Central Ohio NatureWith A Little Help From . . .
Posted on May 15, 2020
We are blessed to enjoy nature and this usually results in not being around a lot of people. A perfect combination for these times. Spring is the season of new life whether it be the young leaves and flowers of a buckeye tree, or the sometimes almost frantic activity of nesting and migrating birds. One day last week, along a wooded park road at waters edge, there seemed to be colorful “missiles” flying everywhere. In that moment, with the smell of spring flowers and a backdrop of surrounding tree green luminescence, it was hard not to feel the warm embrace and the affirmation of being part of something that is much more.
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So with a little help from our friends, be they butterflies, birds, wildflowers or trees, we are invited into a world that to our peril is too often ignored. But to work it’s magic, it demands that we be in the moment, pay attention with intention, and extend our curiosity beyond it’s usual realm. At first, we may find our curiosity stunted because, equipped with little knowledge, our imagination of what lies beyond the next “mountain” is limited. Finding the answer to that first small question may start a journey that informs and empowers in ways never imagined and that far outreach the original field of inquiry.
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In the spring birds are endlessly foraging for food in trees and in low lying brush. What in the world are they all eating? Observing bird behavior, particularly Baltimore orioles as they work over buckeye flowers, coupled with additional research reveals the answer. In the spring birds, including warblers, obtain nutrition from tree buds and the edible parts of flowers including their nectar in addition to insects. Could this be one of the reasons that the orioles like the park near our home with it’s numerous buckeye trees? Within limits, don’t look for a common yellow-throat in the top of a tall tree, most migrating birds find suitable food in a variety locations.
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So below are some birds that have brought a dimension to life in our humble city park that will not be there in a few weeks. In doing so they have expanded our awareness of life that goes far beyond our current cares.
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Black-throated Blue Warbler, Griggs Reservoir Park (GRP)
Take 2, GRP.
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Male Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Duranceau Park (DP)
Male courting display, DP.
The female looks curious, DP.
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Chestnut-sided Warbler, GRP.
Another view, GRP.
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Male Indigo Bunting, GRP. Could we be so fortunate that it would nest in the park?
Take 2, GRP.
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Male Baltimore Oriole, GRP. Baltimore Orioles build many nests in the park.
Another angle, GRP.
Immature male, GRP.
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Palm Warbler, GRP.
Singing, GRP.
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Pine Warbler, DP.
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Male American Redstart, GRP.
Another view, GRP, (Donna).
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Tree Swallows are hear for the season, GRP.
Male and female, GRP.
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Barn Swallow, GRP, (Donna).
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Northern Parula Warbler, GRP.
Another look, GRP.
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Blue-headed Vireo, GRP, (Donna).
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Warbling Vireo, GRP.
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White-eyed Vireo, GRP, (Donna).
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Yellow Warbler, GRP, (Donna).
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Blue-winged Warbler, DP, (Donna).
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Black and White Warbler, GRP, (Donna).
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Yellow-throated Warbler, GRP.
Take 2, GRP, (Donna).
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White-crowned Sparrow, GRP.
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White-throated Sparrow, GRP, (Donna).
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Magnolia Warbler, GRP.
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Prothonotary Warbler, GRP, (Donna).
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Scarlet Tanager, DP.
Take 2, DP.
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Yellow-rumped Warbler, GRP.
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The Great-crested Flycatcher nest in the park, GRP.
Northern- Flickers also nest in the park, GRP.
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Tufted Titmouse are a year round resident, GRP, (Donna).
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As are Downy Woodpeckers, GRP, (Donna)
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House Wren, GRP, (Donna).
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Catbirds are also a summer long resident, GRP.
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Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak, DP, (Donna).
Female, GRP, (Donna).
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Mallard family, GRP, (Donna).
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We hope that this post finds you in good health and that in this season of new life and rebirth, you find your celebration.
Chipmunk
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Thanks for stopping by.
Birds Being Birds
Posted on April 24, 2020
Early migrating spring warblers and other birds are moving through the area. With that in mind we’ve spent a fair amount of time in recent days looking into bushes and up into trees. Yellow-rumps have been found almost everywhere, but for yellow-throated warblers we had to look into the very top of tall sycamore trees making a good picture a challenge. Along with early warblers, many Ruby-crowned Kinglets were seen with males often displaying their ruby crown.
As if to throw out the welcome mat, spring wildflowers, including Large-flowered trillium compliment the beauty of migrating birds.
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While trying to find warblers along Griggs Reservoir we were distracted by the behavior of other birds. In the last few days that has included a crow, eastern bluebirds and red-winged blackbirds.
American Crow, fish for brunch:
Along the reservoir a crow carries off a scavenged shad in it’s beak, flying overhead it lands in a nearby tree and proceeds to dine, (Donna)
We were not sure whether this was a normal practice but the head was soon separated from the body, (Donna).
Then on to the main course, (Donna).
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The more common Virginia Bluebells add their color to the welcome mat.
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Eastern Bluebird harmony, then not.
As a male and female bluebird were busy with “homemaking” tasks I took a few shots:
Female Eastern Bluebird
The male.
Together with nest hole visible.
Leaving the happy couple I walked to our nearby car as my wife trailed behind. Putting my gear away I looked back to see my wife with her camera pointed at the ground. Apparently another female had decided to challenge the status quo resulting in an epic battle which went way beyond mere posturing. We have heard that competition during mating is not restricted to males and that often rivalry’s between females can be even more spirited. What we witnessed certainly bore that out.
