Birds, Bugs, and Butterflies, OH MY

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Rainy days can be rewarding!!!!!

A late start on Friday, Oct. 19, 2012, with no idea of where I was going. The sky was cloudy and rain was in the forecast....but I had to venture out....Picked up my Sister and off we headed...We were going in the direction of Canal Rd. It is still dry on the end off 104...

This was the pond...hope we get enough rain this winter (not snow...) to fill it back up.

The trees were full of birds. They were flying and singing. We saw about 50 Morning Doves! They were in the Canal Bed and fly up when we got to close.
This is taken at Canal Rd. Park.

The Scioto River looked beautiful.

We walked around for a little bit. The colors were so pretty.

Found this little guy hopping around. I thought all frogs were tucked away for a long winter sleep...but this one isn't.

Next stop was Deer Creek. Even in the very cloudy day, the fall colors still shine.

We saw Great Blue Herons, over 30 of them!
There were Cormorants, 2 Belted Kingfishers, sea gulls, Mallard ducks. It was an amazing sight in a small area.

Beltled Kingfisher

There are twelve Herons in this picture....

This lonely guy is a Greater Yellow-legs....

I had not seen so many birds in this area before. This is around where the Osprey nest is.
This field of Crows...must have been 50 to 100 of them...Seemed like all the birds were gathering for a party or something!

Also one of my favorite and curious things....the Osage Orange, or Hedge Apple are in abundance at Deer Creek.

I guess the squirrels love them..the seeds inside are the treat. I just put a couple in the basement for cricket control...Don't know how well it works but can't hurt...one article said that the best way to use them on bugs was to pick it up and smash the bug with the Hedge Apple....LOL...

Then we thought we had found Big Foot hiding behind this tree........

But it was only a fungi....named.....Dryad's Saddle, also called Pheasant's-back Polypore, Polyporus squamosus.

We got hungry and just made the cutoff for lunch at the Deer Creek Lodge...This is a view from the dining room window...I had a wonderful chicken salad with cranberries...It is a wonderful drive and eat at the lodge makes a great day outing...I love it.

The Black-faced Vultures seemed to be enjoying the Lodge also!

After lunch we continued out drive around the lake.

The fields of dried wildflowers were so pretty...

Even the dried Golden Rod

was beautiful.........
Then we pulled into this little area off Miller Road and there were lots of Robins, Chickadees, Titmouse, Nuthatch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, 4 Norther Flickers, Rusty Blackbird and a few we couldn't identify...We were in birding heaven....
A couple of the many Robins we saw..

Northern Flickers...so pretty

The rain had started by now and it didn't seem to bother the birds...Well I shut off the car because we were going to stay a while here....a couple of cars came driving in and out and that would disturb the birds but after a few minuets they would be back. Then suddenly they all flew away...We knew something had scared them......

Hundred of crows (we think) flew in and filled the trees and would then fly around and land again in the trees...was scary and thrilling at the same time....

It began to rain harder and they finally flew away...the other birds didn't return...

So we decided it was time to leave.....click, click, click....the car battery was dead! I had left my lights on when I turn the car off....Oh My....luckily we had cell service! I called my husband and on his way he flew to rescue us....30 minutes later my sister said try it again....Ok....the car started!!!! and here came Cecil....He followed us back to town and we were all home safe and sound before dark!!!

Too windy to walk in the rain.....

Cool grouping of trees....

Able to check-out woodpecker holes...

So I recommend taking a nice drive not only on a beautiful sunny day BUT on a cloudy, rainy day...One never knows what you will see.....and always be sure to turn off your lights!!!!!

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Looking for the Headless Hawk! A Horror Tale...

I know you look at the title and think....hmmm...has she gone round the bend!!!! Well let me tell you the story of a little known legend among the wild life of Ohio....While out enjoying the beauty of nature....

I discovered that the birds and animals were preparing for something...I watched and this is what I saw!

This Baltimore Oriole trying to figure out if this is a pumpkin or not! Then....

This cute Black and White Warbler decided he could go as a Jail bird!

The Black-throated Blue Warlber was thinking maybe he could pass as Batman!!!! It was like I was in a dream!!!! The Blue Jay felt he didn't need a costume, He was beautiful.

Then one morning I found Canadian Geese hiding in the fog and whispering.....

about the headless hawk is coming....

I started watching closer for clues...could this be true! Has the human world missed the signs? I was on a mission now......

The Trumpeter Swans orange necks fit in as a great costume for the season...

Then I noticed strange behavior.....

This Barn Swallow trying to scare another!

This Black Rat Snake hanging out of a tree...ready to pounce on anyone!!!! This was getting scary!!!!

The sunflowers were gone...fall was in the air...or was it the legend that haunted me?????

Was I being lead down the corn field path? Was this real????

The Common Grackle started gathering, they were everywhere....

The American Coot even got out of the water to gather around for the story that has been passed down .....The Northern Fence Lizard and the Norther Water Snake were around to hear too....

The Cormorant was calling to everyone to listen and heed the warning signals....

1. The dead fish by the water....

Which kept the young ones hidden....

2. The hanging dead fish....don't go beyond...or else!!!!

This scared others .....

Well some, this Deer just stuck his tongue out and ran off..... but

The Great Egret's feathers stood on edge as he went to hide.....

3. The hanging Vulture!!!!!!

The Great Blue Heron sent out warning to everyone to watch for the "Headless Hawk"....the signs showed he was coming!!!!!

The Bald Eagle was not afraid....He was so bored with what was happening...But he gave some advice...."If your mushrooms are all in a row, things will be fine" (whatever that meant!!!????)