This was a beautiful day to wander the trails in the Arboretum. The sounds, smells, and colors of spring were intoxicating! Although I don't have much time for blogging today, if you enjoy this mini-meander, please come back tomorrow when I'll take you on a longer walk. Hope to see you again tomorrow. Trail Walker
More backyard birding
The colorful bird featured in my post yesterday, the redheaded woodpecker, is extremely rare in my backyard. Today's bird, the Baltimore oriole, used to stop by on rare occasions only. Now it flies in for multiple visits daily, enjoying the grape jelly I generously serve in the new jelly dish I purchased at Wild Birds …
Spring migration was in full swing…
Two weeks ago, when the annual spring migration was in full swing, birders were all agog over their unique opportunities to see and photograph unusual warblers and other birds rarely seen in our area. Many parks celebrated with special events, and birders planned field trips to prime location along the shoreline. I didn't have time to …
Woodpecker morning
A quick look out the kitchen window this morning reassured me that Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird are still around. Both were sitting on the new bluebird nesting box I wrote about in yesterday's blog post. They didn't stay long enough for a photo opp, but I was very happy to see them. Next the pileated …
Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird go house hunting
My last 10 days have been busy, so busy I haven't had any time to post my pictures of the drama in our backyard, but Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird have been even busier. Their hunt for suitable housing has been a challenging one. Mr. Bluebird took the initiative in the house hunt. Maybe his …
Backyard bonanza
The last few days have brought some surprise visitors to our backyard buffet. Saturday of the second week in May is International Migratory Bird Day...a big occasion here on the south shore of Lake Erie. Birds migrating northward to their summer homes have to cross Lake Erie if the route they take goes through Ohio. Their journey …
Rainy days, bluebirds, and those amazing birds from Baltimore!
If I were as hardy (or crazy) as my friend, Lisa, I would be in the park taking a trail walk with my dog, getting soaking wet like she did this morning. Instead I am sharing more backyard birds because it has drizzled all day, and the high temperature is only about 48 degrees. Did someone mention …
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Return of the bluebirds
Way back in mid-winter, a little flock of Eastern Bluebirds vacationed for a week in our backyard buffet. I was totally surprised because, although bluebirds do winter over in northeast Ohio, none had ever done so in our neighborhood. Sadly, after delighting us for a week, they were suddenly gone, and we haven't seen them for …
Orioles!
Lots of activity in our backyard today. Rose breasted grosbeaks, Baltimore orioles, and a little Eastern bluebird. Here are the orioles, but I'm saving the others for tomorrow when I have more time. It has been a cool, cloudy, and overcast day, but these visitors made the sun come out for me and put a smile on my …
The wrens have returned!
When we're talking birds, migration is a fascinating topic, especially in the spring when the woods are awake with the sight and song of the warblers and other birds that haven't been around during the cold winter months. The bird pictured above, a house wren, is small and looks sweet, but according to my i-bird app, …
SEEN ALONG THE TRAIL 