Feeder Bird #15 - Common Grackle

Well certainly not a new bird, BUT a new visitor to my feeder! The common Grackle brings us squarely to 15 different species that have dined at our "restaurant". Backyard bird-feeding is a source of never ending hope. You never know what new birds the next morning will bring! I have been working to expand my feeding station and have designed some new homemade feeders. I'll post with instructions and photos soon as well as reporting on my suet manufacturing. For now... have a great thanksgiving everyone! God bless.



Photo Credits: Mdf

Cattle Egret #125

Just a short country drive in my own hometown brought me in sight of a Cattle Egret. Thanks to Su Snyder and the Bobolink Rare Bird Alert for getting the information out there. As of Nov. 18th the bird was still present at the intersection of Winkleplek Road and Nebraska just outside of Sugarcreek, OH. I could only see it from a fairly good distance but was very excited to get the chance. Bird on!



Cattle Egret, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology


View Cattle Egret, Nov. 18th in a larger map

Photo Credits: Dario Sanches

Barn Owl #124

Had a great "Lifer Lunch" today when my buddy Greg tracked me down a small group of Barn Owl at a local farmstead off of CR 207 in Berlin, OH. A big thanks to Melvin Miller for his hospitality and humor. We were graced to see the birds roosting as well as flying when we unintentionally spooked them out of the barn. A truly magnificent animal that is thankfully on the rise in Ohio.



Barn Owl, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Photo Credits:
Public Domain

Two New Feeder Birds

This morning the frosty chill brings with it a female Brown-headed Cowbird and a Dark-eyed Junco to my backyard feeding station. Also appearing not long ago, a pair of Carolina Wrens. This brings my species total up to fourteen. For the complete list go to my Backyard Birds page. Come one, come all!

Fall Migration Celebration! #116 - #123

Well I obviously haven't managed to post for awhile - sorry! Never fear however, the chase continues. I was able to get out five times n October and once so far in November and saw new birds every time. The first two October outings I already posted so we continue with door number three...

10/17/10 - Ira Trail head along the Towpath Trail, Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Had a great day with my whole family on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. We went on one of those treasure huntin' trips you find online, and of course I brought along the binoculars! We just happened to be walking along what is known as "beaver marsh" and were rewarded for our exploration and daring dodging of the abundant cyclists, hikers and joggers (oh my!) with some great family time and great birds.

* Black-capped Chickadee
* Pied-billed Grebe
* American Coot







Black-capped Chickadee, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Pied-billed Grebe, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

American Coot, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology


10/18/10 - Beach City Backwaters

My how the weather can change this time of year. MY buddy Greg and I had the birding itch and just wouldn't be denied though the icy rain was indeed unpleasant. We birded from the car along Kaylor road whilst the rain came down and soaked our sleeves. Worth it? Absolutely! We couldn't even be contained in the car when several great birds showed up in the berried tree tops.

* Yellow-bellied Sap Sucker
* Golden-crowned Kinglet
* Purple Finch







Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Golden-crowned Kinglet, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Purple Finch, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology


10/31/10 - The Wilderness Center

My awesome 4 year old boy agreed to come on a daddy adventure this Sunday afternoon. He really doesn't looooove sitting in one place f-o-r-e-v-e-r watching birds fly around, but he was a patient dude long enough to let me catch site of my first listed Dark-eyed Junco. I was really looking forward to this bird because it's one I grew up with in upstate New York, but which I haven't seen yet in Ohio. Had a great time hiking through the woods hunting dragons and practicing kung-fu as well ;)



Dark-eyed Junco, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

11/01/10 - County Road 140 (Cherry Ridge Road) - Sugarcreek, OH

Three cheers for the Bobolink Area, Rare Bird Alert! Right in my own home town comes the notice of a Eurasian Collared-Dove. Thanks to David Ray at the Cherry Ridge Greenhouse for walking us right up to the tree where the bird was roosting.



Eurasian Collared-Dove, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology


View Fall Birding in a larger map


Photo Credits:

Black-capped Chickadee - Mdf
Pied-billed Grebe - Alan Vernon
American Coot - Mdf
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Dominic Sherony
Golden-crowned Kinglet - Dori
Purple Finch - J. Carmichael
Dark-eyed Junco - Ken Thomas
Eurasian Collared-Dove - Rovdyr