It's not easy to raise your family if you are Mother Goose. You may start with 10 or 12 little ones, but life in the bog can be very dangerous for a flock of little goslings. Yesterday when I saw Mother Goose swimming in the bog with her babies and another adult goose (presumably Daddy Goose), …
Just because it’s May!
...and just because today is cloudy, windy, and only 49 degrees in northeastern Ohio, I decided to post a gallery of 10 cheerful orange and yellow birds that I recently photographed on a (much warmer) trail walk in Chagrin River Park. Maybe they will help me remember that it is still spring. That's it for today's trail …
They’re back!
I glanced out the kitchen window this morning and was delighted to see the first hummingbird of the season at the feeder. Our weather is still cloudy and cool, and it doesn't feel like May, or at least not like I think May should feel, but the hummers are back, and that makes all the …
Wonderful wings
Have you ever thought about how wonderful wings would be? With wings, you would be instantly transformed into a beautiful, graceful airborne creature. With wings, you could fly off to places earthbound creatures like squirrels could only dream of. With wings, you could magically escape dangerous situations; lions, and tigers, and bears would cease to be a threat. And …
A battle for the bark butter bits
Mr. Red-bellied woodpecker thought he had possession of the old fence post and had deluded himself into thinking the bark butter bits would all be his. Suddenly, to his shock, another RBW, this one a female, came swooping onto the scene to challenge him. His total control of the post was only temporary! Facing him across …
A little fast action
Mr. Red-bellied Woodpecker discovered a cache of bark butter bits in the old tree stump and wasted no time flying in to get his share before they were all gone. I was standing nearby, hopefully out of sight, because I have been trying to learn the best settings on my camera to get action shots …
A ducky day!
Today was definitely a ducky day because I captured several good pictures of a Blue-winged Teal, a small dabbling duck. Yesterday two birders, walking along the edge of the bog in Chagrin River Park, told me where they had spotted the Teal. I looked and looked, without success, but today, when I wasn't even looking for …
Landing gear down!
I was in the park early today, hoping to see bluebirds. That didn't happen, but it was such a beautiful morning, I didn't mind. It was just great to walk the trails and watch for the signs of spring that are popping out all over the place. The fishermen were out in full force and …
Angry bird
Walking back to my car today, I spotted a grackle at the edge of the bog struggling to pick up a large strip of plastic that repeatedly slipped out of his beak and slid back into the water. He persisted for a while, but finally gave up in disgust. From the look on his face, I'm thinking he muttered a …
Everybody likes a cardinal
That may be a bit of an exaggeration because I don't suppose everybody likes a cardinal, but it is no stretch to say that he gets his share of attention, both in the park and on my blog. So he is the headliner today. He really did pose beautifully, so I suppose he deserves that …
SEEN ALONG THE TRAIL 