Who cooks for you all?

Tweet My girlfriend Ashley and I took advantage of my recent day off by taking a walk in the woods at East Fork.  I decided to hike in an area that had recently been reopened to the public after being blocked from driving to.  I haven't been back in the area in a while, so I decided to see what I could see.

Almost as soon as we walked in the woods, a large bird flew in low over our heads from the other side of the road.  It flew right in front of us and landed above our heads.  It is a Barred Owl!  It then proclaimed "Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?".  I called back, and the owl looked straight down at us.

Then, another Barred Owl flew in, joining the other in caterwauling.  All of this activity got the birds riled up.  I could hear lots of birds singing.  A Pileated Woodpecker started calling and flying back and forth.

There were numerous Northern Parulas singing.  One bird in particular got all excited when I intimated the call of a Barred Owl.

At first, the bird made alarm calls.  Then the bird proceeded to sing.

The bird had some down feathers sticking out from under the wing.

Other cool birds in the general vicinity included very vocal Great-crested Flycatchers.

With all of the recent rains, there are a lot of skypools around.  On the way home from East Fork, I noticed some shore birds in a flooded field just as I turned onto my road.  Three Solitary Sandpipers were sneaking around in the grass.  I was able to get a few pics out of the car window.  (I love how people react when I tell them I am looking at birds!)

 My next post will hopefully be from the shores of Lake Erie, as I am leaving on Thursday 5/10 for the Magee Marsh area.  I have never been up on the lake in the spring.  Looking on getting some life birds.  Would love to have been able to participate in The Biggest Week in American Birding, however work doesn't see it possible. Hoping to also meet some of my online only birder friends!

Stopped by East Fork on my way to the store to get stuff for my trip up to the lake.  Four Forster's Terns were flying around.

It landed on a floating ball in the lake.  It was funny watching the bird trying to keep its balance. 

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