FEE BEE, FEE BAY

I heard the first fee bee, fee bay of 2010 from a chickadee this morning. It is always surprising to hear it again after not hearing it all winter.

Amazon Kingfisher

Texas is awesome. I need to go there or better yet live there. They have an Amzon Kingfisher down there right now! What about Bare-throated Tiger Heron? Maybe a Roadside Hawk? Maybe instead of Cape May every year we should go to TX every year?

Amazon Kingfisher - Photo courtesy of Nick Athanas

CONGRATULATIONS SMITH FAMILY!!!!!!

Thank you & Congratulations for bringing a new birder into the world!

IVORY GULL

My friend? went to Georgia to see an Ivory Gull and all I got was this lousy blog entry.
What an amazing looking bird!



Photos courtesy of the amazing Scott Somershoe!

Red-shouldered Hawk

I was just sitting at my desk a moment ago and heard a strange bird yelping outside. I knew it was "something" so I grabbed my glass (always at hand on my desk) and ran out the front door. I saw a "civilian" (non-birder) looking up and heard again clearly a Red-shouldered Hawk and visually confirmed as he circled overhead and skreaked all the while. After a minute he shot away out of sight. A very cool sighting and hearing of a another new yard bird!

Stories of Glory

Dawn broke like an egg on the morning of the Ingloriuos Birders "Winter Meet". Six hours later there was only a couple of hours left until the scheduled meeting time of 2:30 pm. The anticipation I felt was minimal. As it turned out that imfamous day only two of us could make it. The others were busy with other things and Brian is too glorious to join us.... like a peacock in full display! Ryan was in no hurry and decided to push back the meet time to 3:30 so he could play a few more hands of poker. Maybe now you are starting to understand the "inglorious" part since we call ourselves birders and can't bother to actually go birding. Anyway we finally got on the road and the wind whipped the cold to our core. Actually now that I think back, it was sunny and surprisingly pleasant for what we had expected. None the less, I had my bottle of JD close at hand and rushed slowly out into the day binocular wet with anticipation. Hold on, I think my goetta is burning. Ok, I am back. Damn, goetta is good. Our first stop was Armleder with hopes of snipe, rare sparrows and golden nuggets in my head. We didn't see anything of interest and my demeanor didn't change at all. Oh, and I forgot; we stopped at Magrish River Preserve on the way and saw nothing there as well. The magic and memories of the day had begun with a fizzle of fun. Our last chance for a winter rarity and final stop was the private pit. Camp Dennison. Our chances were good; after all, 18 SMEW! had been reported here! We pulled into the trailhead and I couldn't help but think "this is it" I finally can have a drink of whiskey. As we walked to the bitter end of our allowed distance from the site we were greeted with the most amazing sight! SWANS! And Mute Swans at that! What a wonderful cap to a craptastic day! Now to go pratice my hip hop and pop moves.

List for the day

Song Sparrow
American Crow
Carolina Wren
Carolina Chickadee
American Robin
Northern Cardinal
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
White-throated Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Tufted Titmouse
Blue Jay
American Kestrel
Cooper's Hawk
American Coot
Bufflehead
Redhead
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Mallard
Ruddy Duck
Canadian Gouse
Gadwall
Hooded Merganser
Mute Swan
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Red-bellied Woodpecker
White-breasted Nuthatch
Downy Woodpecker
Probable Merlin, Brian ; )

Typical

Bengals: Lots of talent blowing in the wind

Bengals Fan: Really thought this was the year



If you happen to be near Indy Saturday the 16th come visit me at the Midwest Reptile Show 10-4pm at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. http://www.midwestreptile.com/welcome.html
http://www.pinupreptiles.com/


