Central Ohio NatureThen One Morning They Were There
Posted on May 7, 2018
Just a few days ago, during a spring migration walk along Griggs Reservoir, it was quiet. Sure there were a noticeable number of Yellow-rumps, one or two Yellow-throated were heard so high in the Sycamores that they threatened to go into earth orbit, and even some Palms were flitting about with tails bobbing, but most of the kinglets had moved on with nothing else within easy binocular reach taking their place. An unwelcome reminder that spring migration can be that way, one day the land of plenty the next not so much.
Yellow-throated Warbler (trust me) high in a Sycamore.
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Over the past few years we’ve enjoyed monitoring a few locations close to home. While we do go further afield we’ve noticed that for us by concentrating on a few locations, the place, as will as the creatures that call it home, seemed to be valued more. We acknowledge that by not hopping in the car in response to an E-bird post there are birds that will not see. With that in mind, the next day we found ourselves back at Griggs Reservoir Park to see if things had changed. Amazingly, as if by magic, brightly colored orange birds that were no where to be seen the day before were now streaking through the air to perches high in trees or low in bushes, they seemed to be everywhere. The park was transformed. Did they arrive quietly during the night on the “red eye”? Your guess is as good as ours. Many were undoubtedly just passing through while others, based on observations from years past, will make the park and it’s environs home for the summer decorating the trees with their hanging nests. As you have probably already guessed these brightly colored birds were Baltimore Orioles.
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Male Baltimore Oriole, Griggs Reservoir Park.
2, (Donna).
3, (Donna).
4, (Donna).
5, (Donna).
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A female sneaks in.
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Even with the arrival of the orioles, other birds including some that are migrants continued to compete for our attention.
A White-breasted Nuthatch strikes a classic nuthatch pose.
A Red-bellied Woodpecker is seen snacking on ants
. . . while another is engaged in a little home construction.
A very vocal Catbird announces his arrival from points south
. . . while another looks on, (Donna).
Cliff Swallows, a species that in this case builds their communal grouping of nests under a bridge crossing the reservoir, were in the process of gathering nest building material (mud) resulting in a frenzy of activity around a small puddle not far from their nest site, (Donna).
A House Wren pauses momentarily . . .
then continues it’s song, (Donna).
The Cardinal is a beautiful but very common bird in Ohio. We have to remind ourselves not to take it for granted.
A male Bluebird bathed in a sea of green waits for lunch to fly by.
Right now Palm Warblers may be even more common than Yellow-rumps, (Donna).
A Cape May Warbler gets close enough for a photo with my Panasonic FZ200.
Based on the fact that that is where we often saw them, Red-eyed Vireos seemed to really enjoy the Sycamore trees, (Donna).
An almost always vocal Tufted Titmouse entertains us, (Donna).
If you hear a melodic and louder than it should be song, it could be a Tufted Titmouse.
The Spotted Sandpipers are also back in the neighborhood.
From a distance, without the aid of binoculars, we first mistake the movement of a Swainson’s Thrush for that of a robin. Many have been seen in the last few days and most are probably just passing through.
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Donna captures an amazing well camouflaged Brown Creeper
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With the leaves just emerging the orioles were easy to spot but that’s changing fast. In a few days, as green continues to embrace trees and bushes, they will be heard but even with their brilliant color they will be much harder to see. Many will move on with other species taking their place as the march of spring migration continues through central Ohio. We will wait expectantly for our next “new for the year” sighting and there undoubtedly will even be another post to celebrate it. Will it be an American Redstart, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, or something else?
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Until then thanks for stopping by.
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Redbuds in bloom.
Looking For The “White-throated Sparrow”
Posted on November 8, 2017
In the back of our mind during outings over the past week has been the thought that we might see the season’s first White-throated Sparrow. For us, along with the arrival of the Dark-eyed Junco, this small bird marks the passing of the season and the certain coming of winter. During breeding, they are found further north in either coniferous or deciduous forests up to tree line in the U.S. and across Canada. During migration and during the winter months central Ohio is just one location they call home.
