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.
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.
May 5, 2007 Morning Light
It is difficult to capture the beauty of the forest with a camera. I have tried many times with little success. This image seems to work pretty well.It is from the second level of the house, across the creek and north along the rising slope.
May 4, 2007
Another day that is just beauty. What a wonderful string of lovely days. Yet I have not been able to enjoy them. Work and the realities of daily living intervene. Going shopping, preparing to have friends over, all take time. There is only so much daylight and no one has unlimited energy.
Bird activity is at a lull. No movement, no activity at the feeders as I write. I wonder why? There is no singing either. It is silent except for the sounds of human activity. I suspect a cat. Earlier I saw a flat faced, tom, orange, tabby, with the ears of a feral fighter. When I stared at him he beat a quick retreat.
When I go out front there is only a Brown-headed Cowbird high in a Oak in the next yard. The House Finches see me come out and stir from the spruces. Along the side of the house the Bluebirds serenade. In back it is very still. Then a few White-throated Sparrows venture out. A Red-bellied Woodpecker calls. Some quick movement to one of the feeders.
No sign of the cat. If I see it again I will get out the trap and take it to the humane society.
While I love all life, I have no qualms about removing exotics from the environment. The introduced species, plant or animal do tremendous harm when they are able to adapt to a new environment.
In North America, 3 introduced bird species have wreaked havoc. The House Sparrow, European Starling, and Mute Swan. For some reason House Sparrows are in decline here, away from the more urban environment. Starlings are also not doing as well. Perhaps the native species are adapting to their presence after more than 100 years. Perhaps the natives are learning to compete and strike back. We are not so fortunate with Mute Swans. They are increasing alarmingly and driving native waterfowl out.
Cats are another matter. Both feral and domestic cats outside kill countless birds each year.
Bird activity is at a lull. No movement, no activity at the feeders as I write. I wonder why? There is no singing either. It is silent except for the sounds of human activity. I suspect a cat. Earlier I saw a flat faced, tom, orange, tabby, with the ears of a feral fighter. When I stared at him he beat a quick retreat.
When I go out front there is only a Brown-headed Cowbird high in a Oak in the next yard. The House Finches see me come out and stir from the spruces. Along the side of the house the Bluebirds serenade. In back it is very still. Then a few White-throated Sparrows venture out. A Red-bellied Woodpecker calls. Some quick movement to one of the feeders.
No sign of the cat. If I see it again I will get out the trap and take it to the humane society.
While I love all life, I have no qualms about removing exotics from the environment. The introduced species, plant or animal do tremendous harm when they are able to adapt to a new environment.
In North America, 3 introduced bird species have wreaked havoc. The House Sparrow, European Starling, and Mute Swan. For some reason House Sparrows are in decline here, away from the more urban environment. Starlings are also not doing as well. Perhaps the native species are adapting to their presence after more than 100 years. Perhaps the natives are learning to compete and strike back. We are not so fortunate with Mute Swans. They are increasing alarmingly and driving native waterfowl out.
Cats are another matter. Both feral and domestic cats outside kill countless birds each year.
May 3, 2007
Another beauty spring day. I feel as if I am repeating myself. No time today. Appointment after work and then other obligations do not allow me enough time to do anything other than walk around the yard.
The Daffodils are beautiful. There are so many different varieties. I think the varieties are due to hybridization. There must be at least 10 different types.
The Bluebirds are nesting iin the hole in the siding. At least for now. That is where they hang out. The Bluebird boxes are empty. I will have to watch for a Wren going into one of the boxes. The location the Bluebirds have chosen is between two boxes. If a House Wren chooses one of the boxes it will be trouble because the Bluebirds will be too close to the House Wren and the wren will not tolerate them. This means I will have to make two of the other boxes unusable . I would like to see a Chickadees in one but that may not happen now.
The Daffodils are beautiful. There are so many different varieties. I think the varieties are due to hybridization. There must be at least 10 different types.
The Bluebirds are nesting iin the hole in the siding. At least for now. That is where they hang out. The Bluebird boxes are empty. I will have to watch for a Wren going into one of the boxes. The location the Bluebirds have chosen is between two boxes. If a House Wren chooses one of the boxes it will be trouble because the Bluebirds will be too close to the House Wren and the wren will not tolerate them. This means I will have to make two of the other boxes unusable . I would like to see a Chickadees in one but that may not happen now.
