Inglorious Birder

New Blog for 2012 big year

2012-01-12T04:41:00.001-08:00

My son Liam and I are doing a big year for 2012
Check it out at www.birdingbuddiesbigyear.blogspot.com

A few pics from Pelee 2011!

2011-05-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

Best National Park entrance sign ever!

At the tip.

Prothonatary Warbler looking at how pretty he is.

Smores in a minute

Hooded Warbler

At the campsite

Test your i.d. skills

Loss for words.

Greater Scaup

Great Horned Owl baby

Yes, at the point at the tram drop off. Pipistrelle Bat

Me and Liam at the 42nd parallel

Finally saw the Garganey

2011-05-26T09:01:00.000-07:00

Sorry I dont have a better pic for you...it is a beautiful bird!

GARGANEY in Ohio

2011-05-05T20:11:00.000-07:00

There has been a Garganey at the Fernald Preserve and I have tried for 2 days to see it with no luck. This is usual for me when I try to see a rare bird and I apologize to everyone after me as it surely left when it saw me coming.

Highlights were
Marsh Wren
Grasshopper Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Greater Yellowlegs

and at Miami Whitewater Wetlands
Brown Thrasher
Sora
Swamp Sparrow

CHECK IT OUT!!

2011-04-25T09:08:00.001-07:00

http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

Tell your mothers and your brothers.....

2011-03-15T15:15:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to fire this blog up again. Texas soon and more to come! Malarkey get on board and let all your monkey friends know!

CAPE MAY was a bit SLow but GREAT as USUAL!!

2010-11-07T09:40:00.000-08:00

View from the lighthouse of the lifer Eurasian Widgeon I got this trip!

Brian checking the band on a Red-tailed Hawk

Took the kids this year and Liam really got into watching for raptors from the blind. He has a good eye. He was very excited to hold his first sharpie! One of the other blinds did catch and release a Goshawk!

Birded a bit here and there with a distant Razorbill at Avalon sea watch. I also got a nice Winter Wren at Higbee Beach. The highlight really though was an unexpected close up of a Tundra Swan. A nice lifer for me!(dont look at my life list by the way, it needs serious updating and correcting) in the consevancy parking lot. A couple of Merlins put on a show there too another day. Another a

The highlight of the trip had to be Pete Dunne helping Liam pick out his first pair of binoculars at the Cape May Bird Observatory. Thanks Pete!

Scott I missed you!

Brian thank you!

GOLDFINGAAAHHH

2010-08-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

I know its not much but here is a pick of the Goldfinches who have found my Purple Coneflower.

Is anybody out there?

2010-07-22T20:18:00.000-07:00

NEW YARD BIRD!!

2010-07-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

Got a cool one to add to the yard list. Broad-winged Hawk.
Also got Killdeer for a new yard bird a few weeks ago! A real one, not a mockingbird.
These may not seem a big deal but where I live I am lucky to see anything other than invasives and robins.
A walk at AJ Jolly got a couple of Green Herons and other usual KY summer birds.

I think I am losing my birding mind.

2010-06-28T08:35:00.001-07:00

BIRDING BATTERIES

2010-06-23T21:18:00.000-07:00

I need to figure out a way to recharge my birding batteries. I have not been out in forever.... all work and no birding make eddie a dull boy.
I think an end of summer trip to Madera Canyon may be in order. Its fantastical there!

Our new "PUR" snake bags are in!

NIGHTHAWKS

2010-06-14T21:55:00.000-07:00

I love watching the nighthawks every evening. I always wait for them each spring and point them out to my neighbors when they arrive. I found a roadkill nighthawk out in ND a couple of summers ago. I knew they had wide mouths but until you open one in your hands you can't really imagine how big...it is like their whole head splits in half like a muppet! Things are so busy with Pin-up Reptiles I have not been "birding" at all. If you are looking for something more interesting than nothing check out the "Reptile Rant" blog hypertexted to the right for the Pin-up Reptile "news" Hatching baby snakes and what not!

Little Miami Prothonatary Warblers

2010-05-29T20:11:00.000-07:00

Kayaking the Little Miami produced some singing Pothonatary Warblers and some pot smokin' kids. We paddled around Armleder for awhile and then I went to Magrish to pick up the boats as 2 others floated down to there from Armleder. When I got there we walked in adjacent to some kids who looked like they were up to no good. I ignored them but when my 4 year old daughter started to cough and gag on their whacky tobacky smoke and said yuck whats that smell I called the cops. They showed up just in the nic of too late and nothing happened. A local lady came down at this time though and talked to me thanking me for calling the cops as they are sick of all the drug problems at Magrish. Kids, if you are going to smoke pot at least find somplace more private and dont disrupt families holiday weekends. dumbasses.

PUMA

2010-05-28T05:43:00.000-07:00

Went kayaking at AJ Jolly yesterday and was pleased to see some PUrple MArtins. I don't see them very often. I caught a glimpse of something briefly that I can't register other than Osprey...suppose thats possible. Where is the best place to bird in North America right now?!

I'M BACK!!!

2010-05-23T19:45:00.000-07:00

Whoopdy frikin' doo!