Autumn reflection.
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Recently, walking along the Scioto River looking for White-throated Sparrows, and perhaps a stray kinglet or two, we stumbled across some slightly larger birds.
Bald Eagles along the Scioto River below Griggs Reservoir Dam are always a real treat to see.
Take 2.
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At river’s edge, almost right below the eagles, a young male White-tail deer relaxed. It was apparently not too concerned about the eagles.
White Tail Deer, (Donna).
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The next day, hoping for additional photos of the eagles that were now nowhere to be found, Golden-crowned Kinglets seemed to be everywhere . . .
Golden-crowned Kinglet, along the Scioto River below the Griggs Reservoir Dam.
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. . . along with a few of their close associates with the exception of “the sparrow”.
Male Downy woodpecker, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Eastern Phoebe, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Male Bluebird, Griggs reservoir Park.
Yellow-rumped warblers continue to stick around enjoying the Poison Ivy Berries, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
“Must you take the picture when my mouths full and besides, I’m not a bird!” Red Squirrel, Griggs reservoir Park.
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A tree’s few remaining leaves seemingly slide a slippery slope to the ground.
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Wanting to check out a location not previously explored, we decided on Shale Hollow Park, one of Delaware County’s preservation parks. Blustery cold conditions made birding less than optimal, so while birds eluded us we did find something quiet different and no less interesting, concretions. Probably some of the best examples we’ve seen in central Ohio. For us it was proof once again that one should always be open to the wonder of the day.
For those that are curious, “A concretion is a hard, compact mass of matter formed by the precipitation of mineral cement within the spaces between particles, and is found in sedimentary rock or soil. Concretions are often ovoid or spherical in shape. Concretions form within layers of sedimentary strata that have already been deposited. They usually form early in the burial history of the sediment, before the rest of the sediment is hardened into rock. This concretionary cement often makes the concretion harder and more resistant to weathering than the surrounding strata. Concretions have long been regarded as geological curiosities. Because of the variety of unusual shapes, sizes and compositions, concretions have in the past been interpreted to be dinosaur eggs, animal and plant fossils, extraterrestrial debris or human artifacts.” (Wikipedia)
Concretion, Shale Hallow Park, (Donna).
Two concretions that appear to have seen better days.
A concretion that may have been spherical at on time.
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In addition to concretions, with the coming of wetter weather, there have been other things to appreciate.
Disclaimer: Fungi identifications represent our best effort.
Turkey-tail on log, Shale Hollow Park, (Donna).
Rusty Polypore, (Donna).
Shaggy Mane, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
Witches Butter with fruiting lichen, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
Split-pore Polypore, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
Emerging mushroom, Amanita muscaria var. guessowii, Shale Hollow Park.
Same as above but further along.
Pink polypore with lichen, (Donna).
Red leaf on Turkey Tail, Shale Hollow Park.
Radiating Phlebia on log, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
Wood Ear, Griggs Reservoir Park
Another view.
On a fallen branch a, almost too small to see, mushroom pops up through some lichen, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Late autumn sentinels along Griggs Reservoir.
The beautiful patterns of newly emerged Dryad’s Saddle, Griggs Reservoir Park.
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It’s often when least expected, near the end of a long hike, almost back to the car and too tired to care, that what we seek appears. Such was the case with the White-throated Sparrow.
White-throated Sparrow, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Take 2.
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Some may wonder what the big deal is. Why is seeing a sparrow so meaningful? For many who spend time in nature the answer is simple; seeing a white-throated Sparrow brings expression to a sense of connectedness to a world much bigger than ourselves. We usually first hear and then see the sparrow and for the time it sees fit we are in its presence. It in turn acknowledges us in its own unique way. This small, seemingly fragile, creature has travelled perhaps a thousand miles and during this brief fleeting moment we are part of each other’s world. Next summer if we look, we will not find it. It will again be further north engaged in its own dance to the cycle of life. This wonder graces our lives with the appearance of the first spring wildflowers, the larger than life sound of spring peepers, the spring migration of the many too beautiful to imagine warblers, the sight and sound of a distant summer thunderstorm, the call of the loon on a northern lake, the color of leaves as a low autumn sun filters the branches, and the slow quiet descent of winter’s first snowflakes.