Birding today:Stories of Glory tomorrow

Winter Birding Meet

Well, it looks like only Ryan and I will be birding on the 10th. Is that in 2 days?! Since everyone else has bailed we are sure to find some earth shattering discovery that will make us gods in the birding world. Is that like being the cool guys at a Star Trek convention? Probably not that impressive but you are sure to be jealous of what will surely turn out to be an outing of infamy. In what kind of world are we living that we are giving money to criminals running defunct unsuccessful business models while 15 year old high school kids are having bake sales to help pay down the national debt? And don't go jumping on Obama because McCain would have done the bailouts too. And yeah, Tiger phucked up but what chance did he have....his father basically told the world he was the second coming of christ and the media burned him hard and fast every time he tried to be a real person in the beginning of his pro career. Hopefully this will be an eye opener for him and he will realize he is "human" and be a better "person". That would be good for golf and him and us, weather you know it or not. Basset Hound puppies are very cute. Come to think of it so are Bull Mastiff puppies. Do any of you know anyone in the ABS injection molding business? More to say but Princess Elle demands my attention. Have fun getting your nails polished this weekend ladies.

Another new yard bird this winter...

Ring-billed Gull. He was sitting on the feeder getting mobbed.....it was a flyover...3 of them. First time in 8 years!

"Inglorious Birders" Winter Meet

Sunday, January 10th - 2:30 pm

Meet at Armleder Park

You know who you are!

Yes Dan, you are one too....jackass.

Birding in 2010

I started out in 2008 trying to see as many species as I could with 500 the goal in one year. Finance dictated less travel than I had hoped for and I came up well short. I wanted to get an early start and took Liam, 6 years old at the time, out on Jan 1 and birded all day. We got about 60 species if I remember correctly. He also went to AZ with me to get some great birds including about 12 hummingbird species. Now he wants to go out every Jan 1 to start out the year birding. We were busy yesterday and couldn't get out until about 4pm. We only had time to go to one place and he chose "the off road place" or as local birders know it, the Oxbow. We only saw 27 species(I guess I can't do the bakers dozen Jeff) in our brief time frame but had a good time. It was colder than a well diggers ass sitting on an ice block....in Antarctica....during the winter....on a windswept plateau. It was cold.

We saw a Red-shouldered Hawk on the way and when we got there found at least a hundred American Tree Sparrows.

Remembering the feeling of security while birding AZ with my 6 year old.

Soy Un Observador

Im a birder baby, so why don't you kill me?
I'm a birder, I'm a winner; things are gonna change, I can feel it.

Winter Birding

Winter biridng is fun because you never know what you might find in one of those big flocks of birds. A Rusty Blackbird in a huge flock of blackbirds, or a Greater White-fronted Goose hidden in the hundreds of sky rats. Who cares if Sibley doesn't think you saw the "Greenland" race....you know you did. His glasses wearin' ass can't imagine what your 20/20 vision is capable of. Scoters at your local pond. Crossbills at the cemetary. A Snowy Owl! Who knows? So get your long johns on and get out there and find a winter jewel.

Oh shit.

I had a shitty day. I found the source of the stinky smell in the house the last couple of days. The sewage was backing up out of the basement toilet. I sucked it up in the shop vac, emptied it, did it again, pulled out the shit covered toilet, ran a 50 ft. auger took it back, ran a 75ft auger, got sewage all over me and everything else, tried not to vomit, ate lunch, did it all again called in help, made more of a mess, cried, hosed out the basement, hosed out the shop vac, scrubbed the toilet with a brush and now I am done at 9:30 pm. I will spare you a photo. I had a shitty day.
There was a bright spot however. At one point while emptying the shop vac out back I heard a weird bird and took note but kept working. Then I saw it...Yellow-bellied Sapsucker!!! Woohoo! That is a new yard bird after 8 years! It stuck around sucking down honeysuckle berries and I got a really nice look.

My chin is cold...

