I cannot express the beauty of the summer. The lush green, the color of the flowers, the music of the birds singing as they go about their day. A few minor stories have played out in the last week or so.
A fledgling Nuthatch came to me for help. It landed on the sill by the window where I was reading. It was in trouble. Barely able to fly, completely exhausted. I gave it some sunflower seed. It quickly grabbed a seed but did not quite know how to break it up into manageable bits. It managed to eat. I don’t know what happened to the bird. I know the family of fledgling Nuthatches is no longer chasing around the yard. I don’t worry. I just do what I can at the time but do not dwell on the fate of individuals. That would be too trying
The Bluebirds have started a second brood. This time in one of the boxes in the front yard. They have moved out of the hole in the siding. I think 4 babies fledged from the earlier brood. They still hang around the yard, Watching their parents go about go about building a second nest.
The woodpeckers have been successful as well. As I write a fledgling Downey follows its Dad to the feeder by the window, It is awkward. Not a good flier yet. I am not paying attention, concentrating on writing. It squeaks and hits the window. Sure enough the feeder is empty. I wonder if that was the lesson being taught, because the parent did not do this. No it was the fledgling. The Red-bellieds have three babies. The Chickadees and Titmice have countless fledglings. It is good they have so much energy to keep up with all those hungry little birds.
A fledgling Rose-breasted Grosbeak visits. More skittish than the adults. It is uncertain about the feeder
Yesterday I had a Stebbin’s gulch walk. It was a lovely hike. The gulch was very dry, but cool lush and beautiful. We found several Black-throated Green Warblers, but no Canadas, or Blackburnians. The group was a bit too noisy to find Louisiana Waterthush. We were serenaded by a Winter Wren. Blue-headed Vireos were numerous. We found several Gray Petaltail Dragonflies. In May the gulch was dangerously and comically slippery. Yesterday it was not. In the field on the east end of the property we found an Orange Sulfur Butterfly. Yellow, orange green and aqua blue. Just beautiful. A nice walk.
In the afternoon I had the front door open. It was interesting because several birds gathered on the front porch. They were just hanging around there by the open door as I sat in the room and read.
Today I worked around the yard. Saw my first fledgling Junco of the season. A brilliant male Scarlet Tanager outside the window. Additional lilies are starting to bloom. Several colors. During the coming week they will be in full bloom.
June 30, 2007 Gray Petaltail
Not the best specimen or image. This Gray Petaltail in Stebbins Gulch was posed in a typical hanging posture. Gray Petatail is found in shaded ravines and is very tame. This one readily landed on several people.Dunking bugs in cool water slows them down so they can be photographed and does them no harm.
June 21, 2007 Solstice
The longest day of the year. For me, someone who loves the light it is bittersweet. I know that from now until December 21 the days will get shorter. This is why the first day of summer is mid-summers night. The weather today was highly variable. Rain, thunder, bands of clouds, now sun. The evening and night promise to be cool. I spent time in the yard but did not have time for a hike. While it is beautiful there is not a lot going on. The summer rhythm has settled in. The passerines are no longer moving. If there is a time of year when there is no bird migration it is this week. Soon fledglings will begin disbursing and shorebirds will begin moving . But right now, this week across the neoarctic, everything is staying put.
Lilies are starting to bloom. They are perhaps a week later in my cooler yard and without fertilizer. The large Iris are coming into full glory. I found a beautiful purple flower I need to identify. It looks like a small lily, but I have to key it out. That will have to wait for tomorrow or Saturday.
There are no obvious stories right now. Every beautiful day is like the next and things are routine. I wonder how much I will be able to write? What new observations I will be able to put into words. How many times can one describe astounding beauty with making it mundane?
Lilies are starting to bloom. They are perhaps a week later in my cooler yard and without fertilizer. The large Iris are coming into full glory. I found a beautiful purple flower I need to identify. It looks like a small lily, but I have to key it out. That will have to wait for tomorrow or Saturday.
There are no obvious stories right now. Every beautiful day is like the next and things are routine. I wonder how much I will be able to write? What new observations I will be able to put into words. How many times can one describe astounding beauty with making it mundane?
June 20, 2007 Perfection
How could a day be any more perfect? Not having to work! Still the day before the solstice is as perfect as a day can be. Clear, 80° high absolutely beautiful. I have my first hike since Saturday. No extra weight, not too far. Perhaps I have gained some wisdom. The view over the lake is gorgeous. Visibility more than 40 miles. The mottled light through the trees plays with my eyes as I walk the summit. No people today, a few birds.
Back home I cook and eat on the patio. Watch a family of Nuthatches chase each other from tree to tree. 5 birds all on one trunk. It is so very lovely. The Grosbeak sings, the Chipmunk scurries through the hostas. The shades of green and the sun to the west. As I eat my dinner of grilled fish and vegetables it cools noticeably. I must either build a fire or go inside to stay warm. This writing drives me to the latter.
Back home I cook and eat on the patio. Watch a family of Nuthatches chase each other from tree to tree. 5 birds all on one trunk. It is so very lovely. The Grosbeak sings, the Chipmunk scurries through the hostas. The shades of green and the sun to the west. As I eat my dinner of grilled fish and vegetables it cools noticeably. I must either build a fire or go inside to stay warm. This writing drives me to the latter.
June 19, 2007 “Much Needed” Rain
Thunderstorms have me stuck inside. I am glad I got the lawn cut yesterday. I am surprised at how quickly my foot is improving. A day of rest, plus traction to stretch the toe really helped. Coming home it was cool to see the thunderstorms coming over. The scud rolling over Gildersleeve mountain in the distance
Even in the rain the birds visit the feeders. I would like to get out and look around the yard, but the thunderstorms are going to last a while. While it has been dry, nothing is withering. Whenever rainfall goes below the average people say the rain is needed. They have little understanding of what normal weather is. They also have a misconception about how often soil needs to have the water replenished. Our soil was completely saturated in April into May and was still several weeks from drying out.
Once the rain lets up and am able to get outside, I realize how many fledglings are around. Chickadees, Bluebirds, Titmice, Nuthatches. No baby Juncos yet.
A section in the back yard is full of foam flowers. White, pink and deep red. It gets cool as the evening falls. Fireflies are out for the first time this year. A lovely mid summers night.
Even in the rain the birds visit the feeders. I would like to get out and look around the yard, but the thunderstorms are going to last a while. While it has been dry, nothing is withering. Whenever rainfall goes below the average people say the rain is needed. They have little understanding of what normal weather is. They also have a misconception about how often soil needs to have the water replenished. Our soil was completely saturated in April into May and was still several weeks from drying out.
Once the rain lets up and am able to get outside, I realize how many fledglings are around. Chickadees, Bluebirds, Titmice, Nuthatches. No baby Juncos yet.
A section in the back yard is full of foam flowers. White, pink and deep red. It gets cool as the evening falls. Fireflies are out for the first time this year. A lovely mid summers night.
June 18, 2007 Notably Cooler
People were complaining about the heat today. I like it hot and today felt great when I got out of work. It was 89° near the lake, 91° a few miles south. I watched the temperature on the thermometer in my car. In the past I have noted how it gets cooler as soon as I get into my neighborhood. I believe the abundance of trees and the higher elevation are the reasons. Today was no exception. On U.S. 6 it was 91° according to the car thermometer. As soon as I turned off the main road I felt it cool, by the time I got to my driveway the thermometer read 86°. I find that amazing.
Given the condition of my toe I do not want to push it. My toe is remarkably better today but still hurts. I cut my lawn and leave my activity at that.
New flower activity this week. More Iris coming in. Numerous foam flowers. All beauty
Given the condition of my toe I do not want to push it. My toe is remarkably better today but still hurts. I cut my lawn and leave my activity at that.
New flower activity this week. More Iris coming in. Numerous foam flowers. All beauty
June 17, 2007 Hobbled
Early on the hike yesterday I tripped and hyper extended my big and second toe. It hurt a bit yesterday but overnight it swelled and became obvious that I had sprained my big toe. What a silly injury! It has me hobbled today. I am at least smart enough to realize I need to rest today and not aggo the injury.
It is so beautiful. Hard to just sit around. Just watch the feeders and the yard . Nothing exceptional. I have noticed the hummingbird has some favorite roosts. I can hear the buzzing of the hummingbird’s wings at an amazing distance. 30 yards or so. We watch the Chipmunks. They are so cute. Fun to watch as the scurry to and fro. I know from bitter experience tree squirrels cannot be trusted. I wonder about ground squirrels like a Chipmunk? Are they more trustworthy?
Oh well, a few days without hiking. I would rather take a few days off than spend weeks nursing an injury like this.
It is so beautiful. Hard to just sit around. Just watch the feeders and the yard . Nothing exceptional. I have noticed the hummingbird has some favorite roosts. I can hear the buzzing of the hummingbird’s wings at an amazing distance. 30 yards or so. We watch the Chipmunks. They are so cute. Fun to watch as the scurry to and fro. I know from bitter experience tree squirrels cannot be trusted. I wonder about ground squirrels like a Chipmunk? Are they more trustworthy?
Oh well, a few days without hiking. I would rather take a few days off than spend weeks nursing an injury like this.
June 16, 2007 Hidden Paths
This morning I did one of the great walks in northeastern Ohio. The Carver pond, East Branch, Baldwin hike. I last did this hike on April 8th in the snow. It was so much different today In carver pond the Spatterdock and Water Lilies are in bloom. We were hoping for dragonflies around Carver Pond but only saw two, Eastern Pondhawk and Twelve-spotted skimmer. Eastern Forktail and a Spreadwing sp. were the only damselflies. The walk along the East Branch of the Chagrin, through the Hemlock Hardwood forest was beautiful as always. We took time in several places to stop and just enjoy the place. We were far enough from roads and everything else that we could not hear any sounds of human activity. That is so rare today. To be able to get that far from our machines.
We looked at rocks along the river. The strata that make up our local bedrocks. We could see two layers. Chagrin shale and Cleveland shale where the river cuts 100 foot bluffs on one side. Along the river we can see examples of all the local rocks and many glacial erratics.
In the last third of this hike we cross two ox bows in the river. I find it fascinating how in 50 yards, crossing a small river, there is a complete change of habitat and ecology. In that short distance you go from a forest, with broken ground cover, ferns and Hemlocks and hardwood trees, to a lush herbaceous forest floor with Walnuts and Elms being the predominant trees. That fast. To someone like me, attuned to transitions, it is amazing. Technically we are going from an Oak-Sugar Maple Forest, to a mixed flood plain forest. There is no change in elevation, what probably changes is the soil.
The birds and dragonflies were sparse. Newcomb’s wildflower guide failed us at every turn. Either I need to learn more about how leaves are defined, or I need to be more patient.
My walk had 5 participants. None younger than 40. Some commented that there is something wrong, when a walk through such a beautiful place can only attract 5 Arboretum members. But at the end of the walk, one participant quipped about our stamina. This is not a walk for people used to sidewalks and gravel paved trails.
In the words of Apollo 15 commander Dave Scott: There is something to be said for exploring beautiful places.
We looked at rocks along the river. The strata that make up our local bedrocks. We could see two layers. Chagrin shale and Cleveland shale where the river cuts 100 foot bluffs on one side. Along the river we can see examples of all the local rocks and many glacial erratics.
In the last third of this hike we cross two ox bows in the river. I find it fascinating how in 50 yards, crossing a small river, there is a complete change of habitat and ecology. In that short distance you go from a forest, with broken ground cover, ferns and Hemlocks and hardwood trees, to a lush herbaceous forest floor with Walnuts and Elms being the predominant trees. That fast. To someone like me, attuned to transitions, it is amazing. Technically we are going from an Oak-Sugar Maple Forest, to a mixed flood plain forest. There is no change in elevation, what probably changes is the soil.
The birds and dragonflies were sparse. Newcomb’s wildflower guide failed us at every turn. Either I need to learn more about how leaves are defined, or I need to be more patient.
My walk had 5 participants. None younger than 40. Some commented that there is something wrong, when a walk through such a beautiful place can only attract 5 Arboretum members. But at the end of the walk, one participant quipped about our stamina. This is not a walk for people used to sidewalks and gravel paved trails.
In the words of Apollo 15 commander Dave Scott: There is something to be said for exploring beautiful places.
June 15, 2007 Impossible Green
Walking though the woods today, another perfect day, I took some time to appreciate the beauty of the green. It is impossible to describe, being enveloped in green, the sun streaming through the leaves. I am tall enough to look over the low trees. The understory is sparse enough so that the canopy is an obvious ceiling 70 feet above.
Visibilty today was hazy out to the horizon. About 25 miles or so. Nothing in the distance was crisply in view. In the ponds below the old quarry Mrs. Mallard quacked loudy. I answered. We went back and fourth a couple of times. Ducks do not stick around in those ponds. Fed by seeps and rain water they do not turn over much. The Wood Thrush, Junco, Pewee, Scalet Tanager and Blue-headed Vireo were all singing. The Hooded Warbler was noteable in its absence. I wonder why some days they are singing everywhere, and other days silent. What changes? I don’t know. There are so many mysteries in the bird world. Particularly when it comes to behavior.
Visibilty today was hazy out to the horizon. About 25 miles or so. Nothing in the distance was crisply in view. In the ponds below the old quarry Mrs. Mallard quacked loudy. I answered. We went back and fourth a couple of times. Ducks do not stick around in those ponds. Fed by seeps and rain water they do not turn over much. The Wood Thrush, Junco, Pewee, Scalet Tanager and Blue-headed Vireo were all singing. The Hooded Warbler was noteable in its absence. I wonder why some days they are singing everywhere, and other days silent. What changes? I don’t know. There are so many mysteries in the bird world. Particularly when it comes to behavior.
June 14, 2007 Another Beauty Day
Nothing exceptional today except the day itself. It has been beautiful all day. It is another “cloudy” day in Cleveland, but I would trad a day like today for another anywhere else. We complain about our weather but forget about days like today. Sunny warm and beautiful.
The light this morning was deep green. The air is fresh with oxygen. The temperature is in the high 70’s. Perfect. What else can you say?
The light this morning was deep green. The air is fresh with oxygen. The temperature is in the high 70’s. Perfect. What else can you say?
June 13, 2007 Crows Harass a Young Owl
We have had a string of beauty days. Today adds another. To me, the temperature in the low 80’s is just perfect. In the woods Hooded Warblers, and Scarlet Tanagers are singing loudly.
On my side of the summit the crows have found a young Barred Owl in a tree in the ledges. It is close to the trunk and among branches with leaves so it is safe, but the Crows are vociferous. They caw loudly to their clan attempting to increase the number of individuals involved in the boisterous mobbing. I move on and the noise subsides with both distance and activity.
Visibility is hazy and barely 18 miles. The horizon is lost in a light gray haze.
Lots of people again today. I wonder what has changed? It makes no sense to me why for several weeks with nice weather there has been little human activity, but now in the past few days there has been a noticeable increase? Of course I don’t know if the change is really significant. I may be seeing a trend that does not really exist. If I really wanted to track this I would have to consistently take my hike at the same time and count the people. After a while I could determine the true limits of the system. I suspect what I am observing is within the normal distribution.
On my side of the summit the crows have found a young Barred Owl in a tree in the ledges. It is close to the trunk and among branches with leaves so it is safe, but the Crows are vociferous. They caw loudly to their clan attempting to increase the number of individuals involved in the boisterous mobbing. I move on and the noise subsides with both distance and activity.
Visibility is hazy and barely 18 miles. The horizon is lost in a light gray haze.