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Concretion, Shale Hollow Park.
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Thanks for stopping by.
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XXX
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Should you wish prints from various posts may be purchased at Purchase a Photo. If you don’t find it on the link drop us a line.
Life In A Cemetary
Posted on July 12, 2017
It had been about a year since we visited Bigelow Cemetery State Nature Preserve and Big Darby Headwaters Nature Preserve , so we thought a road trip was in order to see what we might find in the way of insects and other wildlife. Last year we had seen a number of hummingbirds at Bigelow so we thought that might be the case again. Unlike Bigelow, which is a very small plot of native prairie, Big Darby Headwaters is a much larger area and one we have only begun to explore. Repeated visits throughout the year would be best to get to know and really appreciate these areas. We usually have to satisfy ourselves with less.
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The first thing one notices upon arriving at Bigelow is how small it is, only about one half acre. The initial thought is that such a small area shouldn’t take long to explore. An hour and a half later we left and could have easily stayed longer if the Big Darby Headwaters had not beckoned. The number of living things in this small area compared to the surrounding farm field monoculture was mind boggling.
Bigelow Pioneer Cemetery Preserve.
Royal Catchfly, Bigelow Pioneer Cemetery.
The preferred direction.
A male Red-winged Blackbird seemed concerned about our presence. Perhaps a nest was nearby. Bigelow Pioneer Cemetery.
Painted Lady butterflies were common at Bigelow Pioneer Cemetery.
Take 2.
Take 3.
The cemetery is old by Ohio standards.
Royal Catchfly, Bigelow Pioneer Cemetery.
A Monarch Butterfly made up for the fact that no hummingbirds were seen, Bigelow Pioneer Cemetery.
Donna takes aim on a wildflower, Bigelow Pioneer Cemetery.
Bigelow Pioneer Cemetery.
Gray Headed Cone Flowers and Royal Catchfly, Bigelow Pioneer Cemetery.
White Campion (alien), Bigelow Pioneer Cemetary, (Donna).
Common Checkered Skipper, Bigelow Pioneer Cemetery, (Donna).
Stink Bug nymph, Bigelow Pioneer Cemetery, (Donna).
Familiar Bluet, Bigelow Pioneer Cemetery, (Donna).
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Having spent as much time as we thought we should at Bigelow, it was close to noon when we arrived at the Big Darby Headwaters. Usually not the best time of day to be out in nature.
A fair mount of habitat restoration was required to make the Big Darby Headwaters NP what it is today, (Donna).
The hiking trail in Big Darby Headwaters Nature Preserve, (Donna).
Calico Pennant Dragonfly, Big Darby Headwaters, (Donna).
A Meadow Fritillary is joined by some of it’s closest friends on Butterfly Weed, Big Darby Headwaters.
Snowberry Clearwing Moth, Big Darby Headwaters.
A curious Song Sparrow looks on, Big Darby Headwaters.
Michigan Lily, Big Darby Headwaters.
Halloween Pennant, Big Darby Headwaters, (Donna).
Tall Bellflower, Big Darby Headwaters, (Donna).
Stream, Big Darby Headwaters, (Donna).
Depford Pink, Big Darby Headwaters, (Donna).
Looking for a bird, Big Darby Headwaters.
Big Darby Headwaters, (Donna).
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Over the past few days there’s been no shortage of things to see closer to home.
A male Bluebird watches, O’Shaughnessy Nature Preserve.
Royal River Cruiser, a new dragonfly for us! O’Shaughnessy Nature Preserve.
Take 2.
Yellow Jacket Hover Fly, O’Shaughnessy Nature Preserve, (Donna).