Cinicnnati Peregrine

2010-03-03T09:32:00.000-08:00

I have seen a Peregrine recently on 2 occasions flying near the big mac bridge.
My computer is broken and I cant update blog right now. I am at the library. It may be a month before I start updating again.

I Made It!

2010-02-18T13:40:00.000-08:00

The kids all finally went back to school today! Woo hoo! Thanks for your support and encouragement to make it through these trying times!
I really thought I was going to get down to TX but I am so busy with the new business I just can't find the time. In case you didn't know the new business is a lifelong dream and is now underway. Visit www.pinupreptiles.com if you are curious. If you come here to find another week go by with no entry you can always bore yourself to tears by looking at my Reptile Rant blog as well. It is in place to offer news on the Pin-up Reptiles website. I will put a link to it on the sidebar. Have we any plan details or Pelee this year guys? I guess it is a bit early but I am getting cabin fever and Mother's Day will be here before we know it. Why couldn't those damn warblers migrate through Pelee on Father's Day?! Then I wouldn't have to put up with the rolling eyes and sighs of disappointment every year because I am making birding more important than my children's mother.

MAYBEE My Last Post?!

2010-02-17T12:14:00.000-08:00

The kids have been off school many days due to snow and I don't think I am going to make it. If they don't all go tomorrow I am going to end it all.

FEE BEE, FEE BAY

2010-02-01T07:05:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-31T12:07:00.000-08:00

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!!!!!!

2010-01-29T04:44:00.000-08:00

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

IVORY GULL

2010-01-28T22:27:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-22T11:39:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-12T05:02:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-10T06:05:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-08T06:04:00.000-08:00

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...

2010-01-04T07:55:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-02T08:20:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-21T20:37:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-15T05:53:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-12-10T18:30:00.000-08:00

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...

2009-12-07T18:16:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-23T05:39:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-16T16:55:00.000-08:00

am going to eat some chickens.

STILL FAT!

2009-11-15T06:19:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-11T17:30:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-10T11:48:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-01T19:36:00.001-07:00

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?

2009-09-16T05:10:00.001-07:00

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

ALOT OF HAWKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

2009-09-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-08T06:26:00.000-07:00

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....

2009-09-03T13:18:00.000-07:00

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....

2009-09-02T08:26:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-31T19:10:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-08-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-08-27T08:28:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-20T05:04:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-16T07:20:00.000-07:00

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

Cool Pictures

2009-08-11T07:04:00.000-07:00

Striped Owls?

AFP/Vanderlei Almeida

American Kestrel

photo by Scott Somershoe

HOLY MOTHER MAY EYE

2009-08-10T08:28:00.001-07:00

it was hotter than a June Bugs a$$ on the 4th of July! I just got back from Kentucky Dam Village @ Land Between the Lakes in Western you guessed it Kentucky. It was Awesome!! basketball shoes. Birding was nice with plenty of herons, gulls and Osprey. Some of the birding highlights included Acadian Flycatcher, Barred Owl (seen), Blue Grosbeak, Prothonatary Warbler and a completely unexpected Mississippi Kite!! I met up with a friend to look for Bachman's Sparrow(not found) and on the way to said bird saw a bird and said "That is something good!" We were on highway 68 in Trigg Co. heading West towards Cadiz, Ky. The bird flew over and landed in a snag just off the highway so I said "pull over, pull over, PULL OVER you dumba$$!" Plain as day an Adult Male Missississsissippi Kite!! I have caught sight of one before but this was an awesome look and a bird that was not mentioned on my checklist AND a total surprise making it my favorite sighting of all time! converse shoes. sports shoes. tennis shoes. chuck taylor wears nice athletic shoes.
The trip was a family reunion of sorts paid for by the love(money) of a passed uncle. Grandpa rented us a ski boat and we went tubing. It was fun and you would have laughed to see my fat a$$ pulled ever so slowly through the water bouncing the tube in frustration screaming "GO FASTER!" "YOU ARE RUINING MY VACATION!!" "COME ON, GO FASTER!!" until I was hoarse, anything I could to get my wife who had never driven a boat to go faster. It didn't work.
The kids had a blast. So did I. converse shoes.
We also got to see a nice Bison heard a Five-lined Skink and Southern Leopard Frogs (I assumed they were Northern but they were not. I went herping briefly the last night there and was rewarded with a juvinile Copperhead which I touched a few times trying to get a better pic but he just wouldn't coil up...he just wanted to get away as fast as he could.
Maybe someone (Shane) could i.d. these plants? converse shoes
Remember, you can click on the pics to get giant sized images!
converse shoes

Bumpalos at the Elk & Bison Prarie where many Blue Grosbeak were seen.

Cool "pitcher" flower in numbers behind cabin

Unknown(by me) plant behind cabin

Southern Leopard Frog (I think you can see the light spot in the center of the tympanum in this pic)

Copperhead!

The Bison heard. a grosbeak.

Insert Prairie plant name here found at Elk & Bison Prarie

LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES

2009-08-08T06:47:00.000-07:00

KENTUCKY. Man I love it here. Have seen Prothonatory Warbler, Osprey and kingfisher already without looking. Going to find Bachman's Sparrow in a minute. I will let you know if I find it. It is super cool here!