Lots of people again today. I wonder what has changed? It makes no sense to me why for several weeks with nice weather there has been little human activity, but now in the past few days there has been a noticeable increase? Of course I don’t know if the change is really significant. I may be seeing a trend that does not really exist. If I really wanted to track this I would have to consistently take my hike at the same time and count the people. After a while I could determine the true limits of the system. I suspect what I am observing is within the normal distribution.
June 12, 2007, Close to Home
Last night I started to get a cramp in an inner thigh muscle. I must have hurt it a little because it hurts today too. That happens. I need to do a little work around the yard. Because my yard is anti neat and tidy I don’t do a lot of trimming. But in order to keep the walk clear and the fence exposed I occasionally have to get out the weed whacker. I am judicious in using it. Careful not to take out may wildflowers. Trying to just use it on grass.
Next I move to the back yard. The patio actually, needs to be swept clean. I should do this every week but I often go 4 times that long. Nearby one of the neighbors has a service that is using a blower. I have one of those, but I use a rake and a broom. It may take a little longer, but it is a lot less noisy and does not burn gasoline.
Once I am finished I eat dinner outside. Typical of a day like today I should have left my phone inside. Instead I end up talking rather than doing much looking around.
I do notice is the Canada Anemones are still beautiful. Yellow and purple Iris are still blooming, as are the Cranesbills. Wild Geranium predominate in one section and Newcomb’s 542, with yellow flowers, Moneywort, creeps along the edges of the grass. The Juncos sing as I eat and the Wood Thrush calls from across the creek. It is a beautiful day and I am so thankful to be able to enjoy this place.
Next I move to the back yard. The patio actually, needs to be swept clean. I should do this every week but I often go 4 times that long. Nearby one of the neighbors has a service that is using a blower. I have one of those, but I use a rake and a broom. It may take a little longer, but it is a lot less noisy and does not burn gasoline.
Once I am finished I eat dinner outside. Typical of a day like today I should have left my phone inside. Instead I end up talking rather than doing much looking around.
I do notice is the Canada Anemones are still beautiful. Yellow and purple Iris are still blooming, as are the Cranesbills. Wild Geranium predominate in one section and Newcomb’s 542, with yellow flowers, Moneywort, creeps along the edges of the grass. The Juncos sing as I eat and the Wood Thrush calls from across the creek. It is a beautiful day and I am so thankful to be able to enjoy this place.
Sphinx Rock
When I was a boy and came upon this formation, it looked like a Sphinx to me. It still does. The formation is about 20 feet high on the down slope side and is all Sharon Conglomerate.
June 11, 2007. People in Exceptional Numbers
For several weeks I have had much of my daily walks on Gildersleeve Mountain to myself. I might see one or two other people but that would be it. Today was very different. I saw more than a dozen people during my hike. I wonder what changed and got everyone out?
While the sky was blue and the temperature in the 70’s visibility was just 20 miles or so. The birds were quiet even in the back yard.
Walking home through the woods there is a small yellow wildflower in many places along the ground. I decide to put my Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide to the test. A flower with 5 regular parts, basil leaves, divided: Key 524. Leaves more than 3: page 182. There it is! Dwarf Cinquefoil. “A low plant with 5 palmate leaves”. How about that! I would have given up with a guide arranged by color.
While the sky was blue and the temperature in the 70’s visibility was just 20 miles or so. The birds were quiet even in the back yard.
Walking home through the woods there is a small yellow wildflower in many places along the ground. I decide to put my Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide to the test. A flower with 5 regular parts, basil leaves, divided: Key 524. Leaves more than 3: page 182. There it is! Dwarf Cinquefoil. “A low plant with 5 palmate leaves”. How about that! I would have given up with a guide arranged by color.
June 10, 2007 A Long Hike
Last night I went with my friends Carol and Dave to Swine Creek Reservation in Geauga county for an Astronomy thingie. The area astronomy club was meeting there and a colleague from work is a member of the club and had predicted conditions that would provide exceptional viewing. The clarity was excellent and so we were able to view many deep sky objects. I found that it made little difference being there or in my yard from the standpoint of light pollution. During the summer Gildersleeve mountain and the trees block much of the light and I could make out the Milky Way just as well in my front yard as I could 20 miles farther from downtown.
Today was another beautiful day, I took a long hike covering most of Gildersleeve Mountain both the summit and the slopes to the west north and south. Most notable was a Clubtail species of dragonfly I found it in the ledges picnic area. It was an interesting little dragonfly. It was wroking a rather small territory above a grassy swale. Whenever another of it’s kind would approach it would quickly chase it away then return to its patrol. I watched it for perhaps 10 minutes trying to see more detail, both naked eye and through binoculars. In that time it never landed. Even after looking in both Rosche and in Dunkle I cold not do better than Clubtail sp.
Visibility today was again excellent. Better than 40 miles. Through binoculars I could see small boats and a freighter out on the lake. The Avon power plant shimmered in the distance. The picture on the masthead of this blog is accurate in showing downtown Cleveland, rising out of the forest. Even through binoculars few buildings are visible. The landscape is mostly covered by trees. I find this amazing. Cleveland's nickname is "The Forest City" and from here you can see why.
I cover a lot of ground, both on the summit and the forest below. At the old Stannard quarry near Chillicothe Rd. the park system has stationed some volunteers. They only have written materials and little instruction or training. Their written material is based in part upon Christopher Crary's memoir here, and little else to help them intrepret for visitors. They do not know what Poision Ivy looks like, and they say this is a common question. I show them the plant and probably give an overly technical discription of how to indentify it.
I work my way home bushwhacking through the woods. The additional weight in my pack is very heavy by the time I get cross the creek into the back yard.
Today was another beautiful day, I took a long hike covering most of Gildersleeve Mountain both the summit and the slopes to the west north and south. Most notable was a Clubtail species of dragonfly I found it in the ledges picnic area. It was an interesting little dragonfly. It was wroking a rather small territory above a grassy swale. Whenever another of it’s kind would approach it would quickly chase it away then return to its patrol. I watched it for perhaps 10 minutes trying to see more detail, both naked eye and through binoculars. In that time it never landed. Even after looking in both Rosche and in Dunkle I cold not do better than Clubtail sp.
Visibility today was again excellent. Better than 40 miles. Through binoculars I could see small boats and a freighter out on the lake. The Avon power plant shimmered in the distance. The picture on the masthead of this blog is accurate in showing downtown Cleveland, rising out of the forest. Even through binoculars few buildings are visible. The landscape is mostly covered by trees. I find this amazing. Cleveland's nickname is "The Forest City" and from here you can see why.
I cover a lot of ground, both on the summit and the forest below. At the old Stannard quarry near Chillicothe Rd. the park system has stationed some volunteers. They only have written materials and little instruction or training. Their written material is based in part upon Christopher Crary's memoir here, and little else to help them intrepret for visitors. They do not know what Poision Ivy looks like, and they say this is a common question. I show them the plant and probably give an overly technical discription of how to indentify it.
I work my way home bushwhacking through the woods. The additional weight in my pack is very heavy by the time I get cross the creek into the back yard.
June 9, 2007 Places Seldom Visited or Seen
It is beauty this morning. A very cool with a temperature of 53° as I leave for my walk. It is very early, just a little after sunrise. The woods has the beautiful morning light, impossible to capture with the leaves fully out. Wood Thrush, Pewee, Blue-headed Vireo, House Wren, Hooded Warbler, Towhee and Juncos all singing loudly. In the woods I flush a female Hooded Warbler. I do not want to disturb her from a nest. From her behavior t is obvious she has one nearby. The Woodcock is getting used to my forays. It just runs a few meters rather than fly as I come by.
I decide to not walk on the summit but around it, staying 50 to 100 feet down the slope. Below the ledges that rise vertically 20 to 50 feet around much of Gildersleeve mountain. There are no trails and this involves bushwhacking on sometimes very steep terrain and avoiding some areas labeled by the powers that be as “Restricted”. The old quarry is one such area but I wanted to savor the view and take pictures this morning. Visibility is wonderful, clear and crisp. The angle of the light makes it difficult to pick out far off features like the power plant at Avon. Still I would say visibility is better than 50 miles. Downtown is colorful in the morning light and the lake is very blue.
Most interesting is the northwest side of Gildersleeve mountain. This is the Portage escarpment and from here it is down hill all the way to the lake. This down hill is very obvious and in along here it makes sense why 18th century European surveyors and settlers called this feature a “mountain”. From the lake it is one of 2 obvious features visible. On the land in the trees the climb is long, and at times very steep.
The predominant trees are Canada Hemlock and Yellow Birch. Some of the Birch are impressive for that species, more than 2 feet in diameter. There are numerous ferns along the slope and at times the cover the ground over a large expanse. The seeps run in narrow furrows. The outcrops of Sharon Conglomerate are sometimes small solitary buttes rising out of the slope 20 feet high. I recognize one formation. It has been so long since I was here. When I was a boy I called this Sphinx Rock, because to me it vaguely resembles that monument. There is a large head like element with a narrower neck atop a reclining body like element. I had forgotten about this, and laugh remembering the time I first saw it. I was perhaps 7 or 8 and exploring here on my own for the first time.
As I hike, anywhere the paths allow people to approach the edge of the ledges above, I find trash below. Bottles, glass and plastic, cans, even a diaper. It makes me wonder. I am not sure about what. This behavior is expected. It is not like there is a lot of it either. Just a little here and there, and given the number of people who visit this area it is sort of surprising there is not more.
I decide to not walk on the summit but around it, staying 50 to 100 feet down the slope. Below the ledges that rise vertically 20 to 50 feet around much of Gildersleeve mountain. There are no trails and this involves bushwhacking on sometimes very steep terrain and avoiding some areas labeled by the powers that be as “Restricted”. The old quarry is one such area but I wanted to savor the view and take pictures this morning. Visibility is wonderful, clear and crisp. The angle of the light makes it difficult to pick out far off features like the power plant at Avon. Still I would say visibility is better than 50 miles. Downtown is colorful in the morning light and the lake is very blue.
Most interesting is the northwest side of Gildersleeve mountain. This is the Portage escarpment and from here it is down hill all the way to the lake. This down hill is very obvious and in along here it makes sense why 18th century European surveyors and settlers called this feature a “mountain”. From the lake it is one of 2 obvious features visible. On the land in the trees the climb is long, and at times very steep.
The predominant trees are Canada Hemlock and Yellow Birch. Some of the Birch are impressive for that species, more than 2 feet in diameter. There are numerous ferns along the slope and at times the cover the ground over a large expanse. The seeps run in narrow furrows. The outcrops of Sharon Conglomerate are sometimes small solitary buttes rising out of the slope 20 feet high. I recognize one formation. It has been so long since I was here. When I was a boy I called this Sphinx Rock, because to me it vaguely resembles that monument. There is a large head like element with a narrower neck atop a reclining body like element. I had forgotten about this, and laugh remembering the time I first saw it. I was perhaps 7 or 8 and exploring here on my own for the first time.
As I hike, anywhere the paths allow people to approach the edge of the ledges above, I find trash below. Bottles, glass and plastic, cans, even a diaper. It makes me wonder. I am not sure about what. This behavior is expected. It is not like there is a lot of it either. Just a little here and there, and given the number of people who visit this area it is sort of surprising there is not more.
June 8, 2007, Misidentifying Wildflowers
The day was quite warm. 90° closer to the lake. At home it the high 80s was as warm as it gets. As a front comes through thunderstorms develop that last into the afternoon. The thunder keeps me close to home. I spend some time with my new Newcome’s wildflower guide. I like the concept of the guide. It has a system for identification based on shape. Flower shape, leaf type, leaf shape, and plant type. Based upon this key you should quickly get to the right page in the guide. I try this in the yard on flowers I already know. It is funny because I soon realize I have to learn to match my observations to the definitions in the guide. Although I have read the instructions, I need to spend more time with the definitions, because my initial efforts do not even get me close. Everything requires some practice. This guide is far better than anything based on color. To me color was an impossible starting point
June 7, 2007, But it is a Dry Heat
The weather forecast was accurate for once. Sunny with highs in the upper 80’s I love this sort of weather. To me it is just right. It is cooler here on the higher elevations and as I drive down my street I can actually feel the temperature drop. In the woods it is even cooler. I flush the Woodcock again, but it lands just a few yards away. Visibility is only about 20 miles and the summit of Gildersleeve Mountain is very quiet.
Before I left for my hike we ran out of electricity. A neighbor tells me it is just our street. My computer is running on batteries so I need to keep my comments brief.
It is worth noting that while fixing food, I was surprised when a bird hit the kitchen window where I was working. A fledgling European Starling. Very unwelcome. It looks at me then drops to the peak of the roof of the enclosed part of the patio below. Another joins it and they both do the feed me wing flutter. I see the suet feeder has been picked clean. How odd. Even the Starlings know I am the one who puts out food. I ignore them. One hits the widow again, hard, then they fly off.
Before I left for my hike we ran out of electricity. A neighbor tells me it is just our street. My computer is running on batteries so I need to keep my comments brief.
It is worth noting that while fixing food, I was surprised when a bird hit the kitchen window where I was working. A fledgling European Starling. Very unwelcome. It looks at me then drops to the peak of the roof of the enclosed part of the patio below. Another joins it and they both do the feed me wing flutter. I see the suet feeder has been picked clean. How odd. Even the Starlings know I am the one who puts out food. I ignore them. One hits the widow again, hard, then they fly off.
June 6, 2007 An Uncommon Day.
The day is cool clear and dry. Everyone in the neighborhood, me included, have our lawn machines out. It is noisy as a result. Soon after starting the lawn, I spot a large dragonfly working low over the grass on the shady side of the house. I net it. I am surprised I was able to catch it on my first try. Probably the cool weather and the shade. After taking pictures, with the dragonfly safely on a plant, I finish the lawn.
With my pictures I manage to get to the right page in Dragonflies and Damselflies of Northeast Ohio. When it comes to dragonflies I am a neophyte. I barely can separate the families and 90% of my experience is the darners and skimmers. The dragonfly in question is my first spiketail, a Dual-spotted Spiketail. Female because she has an obvious ovipositor. The book says this is an uncommon species in the region.
My curiosity satisfied, I take a hike. Sans weights today. At first all I can hear are the lawn machines. On the summit of Gildersleeve mountain it is a bit more peaceful. Visibility is uncommon. More than 50 miles. I can see detail on the Avon Power plant 40 miles away. A little bit north of the old quarry I hear a Black-throated Blue Warbler. This is very late and unusual for this species in the region. Also a Hermit Thrush. This is along a ledge system with Hemlock Hardwood forest. Very interesting. I had Black-throated Blue near hear last June. When I get home I look up the date. June 6. Interesting symmetry. It is really cool in the woods and I wish I had a jacket as I make my way home. Only 61 degrees. The forecast is for much warmer weather tomorrow. We will see.
With my pictures I manage to get to the right page in Dragonflies and Damselflies of Northeast Ohio. When it comes to dragonflies I am a neophyte. I barely can separate the families and 90% of my experience is the darners and skimmers. The dragonfly in question is my first spiketail, a Dual-spotted Spiketail. Female because she has an obvious ovipositor. The book says this is an uncommon species in the region.