Four-toothed Mason Wasp on Rattlesnake Master Flower, O’Shaughnessy Nature Preserve.
Coneflowers, O’Shaughnessy Nature Preserve.
Banded Longhorn Flower Beetles, O’Shaughnessy Nature Preserve.
Silver Spotted Skipper, O’Shaughnessy Nature Preserve, (Donna).
Female Eastern Pondhawk, Big Darby Headwaters.
Great Spangled Fritillary, O’Shaughnessy Nature Preserve, (Donna).
Jewelweed, O’Shaughnessy Nature Preserve, (Donna).
Eastern Amberwing, O’Shaughnessy Nature Preserve, (Donna).
Common Whitetail (F), Big Darby Headwaters.
Common Whitetail (M), O’Shaughnessy Nature Preserve.
White Tail Deer, O’Shaughnessy Nature Preserve, (Donna).
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Even in our backyard . . .
Hummingbird Clearwing Moth
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I continue to think about the diversity and abundance of life at Bigelow. It may be reasonable to expect that if such places were more numerous or extensive such diversity and abundance might not be as noticeable as the creatures observed there would have more options. However, forgetting for a moment the pollution of the air and water due to human activities, it’s still hard not to wonder about the long term sustainability of the planet when so much acreage has been, and continues to be, developed. Once developed it often becomes just another barren monoculture which at best grows crops that feed us or worse becomes another woods or meadow roofed over for industry, commerce, or shelter, or paved over so that we can drive or park our cars. While more far-reaching solutions are undoubtedly necessary, in the short term planting more wildflowers in lieu of maintaining an extensive lawn might be worth our consideration.
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As always thanks for stopping by.
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XXX
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Should you wish prints from various posts may be purchased at Purchase a Photo. If you don’t find it on the link drop us a line.
It’s Spring and Love Is In The Air
Posted on May 11, 2017
In recent days we’ve made a number of trips to areas along Griggs Reservoir and the Scioto River not far from our home. It’s spring migration and the challenge is to see how many migrating birds we can spot right in our “neighborhood”. At some point we may change our emphasis and increase the number of trips we take to more distant birding locations, but for now we’re having fun concentrating on places close to home.
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To date the most numerous warblers seen are the Palm and Yellow-rumped. While the Yellow-rumped is very common, with more subtle markings than many of it’s peers, I never tire of finding new beauty when I look at one. At Griggs Park the Baltimore Oriole is at the opposite end of the spectrum. Connecting trees with bright sunlit streaks of orange the males seem to be everywhere. Should an oriole or other bird not be close by, it’s easy to find other things to appreciate this time of year.
The boardwalk at Kiwanis Riverway Park. One of our favorite birding spots. The water level was very high when this shot was taken.
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When we arrive to photograph birds we sometimes find them “still getting ready”,
Male Baltimore Oriole, Griggs Park.
“Okay, I’m ready!”
“There’s just this one pesky feather that won’t stay in place,” Palm Warbler, Griggs Park.
“Okay, how do I look?”
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some may be busy doing other things,
A female Baltimore Oriole appears to be trying to build a nest out of monofilament fishing line in Griggs Park. We try to pick up lost or discarded fishing line and tackle whenever we see it.
Robin on nest, Griggs Park.
Mother Mallard tries to keep track of her charges, Griggs Park.
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while most are usually ready when we get there,
American Robin, Griggs Park.
Severely back lit, an illusive Black and White Warbler taxes the capabilities of the camera.
Take 2.
The Yellow Warbler is cute from any angle, Griggs Park.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Griggs Park.
A better look at the unique crest on the Yellow-rumps head.
Male Bluebird, Griggs Park.
Female Bluebird, Kiwanis Riverway Park.
Chipping Sparrow, Griggs Park.
Downy Woodpecker, Griggs Park.
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Griggs Park.
House Wren, Griggs Park.
Tree Swallow, Kiwanis Riverway Park.