OUT OF TOWN

2009-08-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

I am out of town until Monday. I will report from field if I can. If not I will when I get back. I did get a real nice sharpy glide over my front yard yesterday!

VOTE TODAY!!

2009-07-31T10:35:00.000-07:00

Hair

or No Hair

Vote buttons are on the sidebar.

PEOPLE FOOD

2009-07-30T06:15:00.000-07:00

Can't "they" make a people food like they make dog food?! I would love to have one and only one thing to eat that gave me the perfect amount of calories and nutrition. Surely they can do that, right? I hate eating and choosing what to eat and making mistakes and going to the bathroom. What a hassle.

I WENT GOLFING!

2009-07-27T05:28:00.000-07:00

for the first time in 2 years!! I love to golf more than anything else I do. I love the sport of golf but I also love the fact that you are outdoors in a beautiful setting for 4 hours. And then on top of that golf courses are bird magnets. We played at Lassing Point one of the nicest courses I have played. It is a registered National Audubon bird sanctuary or something to that effect and it is loaded with birdies. One of the coolest things is that Green Herons are always around. You see them at the lake and flying overhead several times during the round. Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows and even Purple Martins. Eastern Kingbirds, Killdeer, pewees, wrens, sparrows, robins, blackbirds, jays and more! A few years back there was a Wild Turkey that had gotten used to the golfers and would jump right up in your cart with you to see if you would give her any food. I shot an 86 which I figured wasn't to bad since I hadn't even had a club in my hands for 2 years, used someone elses old clubs and Intech barely golf balls and warmed up for zero minutes.
P.S. I lost only 2 more lbs. I should have went to the gym instead of my daughters b-day party.

STORMS & BIRDS & SNAKES

2009-07-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

A storm rolled in early this morning. I went outside to take the dog out and the wind was really howlin'. The nighthawks however were still flying and "peenting" overhead. I don't imagine they were eating. Maybe they are still displaying and making babies. Seems late but I guess not? The snakes are late too. They are still breeding but still no ovulation.

Lemon Blast breeding our pastel het Clown

YUM-O!

2009-07-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

Still no birding. The neighbor boy did say he saw a white bird with black stripes fly by today. I promptly ridiculed the hapless 10 year old until he cried.

Our neighbors gave us a big hunk o' meat last week. I dug it out of the freezer and put it in the fridge 2 days ago and then unwrapped it today to find a huge ribeye boneless loin. I cut it up today into 2 big chunks for beef tips and 12 big ribeye steaks! They also gave us a plate of sirloins that we ate tonight....they were fabulous. Our other neighbors gave us broccoli and green beans from their garden! nice.

12 ribeyes!

All wrapped up and ready for Elle's b-day party Saturday!

I should have been a butcher....you know, like the guy in "Gangs of New York" If you don't think that was a good movie watch it again...you didn't get it. I know it sucks that Leonerdo Cappuccino was in it but you can overlook that.

We are trying to remodel our kitchen on a shoestring budget and we are going with stainless steel appliances of course. My sister is remodeling hers right now by chance as well and passed along her nice gently used stainless oven and we were able to pass ours on to our neighbors who had a super old broken one. We trade and give and get food and help with all of our neighbors and it feels like a nice tight knit family community looking out and helping each other. It feels like that is the way life and humanity should work.

I HAVE NOT BEEN BIRDING

2009-07-21T17:39:00.000-07:00

but I am going to write stuff anyway so if you don't like it you can go read one of the popular bird blogs and read about titmice wearing Santa hats or cute bunny rabbits. I do watch birds everyday but I don't go birdwatching everyday.
Twitter? I don't get it yet. I can't figure out what it is that I must be missing. I kinda get Facebook but it is way too much work. I suppose if you are sitting in an office all day for 8 hours with 4 hours of work to do it would be really great.
Back to birds for a minute. I have been noticing Red-shouldered Hawks everywhere. I don't think there has been an increase in the local population but is more likely that I am identifying them vs. just saying " I wonder what that was...probably a red-tail"
Last night I think there was a raccoon/opossum rumble in the hood. It sounded like alien vs. predator.
I can't believe professional wrestling hasn't died out yet. I fear what that says about our society. Did you see Marisa Tomei in "The Wrestler" ? Holy smokin' hot naked woman!! I fear what talking about hot naked women on a birding blog says about me as well.
I need to keep tropical fish again. I miss it. Maybe start a Siamese Fighting Fish fighting ring on the side? I used to breed Angelfish and Guppies when I was young. I would like to breed angels again and maybe "show" Betta. I would like to fight in the UFC also. There is just too much to do.
If you walk around talking out loud on your bucktooth headset thingy...stop. Why does everyone wear rubber bracelets these days? Aren't they stinky and uncomfortable?
Malibu Shark Attack premiers on SyFy this Saturday!

