Central Ohio NatureNature 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.
Myakka River.
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Thanks for stopping by.
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Then 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.
Spring Wildflowers Along The Darby
Posted on April 29, 2018
Even for Ohio it’s been an unusually fitful spring, with a warm sunny day followed by one that is cool cloudy and blustery with maybe a little rain or light snow thrown in for good measure. On a recent sunny day we decided to check out the wildflowers along a “new to us” trail that is accessed off Gardner Rd. in Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park. We were not disappointed as we walked through a wonderful arboretum of nature’s spring.
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Phlox, Big Darby Creek Metro Park.
The subtle beauty of Large Flowered Bellwort. Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
Toadshade Trillium as a buttercup competes for our interest, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
A Spring Beauty gets pollenated, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, (Donna).
Jacobs Ladder, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, (Donna).
Flowering tree, (Donna).
Large-flower Trillium, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
Large-flowered Bellwort, Big Darby Creek Metro Park.
White Trout Lilies, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
A beautiful example of a Toadshade Trillium, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
A shaft of light illuminates the beauty of a White Trout Lily, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
A Spring Azure visits flowering Phlox, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, (Donna).
Flowering cherry, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, (Donna).
Very blue Spring Beauties, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, (Donna).
Virginia Bluebells were very common, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
Hispid Buttercup, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
Purple Cress, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
Large Flowered Trillium, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
With an open forest canopy this trout lily celebrates the warm spring sun, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, (Donna).
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Even with wildflowers to enchant it’s difficult not to notice other things.
In the midst of their nest building activities Blue Jays are hard to ignore, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
A Chipping Sparrow with it’s beautiful rufus crown catches our eye, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Feathers sparkling in the sun a Starling investigates a nesting cavity, Griggs Reservoir Park.
This time of year along roadside ditches, rivers, and lakes Red-winged Blackbirds are everywhere, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Less noticeable than their male counterpart the female Red-winged Blackbirds have arrived in central Ohio, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
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They seemed to be getting along just fine . . .
Tree Swallows, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
and then . . .
Just what they were communicating remains a mystery, (Donna).
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The Yellow-rumped warblers continue to be a common site at Griggs Reservoir Park.
Female Yellow-rumped Warbler, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Kingbird, our first sighting of the year at Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
A Palm Warbler along the shore of Griggs Reservoir.
Another look.
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For nature lovers in central Ohio that have never visited Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, do so, this quietist of the Columbus metro area metro parks is one of our favorites. In just a few days we’ve seen a noticeable increase in the green of the forest canopy so the days of spring wildflowers are fleeting. In the last few days there have been reports of an increase of warbler migrants moving though the area so in the near term we will not run out of things to enchant.
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Thanks for stopped by.
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Emergent Buckeye leaves.
A Thankful Reflection
Posted on December 31, 2017
The last day of 2017, what better time to stop for a moment and reflect back to the wonders of nature seen in central Ohio in the past year.
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Griggs Reservoir.
Bald Eagle along the Scioto below Griggs Dam.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
Golden Crown Kinglet, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Along the Scioto River
Tufted Titmouse, (Donna).
November reflection, Prairie Oaks Metro Park.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Covered Bridge, Mohican State Park.
The Big Darby, Prairie Oaks Metro Park
Buckeye, (Donna).
Monarch, (Donna).
Griggs Reservoir
Solitary leaf
Chicory
Design, (Donna).
Red-spotted Purple, (Donna).
Alum Creek Reservoir, (Donna).
Autumn color.
Black-crowned Night Heron, Griggs Reservoir.
Giant Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar.
Mink, Au Sable River MI, (Donna).
Au Sable River Smallmouth, MI, (Donna).
Devoe Lake, MI.
Cardinal Flowers, Rifle River Rec, Area, MI.
Turtlehead, Rifle River Rec. Area. MI.
Common Loons, Devoe Lake, MI, (Donna).
Meal time, Devoe lake, MI
Caspian Tern, Loud Pond, Au Sable River, MI.
Catbirds, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Griggs Reservoir waterfall.
Yellow-throated Warbler, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Common Checkered Skipper, (Donna).
Hummingbird Clearwing Moth
Red Admiral, (Donna).
Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Cliff Swallows, (Donna).
Gray Squirrel.
Baltimore Oriole.
Mohican River, Mohican State Park.
Prothonotary Warbler
Green Heron, Griggs Reservoir
Yellow-collared Scape Moth, (Donna).
Northern Water Snake.
