow!

 I think the Tree Swallows were VERY full!

They actually sat still for me!

 Another sure sign that spring has sprung at last!

Bluebirds are absolutely gorgeous!

I heard him laughing at me as he zoomed away...

"Ha-Ha! The mud sucked your sandals off!"

Yep, that's okay...it was warm and not snowing...

HEY!! LOOK HERE!!! (Blatant Self Promotion!!!)

 Black-and-White Warbler...from the front...

HEY! YOU!!! Yes, you! Do you live in Ohio? Are you anywhere near Lorain County? Have you ever bee to Carlisle Reservation in the Lorain Metroparks? Well, now you have a reason to go...or maybe not...

Starting this Sunday and running through the month of April, I will have a show entitled "Warblerz!" And I'll bet you'll never guess what kind of lil birdies it will feature...RIGHT! Sparrows! Noooo....silly person! Warblers! My favorite feathered friends. AND April is the beginning of the big migration north RIGHT THROUGH OHIO! Woo-hoo!

I'll be there Sunday birding and setting up, so if you're in the area, you've been warned.

A Blackburnian Warbler with the proper pose.

It's so hard to get these guys to listen...

 Hard to believe this little 5.5 inch ball of feathers migrates nearly 1800 miles non-stop over open ocean...that's 80 hours of arm flapping! 

Be glad you're not a Blackpoll Warbler!

 Prothonotary Warblers are feathered sunshine...and they nest around  marshes here!

I had to leave you with this Nashville Warblies proper side!

Maybe I'll see you in Lorain!

(And don't forget, "The Biggest Week in American Birding" starts in May! Are you ready?)

Feelin' Blue...

 Since when are Blue Jays shy?

Feelin' Blue? Not me, at least not when a bird this gorgeous does this high fashion model kinda posing for me! A quick jaunt to the Horseshoe Pond in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park for a little walk about didn't produce many birds, but this one bird made up for it. I've always had a difficult time trying to get photos of the "common" birds, the ones you see ALL of the time, but you either don't have a camera or they won't sit still, or I am just plain crap at taking pictures...pick an excuse...I've used them all...oh yeah...it was windy out that day...that's always a good one...or I had a piece of dust in my eye...or...

 Why is it that I get this crazy eye look from birds?

...and from most folks that I bump into as well...

 Yeah, fine...just stare at me and don't answer...fine...I can deal with it...fine...

 Yep, just look away...pretend I'm not here...I can take it...stoopid bird.

 Completely turn your back on me now! FINE!

Oh...those Jays!