19 April 2023 Amazing Companions

They are wonderful companions getting older. 💕 

9 April 2023 First spring visit to Mentor Lagoons

 It was a chilly spring day ay Mentor Lagoons.  The sunny sky and a good number of egrets made the visit outstanding.  Most of them were working the far end of the water searching for food.

Spotting a lesser yellowlegs was a bonus.

8 April 2023 Favorite Places

 We enjoyed a beautiful, spring weekend.  Our property has a small vernal pool that is an annual host to egg sacks for salamanders and frogs.

Spring wildflowers keep progressing with bloodroot along the water's edge.

We spent the afternoon enjoying the trail at the ANF's Hearts Content Scenic Area.

The Allegheny River was quite picturesque.

The day was winding down when we made a stop at Irvine Flats.

7 April 2023 Along the Allegheny

 Blue sky was a fixture for the day.  We started off with a walk on our property.

The hepatica leaves from the prior visit had started to spring forth the early flowers of spring.

Phineas was being a beagle with his nose to the ground enjoying the smells of spring.

The first snake sighting of the spring was a fairly small garter snake.

A pair of mergansers were cruising by on the Allegheny River.

6 April 2023 Visiting Clear Lake

Clear Lake is near the town of Collins in New York.  I was on my way home from a business trip and stopped for a geocache on a mild day.  It was a first visit to Clear Lake.  The geocache was a nice find along a trail, but the real find was a large number of ducks on the water.

2 April 2023 Return to Akeley Swamp

We had an extra day to stay at our home and started the day with a walk on the property.  The bright blue sky was saying spring was finally here.

We were too early for the blossoms, but hepatica plants were plentiful.

After spotting eagles in the rough weather of the day before, we both wanted to re-visit Akeley Swamp with the hope they were still in the area.  The two days were a complete contrast.

On our way out of the area, I noticed this fossil-rich stone on the ground.

1 April 2023 Akeley Swamp

Akeley Swamp is a quiet place along the northern edge of Pennsylvania.  We stopped by when in the area on a very grey day. 

Our visit was rewarded with a sighting of a juvenile bald eagle.  It was at the far edge of the swamp so capturing an image while not spooking it was a challenge.

The ducks were a bit tentative today with most staying at the far edge of the water away from us.  Buffleheads and ring-necked ducks were in fair numbers.

31 March 2023 Morning Surprise

 I was driving a semi-rural road on the way to my office when a pole-mounted transformer caught fire.  It was quite a site to see.  When it was safe to pass, I stopped by the local fire department and let them know.

26 March 2023 Signs of Spring

We have hosted phoebes in this downspout for multiple years.  They have not moved in yet, but hopefully soon...

Spring bulbs were in bloom today.

Skunk cabbage is an anticipated spring event.

20 March 2023 The Rookery

The winter skies and snow of the day before gave way to blue skies and puffy clouds as spring reached out.  We took a walk at The Rookery.

The park district has begun to thin the tree growth in some of the park areas.  At one time the park was a hot spot for spring viewings of woodcocks.  The increased tree cover has reduced the success of the woodcocks' elaborate mating flight.

A pair of mallards were in the stream as we passed by.

19 March 2023 Change in the Weather

Our visit to Cuyahoga Valley National Park gave a glimpse of the near spring.  Winter took back hold at our home.

18 March 2023 Visiting Cuyahoga Valley National Park

It's a misnomer to call Cuyahoga Valley and national park.  If not for the strange workings of Washington, it would be a national recreation area.  It's a wonderful place to hit the trails for an afternoon, enjoy the rocks, and do a little birding.  Despite spring being a few days away, there was still snow falling as we visited the water.