I regretfully cut off my Kimbo Slice beard in a fit of mania and am surprised to find my chin cold. Driving up 275 past new richmond 4 Black Vultures flew overhead in what looked like a WWII Marine Corsair formation. Nice to see something you don't see every day. Hopefully my big giant beard will grow back quickly. It is also shocking to see how plain and fat I look in the face without a beard. I need to try and remember to sign up for the "big fat loser" show. I was going to go on a bird count on the 20th but it looks like I will have to go to Chicago instead. Did I forget to tell everyone I turned 40 on November 11th this year? Probably didn't forget to tell everybody, I probably just forgot that I told everybody. I have Alzheimer's or ADD but I get confused lose focus and can't remember which one.
I got an ear infection or something the other day and was in alot of pain for a while. I went to the doctor with pain but it was ok. While I was there I got the flu mist vaccine. The next day my ear felt like I was being stabbed in it...the ear so I got into a specialist and she couldn't see in the ear because the canal was swollen shut. So she performed medieval torture on me and I left the office vomiting and crying like a baby. After days of vicodin and cipro I am starting to feel better ear wise but through all this I got the flu and have been runny nosed and nauseous on top of it all. My calf muscles feel like I tippy-toed up all the stairs in the Empire State building.
We did manage to go cut down a Christmas tree yesterday but unfortunately there was no birds in it to watch.

Thanksgiving

I would like to give thanks that turkeys taste so good. Are we supposed to not eat birds if we love birds? My wife saw a hummingbird outside my office window. It was a chickadee. I was watching the LPGA championship and they put the camera on a couple of ducks going across the lake and it was Black-bellied Whistling Ducks! That is a lifer for me. Every bird is common wherever it lives. A few moments later they showed a Little Blue Heron by the lake and the announcer said they needed to hurry and get their ball away from that pterodactyl. What a jackass. So many jackasses.

Liam and Prince hard at work at Pin-up Reptiles

I

am going to eat some chickens.

STILL FAT!

Sorry Scott. As you probably guessed I am not going to make it to a cross race this year. I don't even have the guts to call you and tell you in person. I thought it would be easy to get in shape for a race a year away, and maybe it is but I did not succeed. What can I say....I am a fat no good lazy bastard. I have been losing weight lately (295 now WITH 5lbs of beard and hair!) due to diet change and portion control. I at least feel hope now. I officially recommit to another race in 2010. I know you are thinking "yeah right", but what can I do other than try again. Birds.

THIS IS THE BATHROOM!!

That is what I yelled after Liam took this picture and then I kicked him into the hallway. This is about 2.5 lbs of hair & beard from a few months ago. I look like a castaway now. Bird.

WHITE-THROATED WALK

I decided to take a short stroll home vs. catching a ride on this glorious Fall, Veterans, 40th Birth, day. While "strolling" past a thicket of honeysuckle I heard an unfamiliar chip note and stopped to pish..uh hem...for birds that is. Turns out it was White-throated Sparrows. I have not been birding and it is the first time I have seen them since last Winter. Glad I walked. The pishing also attracted a mockingbird, cardinals, chickadees, finches, squirrels and the glaring staring suspicious neighbors. Also had a Red-shouldered Hawk land nearby my front yard yesterday and then give me a nice flyover followed closely by a marauding mockingbird. I am getting the itch. No, not jock or 7 year....the itch to get out and do some birding. A trip to Los Angeles should be in my near future and that will be some great Winter birding!

Your annual dose of me reliving the glory days of 22 years ago!

(my sister asked me to post it again...really.)

LONG TIME

it has been since posting. I imagine nobody is looking anymore anyhow. If there happens to be anyone out there who cares.....I apologize.
I didn't make it out to Cape May this fall : (
Yesterday afternoon I had 2 Cooper's Hawks and one Sharp-shinned Hawk fly directly over my yard. This morning a Red-shouldered Hawk.
Video is of a Red-tailed Hawk release at Cape May this year.

BIRDS AND STUFF AGAIN

I have been very busy and also have had a ton of computer problems lately. I am possibly going to Cape May mid October.

So, what do you catch in mist nets when you are trying to catch bats?

screech owls

baby screech owls

kingfishers

and Wood Ducks

Go figure.

KENTUCKY RAPTOR WEBSITES?

Does anyone know if there is a good website with information on the raptors of Kentucky?