A Red-eyed Vireo ducts behind a small tree, Griggs Park.
Yellow-throated Warblers are often heard. Finding them is more difficult. Griggs Park.
It appears that this Chickadee has been spending entirely too much time with it’s Tufted Titmouse friends, Griggs Park.
Seeing this White-crowned Sparrow was a real treat, Griggs Park. “White-crowned Sparrows typically breed in the far north in open or shrubby habitats, including tundra, high alpine meadows, and forest edges. Patches of bare ground and grasses are important characteristics. During winter and on migration these birds frequent thickets, . . . “, from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Black-throated blue Warbler, Kiwanis Riverway Park.
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but a few are just trying to get away.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Griggs Park.
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Other birds were engaged in finding a find a dry perch, made all the more challenging by recent heavy rains.
In the company of friends a Great Blue Heron looks on as the very high Scioto River races by.
In recent days Great Egrets seem to be everywhere along both the reservoir and river, Griggs Park.
Out on the reservoir a Great Blue Heron floats by on a tree branch.
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Many flowers have undoubtedly benefitting from the recent rain.
Stumped again, the flower of a small unidentified flowering tree or bush. Is it a garden escapee?
Fleabane, Kiwanis Riverway Park.
The flower of the Tulip Tree. Native to eastern North America from southern Ontario and Illinois eastward to Massachusetts and Rhode Island and south to central Florida and Louisiana, Tulip Trees can grow to more than 160 ft in virgin cove forests of the Appalachian Mountains. (Wikipedia)
Non-native Butterweed, Kiwanis Riverway Park.
Large flowered Valerian, Kiwanis Riverway Park.
Hobblebush, Kiwanis Riverway Park
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You never know what might be hiding next to a flower.
A large female Fishing Spider, Griggs Park.
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Heading back to the car at the end of one outing, my sharp eyed wife spotted three Northern Water Snakes celebrating the season. The males are quite a bit smaller than the female. These snakes are fairly common along the river and reservoir. However, unlike the various species of turtles which always seem to be around, they aren’t often seen so it was a real treat to see them!
Large female with two smaller male Northern Water Snakes, Griggs Park. They mate from April through June and do not lay eggs like many other snakes. Instead, the mother carries the eggs inside her body and gives birth to free living young and may have as many as thirty at a time, but the average is eight. They are born between August and October. Mothers do not care for their young; as soon as they are born, they are on their own. (Wikipedia)
The males were in competition for the female’s affection.
The larger male seems to have won, at least momentarily.
A tangle of tails.
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After missing shots of numerous fast moving warblers and the recent challenge when I tried to capture the Black and White, I’ve decided to upgrade my otherwise excellent Canon 60D camera body to a Canon 80D. For the time being the bird camera lens will continue be a Sigma 150-500mm. Future posts will reveal how well it all works out. Thanks for stopping by.
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PS: As is often the case, Molly Cat sat watching intently as I finished this blog. I’m glad I’m not a mouse!
Molly Cat
XXX
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Should you wish, prints from various posts may be purchased at Purchase a Photo. If you don’t find it on the link drop us a line.
The Magic World Of The Very Small
Posted on September 26, 2016
The last few days found us paddling Griggs Reservoir. This time of year we always hope that staying close to the shoreline will result in warbler sightings and perhaps a few pictures. With warblers and other migrants moving through it’s a good time of year. In recent days on the reservoir we’ve even seen Mink along the banks and while walking just south of the dam my wife caught the tail end of a Bald Eagle as it flew overhead.
Bald Eagle over the Scioto River just below Griggs Reservoir, (Donna)
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A number of immature Black-crowned Night Herons have also been seen, encouraging because of our recent discovery of one that had met it’s demise at the business end of a abandoned fishing line.
Immature Black-crowned Night Heron, Griggs Reservoir.
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Other things were also seen as we made our way along the shore.
