Trip to Lake Erie, Monday, March 12, 2018

All of the photos in this blog were taken by Tom, either on Monday or on other trips we've taken to Lake Erie.

The day was overcast when we started out and never improved.  Before we left Lake Erie we drove through mist and light rain.  As we headed home Tom drove through two nasty snow squalls.  fortunately, neither one lasted long.  Nevertheless, we had a good birding day.  Ducks aren't bothered by the weather and we birded from the van.

At Magee Marsh we were pleased to see that at least one eagle pair had returned to their nest of previous years.  One eagle was on the nest.  The other was nearby.

Tom offered to drop me off at the boardwalk.  He said he would read if I wanted to walk.  I told him, "No."  There was a mist falling and the temperature was 31 degrees.

There were ducks along the causeway and the red-winged blackbirds were back. 

Northern Shoveler

Red-winged Blackbird


There were ducks at Metzger, too.  We were pleased to see a few Northern Pintails.  We don't see them every year.  Usually we are too late.

Tom decided he would like to go to East Harbor which is about a half hour to the east.  We never have gone to the state park because we didn't want to waste time driving when we could be birding.  however, Tom has been following the Ohio bird sightings on EBird and he said there had been a lot of birds sighted there.

This is what we saw...birds from one shore to the other.  We will go back to East Harbor again.

First Visit of the Year to Garbry Big Woods Sanctuary, March 5, 2018

Someone on Ohio Wildflowers posted a photo of Harbinger-of-spring seen in Franklin County which is in the middle of Ohio.  I hoped that meant Harbinger-of-spring was blooming here in Miami County. Tom thought it was too early to find it but he sat in the van and read while I went searching at Garbry Big Woods Sanctuary..

The first leaves that were big and noticeable were those of Puttyroot. I noted three areas that I will keep checking.  I want to remember these spots or I won't find the flowers later when the leaves have disintegrated.  The stalks blend in with the other foliage.

I was surprised to see Purple Cress buds just barely open.  It could still be a while before they open.  They never seem to be in a hurry.

I turned right at the T in the trail, still on the hunt for Harbinger-of-spring.

Instead, I found a chewed on animal skull...

and tiny Waterleaf plants putting out their first leaves.

On a dead tree trunk, there was a hole made by a Pileated Woodpecker.

And beside a living tree, Hepatica leaves were rising above the leaf litter.

I began to feel that Tom might be right.  By now, I was past the area where we generally begin seeing Harbinger-of-spring.  I decided to go just beyond the spot where the boardwalk crosses a swampy area.  I remembered that the Harbinger-of-spring at Brukner Nature Center is just beyond their swamp. 

And...

No purple stamen showing yet but definitely Harbinger-of-spring. 

I kept searching.  Because the whole cluster of the white blooms are about the size of a pea, they are hard to find.  Usually if a person finds one cluster there are others nearby.

And there it was...peeking up between a couple curly dry oak leaves.  And the stamen were beginning to stretch up.

As I turned back, I found a few more Harbingers and even a couple Scarlet Caps.

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Tom said, "If I had known the Harbingers were blooming I would have come with you."

Fifty-seven Years, Fifty-seven Bouquets

Bees,Flowers and Falls...February 20, 2018

The falls were not as full of rushing water as I expected.  However, today, two days later, I expect that there is more water tumbling over them.  We have had two days of rain.

The first flowers in our immediate neighborhood are those in the yard across the street from us...Winter Aconite. 

The bees were busy.  Nothing like that first nectar of the season.If you look closely, you can see pollen baskets on their legs being filled also.

In the same bed are the first crocuses.

And nearby, daffodils' blossoms are swelling.

Looking for Skunk Cabbage in Brukner Nature Center's Swamp

The day was chilly...31 degrees Fahrenheit...but I was ready to see a sure sign of spring That's why I came to Brukner.

I decided to take the trail down Shortstep Hill.  At the top of the hill, not far from the Interpretive Center are the Wildlife Ambassadors, the animals who cannot be released into the wild for one reason or another.  Instead, they teach visitors about our native wildlife.

It was interesting to watch this crow drink from the dip between the slabs of concrete.  Behind him and to the left is his Brukner provided water dish.

The creek that flows through the Brukner ravine to the Stillwater River was talkative as it rushed along.  I tried to download a movie clip but it didn't load for some reason so it's Use Your Imagination time.

Because the floodplain boardwalk often is flooded when we have a lot of rain, I took Wren Run up the next hill and then down to the swamp.  At the bottom of the hill where the swamp sits, I found what I was looking for...

When I scanned the photo into the computer, I noticed there are buds inside the spathes.  Spring is on its way.

The trip back was easier because the floodplain boardwalk wasn't flooded after all.  Close to where the swamp ends and the floodplain begins I saw a crayfish chimney.  The red arrow points to the hole the critter has come out through.

Here is a portion of the boardwalk that is often flooded in spring.

This strangely twisted dead tree, the one in the middle, is still standing.

As I headed back I spied a few bright green Hepatica leaves.  By the time the flowers bloom the leaves will be withered.

Back at the foot of Shortstep Hill.  Climbing up takes more energy than going down.

Halfway up.  Tom is waiting for me at the Upper Vista Room.  He is taking photos of birds.

We were both happy we decided to visit Brukner.

The Changing Looks of Charleston Falls

January 9, 20018

January 17, 2018...more ice

January 20, 2018...Thawing

January 28, 2018...50 degrees Fahrenheit

February 9, 2018...there's been more snow, colder. more ice...and now, again,  a bit of a thaw

And a closer look on February 9....

We have had four snows deep enough to require me to use the snowblower to clear the driveway but also a few days of 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.  We're having a typical winter  with the typical sleet and ice glazing on the streets as the temperatures head downward.

Weekend with Steve, February 2,3 and 4

Now that Steve lives further away, we don't see him as often as we did when he was younger.  It was good to see him and he was happy to see us.

I took him to Brukner Nature Center on Saturday.  We spent most of our time in the Bird Vista room.  The staff keeps the various feeders filled so generally we see a variety of birds.

We saw the usual ones like American Goldfinches and House Finches.

And we saw the usual woodpeckers including the Red-bellied Woodpecker.

We caught a glimpse of a Pileated Woodpecker.  Because we had my binoculars we were able to watch it even though it flew off into the trees.

Best of all, Steve saw a life bird which is a bird he had never seen before...a Red-headed Woodpecker.  The bird flew closer a few times but didn't stay long enough for me to take its picture.  It stayed out further on this branch for several minutes.  Must have found a tasty snack.

On Sunday, Tom and Steve made Banana Cake/Bread.  The recipe is one of my mother's.  She always made it in a cake pan.  We usually make it in small bread pans so we can share it with friends and neighbors.  Steve took one home and gave one to Gemini who picked him up on Sunday afternoon.

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Update on my sketch a day challenge.  I am doing a sketch most days.  Below is No.18

Here is the photo I drew from.