RAPTORS & BIKINIS

2009-07-17T06:41:00.000-07:00

A trip yesterday yielded some great birds AND hot young ladies in bikinis! We went to Miami Whitewater and there was women on the lawn sunbathing in bikinis....actually they may have been girls and I am probably going to hell but they sure looked like women. We rode down to the river and while the kids tried to catch minnows with their crocs I went upstream to investigate some chirping swallows. I was hoping to find Bank Swallows but they were Northern rough-winged Swallows which was cool anyway. A Red-shouldered Hawk glided over causing a brief disturbance amongst the goldfinch & chickadees but was gone in a blink. The kids netted some crayfish, a small toad. Some other kids further upstream caught some bigger type of fish, giant minnow looking things about 5 inches long with a visible black lateral line almost as prominent as a Largemouth Bass. I hoped they weren't endangered. They were destined as bait for big catfish in the lake. I did also see some cool dragonflies? I had never noticed before. Big black delicate wings, the males wings having a white spot and the female without. The female also had a metallic green body. They were very cool looking. I didn't notice any other notable birds until riding out when we all got good looks at a hunting Broad-winged Hawk which was fun to watch.

IN THE WORKS

2009-07-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

The first weekend of August will be spent at Land Between the Lakes. I have been there before but have never birded there so it will be interesting to go with birds in mind. After that talks are in the works for a weekend trip to Southeast AZ again and maybe a weekend camping trip to south TX! So fair feathered friends, hang in there and you should here about some birding soon enough. I do have a friend who said he was going to take me to an unbirded spot I could tell you about but I guess he is full of it!?
I have agreed to a cyclocross race in TN in November and an earlier bid to exercise and lose weight failed. I have started again. I have a plan in place to lose 100lbs by race time. I am using a different scale now and plan on using it exclusively from this point forward. My starting weight this time is 318lbs. I don't think I gained weight over the last month, I think the scale is just more accurate than the one I was using. Regardless, 318 is my starting point. I have 14 or 15 weeks to lose 100lbs! I will update my weight weekly and plan on picking up on the exercise blog again. Good thing I suck at math or I probably wouldn't think it was possible.

BUG FIGHT

2009-07-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

My son Gannon just came back up on the porch and said "Do you know what I was doing?" I said no and he told me a bird was trying to get a bug and he scared it away and put the bug back on its feet. Just then he shouted and ran back to the driveway to shoo the returned female house sparrow and save the bug once more...a beetle of some sort. While Gannon is on duty no bugs will be harmed by aliens. The sparrow retreated to the roof and looking perturbed flew off. We just checked it out to find some kind of June bug sized metallic green beetle with no legs left...I guess he was too late to the rescue. Gannon said "poor little bug" and put him in the yard to crawl around on his stubs. While Gannon is on duty, bugs will lose no more than all of their limbs. I wonder how he will like Starship Troopers?

ALL BIRDING ALL THE TIME

2009-07-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

I saw a goldfinch on the wire over my front yard yesterday. I would tell you about the python that got loose and ate a chihuahua but neither of those animals is a bird. I also heard a story about a python that killed a 3 year old in FL but again, no birds involved. Oh, maybe the escaped kangaroo in my neighborhood yesterday....no, still no birds involved. Oh well, enjoy the story about the goldfinch sighting. I got kicked off the Fat Birder 500 list because my blog is not "primarily" about birds. 217 posts with 8-9 posts not mentioining birds. 96% birds is not primarily birds?!! I guess I learned my lesson?!

EVERYBODY RELAX

2009-07-06T07:39:00.001-07:00

They aren't birds but they fly!

Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis) left & Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus)

Jeez, I go away for a couple of weeks and all hell breaks loose. First of all this blog has always been about whatever is going on and recently this has included more reptiles. The only real change however was the name. My friends have been and are welcome to joke around and say that sucks...boo....I hate reptiles....MORE BIRDS! Jeff, read Michele's comment again and imagine her saying it tongue in cheek. All she was pointing out was the reason the blog has more reptiles in it not that any comments were hurting the new business. I am going to divorce her for worrying you though. And to my sister....my kids are not really starving and we are not about to live under a cardboard box. They all just got new tennis shoes. Jimini Cricket; take a pill woman. As I once told Scott. "I am never being serious unless I say I am being serious. I am serious." The point was that the reason I am working and not just birding is so the kids don't starve. You are disowned.
The truth is I just have not been birding lately. All work and no birding makes Eddie a dull boy. I figure everyone would like to see something rather than no new entry?!

THIS BLOG ENCOURAGES COMMENTS OF ALL KINDS!!!

You can say Pin-up Reptiles sucks and all the reptiles are diseased if you want....I will just tell you they aren't and that you can suck it. Feel free to tell Michele where she can stick it if you like....you will have to suffer her wrathful response but all of that makes this worth doing. If you all stop commenting I will cry and take my ball and go home.

During the last week out in the field we caught endangered Indiana Bats. It was my first time seeing them and I now have experience tracking and triangulating them which is awesome and very lucky in my opinion.

I heard lots of birds but didn't see many. The hours we kept were more bat friendly. I did hear lots of Willow Flycatchers which was neat. They start calling very early in the morning before the sun comes up.

One night we netted along an old railroad line that Lincoln's funeral train once traveled.

A sedge which I learned the name of and have forgotten

Stag Beetle?

Myotis sodalis - Indiana Bat

Indiana Bat

How do you tell if it is a female....nipples help

transmitter in place for tracking to roost tree and foraging information

Toe hairs of lucifugus are longer extending beyond the end of toenail and more abundant than in sodalis

heavily keeled calcar of sodalis

Back In The Field

2009-06-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

I am going back out in the field for 2 weeks and won't be able to blog for the most part.