ALOT OF HAWKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

a wonderful day in the neighborhood, would you be mine, could you be mine, won't you be....my neighbor. Are you kidding me? A big slab of sweet ass Angus steaks from my neighbor again. We had a cookout Saturday night and the steaks were awesome.

gorgeous '08 100% het Clown Ball Python 272g

available $200

Jawa guarding Helix control

yummy

I have been seeing a good many hawks in the neighborhood lately. fun.

I am trying to go to Cape May, NJ for hawk migration. we will see. i hope so!

BITTERN OVER THE HIGHWAY

Went to Chicago over the Lumber Day weekend. I visited the 135th st wetlands. It was a bit far for the binocular but I did see 41 Great Egret, 16 Great Blue Heron, 1 Northern Flicker and a bunch of mallards and Blue-winged Teal. Also 2 Osprey. There were Killdeer and a few other fall sandpipers I couldn't make out at the distance I was. (20 feet). On the trip I also saw a Harlan's Hawk at Cooper's Hawk grove. The highlight had to be the bittern I saw awkwardly flying down I-65. I'm fairly certain it was a Least Bittern judging by the size. We had just gotten back on the highway where there was lots of wetland area and there it was, unmistakeably bittern, with an awkward woodpecker/tern-like wingbeat. If you think I was startled imagine how he felt. Something must have startled him pretty good to get him flying down I-65 at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. I am sure he was a bit lighter than before he took off anyway!

And finally....

We always find funny things to talk about...

Yikes!

They're looking at you J.B.!

Hurry up Ryan...there's traffic coming!

The most disturbing reference to a "Donald Duck costume" ever....

That's all I got to say about that!

If that's all it takes....

1) you fly for free and if everyone on the list comes, your cost is projected to be $29.76. I will pitch in $4 and Ryan is good for $0.76.

2) I will sweeten the pot: we'll bring loads of banana bread, zucchini bread, and homemade canned salsa

3) Scott won't hold it against you that you haven't lost any weight (but he DOES CARE DEEPLY about you!)

4) there are 2 great bands playing that week--

The "Eagles" (hopefully they'll make a surprise guest appearance!)

And "Seether"....

Man, I hope to never handle a bird like this one again! Although, the Denmark band from an eyrie in Greenland was pretty freaking cool!!!

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO BETTER THAN THAT

like....we all pitched in and it is only going to cost you $25, or, my wife is bringing loads of banana bread or Scott doesn't care that you haven't lost any weight.

Another perk of living in a close knit neighborhood. A jar of grape gold! Words can't describe!

This is not a Silverfish. The correct common name is House Centipede.

Day 2 plea to E2: mid-OCT is peak Peregrine week!!!

Wouldn't E2 look great (much better than Malarky!) with a Second-year Peregrine in hand???

My ploy to make Eddie come to Cape May...

I am going to try and post photos from Cape May regularly until Eddie agrees to attend this year's pilgrimage....

Remember how much fun you had, despite the rain/fog last year?

CINCINNATI ZOO

Took the kids to the Cincinnati Zoo a couple of days ago. At first I was upset to find the entrance closed with a sign directing us to the crappy vine street entrance and overflow parking lot. Well, that was because they redid everything and made the Vine St. entrance the new entrance which used to be the old entrance and is now the new main entrance. It is very nice and I was happy.

New entrance at the Cincinnati Zoo

Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches! Yay!

Landmark Blaze



Koi

Magnolia flower

The End

RENOVATION

I am renovating our 1920's craftsman style house and worked on the porch entrance yesterday into the night. I did finish the section I wanted to. 600lbs of Tennessee flagging and a broken back and sore legs later I have this. It will eventually continue down with a stone step into the sidewalk and patio created with the same stone. This is the start of the project. I got all of the stone from Ohio Valley Stone Products. They were very nice and helpful and the prices are very affordable. Far less than at a big box or local nursery. If you need stone I highly reccomend them. They ROCK!!

Laying out the patern in the driveway

Wood frame in place on old crappy entranceway

plastic and sand in place. I could have used one more bag of sand.

Stone set with gravel grout. The pattern had to change due to bad template placement on driveway.

Does anyone know what this is and how to get rid of it....it is ruining my yard