Screech Owl

Driving through Snyder Park, I passed a sycamore tree then backed up to take a second look. There, in an opening in the tree trunk, a red morph screech owl napped. 

Shawnee Lookout Birds

We spent the day at Shawnee Lookout, a park located east of Cincinnati.
Here are a few of our favorites....

Cerulean Warbler

Blue-Winged Warbler

Summer Tanager

Yellow-Throated Warbler

Spring Birds

What a beautiful day we had yesterday! The sun was shining, and the temperature hit 70. I couldn't resist heading out to see what I could find at CJ Bown and Buck Creek SP.

Yellow-Throated Warblers are harbingers of spring, and hearing them high in the treetops signal that spring and the migration is truly happening. Normally I get a glimpse or them flitting high up in the Sycamore trees, but yesterday I was quite fortunate to encounter one that came down to the creek bed near the trail I was walking. 

Yellow-Throated Warbler

Purple Finch

 White-Throated Sparrow

Greater White Fronted Goose

This goose was in Old Reid Park feeding with some Canada Geese. We had excellent looks, as he was only a few feet from the roadway.

April 1rst

It was a beautiful day first the first of April, and I spent most of the day out and about checking for migrating ducks. My first stop was Old Reid, where I saw 8 Pied-Billed Grebes along with the usual cast of characters who inhabit the park.

6 of the 8 Pied-Billed Grebes seen at Old Reid Park this morning.

From there, I traveled east to visit with Lynda at Prairie's End. We walked and chatted, and saw a few inhabitants of her property.

This Song Sparrow was enjoying the warm, sunny day.

And a Titmouse whose iconic song is a sure sign of spring!

Assorted ducks seen behind First Christian Church on Middle Urbana Rd.



Blue Winged Teal seen on Bosart Rd. 

Before I pulled into the driveway, and stopped to check the field pond down the road, and was fortunate to find some Blue-Winged Teal dabbling. This one did a wing flap to show me the blue on his wings.

Red-tail Day

No new ducks today, but we saw several Red-tail Hawks on our jaunt. 
  

This one was at the Moorefield and Morris Rd intersection feasting on a squirrel.

    

 This bird was on Neer Rd.

    

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Ducks....Part 2

Since tomorrow will be raining, we decided to postpone the housekeeping chores and head back to the park to see if any new ducks had popped in. 

The Ring-Necked Ducks we gorgeous in the morning light.

A resident Northern Shoveler Duck and his mate came close to give us a look.

Lots of Mallards, and their colors were beautiful.

There were a few Hooded Mergansers; this fellow came to see us.

Ducks, Ducks, Ducks!

With the warm up this week, ducks are moving into the smaller ponds at Old Reid which are thawing faster than the lake. I stopped by on my way home from work and shot a couple of images; then David and I headed out this morning as the fog was lifting. We had good luck with several Hooded Mergansers, RedHeads, and Lesser Scaup....and a Common Golden Eye

Early March Sunny Day Drive

March came in like a lion for sure! 
We had about 5-6 inches of snow yesterday, so we didn't get out.
We woke up today to bright sunshine, and took a drive around Buck Creek.

We were entertained by these fellows...counted 5 of them in this hollow tree. One fellow is about to get a bite to his paw!

This crow was feasting on a deer carcass.  

Nothing more beautiful than a Cardinal against a clear blue sky!

Killdeer Plains #2

It was quite cold today....a high of 9 degrees, but despite the cold we set off for Killdeer Plains to see if we could find the Northern Shrike that has been seen frequently on County Road 68.
We didn't find the Shrike, but did see a few other brave creatures....

Killdeer Plains Sunset

Killdeer Plains

David & I braved the 10° weather today to take a road trip to Killdeer Plains.
It was just too cold to walk back to the Owl Grove, so we just drove through the area.
We saw numerous raptors, deer, and only one owl....but wow did he give us a look!!

                    Short-Eared Owl

                      Cooper's Hawk

               Red-Tailed Hawk

    Pheasant on the run!

   And finally....tonight's sunset!

Winter Day