My curiosity satisfied, I take a hike. Sans weights today. At first all I can hear are the lawn machines. On the summit of Gildersleeve mountain it is a bit more peaceful. Visibility is uncommon. More than 50 miles. I can see detail on the Avon Power plant 40 miles away. A little bit north of the old quarry I hear a Black-throated Blue Warbler. This is very late and unusual for this species in the region. Also a Hermit Thrush. This is along a ledge system with Hemlock Hardwood forest. Very interesting. I had Black-throated Blue near hear last June. When I get home I look up the date. June 6. Interesting symmetry. It is really cool in the woods and I wish I had a jacket as I make my way home. Only 61 degrees. The forecast is for much warmer weather tomorrow. We will see.
June 6, 2007 Twin-spotted Spiketail
This Twin-spotted Spiketail was patrolling low over the grass on the shady side of the house. I netted her, and as I have learned to do, dunked her in cool water so she would stay put while I photographed her. This does the bug no harm, just slows it down until it warms up again. This dragonfly is listed as uncommon in Northeastern Ohio.
Cranesbill
I believe this is a Bicknell's Cranesbill. They are all over the yard. About 12 to 14 inches with 0.6 inch flowers. The leaves are palmate. There are other varieties of Cranesbills but this seems to be the best match in my Peterson's wildflower guide.
June 5, 2007 An Embarrassment of Beauty
It is cold and wet today. 56 degrees, not unexpected, but not usual either. My walk is completely unremarkable. Visibility is better than it has been in a week, about 30 miles, but there is more activity in my yard than anywhere else on Gildersleeve Mountain. The flowers and birds in my yard exceed anything in the area. At this moment 2 male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are on the feeder by the library window. A Red-bellied Woodpecker and 2 Juncos wait their turn.
My neighbors do not have birds or flowers or ferns or bugs to any extent. They have lawns like shag carpet, trimmed shrubs and mulched beds. I have Iris, and Peonies, Anemones, Clover and Ironweed. Ferns that rise in 3 foot high bunches. More Hostas than I can count. Cranesbills and Azelias, Lilies yet to bloom. I can honestly say it was not always this way. Yes some of the plants are the result of cultivation. The Ferns, Hostas, Iris, Peony, and Lilies are originally the result of my mom’s efforts. But other flowers, the Anemones, Cransbills, Columbine and Hyacinth. The explosion of ferns and hostas to new places, the additional Peonies, the Iris where they have never been before. These are the result of letting things go. Not applying chemicals, letting the bugs and Chipmunks have their way. Not weeding! Some plants need the shelter of others to thrive. Others do not look like much until they bloom. How can one tell what should stay and what should go?
I think every suburban yard could be filled with wild flowers in just 5 years. But the sacrifice would be too great. No chemicals, no mulch, an untidy look, a lawn of clover and rye. Oh, and bugs! yes bugs! Ants and wasps and bees and flies and spiders. Ick!
Sometimes a neighbor will ask if they can pick some flowers. “OK” I say, “but only if I am here. I want to supervise.” My yard is not a greenhouse, not the florist. “But you are not here when I come by.” "Too bad, then grow your own." Sometimes I want to make a deal. If you quit applying all chemicals to your yard, quit weeding, I will bring you a bouquet every week of the spring and summer. I’ll give you 10 to 1 they wont take that deal.
My yard has such an abundance of beauty, but it is very unconventional. It is the sort of yard the people at Scott's-Miracle Grow, have nightmares about.
My neighbors do not have birds or flowers or ferns or bugs to any extent. They have lawns like shag carpet, trimmed shrubs and mulched beds. I have Iris, and Peonies, Anemones, Clover and Ironweed. Ferns that rise in 3 foot high bunches. More Hostas than I can count. Cranesbills and Azelias, Lilies yet to bloom. I can honestly say it was not always this way. Yes some of the plants are the result of cultivation. The Ferns, Hostas, Iris, Peony, and Lilies are originally the result of my mom’s efforts. But other flowers, the Anemones, Cransbills, Columbine and Hyacinth. The explosion of ferns and hostas to new places, the additional Peonies, the Iris where they have never been before. These are the result of letting things go. Not applying chemicals, letting the bugs and Chipmunks have their way. Not weeding! Some plants need the shelter of others to thrive. Others do not look like much until they bloom. How can one tell what should stay and what should go?
I think every suburban yard could be filled with wild flowers in just 5 years. But the sacrifice would be too great. No chemicals, no mulch, an untidy look, a lawn of clover and rye. Oh, and bugs! yes bugs! Ants and wasps and bees and flies and spiders. Ick!
Sometimes a neighbor will ask if they can pick some flowers. “OK” I say, “but only if I am here. I want to supervise.” My yard is not a greenhouse, not the florist. “But you are not here when I come by.” "Too bad, then grow your own." Sometimes I want to make a deal. If you quit applying all chemicals to your yard, quit weeding, I will bring you a bouquet every week of the spring and summer. I’ll give you 10 to 1 they wont take that deal.
My yard has such an abundance of beauty, but it is very unconventional. It is the sort of yard the people at Scott's-Miracle Grow, have nightmares about.
June 4, 2007 Banded Sky
The afternoon features bands of rain broken sky. It rains then clears, Thunders then rains again. The temperature has dropped from the high 70s into the 60s.
It is interesting to watch and listen to the Juncos around the yard. They sing and forage. They are the predominant species. A song sparrow has staked out a territory in the back yard. A Wood Thrush sings from this side of the creek.
I wanted to hike but a thunderstorm is a thunderstorm. My house is also susceptible to lightning strikes. It has an insurance company installed arrester system. Last September was the last time it was hit. It just popped a breaker and thanks to the lightning rods no other harm. What it is about my house I don’t know. the neighbors houses are not far away but they do not get hit.
As I write the sky gets progressively darker. 10 minutes ago there was sunlight though a break in the clouds. To the west the sky is an ugly brown gray. More rain. The wind is picking up and the air cools a bit more. The birds are quiet now. They too can feel the coming rain.
It is interesting to watch and listen to the Juncos around the yard. They sing and forage. They are the predominant species. A song sparrow has staked out a territory in the back yard. A Wood Thrush sings from this side of the creek.
I wanted to hike but a thunderstorm is a thunderstorm. My house is also susceptible to lightning strikes. It has an insurance company installed arrester system. Last September was the last time it was hit. It just popped a breaker and thanks to the lightning rods no other harm. What it is about my house I don’t know. the neighbors houses are not far away but they do not get hit.
As I write the sky gets progressively darker. 10 minutes ago there was sunlight though a break in the clouds. To the west the sky is an ugly brown gray. More rain. The wind is picking up and the air cools a bit more. The birds are quiet now. They too can feel the coming rain.
June 3, 2007, Rain in a Green World
I am up early to get in a hike before the rain. As I head through the woods I think I should have gotten out at 5:30 rather than an hour later. There is a beautiful morning bird chorus these days. To be in the woods at that time is very special. It takes an effort though, to be up and out before dawn.
The thunder starts, and the rain follows while I am out. The rain drums on the leaves but none makes it to the ground. It is fun to watch the rain over the lower elevations. The layers of green get more and more subdued in the distance. Each ridge and valley like a deeper layer in the distance.
After I get back to my house the rain picks up. There is a steady rhythm to the drumming of the rain. The birds dart across the open areas. The smaller ones like the Goldfinch and chickadee can use a single maple leaf for cover. A the feeders are doing a steady business. A Tufted Titmouse, completely drenched, comes in. The rain makes a convenient way to take a shower.
The rain saturates the colors. The predominant color is green. Yellows are especially bright. A Goldfinch, a Buttercup, an Iris, all stand out at a distance in this light. But on a day like today, here in the woods, it is a green world. Almost everything is green from the sedges and grasses on the forest floor all the way up. The canopy is complete so I am surrounded by green. It is remarkable. Other colors are just dots on a canvas of green.
The thunder starts, and the rain follows while I am out. The rain drums on the leaves but none makes it to the ground. It is fun to watch the rain over the lower elevations. The layers of green get more and more subdued in the distance. Each ridge and valley like a deeper layer in the distance.
After I get back to my house the rain picks up. There is a steady rhythm to the drumming of the rain. The birds dart across the open areas. The smaller ones like the Goldfinch and chickadee can use a single maple leaf for cover. A the feeders are doing a steady business. A Tufted Titmouse, completely drenched, comes in. The rain makes a convenient way to take a shower.
The rain saturates the colors. The predominant color is green. Yellows are especially bright. A Goldfinch, a Buttercup, an Iris, all stand out at a distance in this light. But on a day like today, here in the woods, it is a green world. Almost everything is green from the sedges and grasses on the forest floor all the way up. The canopy is complete so I am surrounded by green. It is remarkable. Other colors are just dots on a canvas of green.
June 2, 2007, Why Would I want to Live Anywhere but Here?
It is the sort of day that makes you forget January. The sort of day where lake effect snow is just a distant memory. You forget what it is like to get several feet of snow in a few hours.
The weather forecast was very non specific so it could not be wrong. The morning is clear and sunny and the temperature perfect. High 70’s low 80’s. I woke up to an Indigo Bunny singing in the back yard. Paired notes: Cha cha che che sue sue see see chit chit . Around the yard the flowers are still spectacular. The Peonies are spectacular deep magenta. As far as I can tel they are the only cultivar in bloom at the moment. White Canada Anemones, pale blue Wild Hyacinth, Yellow Iris. Purple columbine linger, and a small 5 petal variegated pink flower, I think it is a Storksbill, is everywhere
Because today is Saturday I can walk in the early morning. I have the woods and summit to myself. There are Blueit Damselflies. I don’t know what species. I find them everywhere. Not in large numbers but enough to be noticed in the deep woods and along the ledges.
On the summit few birds of note. The expected species. Hooded Warbler, Wood Thrush, Eastern Wood Pewee, Scarlet Tanager. The Barred Owl calls from somewhere to the west, and a Red-shouldered Hawk calls from high over the trees. Visibility is low because it is hazy. I cannot see the lake but can see a ghostly image of the skyscrapers downtown illuminated by the morning sun.
Back home my first Cedar Waxwings of the year. Finally! The Indigo Bunny is still in the yard. Juncos are singing. The females are on their nests but the males come up from under the vegetation to sing and to visit the feeders. Chipmunks chitter as they cross the patio. A Deer Fly lands on me and wants to bite. I kill it. An ant about 8 mm long, finds it quickly. It takes a minute or so, but once it gets a good grip the ant drags the much bigger fly 10 feet across the patio, and up the six inch vertical wall of the curb into the Anemones. I realize the strength of ants is more a matter of scale than anything else. Still it was interesting the ant wanted the fly.
As the day progresses it gets progressively cloudy. Cumulus clouds building as the afternoon progresses. By late afternoon it is overcast. Still it is beautiful.
I don’t know if it is familiarity but I find this place more beautiful than any other. There are places that have their charms, More sunny days to be sure. Still I cannot think of anywhere that has the consistent natural beauty of my home. If I lived just a few miles away, in Mentor perhaps, I would not feel this way. But I don’t. How could I live anywhere else?
The weather forecast was very non specific so it could not be wrong. The morning is clear and sunny and the temperature perfect. High 70’s low 80’s. I woke up to an Indigo Bunny singing in the back yard. Paired notes: Cha cha che che sue sue see see chit chit . Around the yard the flowers are still spectacular. The Peonies are spectacular deep magenta. As far as I can tel they are the only cultivar in bloom at the moment. White Canada Anemones, pale blue Wild Hyacinth, Yellow Iris. Purple columbine linger, and a small 5 petal variegated pink flower, I think it is a Storksbill, is everywhere
Because today is Saturday I can walk in the early morning. I have the woods and summit to myself. There are Blueit Damselflies. I don’t know what species. I find them everywhere. Not in large numbers but enough to be noticed in the deep woods and along the ledges.
On the summit few birds of note. The expected species. Hooded Warbler, Wood Thrush, Eastern Wood Pewee, Scarlet Tanager. The Barred Owl calls from somewhere to the west, and a Red-shouldered Hawk calls from high over the trees. Visibility is low because it is hazy. I cannot see the lake but can see a ghostly image of the skyscrapers downtown illuminated by the morning sun.
Back home my first Cedar Waxwings of the year. Finally! The Indigo Bunny is still in the yard. Juncos are singing. The females are on their nests but the males come up from under the vegetation to sing and to visit the feeders. Chipmunks chitter as they cross the patio. A Deer Fly lands on me and wants to bite. I kill it. An ant about 8 mm long, finds it quickly. It takes a minute or so, but once it gets a good grip the ant drags the much bigger fly 10 feet across the patio, and up the six inch vertical wall of the curb into the Anemones. I realize the strength of ants is more a matter of scale than anything else. Still it was interesting the ant wanted the fly.
As the day progresses it gets progressively cloudy. Cumulus clouds building as the afternoon progresses. By late afternoon it is overcast. Still it is beautiful.
I don’t know if it is familiarity but I find this place more beautiful than any other. There are places that have their charms, More sunny days to be sure. Still I cannot think of anywhere that has the consistent natural beauty of my home. If I lived just a few miles away, in Mentor perhaps, I would not feel this way. But I don’t. How could I live anywhere else?
June 1, 2007 Nuthatch Display
There are sometimes days when things just don’t work out. Today rain, shopping, and a need to identify a wildflower kept me in the yard once I got home.
The wildflower was a wild hyacinth. Beautiful pale blue flowers. My mom was the botanist. She knew her herbaceous plants. Sometimes it is good to save things for later. Fun to keep learning throughout one’s life. For me I hope I continue to find new things to learn my whole life.
I continue to be astounded how many different kids of wild flowers are in my yard. I know they are here for one reason. I use almost no chemicals. This allows these native pants to thrive. Because I don’t weed. that is remove any plants not in the lawn, I don’t remove any wild flowers. I do go after 5 plants because I need to keep them from overrunning they others. Poison ivy, which I treat topically with systemic herbicide, Glossy Buckthorn, which I cut and apply the same to the stump to kill the roots. Raspberry, which I cut back, and chokeweed which I pull. I also have a minimal tolerance to thistles. I sometimes try to cut them before they seed. I have been successful in some parts of the yard with this strategy, unsuccessfully in others.
On my feeder a confrontation, between a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a White-breasted Nuthatch. The Nuthatch has an interesting aggression display. It will spread its wings exposing the under wings. It then rocks back and forth. This both makes the bird appear larger and show a a black against white pattern. I did a little drawing of what It think this might look like. Vaguely like the face of a Raccoon.
The Grosbeak and smaller Nuthatch have a stand off for about 2 minutes. The Grosbeak then tires of this and chases the Nuthatch off the feeder.
The wildflower was a wild hyacinth. Beautiful pale blue flowers. My mom was the botanist. She knew her herbaceous plants. Sometimes it is good to save things for later. Fun to keep learning throughout one’s life. For me I hope I continue to find new things to learn my whole life.
I continue to be astounded how many different kids of wild flowers are in my yard. I know they are here for one reason. I use almost no chemicals. This allows these native pants to thrive. Because I don’t weed. that is remove any plants not in the lawn, I don’t remove any wild flowers. I do go after 5 plants because I need to keep them from overrunning they others. Poison ivy, which I treat topically with systemic herbicide, Glossy Buckthorn, which I cut and apply the same to the stump to kill the roots. Raspberry, which I cut back, and chokeweed which I pull. I also have a minimal tolerance to thistles. I sometimes try to cut them before they seed. I have been successful in some parts of the yard with this strategy, unsuccessfully in others.
On my feeder a confrontation, between a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a White-breasted Nuthatch. The Nuthatch has an interesting aggression display. It will spread its wings exposing the under wings. It then rocks back and forth. This both makes the bird appear larger and show a a black against white pattern. I did a little drawing of what It think this might look like. Vaguely like the face of a Raccoon.