May 2, 2007
This morning before leaving I went out and had a listen. The usual cast, with the addition of the Hermit Thrush and the Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
After work partly cloudy and low 60’s. The clouds are high stratus. Climbing to the summit I can really feel the additional 10 pounds I put in my pack earlier in the week. An incremental increase in the green, most noticeable on the forest floor. It is very clear. Visibility is better than 50 miles as the power plant at Avon is obvious with detail visible.
On the summit I saw my first dragonfly of the season. A large teneral of some sort. I could not get a good look as it moved though the sun and shadows near the lookout.
After work partly cloudy and low 60’s. The clouds are high stratus. Climbing to the summit I can really feel the additional 10 pounds I put in my pack earlier in the week. An incremental increase in the green, most noticeable on the forest floor. It is very clear. Visibility is better than 50 miles as the power plant at Avon is obvious with detail visible.
On the summit I saw my first dragonfly of the season. A large teneral of some sort. I could not get a good look as it moved though the sun and shadows near the lookout.
May 1, 2007
Around mid day an email announcing a Piping Plover on the beach at Headlands. That is a good bird so I will try for it after work even though I have seen it before in the region.
At the lake, the temperature drops rapidly and the wind picks up as I work though the dunes and closer to the water. It is getting increasingly cloudy, a front is coming through. The bird is not where it was reported. I wander toward the light house, and check the harbor for ducks. A few divers out aways. I’ll give the Plover one more try. Walking back to where it was seen. There is rain over the lake and the northeast wind is making mare’s tails. Curving almost 90 degrees before it reaches the water. I see Anders and Don. Of course Anders has already seen the bird. He sent the email. We spend about half an hour looking but no bird. Coming back though the dunes a Wilson’s Snipe flushes but quickly settles again. It is really quite cold.
At home after dinner I am visiting with a friend when a Warbler hits the window in the living room. Not a hard hit, just enough to get my attention. I can tell it was a warbler by the tail as it flies into the corner by the garage. We go outside to investigate. Sure enough a lovely female Black and White Warbler is clinging to the sandstone facade. She looks tired. The front has probably knocked her down. I catch her. Really just a matter of walking up to her and gently putting my fingers around her. She protests for a second but is quickly calm. The warmth of my hand probably feels good. She closes her eyes and dozes.
I had made fried rice for dinner so we retrieve a little scrambled egg from the rice in the hope the Warbler might eat it. I stoke her breast and belly and she does the relaxed on her back thing, so typical of small passerines in the hand.
She has no interest in the egg, nor in leaving the warmth of my hand. She clings to my finger. I finally manage to get her to move into an arborvitae.
A storm is brewing. The sky is swirling. Interesting patterns of round holes in the clouds and wind shear moving clouds in opposite directions. There is thunder and lightning, just a few drops of rain. 15 minutes later the front passes and things calm down. I took pictures of the sky but not the bird. I guess making sure the bird is OK precludes any interest I might have in getting a picture.
At the lake, the temperature drops rapidly and the wind picks up as I work though the dunes and closer to the water. It is getting increasingly cloudy, a front is coming through. The bird is not where it was reported. I wander toward the light house, and check the harbor for ducks. A few divers out aways. I’ll give the Plover one more try. Walking back to where it was seen. There is rain over the lake and the northeast wind is making mare’s tails. Curving almost 90 degrees before it reaches the water. I see Anders and Don. Of course Anders has already seen the bird. He sent the email. We spend about half an hour looking but no bird. Coming back though the dunes a Wilson’s Snipe flushes but quickly settles again. It is really quite cold.
At home after dinner I am visiting with a friend when a Warbler hits the window in the living room. Not a hard hit, just enough to get my attention. I can tell it was a warbler by the tail as it flies into the corner by the garage. We go outside to investigate. Sure enough a lovely female Black and White Warbler is clinging to the sandstone facade. She looks tired. The front has probably knocked her down. I catch her. Really just a matter of walking up to her and gently putting my fingers around her. She protests for a second but is quickly calm. The warmth of my hand probably feels good. She closes her eyes and dozes.