Northern Bat

BIRDS AND BATS

2009-06-15T06:53:00.000-07:00

Last week was spent in Indiana netting bats and the occasional bird. This week will be more netting up in Ohio. I got some poison ivy in unmentionable places which is just great. Some of the birding highlights included Northern Bobwhite, Red-headed Woodpecker, and a gaggle of White-breasted Nuthatches. Bats included Red Bat, Little Brown Bat and Big Brown Bat.

Indigo Buntings should go to bed on time!

Song Sparrow nest.

Big Brown Bat

Red Bat

It wasn't quite dark when we caught this cardinal with the plier beak of death.

Land lobster house.

Luna Moth antennae.

Delicious.

Little Brown Bat

Luna Moth

UP IN INDIANA

2009-06-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

looking for Indiana Bats. I have been here for 2 days now. We were checking an area where they are working on a wind energy project. The habitat was mostly farmland with no mature trees and little forest area. No Indiana Bats were found. We did catch Big Browns and a Red Bat. We also caught a Northern Cardinal. A flying squirrel made a brief apperance but shook himself loose from the net. I will put up some pictures when I get home Saturday night.

YESTERDAY

2009-06-09T05:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to Rowe Woods. There was lots of activity for a hot afternoon. The highlight was a Ruby-throated Hummingbird displaying right in front of us for a minute! It was cool to watch chattering back and forth in a big U shaped pattern. When we got to close or it got tired, it parked in a branch just above us and we got to stare at it for as long as we cared to. Also saw some nice little Chipping Sparrows, Indigo Buntings, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and other usuals. We went inside a little old cabin they have there and found a Barn Swallow sitting on a nest. After a bit of hanging out on the stoop watching Tree Swallows and Barn Swallows over the field out the back a Barn Swallow came over and checked us out and then circled around and flew in the door over our heads and relieved the other swallow at the nest who flew out the window! On the drive home we saw an oriole fly through a walmart parking lot. Turned out to be a nice little bird day.

FISHING & SNAPPING

2009-06-08T06:51:00.000-07:00

Took the kids to a fishing derby this weekend. They didn't win any trophys this year but did catch a couple of bluegill. The highlight was a snapping turtle that just kind of appeared by the shelter after the tournament. The lake is about 100yards away down a hill from the shelter and the kids (and me) watched him walk all the way to the lake and jump in.

Banana the Leopard Gecko shedding and chasing the cricket on his back.

Corny the Corn Snake in his little hide box

Summer is About Here

2009-06-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird zipped by the front porch yesterday and a couple of American Goldfinch played around in the yard. The kids went swimming at Grandma's Tuesday while my wife and I went to a movie together for the first time in 5 years! We saw the new Star Trek movie which turned out to be really good other than the korney Romulans. Do people other than the press trying to get breaking news use twitter? I don't think I understand what that is all about yet?
The Ball Pythons are breeding but are slow to start this year. There has not been one ovulation yet. I would be scared but have heard from other breeders across the country that they are experiencing the same slow start this year. Still nervous though.

WOOO HOOOO!!!

2009-06-02T07:22:00.000-07:00

http://www.pinupreptiles.com/ is open! I haven't advertised yet and we are actually still working on it and adding product. We probably won't be in full swing until August. BUT...... it is up and operational and open for business!

Since this is my last ditch effort at a career and is my last hope of not ending up under a bridge with my belongings in a shopping cart (if you know me, you know that is not a joke) please show your support and buy a T-shirt and check back often for other products you may be interested in like Pin-up Playing Cards! At the very least send a comment and let me know what improvements you would like to see.

Wish me luck!

I say pa-roo-la you say

2009-05-30T08:44:00.000-07:00

pair-ya-la. You are wrong : ) I have been hearing Northern Parula everywhere lately. I thinkit is because my birding ear is getting better. That is a nice thought. I don't have much else to say so let me try to find some pictures.

Liam - 7 with Harley the dog

Elle - 3 with Corny the Corn Snake

Elle with Daddy

Elle with Liam's best friend Prince (Elle likes to get her picture taken)

Gannon - 5 with Tricery

Black-tailed Rattlesnake - Madera Canyon, AZ

Sonoran Desert Toad - Madera Canyon, AZ

Business Cards are on the way...

2009-05-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

that is exciting. I have wanted to breed Ball Pythons as a business since 1999 and to have it finally coming together is exciting.. it feels like it was meant to be. The business cards look awesome! Get in touch with Badass Builders if you need any web or marketing work done. www.badassbuilders.com

Just watched a Red-tailed Hawk soar over the house which usually isn't such a big deal but with the cool breeze blowing it was a very peaceful image.

Gannon(5) the bug lover has a new friend. A dead carpenter bee. Whenever there is a Terminix guy or such in the neighborhood he seems to find them and talk to them about insects. This time he came back from the neighbors with one of the bees the pest guy killed.

Here are the starling chicks we tried to save unsuccessfully. We didn't try to do anything other than move them 1" but that proved to be too much for the mother to relocate them again and they were dead by morning.