The Grosbeak and smaller Nuthatch have a stand off for about 2 minutes. The Grosbeak then tires of this and chases the Nuthatch off the feeder.
May 31, 2007 New Flowers
My Thursday schedule precludes a hike. It is a beautiful day but I must be content to walk the yard and and look at the flowers, picking a few for a bouquet. . A yellow peony is a highlight, but the yard also holds pure white Canada anenome, metallic yellow buttercups, magenta mallows, asters, and a many flowers beyond my experience. I did not notice many of these just a few days ago. I may have the opportunity to take pictures tomorrow.
May 30, 2007 Feeling Gull Ible
My hike around the summit was uneventful. It is warm and hazy today. I could not see downtown through the haze and would put the actual visibility at about 8 miles. Hooded warblers were the obvious species singing, but I did hear a single Black-throated Green Warbler.
I received my Peterson Guide to the Gulls of the Americas today. I feel so gullible for having purchased it without first looking it over. Well at least I got it for 33% off and didn’t pay for shipping.
The Book is a Petersen *Reference* Guide and covers all the gulls found in north and south America. What don’t I like? It is a photo guide, no illustrations and is full of dense technical prose. If you like word pictures in dry technical language reminiscent of geo chemistry texts and photos, this is the book for you. Everyone else is better off sticking with Grant or Harrison, for obscure stuff, and Sibley for the expected.
When it comes to guides, illustrations a preferable to photos in all circumstances. This is because an illustration is a composite of many individuals, while photos depict only one individual. The brilliance of Roger Tory Peterson was to distill each species down to its essentials. Prior to Peterson, descriptions were overly complex, technical and based on bird in hand. Peterson changed that with simple elegant prose and concise illustrations that gave the field observer the essential elements or field marks needed to identify a bird. Howell and Dunn abandon all of these principals in Gulls of the Americas. It is a book based upon a formula that will make money for the publisher. While there is probably useful information to be found, little is aimed at people interesting in field identification of gulls. Rodger Tory Peterson, is rolling in his grave.
I received my Peterson Guide to the Gulls of the Americas today. I feel so gullible for having purchased it without first looking it over. Well at least I got it for 33% off and didn’t pay for shipping.
The Book is a Petersen *Reference* Guide and covers all the gulls found in north and south America. What don’t I like? It is a photo guide, no illustrations and is full of dense technical prose. If you like word pictures in dry technical language reminiscent of geo chemistry texts and photos, this is the book for you. Everyone else is better off sticking with Grant or Harrison, for obscure stuff, and Sibley for the expected.
When it comes to guides, illustrations a preferable to photos in all circumstances. This is because an illustration is a composite of many individuals, while photos depict only one individual. The brilliance of Roger Tory Peterson was to distill each species down to its essentials. Prior to Peterson, descriptions were overly complex, technical and based on bird in hand. Peterson changed that with simple elegant prose and concise illustrations that gave the field observer the essential elements or field marks needed to identify a bird. Howell and Dunn abandon all of these principals in Gulls of the Americas. It is a book based upon a formula that will make money for the publisher. While there is probably useful information to be found, little is aimed at people interesting in field identification of gulls. Rodger Tory Peterson, is rolling in his grave.
Grandfather Tree
Along Pierson's Creek Tail at Holden Arboretum, just east of the north stairs, is this magnificent Red Oak. It is about 5 feet in diameter and goes up over 100 feet. I call these old trees, Grandfather trees. Having seen pictures of our NE Ohio forests before the settlers cut them down, I wonder what it would have been like to be in a forest filled with trees like this?
May 29, 2007 Fooling a Hooded Warbler
Yard work delays my walk. Cutting the grass and trying to get the Glossy Buckthorn, in the yard under control. I spy a Twelve-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly. In is just getting its’ black and white wing spots.
My hike is abbreviated. After bonking so hard yesterday, I don’t want to push it. The visibility is a little hazy but about 40 miles. I stop by the spot where I had the encounter with catharus enigmus, Sunday. The Chipmunk who was my only co witness is in the same spot, but pishing does not turn up any birds.
On my side of Gildersleeve Mountain, there are a lot of Hooded Warblers singing. One is close to the path and singing clearly. I whistle an imitation of its song. Wheety wheety wheet e Oh! To my surprise this fools the warbler and he comes in for a closer look. Anyone who as ever tried to track down a singing a Hooded Warbler in the understory knows it can be astoundingly difficult. The bird hides and flits. Wont sit still or give you a good look. So imagine my surprise when this bird spirals in from a higher branch and lands a few feet away. It sings back. I respond, we go back and fourth as I usually do with Cardinals. This is perhaps the best naked eye look I have ever had at a Hooded Warbler. So yellow with his black hood and black eyes. Olive green back. Just beautiful. I had no idea you could fool them like this with just a whistled imitation of their song.
My hike is abbreviated. After bonking so hard yesterday, I don’t want to push it. The visibility is a little hazy but about 40 miles. I stop by the spot where I had the encounter with catharus enigmus, Sunday. The Chipmunk who was my only co witness is in the same spot, but pishing does not turn up any birds.
On my side of Gildersleeve Mountain, there are a lot of Hooded Warblers singing. One is close to the path and singing clearly. I whistle an imitation of its song. Wheety wheety wheet e Oh! To my surprise this fools the warbler and he comes in for a closer look. Anyone who as ever tried to track down a singing a Hooded Warbler in the understory knows it can be astoundingly difficult. The bird hides and flits. Wont sit still or give you a good look. So imagine my surprise when this bird spirals in from a higher branch and lands a few feet away. It sings back. I respond, we go back and fourth as I usually do with Cardinals. This is perhaps the best naked eye look I have ever had at a Hooded Warbler. So yellow with his black hood and black eyes. Olive green back. Just beautiful. I had no idea you could fool them like this with just a whistled imitation of their song.
May 28, 2007 Out of Gas in Pierson’s Creek Valley
I got quite a late start today. As is expected, yesterday’s weather forecast of cloudy and 73° was wrong again. The day is beautiful, clear and sunny, so I decided to do one of the great hikes in northeast Ohio. The Pierson’s Creek, Old Valley Trail loop at the Holden Arboretum. This is a beautiful hike of around 3 miles with lots of up and down. Moving quickly you can do this hike in about 45 minutes. Today it will take me twice as long.
A few days ago I added a third again more weight to my pack. I ate lightly yesterday and just had some cereal for breakfast today. A mile into my hike, at the bottom of the north stairs I knew I was in trouble. My legs were rubbery and I was in ketosis.
In spite of struggling with my energy level, the walk was beauty. The valley does not seem as lush as in years past. Perhaps the cold has had its’ effect here too. Most of the expected bird species were found. Acadian Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Dark-eyed Junco were nice. No Phoebe. It was very cool and still humid in the valley. But the air is heavy with the smell of plants, the perfume of flowers and rich with oxygen. Still, I was struggling.
From my perspective, one of the nice things about this hike is the up and down. You start at roughly 950 feet elevation and descend to around 750 feet at the bottom of the northern stairs. There are stairs along the trails to limit the effects of human traffic on the valley sides. People tend to cut across switch backs and this facilitates erosion along the human paths. The north stairs descend roughly 14 stories into the valley and are the longest of the 3 sets found along the valley. Today the up and down caused me difficulty. On rubbery legs one has to concentrate on walking and cannot pay as much attention to the surrounding beauty.
Out of the valley around blueberry pond I found several odinates. Variable dancer, Dot-tailed Whiteface and Common Whitetail. A large Northern Watersnake was sunning itself on a rock. I do not want to get too close to this ill tempered reptile, but I do get a couple of nice pictures.
Although I have now had something more to eat and the temperature is in the 70’s I am still cold. The residual effects of using up all of your available energy. It is beautiful and sunny. I think I will go out and be like the watersnake. Catch some sun to warm up a bit.
A few days ago I added a third again more weight to my pack. I ate lightly yesterday and just had some cereal for breakfast today. A mile into my hike, at the bottom of the north stairs I knew I was in trouble. My legs were rubbery and I was in ketosis.
In spite of struggling with my energy level, the walk was beauty. The valley does not seem as lush as in years past. Perhaps the cold has had its’ effect here too. Most of the expected bird species were found. Acadian Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Dark-eyed Junco were nice. No Phoebe. It was very cool and still humid in the valley. But the air is heavy with the smell of plants, the perfume of flowers and rich with oxygen. Still, I was struggling.
From my perspective, one of the nice things about this hike is the up and down. You start at roughly 950 feet elevation and descend to around 750 feet at the bottom of the northern stairs. There are stairs along the trails to limit the effects of human traffic on the valley sides. People tend to cut across switch backs and this facilitates erosion along the human paths. The north stairs descend roughly 14 stories into the valley and are the longest of the 3 sets found along the valley. Today the up and down caused me difficulty. On rubbery legs one has to concentrate on walking and cannot pay as much attention to the surrounding beauty.
Out of the valley around blueberry pond I found several odinates. Variable dancer, Dot-tailed Whiteface and Common Whitetail. A large Northern Watersnake was sunning itself on a rock. I do not want to get too close to this ill tempered reptile, but I do get a couple of nice pictures.
Although I have now had something more to eat and the temperature is in the 70’s I am still cold. The residual effects of using up all of your available energy. It is beautiful and sunny. I think I will go out and be like the watersnake. Catch some sun to warm up a bit.
Notes On an Unreportable Bird
These are my field notes on the catharus enigmus,
described in the previous post. I hope readers will understand the true spirt of putting this information up for general scrutiny. To not do it, would be contrary to the purpose of this endeavor. I am also posting my field notes here, to give readers an idea of the difficulty of finding a rare bird. In this case without documentary photos, and given my lack of experience with this species. I do not feel there is enough evidence to submit this sighting to the OBRC or the Cleveland Bird Calendar.
Unlike some people I know, I could care less if my name is attached to a particular record. I just write them up and send them in. If I don't do it right away, I will forget later. In the case of this bird, I feel I should report it. So it is on the books. If it is later found that this species is more common in migration than previously believed, the information may be useful. But I wont. The pressure in field ornithology is to support the dogma. Unless you have strong evidence, reporting might damage your reputation and integrity. The idea that someone might be motivated only by the purpose of adding a bit of knowledge to the pile is simply not accepted.
described in the previous post. I hope readers will understand the true spirt of putting this information up for general scrutiny. To not do it, would be contrary to the purpose of this endeavor. I am also posting my field notes here, to give readers an idea of the difficulty of finding a rare bird. In this case without documentary photos, and given my lack of experience with this species. I do not feel there is enough evidence to submit this sighting to the OBRC or the Cleveland Bird Calendar.Unlike some people I know, I could care less if my name is attached to a particular record. I just write them up and send them in. If I don't do it right away, I will forget later. In the case of this bird, I feel I should report it. So it is on the books. If it is later found that this species is more common in migration than previously believed, the information may be useful. But I wont. The pressure in field ornithology is to support the dogma. Unless you have strong evidence, reporting might damage your reputation and integrity. The idea that someone might be motivated only by the purpose of adding a bit of knowledge to the pile is simply not accepted.
May 27, 2007 Catharus enigmus
I have one of those dilemmas that sometimes face birders at my skill level. Walking along the lookout a Thrush of the genus catharus, popped up to look at me just a few feet away. The bird was at eye level and in good light. It didn’t look right. It was so small for this genus, almost warbler sized, and while it looked like a Gray-cheeked Thrush, it was too brown. OK, a Veery then, but look at those bold dark spots on the breast, not a Veery, Hermit Thrush? but that it is not right, the spots are not bold enough and there is no red on the tail a Bicknell’s Thrush! a one in a million bird here, and I don’t have my camera. A lifer too. Try as I might I just cannot make this bird into one of the more likely catharus species. Here I am, by myself, 4 feet from what would be only the 2nd record in Ohio of this species. All I can do is eye this bird. Look at it in disbelief and try to convince myself I am not seeing what I am seeing. That does not work. I am seeing what I am seeing, and I cannot make the bird more gray green of give it a red tail or fade the breast spots. Then it is gone, It has dropped down over the edge.
So what do I do? I come home and look in Sibley. Yep, Bicknell’s is the size of a Hermit Thrush but looks like a brownish Gray-cheeked. I draw a picture and write down my observations. I would much rather have this be a Hermit Thrush or a Gray-cheeked. Something more expected. Am I certain about what I observed? Yes. Did I get a good look? Yes, from only 4 feet away I studied this bird for more than a minute. Am I certain this was a Bicknell’s Thrush. No. I have no experience with this species and can only rely upon my memory.
I have another problem. This bird will be irreproducible. It is migration, it will not stick around. It is in a difficult place, too. Unless it would come up to the edge again, it is in a pretty inaccessible area. What to do? Larry, ever the skeptic and seemingly unable to understand how someone can go through a process of critical thinking, will say I made a mistake. He only believes pictures. In this case I do not have enough evidence to even convince myself. There is another aspect to my dilemma. Honesty and integrity. For me these include not lying through omission. Omitting or not telling is every bit as much a lie as adding detail or plain making something up. I can only be honest when I report exactly what I remember observing. Still, this bird goes down in my book as catharus enigmus... That’s the way it is sometimes.
So what do I do? I come home and look in Sibley. Yep, Bicknell’s is the size of a Hermit Thrush but looks like a brownish Gray-cheeked. I draw a picture and write down my observations. I would much rather have this be a Hermit Thrush or a Gray-cheeked. Something more expected. Am I certain about what I observed? Yes. Did I get a good look? Yes, from only 4 feet away I studied this bird for more than a minute. Am I certain this was a Bicknell’s Thrush. No. I have no experience with this species and can only rely upon my memory.
I have another problem. This bird will be irreproducible. It is migration, it will not stick around. It is in a difficult place, too. Unless it would come up to the edge again, it is in a pretty inaccessible area. What to do? Larry, ever the skeptic and seemingly unable to understand how someone can go through a process of critical thinking, will say I made a mistake. He only believes pictures. In this case I do not have enough evidence to even convince myself. There is another aspect to my dilemma. Honesty and integrity. For me these include not lying through omission. Omitting or not telling is every bit as much a lie as adding detail or plain making something up. I can only be honest when I report exactly what I remember observing. Still, this bird goes down in my book as catharus enigmus... That’s the way it is sometimes.
May 26, 2007 Empids Along the Lake.
This morning I went to the lake. Warm, cloudy and light rain but sometimes weather like this is great for birds. Driving along the parkway, to the last parking area, of the park, I could hear Warblers in the trees. Blackpoll, Tennessee, Chestnut-sided. In the cottonwoods, more warblers, A Grey-cheeked Thrush, my first of the season offers a fabulous look. Having been interested in birds since I was a child, I have never had the trouble many do with identification. Sure I make mistakes, but it does not take much practice and soon I have it down. I tell people woodland Thrushes are easy. It is a matter of red and green. Reddish head is Wood, reddish tail is Hermit, reddish all over is Veery. Gray-green with an eye ring is Swainson’s, without is Gray-cheeked. There are other differences too but those are the most obvious. There is one other species. Bicknell’s Thrush, very similar to Gray-cheeked but it is found in a specialized habitat of New England, mountain tops
It was fun seeing lots of Warblers, this morning. There were female Blackpolls, everywhere, and an abundance of Canadas, but I really enjoyed were the empids. These are the small flycatchers of the genus empidonax. While empids are not particularly colorful, I find them to be very cute. They have large heads and big dark eyes. There are 5 species of empids expected in the east. Least, Willow, Alder, Acadian and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers. There was a time when field identification of these was considered impossible without hearing them. They all have distinct calls or songs, so it was possible to identify by song and habitat. But not by sight. Our advanced high quality optics have changed that for the most part. Especially if the birds have fresh feathers Identifying empids is largely a matter of bills, bellies, and eye rings. Least has a very short bill and an obvious eye ring. Willow and Alder are difficult to separate and were once lumped into the Traills species. Both have long bills, weak eye rings, and long primary tip extensions. Acadian has a long bill and is greener on the upper parts, has a complete eye ring, and long primary tips. Yellow-bellied is the easiest because it has the most color. Green upper parts and yellow green underneath with an obvious eye ring. With a little practice and good optics these differences start to pop out. With inferior optics, forget it. Also learning the songs makes things even easier. Least is che-bek, Willow, fitz bew, Alder fee be o, Acadian, spit see, and Yellow-bellied, chew-ee.
