Fattening up

Tweet The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are fattening up for their southward migration. I had 4 yesterday and only have seen 2 this morning so far. I usually see Ruby-throats until early to mid October at my feeders.

This is one reason that I keep my hummingbird feeders up. It is not true that the hummingbirds will not migrate if you leave your feeders up until after Labor Day. In fact, I would say that it helps them on their southward migration, but this is only my opinion. As one can see from the photos below, the Ruby-throated is fattening up for the coming migration. Hummers also eat insects and spiders etc., so the feeders aren't their only source of food.

Another reason that I leave my hummingbird feeders up all fall (I leave mine up till Christmas here!), is that I hope for a western vagrant hummingbird species. Every fall, some Selasphorus (Like Rufous and Allen's) hummingbird species move east of the Mississippi River and show up at feeders in the Midwest and East. Other western species have shown up as well.

Here are some sites with more info:

HBRC Tri-state Hummingbird Study

Add your fall feeders to this map (Ohio only I think)!: Fall Vagrant Hummingbirds Project

Fattened up Ruby-throated Hummingbird in a peach tree

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A little surprise...

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While up-righting my potted plants on the patio from the storms this afternoon, this little Eastern Garter Snake came out from underneath one of the plants and jumped at my hand. It was not a happy camper!

I think it may be close to or had just shed its skin.



It wasn't much bigger than the night crawlers that I use for fishing! Tweet

Dreary day birding

Tweet The morning started out dreary with light rain/mist and low clouds. Being that it was my day off, I decided to look for birds ( a big surprise there ;-)

The first bird that I saw out the back door was this bright Northern Parula - this photo is from the back door in poor lighting. Definitely brightened up the day!

Northern Parula

I then decided to head for East Fork State Park. Got a later start then I wanted to, but the birding was good for warblers in the backyard early on.

Saw more Ospreys, 5 in total. One was dive-bombing an adult Bald Eagle high above the lake!

Osprey

Also saw 40 Blue-winged Teal way out over the lake. A Sharp-shinned Hawk also attempted a sneak attack on some European Starlings and Killdeer right in front of me. Not a bad way to spend my day off!

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An evening spent with the birds

Tweet Was going to spend my off day birding the morning, but didn't feel up to it. I finally felt better by afternoon and had to get outside to clear my mind. I am glad I did, as I needed it.

Due to the time of day, I figured not many warblers would be moving. So I headed to the beach at East Fork State Park to look for any shorebirds or terns or whatever else could be around.

The first bird I saw was this far off Osprey flying out over the lake, stirring up the gulls.

Osprey

Scanning the gull flock, I only seen Ring-billeds at first. I then noticed a large tern flying around, a Caspian Tern. It decided to hesitantly land in front of me on the beach.

Caspian Tern

(Looks like it has a carrot for a bill when one looks at it head on!)

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Wordless Wednesday

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Painted Lady

Red-spotted Purple






Great Spangled Fritillary

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Tern of the Season

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With everyone talking about the possibility of good birds showing up with the unusual weather pattern currently over Ohio, I decided to spend some time at East Fork looking for birds.

The air was much cooler than it has been and the winds were blowing pretty good out of the west. The water was very choppy. I didn't get there until around 4pm, so there were people swimming and walking dogs on the beach. However, I was able to spot a non breeding Forster's Tern coming in from out over the lake. It landed very near me on the beach with the Ring-billed Gulls.

The way to tell this bird from the non breeding Common Tern would be the lack of dark black across the crown of the head. Forster's has a kind of black eye mask. Also, the Common has a black carpal bar (shoulder) which the Forster's lacks.

I did spot 4 Black Terns in winter plumage as well way out skimming the surface of the lake. Later, I also spotted a flock of 3 Pectoral Sandpipers flying out over the lake.

I will definitely take the change of season, even if it is only temporary! (Supposed to be back to near 90° next week.)

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A Nice Looking Wood Duck

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Found this handsome male Wood Duck yesterday on the bank of the Ohio River in New Richmond, Ohio. I often see woodies hanging out with the Mallards at this location.

A Nice looking male Wood Duck

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Wordless Wednesday

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Red Admiral

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