New Office

2009-05-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

Well, the new office is nice to sit in. It is the first morning using it in a work fashion and I am enjoying it. I painted the room a light airy color and installed a new maple laminate floor; from IKEA of course. New wooden blinds finish it off nicely. The IKEA bookcase laid horizontally makes a nice addition and usable workspace as well.

I realize in the picture that the wires could use a bit more organization.

the windows and trim have not been painted yet & the art isn't hung on the walls yet.

floor looks good eh'

$89 bookcase was on sale for $49 - laid horizontally

In case you didn't know the whole house is going through a renovation. The wooden blinds in the front of the house really make a huge difference in the appearance of the house...in a good way. I removed all the aluminum siding from the outside of the house and am still in the process of painting the wood shingles which started 1 year and 7months ago. I worked in the field in North Dakota for the whole summer last year which put a huge delay in the outside painting job. Check old blog entries for great bird photos from ND last summer.

I am starting my new effort in trying to get in shape today as well. I have 100 lbs to lose...at least. That is a daunting task and the feeling of desperation and crushing depression over my current condition is very real. The business is coming along nicely but it is an extremely stressful undertaking as well. Wish me luck at the gym, getting in shape is likely the key to everything good in life.

NEW DIRECTION

2009-05-27T06:14:00.000-07:00

Well, kind of a new direction. The blog is now going to be a feature on my new business venture Pin-Up Reptiles http://www.pinupreptiles.com/ .

I will still talk about all of my birding adventures but will not focus solely on birds. I don't really focus on birds anymore anyway and am just changing the title to more accurately describe the blog. This year should include field herping trips as well as birding trips. Hopefully this change of focus will make things more interesting and I won't have to keep writing "I saw a bird today" "I didn't see a bird today".
I will post some pictures of the new office tomorrow. I just painted and installed a new floor...it is coming along nicely.

TERMINATOR SALVATION

2009-05-22T05:31:00.000-07:00

was very good but not awesome. I recommend waiting to rent it. Starbuck's iced chai latte is very good and I recommend drinking it. Going up to IKEA today to get some flooring for the new snake room. I will check the pond for birds but don't expect much. www.pinupreptiles.com should be up very soon. I will let you know. I have not excercised or lost anymore weight and I am supposed to do a cross race in November. Holy crap! I better get on it!

SLOW START

2009-05-21T06:24:00.001-07:00

It has been a slow start to breeding season for my Ball Pythons... none of the girls have even ovulated yet. I will let you know when they do.
2 nighthawks have moved into the neighborhood now. I don't know why but I like listening for them every night.
I am eating an egg white turkey sausage muffin right now....I sure could use a drink to go with it.
I will likely be taking birding/herping trips this year vs. just birding trips. Hopefully I will get some good video of some cool reptiles this year. I think AZ and TX should be just as good for herps as birds.
Elle, my 3 year old princess is officially out of preschool for the summer and her little servant bell has not stopped ringing for me just like right now. see ya.

WAKING A SLEEPING GRIZZLY

2009-05-19T08:07:00.000-07:00

would be easier and more pleasant than waking up Gannon my 5 year old in the morning for school. He takes after his mother. I don't mind too much though because Gannon is going to be my MMA fighter.
Starlings are nesting in force in my neighborhood right now. They sure have nasty voices. I think I might get a pellet gun?! I don't know if I amok with killing a starling or not yet. After all it is not it's fault that it is an alien pest. What do you think? Should I shoot as many as I can or leave them alone?

No Warblers Today

2009-05-18T19:18:00.000-07:00

I went out for while @ Magrish river bottoms and California Woods. I saw not one damn warbler anywhere. Yesterday out at Withrow Nature Preserve I saw quite a few to include Yellow-breasted Chat, American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler, and Orange-crowned Warbler.
Today I may have missed one auditorially but couldn't find a one. I bet auditorially isn't a word. I did see today a flock of Cedar Waxwings bathing in a creek and a good look at a Wood Thrush.
I went and saw Wolverine and it was very good to watch. I will be riding on a Veteran's float in the Florence, Ky Memorial Day parade. I will probably take my binocular.

I forgot to mention...

2009-05-17T05:58:00.000-07:00

every time we go to Pelee they have signs up with silhouettes of snakes and turtles that say "reptiles migrating". When I spell checked I had spelled silhouette right! Unfortunately I still have not seen any reptiles. I doubt walking across the road on a small peninsula is migrating but I suppose that makes the birders understand and is easier to put on a sign than "reptiles walking around looking to get some action"

Went birding yesterday at my favorite local warbler migration spot and didn't see much. I think it is winding down considerably. Liam(7) has suddenly become interested in listing and seeing how many birds he can see. I took him yesterday and he said he didn't know birding could be so much fun.

They're here.

AMERICA ROYALE!