A Great Blue Heron takes flight, Griggs Reservoir, (Donna)
Two Wood Ducks seemingly amused by a Painted Turtle or is it the other way around, Griggs reservoir.
A Red-tailed Hawk looks on as we head north along the west shore of the reservoir.
Painted Turtles enjoy posing for the camera much more than some of the other species we encounter, (Donna)
A female Kingfisher actually poses for the camera, Griggs Reservoir.
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Walking Griggs Park has been more productive for seeing as well as photographing warblers and other small birds mostly because of the difficulty in controlling and positioning the canoe in the pursuit of small active birds.
A male Bluebird doing what bluebirds do best, Griggs Park.
A male Cardinal, beautiful in the morning sun, Griggs Park.
Eastern Phoebe, Griggs Park.
Black-throated Green Warbler, Griggs Park.
Another view, (Donna)
Carolina Wren sings it’s heart out.
Chipping Sparrow, Griggs Park.
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If the warblers aren’t cooperating there may be a butterfly, not always rare, but one we’ve not noticed before.
Checkered Skipper, Griggs Park, (Donna)
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Fishing is also getting better as the weather cools with time taken off between casts to do a little house keeping along the shore. What can I say, it’s always there, but as those who read this blog already know, it makes me feel better to pick it up.
Another nice Smallmouth Bass, Griggs Reservoir
Unlike fish that are always returned to the water, the trash covering the bottom of the canoe is not “Catch and Release”!
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But recently real magic was discovered within the world of the very small when we spotted countless damselflies mating on fallen autumn leaves floating on the reservoir’s calm surface as we paddled back to our launch site during the warmth of the day. We’d never seen anything like that before.
In the warming late morning sun Dusky Dancer were on every leaf, (Donna)
The bigger the leaf the more damselflies. Sometimes, as we got close, they would swarm over the canoe.
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That’s about it for this post. For us living in northern regions autumn is a great time to be out in nature. A feeling borne from the knowledge that this fleeting time will not last. Thanks for stopping by.
Dew Drop
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Should you wish, various prints from this and other posts may be purchased at Purchase a Photo. and Donna’s 2017 Birds of Griggs Park calendar is available at Calendar.
A Late Spring Celebration of Nature
Posted on June 11, 2016
Whether paddling or walking our explorations in the last week or so have been very close to home in Griggs Park and the reservoir. We hardly feel deprived. As the pictures below will attest, especially in the case of my wife, the closer you look the more you see.
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Some of the flowers we are now seeing will continue to bloom for most of the summer. Others will not. Part of the ever changing scene.
Ox-eye Daises, (Donna), FZ200.
Hairy Ruellia, (Donna), FZ200.
Rough-fruited Cinquefoil, (Donna) FZ200
Northern Catalpa, Griggs Park, FZ200.
Along the shore of Griggs Reservoir the Blue Flag Iris continues to enchant, (Donna), FZ200.
Goats Beard, (Donna), FZ200.
Mushrooms, (Donna), FZ200.
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Some things seen have been unusual. Many thanks to New Hampshire Garden Solutions for help in identifying what was going on in the following pic, Elm Pouch Galls.
Produced by aphids, Elm Pouch Galls rise from the upper leaf surface, Griggs Park, FZ200.
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While we are still hearing them, many birds choose to peer at us from behind the leaf cover so my wife has directed more of her attention to more cooperative subjects.
Peck’s Skipper, (Donna), FZ200.
Zebulon Skipper, (Donna), FZ200
Bronze Copper, (Donna), FZ200
Top view.
Clouded Sulfur with a friend, (Donna), FZ200.
Black Swallowtail, Griggs Park, (Donna), FZ200.
A busy bee, Griggs Park, Canon 3ti, 18-135.
Eastern Pondhawk (F), (Donna), FZ200.
Widow Skimmer (F), (Donna), FZ200.
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Look even closer and you’ll see tiny insects with jewel like qualities.
Stream Bluet, (Donna), FZ200.
Stream Bluet (F)?, (Donna), FZ200.