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(fight action by Donna)
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Normally white, this Cutleaf Toothwort shows just a hint of pink.
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As we tried to listen for the faint treetop call of a yellow-throated warbler, a red-winged blackbird made it’s presence known:
Male Red-wing Blackbird.
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 Not far away a blue jay was enjoying the hazy morning sun.
Blue Jay
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Chickadees seemed too busy to notice anything but the task at hand.
Carolina Chickadee
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Dutchman’s Breeches also graced the landscape.
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Oh yes, we did manage to see a few warblers and even kinglets but their behavior wasn’t nearly as entertaining as that of some of the park’s normal residents.
Male Yellow-rumped Warbler. Right now the yellow-rumps are by far the most common.
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Yellow Warbler
Male Palm Warbler. A bird that’s quite common in Florida in the winter.
Male Black-throated Green Warbler with what appears to be nesting material. A bit unusual as this bird is not indicated to breed in central Ohio.
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Ruby-crowned Kinglets seem to be everywhere.
Okay, one more picture!
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As of the date of this post there have also been reports of Northern-Parula, Pine, and Yellow Warblers all of which we have yet to see. In the coming weeks, as the spring migration continues and before the trees fully leaf out and obscure the view, there should be no shortage of birds to entertain.
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Thanks for stopping by.
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Nature In Myakka River State Park
Posted on March 20, 2019
After two months in sunnier climes with limited internet access we are now back home. While still an improvement over Ohio, this winter’s trek south to Florida’s Myakka River State Park in an effort to escape the cold found us greeted by windy cool and sometimes wet weather. The wind precluded using the canoe as a means to gain access to photo opportunities away from the main park roads but we were still able to enjoy hiking even though it was often on partially flooded trails.
My wife walks under a Live Oak covered with Resurrection Ferns on one of the dryer tails.
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Every year is different. Last year the arrival of a hurricane not long before our arrival resulted in the park being completely flooded. During our stay the water receded leaving pools of stranded fish for wading birds to gorge themselves on. This occurrence offered a unique opportunity to observe and photograph various wading birds and nothing like it was in the offing this year. The consolation was that the Black Necked Stilt, a favorite bird, was more common than last year. In addition to this year’s critter pics more effort was made to capture the landscape so those shots have been made part of the mix.
The Myakka River
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As in the past Black Necked Stilts continue to charm us.
Black Necked Stilt
What ever they’re doing it’s always fascinating, (Donna).
Stilt with Lesser Yellowlegs
Walking.
Flying, (Donna).
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Flooded hammock.
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Other small wading birds were seen but American Avocets eluded us.
Least Sandpipers along the shore of Upper Myakka Lake.
Killdeer along the shore of Upper Myakka Lake.
Lesser Yellowlegs along the shore of Upper Myakka Lake, (Donna).
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The Myakka River.
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While certainly not uncommon, we always enjoy seeing the Great and Snowy Egrets. Whiter than white, a slightly overcast day seems to work best for photographing these birds.
Great Egret
Close-up.
Snowy Egret
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Standing water in low-lying areas gives rise to shadows and reflections.
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Black Crowned Night and Great Blue Herons are seen in Ohio but not the petite Tri-colored Heron.
Tri-colored Heron.
Great Blue Heron with lunch along the shore of Upper Myakka Lake.
Great Blue Heron.
Little Blue Heron hunting, (Donna).
A Black Crowned Heron peeks through the branches, (Donna).
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Upper Lake Myakka.
Flooded habitat.
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Roseate Spoonbills are right up there with Black Necked Stilts when it comes to interesting birds to observe.
Roseate Spoonbill preening.
Spoonbills.
My what a big mouth you have, (Donna).
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Florida hammock landscape.
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An Alligator Limpkin stare down.
The Alligator and Limpkin were so close together it’s hard to believe they weren’t aware of each other.
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Myakka River landscape.
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We were fortunate to see several Wood Storks.
A Wood Stork forages for food along the shore of Upper Myakka Lake.
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A canopy of branches.
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Palm Warblers were everywhere as were Black Vultures. The Barred Owl and the small Common Ground Dove were a rarer treat.
Palm Warbler.
Black Vultures were everywhere.
Scarcely a moment went by without hearing the call of a Red Shouldered Hawk.
This Barred Owl seemed so obvious once we spotted it but they’re not so easy to find.
Common Ground Dove.
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is common in Florida but perhaps not quite as common there as in Ohio.
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Shadows betray this Live Oaks identity.
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Flowers, fungi, and air plants:
A lovely small flower is found looking something like a small wild rose
Another small but very noticeable flower.
There were fungi but not in the variety seen in Ohio, (Donna).
Other than as a location to live, air plants ask nothing of the tree they reside in.
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A fallen tree finds home in the flooded hammock
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Other creatures:
Our friend Teresa was surprised by the opportunity to get this quick shot of a Bobcat as it crossed the trail.
We are always surprised by the number of turtles given the number of gators.
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This years visit to the park was only six days but we managed to see quite a bit for such a short time. Because of the colder than normal weather there weren’t as many alligators in evidence and while birds were seen the higher than normal water levels and more places to forage meant they were disbursed. We’re planning a return visit next year so who knows what the future holds as every year offers different mix of weather and resultant water levels.
Thanks for stopping by.
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Central Ohio Nature 