2009-05-13T05:31:00.000-07:00

Just got back from Leamington, Ontario where the money is cool and the waitresses are hot! Point Pelee National Park; the premiere spring warbler migration birding site! We camped out for a day and a half and saw 119 species. That number is missing many duck species and smaller sandpipers. A bit of hunting and a scope would have landed us about 135-140. Highlights for me were lifer Canada Warbler 5 feet away until I got tired of looking at him and eventually walked away! Also my ear identifying an unexpected Clay-colored Sparrow. I also i.d.'ed a Blackburnian Warbler by ear.
Just before we left we saw a Mississippi Kite zip over the tree tops. We were told by others that one had been reported in the area so we went to DeLaurie Trail parking lot to see if we could catch it again and get a nicer look. There was a group of 20-30 people there scanning the skies for it already. As we watched a Peregrine Falcon soared over the west side heading north and someone shouted out "there it is!" And everyone went nuts yelling out "kite" and getting all excited. I walked over to the crowd and approached one of the instigators and asked why it wasn't a P-bird and he walked away from me. I went to another guy who had started the ruckus with him and asked the same and he walked away from me also with no answer. After things settled down we were looking around again and spotted a Northern Harrier in the east heading south. A moment later some of the crowd noticed us looking at it and someone again yelled out "There is the kite!" People got all excited again and one of the guys in the crowd got on his 2-way radio and yelled "Mississippi Kite headed south!" I could hardly believe it or stand it and yelled back at the crowd "That's a harrier!" One of the rabble rausers from the last time backed me up and told the crowd the same. We then went back north to the beach and looked one more time there and then for the heck of it back South to the parking lot. When we got to the lot the crowd had dispersed and there was another group of five guys scanning the skies. We watched and saw and quickly identified a Coopers Hawk flying in. The group watched the bird and discussed it and then one of them yelled "That's it, that's the kite!" They went nuts but eventually realized it wasn't a kite and decided it was a Northern Goshawk! Holy Crap! We also got to the park that morning before light and heard a woodcock which we walked out and found. We watched it peent in the grass in the half light for some time which was really awesome. While we watched it we heard a GHOW in the distance and a Wood Duck flew over crying. All before the sun was up all the way and 3 new species for the trip list! Overall the trip was awesome with about 20 warbler species seen and seen well. Orioles & Yellow Warblers were like a plague & I added 3 lifers to my list with Tundra Swan, Mississippi Kite and Canada Warbler! That puts me at 371.

DAMN GRACKLES

2009-05-08T11:28:00.000-07:00

I was trying to take a nap and the young grackles in the nest outside my window just kept croaking and croaking and croaking and croaking.... it was maddening. We had a starling nest in our house. There is a gap between a sliding glass door and the side of the house filled in with plywood. The gap was filled with plywood when the previous owners replaced the garage door with the glass doors and had space left over. At the top of the plywood there is a small gap and they built a nest in it on top of the insulation. I pulled it out babies and all while my 3 little kids snapped around the bottom of the ladder like hungry pirahna. With the kids catching onto what I was doing I had to try and save the birdies vs. letting them return to the earth. So, I put a board over the gap took the nest and all and put it in a makeshift birdfeeder turned cavity nest. Even though the slot of the bird feeder was placed directly in front of the where the gap was in the wall the mother never found the nest and they were dead by the next day. Nest relocation does not work for starlings. Going to Pelee tomorrow night. I will let you know if I get a cavity search. Lets cross our fingers.

JUST KEEP BREATHIN'

2009-05-07T05:39:00.000-07:00

I have the swine flu. Not really but it feels like it. The big one is almost upon us. I have my loonies and twonies ready. I will be leaving to camp out at Point Pelee this weekend and see millions of migrating warblers. Maybe this year we won't have a militant American hating border crossing guard. Last time the guy was yelling at us telling us we were dumb because we were from Kentucky. It was a bit ridiculous. I was told they do that on purpose and believe it because it was too crazy to be real. Not exactly the warmest welcome for my first visit to Canada though?! I can't wait! It is one of the best biring trips ever!

New Birds showing up Everyday

2009-05-03T20:25:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we went fishing and I heard my first Wood Thrush this spring and also saw Purple Martins. We also caught some Blue Gill and Channel Catfish. Also last night heard a Common Nighthawk and made visual confirmation tonight. I love watching and listening to them!

Hundreds of dead birds wash up on Calif. beaches

2009-05-02T10:18:00.001-07:00

I figure you knuckleheads don't look at the news feed to the right so here is one that caught my eye.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/05/01/state/n172259D41.DTL&type=science

That new road, place I was going to check out

2009-05-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

I did a quick drive through but didn't find warbler heaven. I think it may be worth a walk though because I did see 1 maybe 2 billion Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Killdeer, Wood Duck, Mallard, Northern Parula, Catbird, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird and all the other see'um and hear'um everywhere birds. I might have even seen a Bachman's Warbler but maybe not.

Airport Birds

2009-04-28T12:21:00.000-07:00

I ended up at an office building briefly today that had a little habitat beside it. Picked up Eastern Peewee, Yellow Warbler, oreo, goldfinch, warbler sp., flicker, Chimney Sweep and a few others. It was an unexpected nice little spot. Oh, it was very near the airport.
I have a new spot I want to try out but have not had the chance yet. I will let you know if my hunch about it is right or not. I think it will be loaded with warblers. I have never heard of anyone birding it before which is probably a bad sign...either that or I am a birding genius.
Which one do you think is true?