We had 4 empid species this morning. The only miss was Acadian. Ray and I had what we both agreed was one of the most magnificent looks at a Yellow-bellied we had ever had. And that is saying something because we have both had a lot of looks!
This afternoon I put out an orange for the Oriole. Mr. came to the living room window and sang but I have not seen him on the orange as yet. Juncos are on the feeder an in the yard, but the birds are not singing much as I write. Everything is very lush in the wet. While beautiful I would like to feel the baking warmth of the sun.
Once again the weather forecast was wrong. The forecast yesterday was for partly cloudy with a low chance of rain. What we have is overcast with intermittent rain.
It was fun seeing lots of Warblers, this morning. There were female Blackpolls, everywhere, and an abundance of Canadas, but I really enjoyed were the empids. These are the small flycatchers of the genus empidonax. While empids are not particularly colorful, I find them to be very cute. They have large heads and big dark eyes. There are 5 species of empids expected in the east. Least, Willow, Alder, Acadian and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers. There was a time when field identification of these was considered impossible without hearing them. They all have distinct calls or songs, so it was possible to identify by song and habitat. But not by sight. Our advanced high quality optics have changed that for the most part. Especially if the birds have fresh feathers Identifying empids is largely a matter of bills, bellies, and eye rings. Least has a very short bill and an obvious eye ring. Willow and Alder are difficult to separate and were once lumped into the Traills species. Both have long bills, weak eye rings, and long primary tip extensions. Acadian has a long bill and is greener on the upper parts, has a complete eye ring, and long primary tips. Yellow-bellied is the easiest because it has the most color. Green upper parts and yellow green underneath with an obvious eye ring. With a little practice and good optics these differences start to pop out. With inferior optics, forget it. Also learning the songs makes things even easier. Least is che-bek, Willow, fitz bew, Alder fee be o, Acadian, spit see, and Yellow-bellied, chew-ee.
We had 4 empid species this morning. The only miss was Acadian. Ray and I had what we both agreed was one of the most magnificent looks at a Yellow-bellied we had ever had. And that is saying something because we have both had a lot of looks!
This afternoon I put out an orange for the Oriole. Mr. came to the living room window and sang but I have not seen him on the orange as yet. Juncos are on the feeder an in the yard, but the birds are not singing much as I write. Everything is very lush in the wet. While beautiful I would like to feel the baking warmth of the sun.
Once again the weather forecast was wrong. The forecast yesterday was for partly cloudy with a low chance of rain. What we have is overcast with intermittent rain.
May 25, 2007 Rain and Thunder
I could smell the coming rain as I was driving home. Smell is a sense we tend to discount and ignore. Sure the sky was darkening, but the air had a different smell as well. The rain started as I was pulling into the driveway. 10 minutes later is was heavy and there was thunder. A Tufted Titmouse sits under the eaves on the feeder to stay dry. As I sit down the bird just give me a glance. Unworried about my presence.
I decide to sit in the living room and watch the rain through the large window. After the rain lets up a male Baltimore Oriole comes to the window. It lands on the sill and checks me out. Eyeing me. After a minute he flies back to into the spruce tree.
While the rain is now past it is still cloudy and wet. I will not take a hike. My concern of yesterday evening is realized.
I decide to sit in the living room and watch the rain through the large window. After the rain lets up a male Baltimore Oriole comes to the window. It lands on the sill and checks me out. Eyeing me. After a minute he flies back to into the spruce tree.
While the rain is now past it is still cloudy and wet. I will not take a hike. My concern of yesterday evening is realized.
May 24, 2007, Warm and Quiet.
The day is wonderfully warm. In the woods it is quiet. The back yard has limited bird activity. The Juncos, Bluebirds, Goldfinches, sing quietly. The warm weather means there are insects. Finally! The birds are out foraging. Just a few visit the feeders.
My Thursday schedule, precludes much time outside. Around the yard the flowers are in between. Many past their peak and others coming up. Looking around I find some very beautiful and unusual ones. The diversity is astounding. I need an expert to tell me how many are native.
We are in a dry spell, but it is not yet showing on the plants. Everything is very lush. There is still a lot of water in the soil. The seeps are not yet dry and neither is the dirt below the surface. Their is rain likely over the next few days. I hope it is just enough. Not too much. Not so much that it keeps me indoors.
My Thursday schedule, precludes much time outside. Around the yard the flowers are in between. Many past their peak and others coming up. Looking around I find some very beautiful and unusual ones. The diversity is astounding. I need an expert to tell me how many are native.
We are in a dry spell, but it is not yet showing on the plants. Everything is very lush. There is still a lot of water in the soil. The seeps are not yet dry and neither is the dirt below the surface. Their is rain likely over the next few days. I hope it is just enough. Not too much. Not so much that it keeps me indoors.
May 23, 2003 Does Haze Constitute Clouds?
A wonderful warm day. Temperature is in the 80’s and the sun is shining. In the woods the Wood Thrushes are singing beautifully in full song. A Wood Thrush can sing more than one not at once. I say this is polyphonic. I don’t know if this is technically true. If you have ever heard Mongolian or Tuvan throat singing, the Wood Thrush does the bird equivalent. As a result you hear multiple overtones as the bird sings. It really is beautiful. Perhaps the most lovely song in the woods.
I am surprised by the number of Blue-headed Vireos. As I circle the summit I count 4. the song of the Blue-headed is distinctly different from the Red-eyed Vireo. It is slower, more measured and has so high notes that are different from the Red-eyed. From my observation, Blue-headed Vireos are increasing in numbers here in Kirtland. I am finding them in more places than the past. The same seems to be holding true for Dark-eyed Juncos, and Eastern Bluebird as well.
I can hear the Juncos singing as I write, They are working the backyard and the males are visiting the feeders.
While the sun is shining today, the sky is almost white with haze. Downtown is visible, but the shoreline just 7 miles away not distinct. A hazy day. Detail is lost in just 4 or 5 miles. I wonder if today will be counted as a cloudy day? Probably. It is the sort of cloudy day that will give you a severe sunburn. The kind where the sun will sink in the lake like a piece of red hot burning charcoal.
I am surprised by the number of Blue-headed Vireos. As I circle the summit I count 4. the song of the Blue-headed is distinctly different from the Red-eyed Vireo. It is slower, more measured and has so high notes that are different from the Red-eyed. From my observation, Blue-headed Vireos are increasing in numbers here in Kirtland. I am finding them in more places than the past. The same seems to be holding true for Dark-eyed Juncos, and Eastern Bluebird as well.
I can hear the Juncos singing as I write, They are working the backyard and the males are visiting the feeders.
While the sun is shining today, the sky is almost white with haze. Downtown is visible, but the shoreline just 7 miles away not distinct. A hazy day. Detail is lost in just 4 or 5 miles. I wonder if today will be counted as a cloudy day? Probably. It is the sort of cloudy day that will give you a severe sunburn. The kind where the sun will sink in the lake like a piece of red hot burning charcoal.
May 22, 2007 Splitting Hostas
The day is so beauty and warm. But it is as if my house has conspired against me, because I have to do some plumbing work. A pipe behind a wall has sprung a leak and needs to be fixed.
My friends Carol and Dave came over because I have offered them some of my hostas. If wealth were measured in hostas I would be very comfortable. Carol and Dave dig and split some of my numerous varieties, as I complete the replacement of my leaky pipe. Thankfully my craft is adequate and none of the copper leaks. Together we go for a quick hike. They enjoy the view from the lookout, and the singing of the Blue-headed Vireo, and Wood Thrush. Visibility is 15 miles or so with detail. 25 miles absolute . The sun is bright but there is again a high overcast. Another "cloudy" day in NE Ohio.
My friends Carol and Dave came over because I have offered them some of my hostas. If wealth were measured in hostas I would be very comfortable. Carol and Dave dig and split some of my numerous varieties, as I complete the replacement of my leaky pipe. Thankfully my craft is adequate and none of the copper leaks. Together we go for a quick hike. They enjoy the view from the lookout, and the singing of the Blue-headed Vireo, and Wood Thrush. Visibility is 15 miles or so with detail. 25 miles absolute . The sun is bright but there is again a high overcast. Another "cloudy" day in NE Ohio.
May 21, 2007 Birds Under the Canopy
A beautiful day but still cool. Low sixties and “overcast”. Actually it is a lovely sunny afternoon with a thin layer of high stratus clouds. The sun is bright above the leaves.
The woods hold Chestnut -sided and Canada Warblers. Wood Thrush and Veery are everywhere. Eastern wood Pewee too. On the far side of the summit Bluebirds deep in the woods. A bit out of place this far from the edge. Visibility is out to the horizon, or over 20 miles but it is hazy and detail is lost at about 10 miles. A male Wood Duck flushes from the ponds below the lookout. I need to check but I think he is new for my list here. I can see Common Green Darners over the water below and Common White tail comes whizzing up and into the woods as I look out over the woods and lake below.
Few people these days. Spring fever must have broken. Just 4 people in my whole circle of the summit, 3 of them running. My own legs feel springy and I climb with my weighted pack without difficulty. Even climbing the bigger hill and pushing hard I am barely out of breath. Time to add more weight, but also testament to the fact that a couple of days of rest sometimes improves overall fitness.
Coming back through the woods I flush a Woodcock out of a little wet spot. One has to be very close to a sitting Woodcock for it to flush, and in this case my foot had come down less than 18 inches from where the bird was sitting. Too close. Flushing a Woodcock does not startle like flushing a Ruffed Grouse. It is more a pleasant surprise, while flushing a Grouse is so noisy your heart skips a beat.
The woods hold Chestnut -sided and Canada Warblers. Wood Thrush and Veery are everywhere. Eastern wood Pewee too. On the far side of the summit Bluebirds deep in the woods. A bit out of place this far from the edge. Visibility is out to the horizon, or over 20 miles but it is hazy and detail is lost at about 10 miles. A male Wood Duck flushes from the ponds below the lookout. I need to check but I think he is new for my list here. I can see Common Green Darners over the water below and Common White tail comes whizzing up and into the woods as I look out over the woods and lake below.
Few people these days. Spring fever must have broken. Just 4 people in my whole circle of the summit, 3 of them running. My own legs feel springy and I climb with my weighted pack without difficulty. Even climbing the bigger hill and pushing hard I am barely out of breath. Time to add more weight, but also testament to the fact that a couple of days of rest sometimes improves overall fitness.
Coming back through the woods I flush a Woodcock out of a little wet spot. One has to be very close to a sitting Woodcock for it to flush, and in this case my foot had come down less than 18 inches from where the bird was sitting. Too close. Flushing a Woodcock does not startle like flushing a Ruffed Grouse. It is more a pleasant surprise, while flushing a Grouse is so noisy your heart skips a beat.
May 20, 2007 Last Sunday Walk of the Season
Today was the last of the Sunday Audubon walks of the season. The 76th year of these walks is now finished. We had just 67 species at the Arboretum this morning. It was cool with light rain at times. Nothing noteworthy on the walk except the absence of Empidonax flycatchers. No Chebecker (Least), nor Willow, nor Acadian. I have been leading these walks for over 15 years and cannot remember a year where we did not have a single empid. The cold has delayed the arrival of many birds this year.
Leading the walks at Holden has other compensations. The gardens were in their full glory today. The Holden Arboretum, is a beautiful garden in the middle of pristine natural areas. To walk this land, both the cultivated and and the natural, at this time of year, is a joy in its own right. Admiring the rich and elegant magenta, pinks, and oranges of the Rhododendron garden, or majestic old growth Oaks and Maples of Bole woods, it is a pleasure to walk the Arboretum.
At home I notice more columbine, both red and purple, in new places in the yard. May, flowers are everywhere in the full spectrum of colors. Under the cloudy skies the pinks and blues and yellows are intense and beautiful.
Activity at the feeders is unusual today. A Baltimore Oriole, comes to the feeder, then, a little later, flutters against the window singing. This is in the library where I am writing. This behavior defies my understanding. My intuition or instinct is that the Oriole wants food. I have no oranges in my fruit bowl. A little later a Towhee on the feeder. Very odd as these feeders are 18 feet off the ground. The cold is hard on these birds. They depend on insects and there are few insects when the temperatures is only in the high 40s. For many years spring has been warmer. A cold spring like this will really challenge the less hardy of the neotropical migrants.
Leading the walks at Holden has other compensations. The gardens were in their full glory today. The Holden Arboretum, is a beautiful garden in the middle of pristine natural areas. To walk this land, both the cultivated and and the natural, at this time of year, is a joy in its own right. Admiring the rich and elegant magenta, pinks, and oranges of the Rhododendron garden, or majestic old growth Oaks and Maples of Bole woods, it is a pleasure to walk the Arboretum.
At home I notice more columbine, both red and purple, in new places in the yard. May, flowers are everywhere in the full spectrum of colors. Under the cloudy skies the pinks and blues and yellows are intense and beautiful.
Activity at the feeders is unusual today. A Baltimore Oriole, comes to the feeder, then, a little later, flutters against the window singing. This is in the library where I am writing. This behavior defies my understanding. My intuition or instinct is that the Oriole wants food. I have no oranges in my fruit bowl. A little later a Towhee on the feeder. Very odd as these feeders are 18 feet off the ground. The cold is hard on these birds. They depend on insects and there are few insects when the temperatures is only in the high 40s. For many years spring has been warmer. A cold spring like this will really challenge the less hardy of the neotropical migrants.
May 20, 2007 Indigo "Bunny"
Indigo "Bunny" is a nickname for Indigo Bunting. because we tend to drop the "t" bunting ends up sounding like bunny.I was not able to get real close, so the image is not the best, but the beauty of this bird's color sure comes through in this enlargement.
May 19, 2007 Lake and Marsh
I got to the Lake pretty early. I am so lucky to live so close to such a wonderful birding spot. The Headlands beach, dunes, Mentor marsh, Mentor Lagoons area is on of the great birding spots in North America. No hyperbole. The “Mentor” list rivals that of Magee-Ottawa, and Point Pelee. Yet it is hardly known to most birders. If you read the Ohio section of North American Birds, you will see HBSP cited as a location in issue after issue, but on a day like today, perhaps 30 people will bird the area.
The other wonderful thing about birding in this location is the birders. Almost every day 2 of the best birders anywhere, work the beach, dunes and Cottonwoods. Hike the edge of the marsh and the trails of the forest east of the lagoons. Ray Hannikman and Jerry Talkington are a joy to bird with. They are great at finding birds and very knowledgeable. Ray’s expertise on Gulls and Shorebirds found in eastern North America is unrivaled by anyone, and Jerry is an outdoorsman of uncommon skill. Jerry has fabulous ears and knowledge that make him better at finding birds by ear than anyone I have ever met. Jerry’s knowledge of non avian fauna is tremendous as well. Other people bird the area on a less regular basis. Many of them are the crème de la crème in terms of field identification.
