Central Ohio NatureNeighborhood Migrants
Posted on October 16, 2019
Warm days, now noticeably shorter, are giving way to colder nights with the landscape increasingly graced with the colors of autumn in Ohio.
Autumn reflection in central Ohio.
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During the past couple of weeks we’ve made a concerted effort to look for birds passing through Griggs Reservoir Park on their southern migration. We’ve avoiding the temptation to travel further afield thinking it would be fun just to see what is or isn’t passing through our “neighborhood”. There have been reports of birds that have eluded us, such as the Blackpoll and Yellow-throated Warbler, but all in all the effort has been rewarding.
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The Black-throated Green Warblers were very cooperative:
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Only one Cape May Warbler was seen:
Female Cape May Warbler
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A fair number of Northern Parula Warblers were spotted:
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This Yellow-throated Vireo is not sure he wants to eat a stink bug:
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We had only one sighting of a Black-throated Blue Warbler:
Good enough to ID the bird but that’s it.
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The fairly common Yellow-rumped Warblers are often seen eating poising ivy berries:
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A Nashville Warbler was also part of the mix:
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One Ruby-crowned Kinglet tries it’s best to hide while another jumps right out and poses. To date more kinglets have been heard than seen.
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Contrasting with last year, this has not been a good year for seeing Black-crowned Herons on the reservoir. However, on a resent paddle we were rewarded:
Juvenile, (Donna).
Adult, (Donna).
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While looking for warblers a group of very active Blue Birds was hard to ignore:
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A young male Wood Duck has been hanging around the park for the last couple of weeks. By it’s association with a group of mallards it appears to think it’s one:
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We would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge some of the other birds that have fascinated us while we looked for fall migrants.
An immature Red-tailed Hawk seemed curious about what we were up to.
Something has this Juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker’s attention, (Donna).
A Mallard Duck, bathed in autumn light, swims across the reservoir.
A pair of Northern Flickers, (Donna).
A Tufted Titmouse acts cute like titmouse do, (Donna).
A White-breasted Nuthatch goes about it’s day.
One of the many Cedar Waxwings seen in the park in recent weeks.
A female Downy Woodpecker poses for a picture.
A Great Blue Heron strikes a graceful pose along the Scioto River, (Donna).
This Blue Jay has quite a mouthful, (Donna).
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It’s a dark gray rainy morning as I finish writing this so it’s hard to imagine what nature will offer in the coming days and this is the time of year when things tend to wind down. However, if past experience is any indication, it will only take another walk in the woods to again experience the magic. Thanks for stopping by.
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Autumn’s Color
Posted on October 9, 2016
Usually when we think of autumn color we’re thinking about leaves but recent outings in central Ohio have revealed that in the autumn color can come in many different shapes and sizes. The pictures below celebrate things we’ve seen in the last two weeks hiking and paddling. While peak color is still about two weeks away, it’s hard not to be charmed by the splashes of color amongst the predominately green landscape.
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Exploring Alum Creek Reservoir north of the Howard Road bridge.
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The green corridor along Griggs Reservoir and the Scioto River is still providing opportunities to view migrated birds as well as local residents.
The portrait of a Cape May warbler gets photo bombed by a pair of amorous ladybugs, Griggs Park.
Eastern Phoebe, Griggs Park, (Donna).
Yellow-throated Warbler, Griggs Park.
A Blue-headed Vireo makes an appearance at Griggs Park, (Donna).
Song Sparrow, Griggs Park, (Donna).
A pair of Northern Flickers, Griggs Park, (Donna).
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, Griggs Park, (Donna).
Juvenile Green Heron, Scioto River below Griggs Dam.
A pair of Carolina Wrens, Griggs Park, (Donna).
Female Belted Kingfisher, Griggs Park, (Donna).
Sparrows going for a swim, Griggs Reservoir, (Donna).
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. . . and plenty of insects, spiders, and flowers too!
Variegated Fritillary, Griggs Park, (Donna).
Monarch, Griggs Park.
Mating Blue-fronted Dancers, Griggs Park, Donna.
A Praying Mantis pays us a visit, (Donna).
Calico Asters, Griggs Park.
Corn Earworm Moth, Griggs Park, (Donna).
Wandering Glider, Griggs Park, (Donna, she wouldn’t tell me how long she waited to get this pic).
Pearl Crescents, Griggs Park, (Donna).
Seemingly unperturbed, a Grey Hairstreak shares a small flower with a bumblebee, (Donna).
Variable Orb Weaver, Griggs Park, (Donna).
Common Checkered Skipper, Griggs park, (Donna).
Orange Sulfur, Griggs Park, (Donna).
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Mudflats and logs exposed along Alum Creek due to slightly lower water levels provided an opportunity to see a few shorebirds.
Spotted Sandpiper along Alum Creek north of the reservoir.
Solitary Sandpiper along Alum Creek north of the reservoir.
Alum Creek.
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The little bit of rain we’ve had recently brought out some fungi.
Unidentified, Griggs Park, (Donna).
Non-inky Coprinus, Griggs Park, (Donna).
Witch’s Butter, Griggs Park, (Donna)
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Unlike two or three weeks ago when there were Ospreys everywhere, when we paddling the north end of Alum Creek Reservoir last Thursday none were seen. However, there were a lot of cormorants and gulls.
Along the shore of Alum Creek Reservoir.
A Doubled Crested Cormorant takes flight as we paddle north on Alum Creek Reservoir, (Donna).
Looking for Ospreys, Alum Creek Reservoir.
Along Alum Creek
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As if sensing the warm weather won’t last forever . . .
Basking in the morning sun, Griggs Reservoir.
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The amount of insect activity we’ve seen in the last two weeks has been been truly amazing. We haven’t had our first frost yet so I’m sure a lot will change once that happens. Meanwhile we’ll continue to enjoy. Thanks for stopping by.
Early autumn on Griggs Reservoir.
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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.
Yellow-rumped Warblers on a Blustery Day
Posted on October 25, 2013
A few days ago we saw a Yellow-throated Vireo with a group of Yellow-rumped Warblers while walking along Griggs reservoir. The vireo had posed long enough for a picture but the warblers weren’t so cooperative. That day, on our way down to the reservoir, we were even treated to a nice view of a Cooper’s Hawk that paused in it’s pursuit of a squirrel long enough for a picture.
Neighborhood Cooper’s Hawk
Yellow-throated Vireo along Griggs Reservoir
Yellow-throated Vireo
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Now, a few days later, we sat looking out our living room window. A wet autumn snow fell as the temperature hovered around a windy 40 F. The snow was followed by light rain, then sun, and then snow again. Hardly the kind of day that beckons one outside.
But things always look better once you’re out so why not check out Griggs? Being so close by it isn’t a big commitment and you never know . . .
Sun lit trees and dark sky
Blustery day along Griggs
Creek reflections
Great Blue Heron unfazed by the weather
Fall color
Yellow-rumped warbler eating berries
Yellow-rumped warbler
Road through the park
I couldn’t help but take another pic of one of my favorite trees along the reservoir in all is autumn splendor.
Path
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Thanks for stopping by.