A gentle farting

2009-04-27T15:54:00.000-07:00

alerted me to the presence of a Blue-winged Warbler. And my serial vision landed me a Tennessee Warbler. They were both exciting finds at Rowe woods today. We also saw Fairy Shrimp, salamander larvae, tadpoles, frogs, sliders, red worm creepy thingies(tuberix?), Water Striders, Diving Beetles, dragonflies, Wood Ducks, Canada Goose, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, titmice, cardinals, chickadees, White-throated Sparrow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Pileated Woodpecker, House Finch, goldfinch, Brown-headed Cowbird, Turkey Vulture, grackle, robins, Song Sparrows, Chipping Sparrow, Chimney Swift.
It was exciting to see warblers and salamander larvae.

NEW YARD BIRD tODAY

2009-04-25T14:04:00.001-07:00

I got a new yard bird today....a couple of Northern Rough-winged Swallows were flying around the houses checking out cavities and sitting on the phone wires. I have never seen a swallow in my urban neighborhood in the 7+ years I have lived here.
Consequently I was surprised to see a single Northern Rough-winged Swallow doing the same in downtown Newport about 2 weeks ago.
Is it not uncommon for these birds to be urban? I had never heard of or seen it to be the case. No, they were not Chimney Swifts jackass.
Maybe a new phenomena caused by the damn starlings? Maybe I just am ignorant of the swallows habits.

Birds

2009-04-23T05:53:00.001-07:00

I am starting to catch glimpses of little birds flitting through my backyard that don't fit in. I imagine they are migrants arriving back in town. I am getting excited to go camping at Pelee for a couple days Mother's day weekend.
My Ball Pythons are starting to breed and a website for "PIN-UP REPTILES" should be up within the next 30days.
I don't have much going on for birdwatching right now so the 1-3 of you who read this send pics or any stories about what you have seen so I can post it here.
I don't know what will be down there but I am going to Land Between the Lakes for a family re-onion around the first week of August. Let me know where to check there if you know!

The warblers are coming, the warblers are coming!

2009-04-20T18:29:00.000-07:00

I got a message from Chris in the Southeast that the warblers are there and headed our way!

Save Our Harmless Pets!!

2009-04-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

PetSmart Considers H.R. 669 Serious Threat - Issues Press ReleasePetHobbyist.com Site Blog

http://www.pethobbyist.com/sitenews/

Please check out this link if you like pets & zoos!

2009-04-15T13:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.nohr669.com/

..........or at least watch this video

http://www.nohr669.com/video.htm

Wow...the new keyboard works great!

2009-04-13T14:19:00.001-07:00

I havn't done a whole lot of birding. I did not find an Ivory-billed Woodpecker. I did see a Northern Goshawk though circling NE over my house. I also saw a really big spider. I saw some really big Bass in the little lake around monkey island at the zoo. I saw Spongebob Squarepants this morning. I did not see Elvis. I hope to see some heavy warbler action at Pelee this year.

Gannon with his new friends - Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches

"Locked Up"

One of our girls(big Pastel het Clown) takin' care of business with a "Spinner" male.

SSSSHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

2009-04-02T11:54:00.000-07:00

be vewy qwiet...... i'm hunting wabbits.

MORE CHIAPAS PICTURES

2009-03-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

Someone misbehaved but here you go. Come on Mexico! Are you kidding me?! Yes, there will be more!

All pics courtesy of the fantastic photographer Scott Somershoe.

Red-breasted Chat

Fan-tailed Warbler

Black-vented Oriole

Lesser Ground Cuckoo

Chiapas, Mexico

2009-03-09T06:05:00.000-07:00

My friends went to Mexico and all I got was this lousy blog entry. I really have to try and go with them next time! I will post some more of Scott's great photos tomorrow if you behave yourself today. Click on the pictures to see big giant versions.
All photos in this post courtesy Scott Somershoe

Yellow-winged Cacique

Magnificent Hummingbird

Grey Silky Flycatcher

Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer

"N" Scale on eBAY

2009-03-04T06:39:00.000-08:00

I usually do "HO" scale which is 1:87 scale. "N" scale is only 1:160 scale. It is harder to do the detail so small on an "N" scale model but there is less of it to do.

Currently on eBay! Tell all your "N" scale buddies!

Viva Mexico!

2009-03-03T21:34:00.000-08:00

Scott Somershoe and I (Brian) are at a meeting in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Great meeting, and we've been able to visit a few great places. Just wanted to give you a taste of 2 birds from the trip....

Grey Silky Flycatcher....gorgeous bird!

Mountain Pygmy-owl....my bird of the trip (so far)

More soon....Brian

Ivory-Billed Woodpecker POLL! TAKE IT TODAY!

2009-02-25T04:41:00.001-08:00

I have moved an Ivory-billed Woodpecker poll to the top of the headers over to the right....see it? Right next to this. Don't you want to know what everyone thinks? I didn't know there was still so much interest in the LORD GOD BIRD. Are you a bad mofo? Maybe you is. Maybe you ain't. What? It just popped up randomly in my head. And, I took my medication already! Don't come in here, you might not like it.
Hug your kids! AND, lock up your meds!
My next door neighbors child, our babysitter, overdosed on Tylenol PM yesterday and is in the hospital fighting for her life. Remember what is most important in life. Hint: It is not money or your binocular or your car etc.. etc....