I arrived pretty early but Ray was already off the beach and in the cottonwoods. He had found a Black-bellied Plover on the beach. Jerry showed up about 7 and he and I worked the dunes and the Cottonwoods. There was not much to be found. The Grand River Dock Co. property between the dunes and the Coast Guard station was more productive.
We hiked Zimmerman Trail, along the marsh and found nice pockets of birds. Jerry and Muggsie got on an Orange-crowned Warbler which Ray, Suzanne, and I missed in spite of being right there. Sometimes it is like that. Among experienced NE Ohio birders, Orange-crowned Warbler is one of the hardest of the expected species to get every year. We found Wilson’s and Canada in one pocket and I very much wanted a Hooded to complete a Wilsonia sweep in one spot. That is, all 3 warblers of the genus Wilsonia. But my desire went unfulfilled.
Being with such great birders was a joy. I was again astounded at the level of skill in that small group. For instance, assembled in our small group was the most combined experience with migrating Kirtland’s Warbler anywhere. This is the honest to god truth, because together we have seen more individuals of this rare species during migration than any other 5 people in the world. We could add 3 other people to that list, but they were not with us today.
Still on the subject of field identification I am astounded at how short a glimpse is required to identify a bird. I am not a talking about a flash card image here either. An oblique view of less than a second is all that is needed in many cases. A blue gray back, long tail, and a little yellow on the under part is easily a Canada. A flash of chestnut on the sides, either Chestnut-sided or Bay-breasted. A little white on the under parts, Chestnut-sided. This holds true for species other than warblers too. Sparrows are the same. Other types of birds require more study. Flycatchers of the genus Empidonax, require real study unless they are singing. Gulls, fall Shorebirds, and flying Hawks are other groups that cannot be identified in a flash. But as in anything human, mistakes are made. Something out of context or unexpected is the most common reason for this. We tend to see what we expect to see. Everyone is fallible. The only people who don’t misidentify birds are people who don’t identify birds. I pulled a real good one today. I saw a pair of Downy Woodpeckers in courtship, but I was thinking about how they resembled Brown Creepers, so what came out of my mouth was Brown Creepers. I committed the crime of not engaging my left brain before moving my mouth. Amusing to be sure, because I did not realize what I was saying as I said it.
Thinking about this, I realize birding is very much a right brain activity. No wonder so many people find it so challenging. No wonder so many great birders are excellent illustrators as well.
I ran out of gas around 10:30, so I did not continue after we finished walking Zimmerman. Collectively we had 17 Warbler species. I had 14 of those personally. Not bad for just a 10 mile drive from home.
The other wonderful thing about birding in this location is the birders. Almost every day 2 of the best birders anywhere, work the beach, dunes and Cottonwoods. Hike the edge of the marsh and the trails of the forest east of the lagoons. Ray Hannikman and Jerry Talkington are a joy to bird with. They are great at finding birds and very knowledgeable. Ray’s expertise on Gulls and Shorebirds found in eastern North America is unrivaled by anyone, and Jerry is an outdoorsman of uncommon skill. Jerry has fabulous ears and knowledge that make him better at finding birds by ear than anyone I have ever met. Jerry’s knowledge of non avian fauna is tremendous as well. Other people bird the area on a less regular basis. Many of them are the crème de la crème in terms of field identification.
I arrived pretty early but Ray was already off the beach and in the cottonwoods. He had found a Black-bellied Plover on the beach. Jerry showed up about 7 and he and I worked the dunes and the Cottonwoods. There was not much to be found. The Grand River Dock Co. property between the dunes and the Coast Guard station was more productive.
We hiked Zimmerman Trail, along the marsh and found nice pockets of birds. Jerry and Muggsie got on an Orange-crowned Warbler which Ray, Suzanne, and I missed in spite of being right there. Sometimes it is like that. Among experienced NE Ohio birders, Orange-crowned Warbler is one of the hardest of the expected species to get every year. We found Wilson’s and Canada in one pocket and I very much wanted a Hooded to complete a Wilsonia sweep in one spot. That is, all 3 warblers of the genus Wilsonia. But my desire went unfulfilled.
Being with such great birders was a joy. I was again astounded at the level of skill in that small group. For instance, assembled in our small group was the most combined experience with migrating Kirtland’s Warbler anywhere. This is the honest to god truth, because together we have seen more individuals of this rare species during migration than any other 5 people in the world. We could add 3 other people to that list, but they were not with us today.
Still on the subject of field identification I am astounded at how short a glimpse is required to identify a bird. I am not a talking about a flash card image here either. An oblique view of less than a second is all that is needed in many cases. A blue gray back, long tail, and a little yellow on the under part is easily a Canada. A flash of chestnut on the sides, either Chestnut-sided or Bay-breasted. A little white on the under parts, Chestnut-sided. This holds true for species other than warblers too. Sparrows are the same. Other types of birds require more study. Flycatchers of the genus Empidonax, require real study unless they are singing. Gulls, fall Shorebirds, and flying Hawks are other groups that cannot be identified in a flash. But as in anything human, mistakes are made. Something out of context or unexpected is the most common reason for this. We tend to see what we expect to see. Everyone is fallible. The only people who don’t misidentify birds are people who don’t identify birds. I pulled a real good one today. I saw a pair of Downy Woodpeckers in courtship, but I was thinking about how they resembled Brown Creepers, so what came out of my mouth was Brown Creepers. I committed the crime of not engaging my left brain before moving my mouth. Amusing to be sure, because I did not realize what I was saying as I said it.
Thinking about this, I realize birding is very much a right brain activity. No wonder so many people find it so challenging. No wonder so many great birders are excellent illustrators as well.
I ran out of gas around 10:30, so I did not continue after we finished walking Zimmerman. Collectively we had 17 Warbler species. I had 14 of those personally. Not bad for just a 10 mile drive from home.
May 19, 2007 Misty Sunrise
Driving to the lake, this scene of the mist over the field along Chillicothe Road, caught my eye. The sun had just come up over the trees. The human eye is better at seeing this than a CCD is at capturing it. I need to spend some more time with Photoshop on this one.
May 18, 2007 Ballistics and the Math of Dandelions
I am watching the birds come to the feeders. I realize birds rely on trajectory. They understand the force of gravity and use it to their advantage. Now that the leaves are out, birds tend to work through holes. There is a hole I can see from the dining room, I cannot see from the library. From the dining room I can see a path through the leaves that goes back 300 meters ever increasing in height to near the tops of the trees. From the library holes only extend back about 50 meters.
I watched a Rose-breasted Grosbeak bomb in from 250 meters out. All the way through the hole. There were twists and turns to be sure. The path was not that of a falling body, The Grosbeak checked its’ fall and turned with the lift of its’ wings. A chickadee will do this, but not with the twists and turns. It follows an almost straight path. Dewit, dewit. A series of convex curves but straight on the y axis. I wonder if coming from the neotropics differentiates the Grosbeak form the Chickadee? If spending the majority of one’s life in a world with leaves as opposed to a world where leaves fall to the ground makes a difference?
Since we are on the topic of mathematics I wonder how many people have really looked at a dandelion seed head? It is a perfect ellipsoid. The number of strands in a single seed pod seems to always be a prime 61, 73, 89... I wonder if anyone has taken the time to count the individual seeds or plot their relationship? To me they seem to be arranged on the basis of a pentagon which would lead me to hypothesize it may be related to phi, 1.618. Like pi and e, phi is one of those numbers that seem to be fundemental to the structure of the universe.
I watched a Rose-breasted Grosbeak bomb in from 250 meters out. All the way through the hole. There were twists and turns to be sure. The path was not that of a falling body, The Grosbeak checked its’ fall and turned with the lift of its’ wings. A chickadee will do this, but not with the twists and turns. It follows an almost straight path. Dewit, dewit. A series of convex curves but straight on the y axis. I wonder if coming from the neotropics differentiates the Grosbeak form the Chickadee? If spending the majority of one’s life in a world with leaves as opposed to a world where leaves fall to the ground makes a difference?
Since we are on the topic of mathematics I wonder how many people have really looked at a dandelion seed head? It is a perfect ellipsoid. The number of strands in a single seed pod seems to always be a prime 61, 73, 89... I wonder if anyone has taken the time to count the individual seeds or plot their relationship? To me they seem to be arranged on the basis of a pentagon which would lead me to hypothesize it may be related to phi, 1.618. Like pi and e, phi is one of those numbers that seem to be fundemental to the structure of the universe.
May 17, 2007
Another cool day temperature in the low 50s. A true partly cloudy day. I can’t take a hike because I have no time today. But I do spend a little time outside. The Wood Thrush and the Scarlet Tanager are the most obvious of the singing birds. The Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are not as obvious at the feeders. The males are singing on territory. The females come in for a bite to eat though.
I found Columbine along the side of the house. Only 2 daffodils in all the yard, but other flowers are taking their place.
I am looking forward to some warmer weather predicted for tomorrow and Saturday. If a warm fron does indeed come through, We could have a couple of good days for birds.
I found Columbine along the side of the house. Only 2 daffodils in all the yard, but other flowers are taking their place.
I am looking forward to some warmer weather predicted for tomorrow and Saturday. If a warm fron does indeed come through, We could have a couple of good days for birds.
May 16, 2007 One Thousand Shades of Green
The cloudy sky created light that fully saturated the colors. The rain brought out the lushness of the forest. Always difficult to capture, forest scenes like this are especially challenging because there is no main subject. In this case I tried to get branches at several distances to give more depth to the scene.
May 16, 2007
Cold and rainy. 53° is cold for mid May. The cloudy light saturates colors. The forest looks so lush. Only with light rain and clouds do you get this thousand shades of green. I have no desire to take a cold wet hike. The yard holds lovely flowers and the feeders are busy. Birds sing in this weather, especially the neotropical migrants. Out in the back yard this is who I hear. The Scarlet Tanager, Wood Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Hooded Warbler.
The color of the Goldfinches is especially intense against the green. I have seen Scarlet Tanager in similar light. A red beyond and other. But no Tanager views today. Just increasing rain as the evening progresses.
The color of the Goldfinches is especially intense against the green. I have seen Scarlet Tanager in similar light. A red beyond and other. But no Tanager views today. Just increasing rain as the evening progresses.
May 15, 2007
So nice and warm today. A front coming through sometime tonight. It is windy and the cumulus clouds are building. I had to do some shopping in Orange Village, and came home along the Chagrin River Valley. I stuck to the high roads so I could catch the occasional long vistas. We really do live in a forest here. The long views are always of trees and it is only the buildings that are higher than their tops that show in the distance.
Walking though the woods, I hear Wood Thrush and Pewee. The birds skittish and moving fast. There is little sound or movement on the summit. It is hazy and visibility is only about 7 miles. I can pick out the outlines of the buildings downtown, 18 miles away, but they are very faint.
Coming down I hear there is more activity on my side of the mountain. Grosbeaks, Goldfinches, and Hairy Woodpecker.
I have no path through the woods. Now that the leaves are out there are no visible references in the distance. It is not very far to my yard. Just a few hundred yards. I use distance and direction rather than landmarks. I do this in other areas as well. Other woods without distinct paths. The lay of the land and the change in vegetation also provide a means of picking my way though the woods. In some cases I use a compass. When features are not obvious or the land is so irregular it is easy to lose track of direction under the canopy on a cloudy or rainy day. In 1999 on Little Mountain doing breeding bird survey work with Carol Skinner, I found myself using bird territories as an aid on the 1.5 mile off path walk. I had learned who lived where and would use the singing as both a measure of distance and as a landmark of sorts. It is almost impossible to get lost in this part of the world. There are too many clues. Running water, the sound of highways. Such is life in a major metropolitan area..
Walking though the woods, I hear Wood Thrush and Pewee. The birds skittish and moving fast. There is little sound or movement on the summit. It is hazy and visibility is only about 7 miles. I can pick out the outlines of the buildings downtown, 18 miles away, but they are very faint.
Coming down I hear there is more activity on my side of the mountain. Grosbeaks, Goldfinches, and Hairy Woodpecker.
I have no path through the woods. Now that the leaves are out there are no visible references in the distance. It is not very far to my yard. Just a few hundred yards. I use distance and direction rather than landmarks. I do this in other areas as well. Other woods without distinct paths. The lay of the land and the change in vegetation also provide a means of picking my way though the woods. In some cases I use a compass. When features are not obvious or the land is so irregular it is easy to lose track of direction under the canopy on a cloudy or rainy day. In 1999 on Little Mountain doing breeding bird survey work with Carol Skinner, I found myself using bird territories as an aid on the 1.5 mile off path walk. I had learned who lived where and would use the singing as both a measure of distance and as a landmark of sorts. It is almost impossible to get lost in this part of the world. There are too many clues. Running water, the sound of highways. Such is life in a major metropolitan area..
May 14, 2007
Today the winds turned. By 4 pm it was 70°. Nice and warm, sunny too, but the day will be recorded as mostly cloudy. On the lilacs Red Admiral, and Tiger Swallowtail butterflies. The shady areas in the yard are full of flowers. Blue, white, purple, yellow, delicate shades, not bright. Very beautiful. In the woods the leaves and canopy are almost full. The light has a green cast and seeing though trees is now difficult. Wood Thrushes scatter as I climb the slope on the other side of the creek. It is quite and beautiful on the summit. The air is fresh with oxygen from the leaves. Near the lookout I hear the Barred Owls. 3 individuals calling back and forth from the southwest side of the old quarry. Spicebush swallowtails flit through the under story. Scarlet-Tanager calls chick-terrr, chick-terrr from the center of the summit. Visibility from the lookout is a little more than 20 miles
I don’t linger at the lookout. The woods is quite until I near home where the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are singing like mad. Like a round of Row, Row, Row, Your Boat, one starts and two or three others pick up with the same song at regular intervals. The effect is wonderful.
I am a little overwhelmed by the beauty of this place and my fortune at being able to enjoy it
I don’t linger at the lookout. The woods is quite until I near home where the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are singing like mad. Like a round of Row, Row, Row, Your Boat, one starts and two or three others pick up with the same song at regular intervals. The effect is wonderful.
I am a little overwhelmed by the beauty of this place and my fortune at being able to enjoy it
May 13, 2007
How can such a beauty day be so dismal? It is clear but cold, in the 40’s early high 50’s in the afternoon. My walk at the Arboretum produced a mere 66 species and we had to work hard for almost every one. We put in 4.5 hours and walked much of the central 800 acres. It was very quiet this morning so I knew it would be difficult. The wind out of the northeast did not bode well.
Still there are other joys beyond a big list. With any beginning or occasional bird watchers the challenge can be to just find and get people on a bird. My first Indigo “bunny” of the year was very vocal but invisible in the top of a tree. We did get everyone great looks at Swainson’s and Wood Thrushes, Yellow-throated, Red-eyed, and Warbling Vireos, Eastern Wood Pewee, and Hooded Warbler. These species of the deep woods can often be very elusive. But because the diversity was low, we took the time to look hard and find each.
For me, being in the field with less skilled people tends to make me less sharp. I lose my edge and my skills are certainly not at a peak. I need time with excellent birders. People who are better than me at field I.D. They drag me up closer to their level. Birding is again like golf in this regard. To paraphrase Harvey Penick: No how bad you are at identifying birds, you will always find someone worse, and no matter how good you are you will always find someone better.