Red-eyed Vireo, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Great Blue Heron, Scioto River, (Donna).
Hayden Run Falls
Mating Northern Water Snakes, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Scarlet Tanager, Griggs Reservoir Park.
White-crowned Sparrow, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Palm Warbler, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Black-throated Blue Warbler, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Turkey, Blendon Woods Metro Park, (Donna).
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Looking at the landscape as we walked along the Scioto River yesterday it’s hard to believe it’s the same place. Very cold weather has made the river below the dam one of the few stretches of open water that waterfowl can now call home.
Hooded Mergansers.
More robins than we could count took turns getting a cool drink at waters edge.
Ring-necked Ducks.
The Scioto River below Griggs Dam
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As always, thanks for stopping by and have a Happy New Year!
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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<<< >>>
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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.
A Spring Day At Magee Marsh
Posted on May 5, 2017
It was mid morning, sunny, the gentle lake breeze was cool, but warmed by the sun we felt energized. That was a good thing because the two and a half hour drive from Columbus had left us feeling just a little lethargic. It was our annual visit to Maggee Marsh in search of migrating warblers and we had just arrived at the parking lot adjacent to the boardwalk. Once in the refuge, located along the south shore of Lake Erie, we had made our way toward the lake on a very straight two lane road bordered by wetlands. On the ground and overhead a welcoming committee of more than the usual number of Great Egrets, a generous smattering of Great Blue Herons, a Snowy Egret, as well some of the other usual suspects, had greeted us. Near the lake, high in a Cottonwood, an active eagle’s nest could be seen. It felt like it was going to be a good day in birders paradise!
One of many Great Egrets seen.
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On this particular morning, as I hoisted my heavy camera over my shoulder, I couldn’t help thinking it would be nice to enlist all my senses and just be there with only binoculars in hand. But you never know what might be seen so better take the camera. After all, it’s a tool that does allow one to better tell stories and that’s good. However, when it’s pressed against my face I’m removed from the experience I seek to capture, caught up in the details (see PS: below) of taking a reasonable photograph of an object that refuses to sit still among what seems like an infinite number of twigs, leaves, and branches. Sometime it might really be nice just to hang out with these little guys. Besides, it’s not like there’s a shortage of excellent photos on the web of almost any bird you could imagine. However, I’m not quite there yet, so with the camera in hand the internal debate goes on.
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In the spring the area acts as a stop off point for migrating warblers as they pause to rest and wait for a favorable wind to carry them north across the lake to summer breeding grounds. The boardwalk, right along the lake with wetlands to the south, winds it’s way through a wet low lying area with numerous tall trees, including many Cotton Woods, and plenty of bushes and other ground cover that warblers as well as other birds seem to enjoy. This makes them especially easy to see.
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In past years we’ve gotten a fairly early start and have seen birds in the morning but our experience has been that things don’t really get cranked up until the afternoon. Such was the case on this trip. After lunch a lot more birds were seen. It may have something to do with temperature as it did warm up considerably as the day progressed.
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Ruby Crowned Kinglets were everywhere. That was the case throughout the day.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Take 2.
Take 3.
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The Yellow Warblers were also hard to miss.
Yellow Warbler
Take 2.
Take 3.
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As the day went on we saw other birds. We were especially excited to see Black-throated Blue Warblers.
Black-throated Blue Warbler.
Take 2.
Take 3.
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Palm Warblers were numerous.
Palm Warbler
Take 2.
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A Cape May Warbler proved a challenge to photograph.
Cape May Warbler.
Take 2.
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One of Ohio’s most commonly seen warblers made it’s presence known.
Yellow-rumped Warbler.
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Looking more like a thrush than a warbler, it was great to see a, not often seen, Ovenbird.
Ovenbird
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We did also see a thrush.
Swainson’s Thrush, (Donna).
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Catbirds made a good showing along the boardwalk.
Catbird
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Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were also trying to get our attention.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher high in a tree, (Donna).
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A Tree Swallow was seen at it’s nesting cavity.
Tree Swallow
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White-throated Sparrows were hard to ignore in the low underbrush.
White-throated Sparrow.
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Not far from the boardwalk Solitary Sandpipers were busy foraging for food.
Solitary Sandpiper
Take 2.
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Along one of the canals, and partially hidden by low lying foliage, several Green Herons were spotted.
Tinged the green by a nearby leaf this shot captured a Green Heron waiting for lunch, (Donna).
