That's the word for our weather today. As the saying goes, it's not been fit for man nor beast. Nor photographer, I might add. Yesterday was a decent day, but I didn't have time for a trail walk, and today...? Well, today I was NOT going out with my camera. The river is flooding, for …
I couldn’t believe my eyes!
The clouds parted and the sun appeared in a beautiful blue sky this morning, and I truly couldn't believe my eyes! What a difference a day can make! After trudging down the trail yesterday under completely overcast skies, with wet snow blowing in my face, I didn't think I would see the sun today. And maybe not for the …
That’s determination for you!
I think this is the first time I have seen a mourning dove in Chagrin River Park. They are homebodies, usually content to hang around the Backyard Buffet, eating the food I put out for them. A mourning dove in the park was an unusual sight, but then this was an unusual day. After a …
A triple surprise!
Walking the trail in Chagrin River Park Thursday afternoon, I was intent on taking pictures of some little birds enjoying the first sunshine we've seen in a week or more... ...when I spotted this big bird that had landed on a tree high above my head. I was too far away to get a good …
Back on the trail again!
Partly sunny! The weather forecast predicted some sunshine, and partly sunny it was. In recent days (weeks? months?), we have had many rainy, windy, frigid, icy, snowy weather days, but very few (if any) sunny ones. At least that is how it has seemed to me. When today's partly sunny prediction actually came to pass, …
The watering-hole gang
Although they don't look exotic, house sparrows are considered an exotic species. They are non-native birds that were introduced into North America in the mid-ninteenth century, and to say they have thrived is putting it mildly. Currently they are thriving in my backyard, and I am not thrilled! Before the big oak tree on the …
A joyful ending to 2016
A little flock of Eastern bluebirds came by this week to help me finish off my backyard buffet posts for 2016. I couldn't believe my eyes when I looked out the window and saw them because I have NEVER before seen a bluebird in our neighborhood. They aren't uncommon in northeast Ohio, but they are …
It can be a challenge…
... to keep up with the visitors to my back yard buffet. Looking back through recent posts, I realized I'm not doing a very good job of keeping up with the ordinary little birds who visit the "buffet." The fallen tree episode, starling invasion, Christmas cookie baking, and rapscallion deer visitors have dominated my posts for the …
First snowfall
Put together the first snowfall of the season with blustery wind and very cold temperatures. Then throw in a brand new brush pile that the birds are absolutely loving, and suddenly you have open house at the Bird Buffet. The juncos, mourning doves, blue jays, sparrows, titmice, chickadees, and more all spent an exciting day …
Hummingbirds lead perilous lives!
It's easy to be charmed by the antics of these tiny birds, especially when they put on a show, and that's what this one was doing in my back yard today. Let's sit for a bit on the patio bench and watch. Uh-oh! Watch out, Hummer. You're not the only one that likes the sugar water. You've …
SEEN ALONG THE TRAIL 