I guess I can officially declare this to be a year without nesting Phoebes here on the higher elevations. Although I hold no office in this regard, I can say they are gone from their usual haunts above 900 feet MSL. Given the site fidelity of this species, I wonder how long it will be before we have them in these locations again?
My yard this afternoon is a happier place. While mowing my lawn I find a Springtime Darner Dragonfly. The Bluebirds are most certainly sharing my house this spring as I saw Mr. chasing a Robin, and Mrs. emerging from the hole in the siding soon after. The Juncos are busy carrying nest materials. Lots of new flowers. Few I know. My mom was the botanist-horticulturist. Who knows what is here. Knowing my mom there could be some interesting stuff. Nothing exotic, but she had a “brown thumb” as she put it. Able to coax many difficult things to grow. A new yard bird too. Given where I live I can understand never having it before. Tree Swallow, high over the trees.
A little later, I am cooking on the patio. Everything is covered in the grill and I am just having a look and listen. I am enjoying the song of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Really appreciating the musicality of it, when a very odd thing happens. A Wood Thrush, lands on a low branch of a large maple near me. Perhaps 15 feet away. This in itself is odd, because I have never seen a Wood Thrush so close to the edge of the woods. Not here. Then something even stranger. The Wood Thrush throws itself at the trunk of the tree, then a second time, and a third. Each time making a noticeable impact. After each hit it perches on the branch and looks at me. I take a step closer and if flies off deeper into the woods. I have no idea what that was about. To me it looked like the bird was attempting to fly through the tree trunk. And what was it doing way up here by the house?
Still there are other joys beyond a big list. With any beginning or occasional bird watchers the challenge can be to just find and get people on a bird. My first Indigo “bunny” of the year was very vocal but invisible in the top of a tree. We did get everyone great looks at Swainson’s and Wood Thrushes, Yellow-throated, Red-eyed, and Warbling Vireos, Eastern Wood Pewee, and Hooded Warbler. These species of the deep woods can often be very elusive. But because the diversity was low, we took the time to look hard and find each.
For me, being in the field with less skilled people tends to make me less sharp. I lose my edge and my skills are certainly not at a peak. I need time with excellent birders. People who are better than me at field I.D. They drag me up closer to their level. Birding is again like golf in this regard. To paraphrase Harvey Penick: No how bad you are at identifying birds, you will always find someone worse, and no matter how good you are you will always find someone better.
I guess I can officially declare this to be a year without nesting Phoebes here on the higher elevations. Although I hold no office in this regard, I can say they are gone from their usual haunts above 900 feet MSL. Given the site fidelity of this species, I wonder how long it will be before we have them in these locations again?
My yard this afternoon is a happier place. While mowing my lawn I find a Springtime Darner Dragonfly. The Bluebirds are most certainly sharing my house this spring as I saw Mr. chasing a Robin, and Mrs. emerging from the hole in the siding soon after. The Juncos are busy carrying nest materials. Lots of new flowers. Few I know. My mom was the botanist-horticulturist. Who knows what is here. Knowing my mom there could be some interesting stuff. Nothing exotic, but she had a “brown thumb” as she put it. Able to coax many difficult things to grow. A new yard bird too. Given where I live I can understand never having it before. Tree Swallow, high over the trees.
A little later, I am cooking on the patio. Everything is covered in the grill and I am just having a look and listen. I am enjoying the song of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Really appreciating the musicality of it, when a very odd thing happens. A Wood Thrush, lands on a low branch of a large maple near me. Perhaps 15 feet away. This in itself is odd, because I have never seen a Wood Thrush so close to the edge of the woods. Not here. Then something even stranger. The Wood Thrush throws itself at the trunk of the tree, then a second time, and a third. Each time making a noticeable impact. After each hit it perches on the branch and looks at me. I take a step closer and if flies off deeper into the woods. I have no idea what that was about. To me it looked like the bird was attempting to fly through the tree trunk. And what was it doing way up here by the house?
May 12, 2007 IMBD Hordes at Magee
This is as bad as it gets on the boardwalk at Magee Marsh. My 2004 study showed that at peak usage between 800 and 900 were on the boardwalk. I would estimate around 800 today. This was the longest and heaviest knot I saw.The temperature was cool and the birds were up high making viewing difficult, and mis-identification common.
Winds out of the north kept both variety and numbers down. Tuesday May 15, should be spectacular anywhere along the lake.
May 12, 2007
We are fortunate here on the shores of Lake Erie to have some of the great birding spots in the entire world. Point Pelee, Lake Eire Metropark, Presque Isle, Mentor Headlands and the Magee Marsh wildlife area- Ottawa NWR complex. During spring and fall migration these areas offer fabulous birding.
We left for Magee-Ottawa at 5:30 am. Before getting into our vehicle it was great to hear so many Junco’s singing. 2 hours later we pulled into Magee. I am always thrilled and amazed at the sound one hears getting out of the car at the Boardwalk parking area in May. It is beautiful and unlike anything I hear elsewhere. A concentration of bird song unrivaled anywhere.
The winds are out of the north and the weather is cool. Yet just into the boardwalk we find a Blackburnian, a Nashville and a Magnolia. By the end of the day we will have tallied 23 species of Warblers and little else. The day was interesting but for me there was something missing.
I am a birder, not a bird watcher. The main difference between the 2 is that birders keep lists. Life lists, day lists, year lists, state lists, yard lists. Birders however, are not tickers. A ticker is someone who ticks off species. A ticker sees but often leaves the identification to someone else. They don’t always make the connection between seeing and identifying for themselves. A bird watcher does not care much about lists. They might keep a life list, but nothing else. They are there in part for the spectacle and not the sport. For a birder, while there is still joy in seeing every bird, once a species is on the list it is time lo look for something new. Once the possibilities of an area are exhausted it is time to move on to somewhere new. For a birder the maximum diversity holds the most fascination. What was missing for me today was the sport. It took us over 4 hours to walk the boardwalk up and back once. Part of the reason was the 800 or so people there, part of the reason was running into old friends, part of the problem was the nature of the day itself.
Magee now attracts a lot of people. Based upon my 2004 study, under favorable conditions about 1200 people visit the boardwalk on a May weekend day like this. For me this makes birding less fun and more difficult. The things I find most difficult are the lack of good information, and the inability to talk openly about birds. With so many people collecting warblers, one cannot mention a species without raising the question where? from expectant faces. So for instance, when I spotted a Blue-winged Warbler, unusual today, I didn’t say anything. I made a mental note, rather than calling the bird and having to get a hundred eyes on this individual. When someone called a Pine, a very good bird for Magee in May, and when we looked at the bird and saw a female Blackpoll, we just whispered among ourselves and moved on.
It is fun seeing people you have not seen for a while. More disconcerting is when someone knows you and you have absolutely no clue how or why.
But to see other birders you know and trust, the talk can be pure joy. Around 5:30 pm I was talking with Jenn Blumfield, about the report of a Connecticut Warbler, late in the day. She practically had me in stitches with her possible explanations for this sighting so late in the afternoon, and on an exceptionally early date based upon historical data. Why it was suddenly found after most people had left, on a day when there was little or no migratory movement by Warblers. Peterjohn confirms our observation: “The first migrants normally appear around May 15... Connecticuts are rare to uncommon along Lake Erie”
Another phenomena at Magee-Ottawa is the celebrity birder. These are authors, artists and marketers who have a degree of fame in birding circles. Some for their knowledge, some for their ability to communicate, others because they have done very well attaching their name to the work of others, and are very good at selling their product. I have no use for celebrity. To me are just other people. I may respect or admire the person’s work, but this is based upon the work itself, and not how much attention it has attracted or how good they are at promoting themselves. Unfortunately the bird world is not a pure meritocracy.
The funniest thing that happened was on the Ottawa driving tour. We could repeatedly hear an American Bittern. It sounded as if it was perhaps 15 -20 feet away but we could not see it. Eventually we spread out, and when we again heard the bird, and now all thought it was in a different place we realized we were in trouble. Some people were on a dike about 50 yards away. I asked them what they were looking at? American Bittern, they said pointing way out into the impoundment. The Bittern was actually about 80 yards away from where we were looking. Such is the nature of the Bittern’s “unka Unk” song.
What I find both amazing and encouraging about Magee is how quiet so many people can be. It is wonderful. Sure there are occasional loud voices, but people quickly catch themselves and again quiet down.
We left for Magee-Ottawa at 5:30 am. Before getting into our vehicle it was great to hear so many Junco’s singing. 2 hours later we pulled into Magee. I am always thrilled and amazed at the sound one hears getting out of the car at the Boardwalk parking area in May. It is beautiful and unlike anything I hear elsewhere. A concentration of bird song unrivaled anywhere.
The winds are out of the north and the weather is cool. Yet just into the boardwalk we find a Blackburnian, a Nashville and a Magnolia. By the end of the day we will have tallied 23 species of Warblers and little else. The day was interesting but for me there was something missing.
I am a birder, not a bird watcher. The main difference between the 2 is that birders keep lists. Life lists, day lists, year lists, state lists, yard lists. Birders however, are not tickers. A ticker is someone who ticks off species. A ticker sees but often leaves the identification to someone else. They don’t always make the connection between seeing and identifying for themselves. A bird watcher does not care much about lists. They might keep a life list, but nothing else. They are there in part for the spectacle and not the sport. For a birder, while there is still joy in seeing every bird, once a species is on the list it is time lo look for something new. Once the possibilities of an area are exhausted it is time to move on to somewhere new. For a birder the maximum diversity holds the most fascination. What was missing for me today was the sport. It took us over 4 hours to walk the boardwalk up and back once. Part of the reason was the 800 or so people there, part of the reason was running into old friends, part of the problem was the nature of the day itself.
Magee now attracts a lot of people. Based upon my 2004 study, under favorable conditions about 1200 people visit the boardwalk on a May weekend day like this. For me this makes birding less fun and more difficult. The things I find most difficult are the lack of good information, and the inability to talk openly about birds. With so many people collecting warblers, one cannot mention a species without raising the question where? from expectant faces. So for instance, when I spotted a Blue-winged Warbler, unusual today, I didn’t say anything. I made a mental note, rather than calling the bird and having to get a hundred eyes on this individual. When someone called a Pine, a very good bird for Magee in May, and when we looked at the bird and saw a female Blackpoll, we just whispered among ourselves and moved on.
It is fun seeing people you have not seen for a while. More disconcerting is when someone knows you and you have absolutely no clue how or why.
But to see other birders you know and trust, the talk can be pure joy. Around 5:30 pm I was talking with Jenn Blumfield, about the report of a Connecticut Warbler, late in the day. She practically had me in stitches with her possible explanations for this sighting so late in the afternoon, and on an exceptionally early date based upon historical data. Why it was suddenly found after most people had left, on a day when there was little or no migratory movement by Warblers. Peterjohn confirms our observation: “The first migrants normally appear around May 15... Connecticuts are rare to uncommon along Lake Erie”
Another phenomena at Magee-Ottawa is the celebrity birder. These are authors, artists and marketers who have a degree of fame in birding circles. Some for their knowledge, some for their ability to communicate, others because they have done very well attaching their name to the work of others, and are very good at selling their product. I have no use for celebrity. To me are just other people. I may respect or admire the person’s work, but this is based upon the work itself, and not how much attention it has attracted or how good they are at promoting themselves. Unfortunately the bird world is not a pure meritocracy.
The funniest thing that happened was on the Ottawa driving tour. We could repeatedly hear an American Bittern. It sounded as if it was perhaps 15 -20 feet away but we could not see it. Eventually we spread out, and when we again heard the bird, and now all thought it was in a different place we realized we were in trouble. Some people were on a dike about 50 yards away. I asked them what they were looking at? American Bittern, they said pointing way out into the impoundment. The Bittern was actually about 80 yards away from where we were looking. Such is the nature of the Bittern’s “unka Unk” song.
What I find both amazing and encouraging about Magee is how quiet so many people can be. It is wonderful. Sure there are occasional loud voices, but people quickly catch themselves and again quiet down.
May 11, 2007
There are three qualities all serious birders have. The first is optimism. It takes optimism to go out in the field not certain of what you will see. A birder needs optimism because without optimism why not just stay home? The second quality is integrity. A birder must be honest with themselves and with others. Like a golfer who is not honest about their score, a birder who has intentionally lied or stretched a report can never be trusted. The third is the willingness to get up early. Passerines or song birds are active in the morning and in general the morning is the best time to find them. A birder who likes to sleep in will not see as many birds, nor will they be able to make it to a desired field location until after the peak of activity is past.
Tomorrow is International Migratory Bird Day. I will be going with my friends Dan and Carol to one of the great birding spots in the world. The boardwalk at Magee Marsh. I could see the same variety of birds here in Lake County, maybe more. But Magee is an Island of forest in a sea of wetland and water. It concentrates migrating birds and provides for spectacular viewing. It is a natural aviary, where on a good day you can see 28 or so warbler species and over 100 species total. On a great day you not only see a variety of species, but the numbers of individuals concentrated in that small area can be quite impressive.
Twenty years ago Magee Marsh was not on the radar of birders outside of Ohio. There was no boardwalk, and on a may weekend you might find 50 or so birders on the dirt trails. But those 50 people were dedicated, serious, and good birders. Today around1000 people visit the boardwalk on a weekend day in May. Of those less than 50 will be dedicated, serious, good birders. the kind of people you can really trust. In this case the others are not dishonest as just unskilled and inexperienced. They are there for the annual show. The chances I will get a new bird, a lifer or a state bird tomorrow are very low. more than 1 in 500. But one never knows Still one always has to be careful and honest about what one observes. The mental game of birding is that you begin to understand how rare rarities are. You start to try to talk yourself out of your own observation or you let someone else do it. Without a picture you only have your own skill as an observer and your own integrity. Otherwise the person you ultimately fool is yourself.
There was no time for much this evening. I am fixing breakfast for my friends in the morning. They will be here at 5 am and we will be on the road at 5:30. I needed to do some cooking tonight so I could get up at 4:30 and not 4. The green of the forest beckoned. The rapid musical songs of the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks try to draw me outside. The Hermit Thrush song says come see me, one last time before I move north. But I will get up early, fix breakfast and be on the road so we can be on the boardwalk by 7:30. Not especially early but not late either. It will be cool and partly cloudy if the foreguesst is to be believed. Still I know I will see birds tomorrow. My optimism makes the sacrifice of getting up an hour early worth it , no matter what we end up seeing.
Tomorrow is International Migratory Bird Day. I will be going with my friends Dan and Carol to one of the great birding spots in the world. The boardwalk at Magee Marsh. I could see the same variety of birds here in Lake County, maybe more. But Magee is an Island of forest in a sea of wetland and water. It concentrates migrating birds and provides for spectacular viewing. It is a natural aviary, where on a good day you can see 28 or so warbler species and over 100 species total. On a great day you not only see a variety of species, but the numbers of individuals concentrated in that small area can be quite impressive.
Twenty years ago Magee Marsh was not on the radar of birders outside of Ohio. There was no boardwalk, and on a may weekend you might find 50 or so birders on the dirt trails. But those 50 people were dedicated, serious, and good birders. Today around1000 people visit the boardwalk on a weekend day in May. Of those less than 50 will be dedicated, serious, good birders. the kind of people you can really trust. In this case the others are not dishonest as just unskilled and inexperienced. They are there for the annual show. The chances I will get a new bird, a lifer or a state bird tomorrow are very low. more than 1 in 500. But one never knows Still one always has to be careful and honest about what one observes. The mental game of birding is that you begin to understand how rare rarities are. You start to try to talk yourself out of your own observation or you let someone else do it. Without a picture you only have your own skill as an observer and your own integrity. Otherwise the person you ultimately fool is yourself.