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At the opposite end of the spectrum from the kinglets, Bald Eagles were getting on with their life.
Bald Eagle watches it’s nest, one of two in the immediate area. (Donna).
Eagle chick testing it’s wings while the other seems to be taking cover.
Exercise session over, the other chick pops up.
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Despite the grand reception as we entered the refuge, we didn’t see as many warbler species as in past years. However, there were still plenty of birds. While photographs were obviously taken, enough time was an spent listening and looking, as the fragrance of flowering bushes occasionally wafting past on the cool lake breeze, that I was there and not just behind the camera lens.
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PS: On a technical note, many of the photos taken on this trip were blurry or overexposed to the point of not being usable. A few could be salvaged through post processing. After arriving home exposure compensation was found to be set at +1.3 EV and aperture had somehow been bumped to f13 for at least part of the time. It’s not like this is the first time I’ve taken a picture but I got lazy. Always check your settings and double check them throughout the day.
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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.
Walking Not Running
Posted on May 1, 2017
When younger one of my greatest joys was running trails in the various area parks and experiencing the exhilaration as my body rose to the challenge of each new hill or greater distance. Blame it on the aches and pains of age, overuse, or maybe just wanting something more out of the experience, but at some point trail running wasn’t as enjoyable so I started to walk when in the woods. Sometimes I walked fast, but often a little slower not worrying as much about getting a “workout”. It wasn’t long before I started seeing things I hadn’t noticed before and often found myself stopping for a better look. At first, armed with only a little curiosity, I did so impatiently, wanting to keep moving. But gradually, the more I looked the more was noticed; relationships and interconnections, certain butterflies liked certain plants, some birds were usually found in the treetops, others on the ground, and some somewhere in between. Some birds passed through very briefly in spring and fall while others appeared to hang around all year. There were unique spring, summer, and fall wildflowers. Nothing was forever, flowers faded, plants died, hawks ate squirrels, storms downed once admired stately trees, but through it all there was always new life.
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Aware of their interconnectedness, the plants, animals, and insects seen became more interesting, and then they, as well as the experience of being in nature, became almost magical. There was apparently a lot more going on than I ever realized when running. Slowly, rather than being “inner-directed” and worrying about “breathing and pulse rate”, I became “outer-directed”. A feeling of being part of something much bigger than myself, or even humankind, started to develop. Before long a feeling of oneness with “that bigger something” would embrace me while walking through the woods or paddling a lake or river. But also a heightened awareness arose that, like the “stately tree”, I was not here forever. I had been given a gift that allowed me, for a very brief moment of seemingly insignificant time, to look, listen, smell, and touch the wonder of it all.
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So on that note, the following pictures of things seen in nature over the last few days are offered as a merger celebration of this brief moment in time.
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The Baltimore Orioles have arrived to nest along the Scioto River and Griggs Reservoir.
Baltimore Oriole over the Scioto River, (Donna).
Male Baltimore Orioles along Griggs Reservoir.
Another lone male along the Scioto. The males are often seen chasing each other this time of year.
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Paddling on Griggs Reservoir it’s hard not to notice that the Wild Columbine is in bloom along the low but rocky cliffs of reservoir’s east shore.
Wild Columbine.
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Walking park paths other late spring wildflowers have also been seen.
Appendage Waterleaf, (Donna).
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Very common Yellow-rumped Warblers pass through Griggs Park heading north to Michigan or Canada to nest.
Male Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Another view.
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High in a Sycamore the first Great Crested Flycatcher of the year is seen. It will probably nest along Griggs Reservoir.
Great Crested Flycatcher. Note distinctive yellow underside.
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A whimsical year round resident, this Carolina Wren shows off it’s prize.
Carolina Wren
Another view.
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Numerous Palm Warblers are seen passing through Griggs Park as they also head further north.
Palm warblers are common in the spring and fall along Griggs Reservoir.
Another view.
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Also on it’s way further north a Nashville Warbler forages at the edge of the Scioto River. Not a bird we often see.
Nashville Warbler.
Another view, (Donna).
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As it searches for higher ground a Northern Water Snake is seen along the rain swollen Scioto River.
Northern Water Snake
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A “turtle family” doesn’t seem to mind the high water.
Red-eared Sliders along the Scioto, (Donna).
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Trying to locate a warbler we sometimes have a sense we’re being watched.
Peeking out.
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Sure enough!
Gray Squirrel
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We hope that in the past few days your adventures in nature have been as rewarding as ours. 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.
