Spring has Sprung

It is nice to finally see some nice weather. It is amazing how mother nature can lift ones' soul from the gutters. If only more people would look to nature instead of ...

This Great Egret was on the flooded Ohio River banks in New Richmond, OH. Many breeding plumaged Bonaparte's Gulls were flying down the river as well.

At Home, Red-shouldered Hawks were flying and screaming above me -

and the Spring Beauties are blooming in the backyard.

Grebes at East Fork

Spent a cold winter, I mean spring day looking for birds in the flooded surroundings of East Fork State Park. Saw some OK birds.

1 Eastern Phoebe

~10 Red-breasted Mergansers

2 Common Mergansers

~4 Common Loons calling and in breeding plumage

~10 Ruddy Ducks

~20 Horned Grebes

1 EARED GREBE

~10 Pied-billed Grebes

2 GB Herons

Mallards

Ring-necked Ducks

Lesser Scaup

TONS of Buffleheads

1 Northern Shoveler male sleeping

Canada Geese

The Grebes and Buffleheads were swimming in the flooded parking lots at the beach.

Horned Grebe in Winter Plumage

Eared Grebe - this bird was different in profile than the nearby Horned Grebe. It got close enough to me that I could see in my scope the yellow plumes by the eye, but my camera's batteries died. This bird was molting. It had the high peek above eye and dark tip to bill. (the pic looks better on my camera than here for some reason)

Never seen an Eared Grebe before, so this would be a lifebird.

5th Annual Adams County Amish Bird Symposium

Jaime and I attended the Adams County Amish Bird Symposium Saturday, March 1st after missing it last year. We had a good time overall. Wonderful speakers and good food.

Chris Bedel from the Cincinnati Museum Center's Edge of Appalachia gave the introduction. Robert Schlabach, a member of the Holmes Co. Amish Community, was the first speaker. It is always interesting listening to the stories of the Amish birders. The one thing from his speech that stuck out in my mind was his comment that "If you stay out long enough, all the birds will come to you" or something like that. I got to thinking about that statement. We, as in most birders, aren't as connected to nature as we would like to be. With the Internet, fancy birding gadgets, etc., our birding time is usually minimal. When we do go out, we usually hit all of the proven spots looking for good birds. Makes me wonder what good birds are going unnoticed right under our noses?

Other speakers included:

Dr. Geoffrey E. Hill, Scharnagel Professor of Biology at Auburn University of Alabama. His presentation was based on his book Ivorybill Hunters - The Search for Proof in a Flooded Wilderness, which recounts a recent POSSIBLE encounter with an Ivory-billed in the panhandle of Florida while doing other ornithological work in the area. Dr. Hill showed video that while not 100% conclusive, was none the less intriguing. I am of one that still believes .

Hummingbird enthusiast/researcher and author of Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America - (Peterson Field Guide Series) Sheri L. Williamson from the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory. Always nice to see the diversity of hummer species.

Ohio Bird Photographer Brian Zwiebel , whose work is outstanding and who also shined an interesting light on some little known shorebird behaviors.

Last and certainly not least, Jenifer Brumfield - Young Ohio Artist/illustrator, Author, Naturalist, Bird Tour Guide, Educator, etc., etc. I remember seeing her posts on the Ohio-birds listserv when I started birding. I was surprised at the time to learn that there were other "kids" involved in birding. Nice to know there are more people around my age that thinks exactly like I do. She is doing great things with the inner city youth of Cleveland.

Rusty Blackbirds

Photos of some of 8 Rusty Blackbirds in the backyard on Feb. 25th.

Love those eyes!

Finally, A NEW Camera!

Testing out my new camera. (Two week's paychecks )

Everywhere I put my fingers, I am pressing some kind of button. Got to get used to this!

My "resident" immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (been here since Dec.). Taken out the back window.

Great Backyard Bird Count

Participated in the GBBC sponsored by Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology. I did my backyard with a small walk around my neighborhood.

Friday totals:

(Not in order)

Pileated Woodpecker - 1
American Goldfinch - 50
Purple Finch - 2
Blue Jay - 6
Carolina Wren - 1
Mourning Dove - 15
Northern Cardinal - 10
Starling - 20
Song Sparrow - 2
DE Junco - 2 only
White-throated Sparrow - 5
American Tree Sparrow - 3
House Finch - 5
Tufted Titmouse - 5
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2
Carolina Chickadee - 5
Downy Woodpecker - 2
Hairy Woodpecker - 1
YS Flicker - 1
American Robin - 5
White-breasted Nuthatch - 1
House Sparrow - 2
Red-winged Blackbird - 1

Saturday added :

Common Grackle - 1

Sunday added:

Killdeer - 1
Canada Goose - 2

One of the 2 male and 6 female purple finches at the feeders.

Bird Profiles

Can you guess what bird this is by profile?

(A nice skill to have honed in!)

I see other birders complaining about their cameras and skills, but all I can say is at least one can ID the birds in the pictures! Again, If anyone would like to contribute to my new camera fund please email me. Pic taken at Washington Twp. Park on date above.

Answer: Merlin