There was no time for much this evening. I am fixing breakfast for my friends in the morning. They will be here at 5 am and we will be on the road at 5:30. I needed to do some cooking tonight so I could get up at 4:30 and not 4. The green of the forest beckoned. The rapid musical songs of the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks try to draw me outside. The Hermit Thrush song says come see me, one last time before I move north. But I will get up early, fix breakfast and be on the road so we can be on the boardwalk by 7:30. Not especially early but not late either. It will be cool and partly cloudy if the foreguesst is to be believed. Still I know I will see birds tomorrow. My optimism makes the sacrifice of getting up an hour early worth it , no matter what we end up seeing.
May 10, 2007
Another beauty day. What a string and what a lovely spring after the cold snap ended. Some days there is just too much to do and today is one of them. I wish I could hike but only had time to walk around the yard.
Mr. Piliated clucked at me as I walked around the back yard picking daffodils. He watched me for a while then went back to working on the maple. The ferns are large and almost fully extended from their coils. The lilacs are in full bloom. Bees are all over the flowers and their buzzing is the overwhelming sound as I take a cutting.
The feeders are getting a steady business. Especially male juncos and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Such a beautiful day. So lush and green. The leaves are out to the point where I can no longer see far into the woods. This has just happened today. The leaves sill have their yellow freshness. They are not the darker green of summer.
Mr. Piliated clucked at me as I walked around the back yard picking daffodils. He watched me for a while then went back to working on the maple. The ferns are large and almost fully extended from their coils. The lilacs are in full bloom. Bees are all over the flowers and their buzzing is the overwhelming sound as I take a cutting.
The feeders are getting a steady business. Especially male juncos and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Such a beautiful day. So lush and green. The leaves are out to the point where I can no longer see far into the woods. This has just happened today. The leaves sill have their yellow freshness. They are not the darker green of summer.
May 9, 2007
Another cloudy day in Cleveland. I am being sarcastic of course. Even though it is technically cloudy the shadows are sharp and the sun is bright. There was little of note on my hike except a dragonfly along the ledges. An odd place for a dragonfly. I did not get a good look except to see it was small, around 2 inches and had a pattern on the segments of its’ abdomen. Not a darner because it did not have a pinched waist.
This morning I found a dead Chickadee on the walk near the feeder in front. Something had killed and eaten the little bird. It was not dismembered as a cat would do, and just the breast was consumed. I suspect the Shrew or a Weasel.
I left the carcass near the site as a warning for the other birds to take care.
This morning I found a dead Chickadee on the walk near the feeder in front. Something had killed and eaten the little bird. It was not dismembered as a cat would do, and just the breast was consumed. I suspect the Shrew or a Weasel.
I left the carcass near the site as a warning for the other birds to take care.
May 8, 2007
A lovely warm day. 81° and “partly cloudy”. The warm sun feels good. No change in flora since yesterday. Just more green. In the woods both Hermit and Wood Thrush. Above me a Piliated pecks a tree and makes a sound like a hatchet in the wood. They can take huge chunks out of good wood. Splinters 4 inches long. The Pilated looks at me then goes back to work on the tree. I must be just another local from his perspective. Nothing to worry about.
On the summit there are few people. Odd for such a beauty day. Hooded Warblers in 2 places. I had them on Saturday in Stebbin’s. Near the lookout “chureeep!” Great Crested Flycatcher, a bird who’s’ common name spelling, defies the convention. I hear a second from the lookout itself.
A hazy day. Downtown is barely discernable so visibility is just 18 miles. The lake and horizon are lost in the haze.
A Mallard in the pond below, but no geese. I wonder about the Sharpies. I have seen no sign of them for a week. Have they moved north or are they just being less visible because they are on their nest?
On the summit there are few people. Odd for such a beauty day. Hooded Warblers in 2 places. I had them on Saturday in Stebbin’s. Near the lookout “chureeep!” Great Crested Flycatcher, a bird who’s’ common name spelling, defies the convention. I hear a second from the lookout itself.
A hazy day. Downtown is barely discernable so visibility is just 18 miles. The lake and horizon are lost in the haze.
A Mallard in the pond below, but no geese. I wonder about the Sharpies. I have seen no sign of them for a week. Have they moved north or are they just being less visible because they are on their nest?
May 7, 2007
Partly cloudy days here along the north coast can range from what the description implies, to days like today, where the only clouds are high and sparse. The sky is essentially blue and the sun blazes with full intensity. But there are clouds visible so it is chalked up as another cloudy day in Cleveland.
The day is warm and the leaves in the understory are 70% out. The canopy is only about 25% leading to an interesting brightness in the understory.
While my yard is full of birds, going though the wood the activity diminishes. I hear both Hermit and Wood Thrush. Interesting to be able to compare their songs in the field. Hermit Thrush is a rare nester in the area so it is good to be intimately familiar with this song.
From the lookout visibility is around 25 miles. The lake is a deep blue and the forest on the lake plain is increasingly green. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks sing in the trees below. The first Gray Tree Frog I have heard this year adds its’ odd trill.
I notice a yellow brown line in the air along the lake shore. The wind must be out of the east. The coal fired Eastlake power plant, is pumping out sulfur dioxide, mercury, and fine particulates, not to mention carbon dioxide. It is ugly and obvious.
For some reason we Americans are literally paranoid about things that have little chance of hurting us, but ignore things that will do us harm on a daily basis.
Liquid metallic Mercury, has very low dermal and oral toxicity. Yet we want evacuate school and call in the haz mat crews if someone breaks a mercury thermometer. However, the mercury vapor coming out of coal fired power plant is highly toxic. Those compounds are readily absorbed in the lungs.
Nuclear power is another example. Three Mile Island should have been cited as an example of the safety of nuclear power as implemented in the world outside the former Soviet Union. In the case of TMI, the worst possible catastrophe happened. A melt down of the core (partial meltdown, because it turns out total meltdown is difficult to achieve) Yet despite this worst possible scenario, no one died. No one was seriously injured. Think if we were to hold the airline industry to the same standard. What about the spent fuel? The best thing to do would be to recycle it. If we don’t want to do that, you can put it in my back yard. I don’t want all of it. To me the problem is keeping it concentrated. Disperse it, and many problems become minor, or manageable, or go away. I’ll take one fuel pellet every 10 years or so. Imbed it in a concrete brick and ill bury it in a marked location, right in my back yard. Am I worried about the radiation? No. I get more just being in the plume of a coal fired plant for an hour or so. This is because of the Radon gas in the coal. The Radon exposes me to more radiation than I would get from a few fuel pellets buried in my back yard for a decade.
The day is warm and the leaves in the understory are 70% out. The canopy is only about 25% leading to an interesting brightness in the understory.
While my yard is full of birds, going though the wood the activity diminishes. I hear both Hermit and Wood Thrush. Interesting to be able to compare their songs in the field. Hermit Thrush is a rare nester in the area so it is good to be intimately familiar with this song.
From the lookout visibility is around 25 miles. The lake is a deep blue and the forest on the lake plain is increasingly green. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks sing in the trees below. The first Gray Tree Frog I have heard this year adds its’ odd trill.
I notice a yellow brown line in the air along the lake shore. The wind must be out of the east. The coal fired Eastlake power plant, is pumping out sulfur dioxide, mercury, and fine particulates, not to mention carbon dioxide. It is ugly and obvious.
For some reason we Americans are literally paranoid about things that have little chance of hurting us, but ignore things that will do us harm on a daily basis.
Liquid metallic Mercury, has very low dermal and oral toxicity. Yet we want evacuate school and call in the haz mat crews if someone breaks a mercury thermometer. However, the mercury vapor coming out of coal fired power plant is highly toxic. Those compounds are readily absorbed in the lungs.
Nuclear power is another example. Three Mile Island should have been cited as an example of the safety of nuclear power as implemented in the world outside the former Soviet Union. In the case of TMI, the worst possible catastrophe happened. A melt down of the core (partial meltdown, because it turns out total meltdown is difficult to achieve) Yet despite this worst possible scenario, no one died. No one was seriously injured. Think if we were to hold the airline industry to the same standard. What about the spent fuel? The best thing to do would be to recycle it. If we don’t want to do that, you can put it in my back yard. I don’t want all of it. To me the problem is keeping it concentrated. Disperse it, and many problems become minor, or manageable, or go away. I’ll take one fuel pellet every 10 years or so. Imbed it in a concrete brick and ill bury it in a marked location, right in my back yard. Am I worried about the radiation? No. I get more just being in the plume of a coal fired plant for an hour or so. This is because of the Radon gas in the coal. The Radon exposes me to more radiation than I would get from a few fuel pellets buried in my back yard for a decade.
May 6, 2007
A cool sunny day. My walk at Holden was nice. No Phoebe in any of the historic locations. Bole woods had a good variety of Warblers. 15 in all. Having few leaves out makes it much easier to see the birds. Nothing exceptional, noteworthy or unexpected. It is interesting that we did not have any Juncos at the Arboretum. Here at home they are all over the yard.
It is fun to see the new arrivals each year. Like getting reacquainted with old friends.
The Holden Arboretum used to be a better birding location, but something changed in Corning Lake which is the body of water that feeds most of the other ponds. As a result of this change there are fewer ducks and waterfowl. Also the central gardens of the Arboretum have been tidied up. While a manicured garden may look pretty, it is a very low diversity environment. Birds like bugs and scrub. Places they can hide. They like untidy areas and there used to be more of these at Holden. At times the Arboretum has gone nuts clearing undergrowth and “non native” plants. The result may be pleasing to some, but the elimination of these habitats has resulted in the loss of certain birds. For instance, at one time Blue-winged Warbler was an expected nesting species. But all the honeysuckle was eliminated and now that species is largely absent except as a migrant.
On the other hand some areas of the arboretum away from the central garden are being allowed to go more natural. This should eventually provide better overall habitat.
I am going to cut my grass for the first time this year today. I wish my neighbors would not apply fertilizers, weed killers or pesticides. These wash into the watershed, and create all sorts of associated problems. The likelihood of my voice winning over the advertising of the yard chemical industry are zilch. There is no money to be made not selling yard chemicals.
Personally I would like to have at least one section of my yard as a prairie. Tall grasses and forbs. Full of bugs and birds.
Late afternoon brings a new yard bird. Yellow-throated Warbler. Yard bird number 98. Not bad given the habitat. Of course my yard list covers all of Gildersleeve Mountain, but I don’t think there are more than 5 species I have not actually seen from my yard.
It is fun to see the new arrivals each year. Like getting reacquainted with old friends.
The Holden Arboretum used to be a better birding location, but something changed in Corning Lake which is the body of water that feeds most of the other ponds. As a result of this change there are fewer ducks and waterfowl. Also the central gardens of the Arboretum have been tidied up. While a manicured garden may look pretty, it is a very low diversity environment. Birds like bugs and scrub. Places they can hide. They like untidy areas and there used to be more of these at Holden. At times the Arboretum has gone nuts clearing undergrowth and “non native” plants. The result may be pleasing to some, but the elimination of these habitats has resulted in the loss of certain birds. For instance, at one time Blue-winged Warbler was an expected nesting species. But all the honeysuckle was eliminated and now that species is largely absent except as a migrant.
On the other hand some areas of the arboretum away from the central garden are being allowed to go more natural. This should eventually provide better overall habitat.
I am going to cut my grass for the first time this year today. I wish my neighbors would not apply fertilizers, weed killers or pesticides. These wash into the watershed, and create all sorts of associated problems. The likelihood of my voice winning over the advertising of the yard chemical industry are zilch. There is no money to be made not selling yard chemicals.
Personally I would like to have at least one section of my yard as a prairie. Tall grasses and forbs. Full of bugs and birds.
Late afternoon brings a new yard bird. Yellow-throated Warbler. Yard bird number 98. Not bad given the habitat. Of course my yard list covers all of Gildersleeve Mountain, but I don’t think there are more than 5 species I have not actually seen from my yard.
May 5, 2007
The Barred Owls were talking it up last night. Quite far away though. This morning I heard my first Wood Thrush of the year. It was doing the dripdripdripdrip call in the back yard. I had my first walk of the year in Stebbin’s Gulch today. It started later in the hope of finding more dragonflies and perhaps attracting more people. The dragonfly strategy worked but not the people one. Only 4 people were signed up for the walk.
I was warned the gulch was slippery. Boy was it ever. I have been doing walks in the gulch since 1973 and cannot recall it ever being that slick. The usual rule is it is slippery in the areas that look dry and good footing can be found where it is wet. This is because the running water keeps the plants from getting slimy as they do when they start to dry. Today was a paradigm shift. The dry offered better footing. Still I slipped and fell inadvertently while stalking a dragon with a net. Going up the Berea sandstone falls I lost my footing and it was like a waterslide. Fun actually. But I had to get a group up the falls. We ended up using gravel and dirt. Putting little bits of it down where we were going to step. What an adventure.
Many changes in the gulch since last year. It is one of the few places where you can see the forces of erosion working from year to year. This winter and spring has made a lot of changes. Fewer trees to scramble over. They have been washed out. Rocks moved. It is very interesting to think how much this place has changed in my lifetime..
The birds were pretty good. Winter Wren singing in several places. We also had a good look in one location. The Winter Wren has the prettiest song of any of its tribe. A drawn out musical trill. We also had Blackburnian, Canada, Hooded, Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, Nashville Warblers. Great looks at Louisiana Waterthrush, Blue-Headed Vireo, Dark-eyed Junco, and a Phoebe! Yippie! of course the Gulch is lower so the Phoebes may be OK at that elevation.
Nice wildflowers including Red Trillium, and Broad-Leaved toothwort(?)
The only two dragons were Common Green Darner , and Gray Petaltail. I failed miserably at catching either. Larry would laugh. I am out of practice.
As I write Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Goldfinches on the feeder. A male Black and White Warbler works the maple outside my window. A beautiful afternoon.
I was warned the gulch was slippery. Boy was it ever. I have been doing walks in the gulch since 1973 and cannot recall it ever being that slick. The usual rule is it is slippery in the areas that look dry and good footing can be found where it is wet. This is because the running water keeps the plants from getting slimy as they do when they start to dry. Today was a paradigm shift. The dry offered better footing. Still I slipped and fell inadvertently while stalking a dragon with a net. Going up the Berea sandstone falls I lost my footing and it was like a waterslide. Fun actually. But I had to get a group up the falls. We ended up using gravel and dirt. Putting little bits of it down where we were going to step. What an adventure.
Many changes in the gulch since last year. It is one of the few places where you can see the forces of erosion working from year to year. This winter and spring has made a lot of changes. Fewer trees to scramble over. They have been washed out. Rocks moved. It is very interesting to think how much this place has changed in my lifetime..
The birds were pretty good. Winter Wren singing in several places. We also had a good look in one location. The Winter Wren has the prettiest song of any of its tribe. A drawn out musical trill. We also had Blackburnian, Canada, Hooded, Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, Nashville Warblers. Great looks at Louisiana Waterthrush, Blue-Headed Vireo, Dark-eyed Junco, and a Phoebe! Yippie! of course the Gulch is lower so the Phoebes may be OK at that elevation.
Nice wildflowers including Red Trillium, and Broad-Leaved toothwort(?)
The only two dragons were Common Green Darner , and Gray Petaltail. I failed miserably at catching either. Larry would laugh. I am out of practice.
As I write Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Goldfinches on the feeder. A male Black and White Warbler works the maple outside my window. A beautiful afternoon.
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