Powdered Dancer (M), (Donna), FZ200.
Very small gold fly, (Donna), FZ200.
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Thankfully not all of our feathered friends were in hiding.
Male Bluebird, Griggs Park, FZ200.
Kingbird, Griggs Park, FZ200.
Robin, Griggs Park, ZS50.
We haven’t had much luck getting a close pic so far this year but we did catch the male Baltimore Oriole along the Scioto below Griggs Dam, ZS50.
What were these White-breasted Nuthatches doing? ZS50.
Fledglings! along the Scioto River below Griggs Dam.
With so many beautiful Great Blue Herons along the reservoir so it hard to resist taking a picture, Canon 60D sigma 150-500.
We watched this Great Blue Heron for some time as he struggled and went through all kinds of contortions but never did see him swallow the poor fish which by heron standards wasn’t all that large, ZS50.
As we walk along park path, just overhead a Turkey Vulture sizes us up, “Still Moving, @?%#!!!”, ZS50
Mother Mallard with baby along Griggs Reservoir, FZ200.
An Osprey watches as we paddle by, north end of Griggs Reservoir, Canon 60D, sigma 150-500.
A Red-tailed Hawk does likewise, Canon 60D, sigma 150-500.
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And a few other creatures too.
Sunfish, sometimes what a fish lacks in size it makes up for in beauty. This little fella went swimming right after the pic, Griggs Reservoir, Canon SD850.
A turtle convention along the Scioto River below Griggs Dam, ZS50.
Looking like somewhere in northern Michigan a deer crosses the Scioto north of Griggs Reservoir, (Donna), FZ200.
Not seen as often as Map Turtles and Red-eared Sliders, we were excited to see two Painted Turtles enjoying the sun along the Griggs Reservoir shore, (Donna), FZ200.
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Sometimes it’s good to just step back and admire it all from a distance.
North end of Griggs reservoir, FZ200
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Thanks for stopping by.
An Owl, Eagles, and a Muskrat?
Posted on January 3, 2016
The Barred Owl at High Banks Metro Park is probably one of the photographed birds in central Ohio this winter. However, since it would be a life bird for our daughter-in-law we set out to see if we could find it. Besides, considering all the holiday food that had been consumed in the last few days, a nice long walk in the woods was definitely in order. Finding an owl, depending on where they are in the tree, can be next to impossible. Normally I look for silhouettes, which wouldn’t have worked in this case as the bird was perched against the trunk of a tree. Fortunately, two young birders with better eyes than mine had already found it when we arrived on the scene.
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Barred Owl, Highbanks Metro Park, (Donna).
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With our primary objective accomplished we walked on with the hope that he resident pair of Bald Eagles would be near their nest along the Olentangy River. We weren’t disappointed. For several years now the pair has successfully nested in an area that isn’t all that remote which gives us hope the one day we may have a nesting pair even closer to home (for Bald Eagles closer to home click here).
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A Bald Eagle pair along the Olentangy River, (Donna).
Civilization is close by.
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The next stop was the wetlands area where we hoped to see some waterfowl. Only one female mallard was in residence perhaps because recent cold weather had caused the pond to partially freeze over. But what was that brown furry thing out on the ice, a Muskrat?
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Out on the ice in plan view of soaring eagles, the Muskrat appeared to be eating something. Wetlands Area, Highbanks Metro Park.
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During the hike we also encountered other furry creatures.
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Red Squirrel, Donna.
Take 2.
Fox Squirrel, (Donna).
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As we made our way back we were treated to nice views of one of our favorite birds.
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Bluebird, (Donna).
Take 2.
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Perhaps due to very wet soil due to recent rains followed by freezing weather, we noticed these ground level ice formations along the trail.
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Ice crystals along the trail.
A closer look, (Donna).
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A traditional winter walk with a pleasant covering of snow was not in the offing but there’s alway seems to be something to see.
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Thanks for stopping by.
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January 1 flowers in our front yard??
