Beach Finds

 

Scapula of a what?

What altogether?

Beach Dogs

 

For Alan and Amber. This is Jack (with the ball) and his little "sister" Hannah. They made me think of Cam and Thor.

Maine is Amazing

 

The Little Ones were Terrified

 

The storm yesterday was almost unprecedented for its sudden violence and pointless brevity....it only lasted a very short time but in that time it did horrendous harm.

There was plenty of warning via news media, but the sky and air were ful of lies. It was calm and nice all day.

However, the boss had planned to put the car up on the top lawn when he came home from getting Becky from work. But then Liz went and picked her up. We were talking about the coming storm when it hit.

It was like the very devil. The cottonwood that is my wind speed measure was whipping and lashing in circles, tethered to the ground only by its roots. Why it didn't come loose and fly up into the sky is beyond me. I said to the boss, "You'd better go move the car."

He was out in a flash, but no more than had he gone out the door, when the storm kicked it up a notch. BAM. A big notch.

"The tree came down," Liz hollered as she looked out the kitchen window.

"Get out of this room," I urged. "Go, go now."

Poor Peggy was frightened and crying. We put her in the center of the house while we ran around like chickens with our heads missing.

Then, "Where's dad? OMG he's out in this and we can't see the car."

"No, there it is, he got it up on top, but where is he?"

Nowhere to be seen.

Then he came in. He said the tips of the top branches brushed the back of the car as he raced up to the top lawn.

As soon as the weather ratcheted it down to blue skies and butter-wouldn't-melt brisk breezes he went out and sawed and pushed with the skid steer for two and a half hours. It barely made a dent in the mess, but at least we can get out of the house now.

There are two more trees over the driveway that will have to come down today too...just box elders, but another big job.

As bad as it was we were fortunate. The tree was touching the roof for at least six feet before the storm but the wind lifted it right off without taking the roof with it. We still have a husband, father, and grandpa of whom we are quite fond...that was a real close one. I am still reliving the what ifs.

Others were less lucky. Facebook is full of photos of damage with power still out in some areas. However, the most moving one was of two little ones we know. Their home farm got nailed pretty hard and the family was racing to clean up and repair.....They looked just as frightened and sad as poor Peggy was.

Hope you are all okay today, and sorry about the damage and messes everyone is facing. That was a bad one. 

Today's Special

 

Was a short visit to Yankee Hill Lock. First we saw a Common Loon. Not really rare, but a nice bird to spot.

Later the boss, with his amazing eagle eyes, spotted a Ruby-throated Hummingbird clinging to a small branch. Now, they have been showing up at the cannas almost every day at home, but I guess it is late for them, so I got one of those little yellow boxes on eBird that I had to fill out to report it. It did looking kinda cold.

Best though was a pair of Merlins. I spotted one high in a snag and happily noted same.

Then having turned to cross the road I heard a great din. There was hawk like screaming, a world of chattering and a big lot of commotion. I saw a crow zooming right toward me.

Under it was another bird, or should I say two of them..... one of the Merlins had taken what experts say is probably a Downy Woodpecker. 

The crow veered away when it spotted me, but the Merlin landed right in front of me with its still fluttering prey.

Pretty exciting. Felt sorry for the woodpecker though.

The Sparrows of the Field

 

Adult White-crowned Sparrow in the garden

Our weedy yards and lanes are a magnet for sparrows during fall migration, so much so that yesterday another birder requested a chance to come grab a couple for his county list.

Immature White-crowned enjoying some nice burdocks

Despite being a bit embarrassed by the shaggy state of pretty much everything around here, we obliged and so did the birds, showing nicely for him. Even a late Osprey flew over between the Red-tailed Hawks that share the place with us.

Swamp Sparrow

Nice.

Angry bird. A Carolina Wren cussing me roundly

It's been a year of abundance for sure. Normally if I find just one Lincoln's Sparrow on the place I am delighted. This year there are three or four in the yard almost any time I go out.

Yesterday there were seven different species to be seen and heard. I suspect that in the morning there were at least forty individuals and most likely more between the house and barnyard, although it is hard to count them all as they skitter and scatter around.

Magnolia Warbler pausing for a nanosecond. 

Included on the list are a plethora of Song Sparrows, several Swamp Sparrows, a couple of Chipping Sparrows, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows, a single Field Sparrow, and the delightful and normally hard to find Lincoln's.

Not bad for an overgrown farm yard and I expect we may see a Savannah Sparrow any day now. They also nest up in the hayfields, where we see and hear them every summer.

Who says you have to mow and trim anyhow?

Cute little Lincoln's Sparrow

Camp Robber

 

AKA Whiskey Jack

A Canada Jay might not be the cutest bird in the world, but they are way up in the running.

If you have an older field guide, a Grey Jay

Thanks to a good friend who took us birding, we saw some yesterday and much enjoyed same. A year is not complete without seeing them, hearing their cheerful calls, and watching them float in from the forest like silver ghosts on silent wings. 

Another Northwoods Ghost,
the Ruffed Grouse

Thanks, Kris for the tour, and Tina for the great company. What an awesome day!

Also a cutie, an immature
White-crowned Sparrow

If You See

 

This beautiful young lady today, wish her a very Happy Birthday!

Love you, Amber

MOS only Creepier

 

More of same.....Virginia Creeper and a foggy Scarlet Tanager

Obligatory

 

Fall colors post. The dry summer gave us an old-fashioned autumn. 

Noisy Eggplant

 

I would have completely missed this Common Gallinule, even though it was at a pond where we often see them and just a few yards from my feet. However it gave a mighty honk, thus catching my attention, so I leaned down under the bushes to take a peek. There it was. Doesn't it look kinda like an eggplant?

Same swamp, different species...the biggest Eastern Painted Turtle I have ever seen, next to a normal-sized one. I thought it was a big snapper until I took its picture.

Female Belted Kingfisher It was a good day for cool birds and nice fall colors. Ice cream on the way home was a nice bonus