I had made fried rice for dinner so we retrieve a little scrambled egg from the rice in the hope the Warbler might eat it. I stoke her breast and belly and she does the relaxed on her back thing, so typical of small passerines in the hand.
She has no interest in the egg, nor in leaving the warmth of my hand. She clings to my finger. I finally manage to get her to move into an arborvitae.
A storm is brewing. The sky is swirling. Interesting patterns of round holes in the clouds and wind shear moving clouds in opposite directions. There is thunder and lightning, just a few drops of rain. 15 minutes later the front passes and things calm down. I took pictures of the sky but not the bird. I guess making sure the bird is OK precludes any interest I might have in getting a picture.
May 1, 2007 Brewing Storm
As a front passed through the swirling sky was fascinating. This hole in the clouds looks like a fractal. It reminds me of the Mandelbrot set. There was thunder and lightning but just a few drops of rain.
April 30, 2007
Another beauty day. 2 in a row here is nothing short of a gift. I can see the clouds coming in from the west from the look out. It is very clear. Visibility over 30 miles.The forest out to the lake is noticeably green. The lake reflects blue sky and white clouds. An ore boat heads west almost on the horizon. A Yellow-rumped Warbler hangs around in a tree at the edge of the ledges. A Turkey Vulture turns soars in big circles out a quarter mile away.
Coming back through the woods I hear a Hermit Thrush. I do not see anything . Too much noise. Lawn mowers, blaring music, barking dogs. We are such a noisy species.
In my yard a Piliated swoops over and lands on a tree 10 yards away. In a moment it flies to the base of another tree next to my patio, still just as close to me. It is Mrs. Piliated. She begins to strip bark from the tree then pecks at the punky wood, finding good things to eat. Mr. Piliated flies in and lands on the same tree. He hangs around for a minute or so then heads back into the woods. Mrs. is intent on eating. Not paying attention to me. I move slowly and quietly. My arms crossed on my chest, not looking directly at the bird. Soon, I halve the distance. 15 feet then 10. Still she pays me no heed. The neighbor women are having a huge fight. Lots of yelling and swearing and threats of calling the police. Mr. Piliated begins calling from the distance. A rising: “kack-kack-kack-kack-kack-kack” repeated several times. She moves up the tree but still does not see me as any sort of threat. I am not. My mind is quiet. I am so close I can see her tongue flick into the holes, pulling out food. Now I am 7 feet away and sitting on a chair. She continues to feed. I watch for a while not thinking, just enjoying being so close to this usually wary bird.
I wonder about the time, I have things to do. The spell is broken my mind no longer quiet. She sees me and climbs high in the tree. I withdraw and quietly go inside. I look out the window she flies off in the direction of the male.
Coming back through the woods I hear a Hermit Thrush. I do not see anything . Too much noise. Lawn mowers, blaring music, barking dogs. We are such a noisy species.
In my yard a Piliated swoops over and lands on a tree 10 yards away. In a moment it flies to the base of another tree next to my patio, still just as close to me. It is Mrs. Piliated. She begins to strip bark from the tree then pecks at the punky wood, finding good things to eat. Mr. Piliated flies in and lands on the same tree. He hangs around for a minute or so then heads back into the woods. Mrs. is intent on eating. Not paying attention to me. I move slowly and quietly. My arms crossed on my chest, not looking directly at the bird. Soon, I halve the distance. 15 feet then 10. Still she pays me no heed. The neighbor women are having a huge fight. Lots of yelling and swearing and threats of calling the police. Mr. Piliated begins calling from the distance. A rising: “kack-kack-kack-kack-kack-kack” repeated several times. She moves up the tree but still does not see me as any sort of threat. I am not. My mind is quiet. I am so close I can see her tongue flick into the holes, pulling out food. Now I am 7 feet away and sitting on a chair. She continues to feed. I watch for a while not thinking, just enjoying being so close to this usually wary bird.
I wonder about the time, I have things to do. The spell is broken my mind no longer quiet. She sees me and climbs high in the tree. I withdraw and quietly go inside. I look out the window she flies off in the direction of the male.
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