Birding Ohio at Pipe Creek

Social Media meet birding, in a big way.  All across Ohio birders came out to share their interests and learn from one another. We made new friends, promoted birds and birding with "the Pledge to Fledge."  

OOS had a group meeting up at Hoover Reservoir and a bumper crop of Buff-breasted Sandpipers. Toledo Naturalists' Association, Ottawa Refuge and Magee Marsh Wildlife also had fabulous events to encourage new birders and old birders who love to bird!  Don't you love it when a plan comes together?  

 The Birding Ohio Facebook group gathered at Pipe Creek in Sandusky, Ohio. We met up at McDonald's (join Facebook page  here to see the photo of the full group.)

Greg Miller (center).

I came along for the ride with my buddy Greg Miller. He is a wonderful bird mentor and a great friend.  Yes, I knew Greg (in the pre-Jack Black days) before he was rich and famous... well, OK, famous.  He is a great guy and we love talking politics. We may see things from different perspectives, but we have intelligent conversation- which puts us way ahead of either of our political parties!

Kim and Kenn Kaufman ready to BIRD!

The Birding Ohio group arranged several great guides for this trip, including Kim and Kenn Kaufman. Kim was quick to claim she is no shorebird pro, but Kenn has it covered.  Kenn is a wonderfully patient teacher and if you weren't able to join us on this trip, I encourage you to buy the Kaufman Field Guide to Advanced Birding.  Carry Kenn in your pocket!  Or better yet, pull him out of your pocket and read the chapter on shorebirds.  He will help you make sense of these madly, confusing birds.  He generously allows that shorebirds- with all of their various plumages- are a challenge!

So the beginners got to see their first Dowitchers, and we intermediates felt better about not knowing if they were Long-bill or Short-billed Dowitchers.  Greg led us through the process of looking at their back-ends for the barred feather patterns.

We were working it!  Photographers, birders and general naturalists were on a Pipe Creek free-for all.

If you are like me and the intense study of plumage is not your main interest, the beauty of this wetland provided many other opportunities for enjoyment. Numerous Great Blue Herons and a two Little Blue Herons worked the shoreline next to a Snowy Egret. A Great Egret and Red-necked Phalaropes also put on quite the show.  That white speck in the center of the photo is a female Phal in outstanding plumage.  These birds who feed by swimming in crazy, erratic circles are standouts among the shorebirds and easy to share with beginners.

Habitat wise, the flowering Purple Loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria, is an invasive species which degrades wetlands, but it was handy for the butterflies and pollinators utilizing it.  Scanning across the wetlands with binoculars provided an endless supply of dragonflies, bees, and butterflies to discover.

How can we tell this is a Bull Frog?

Wetlands and frogs, beautiful things.  Frogs make tasty food for the herons, who don't even care if this is a bull frog or green frog.  However, we know it is a bull frog because it lacks the dorsal lateral folds on its back.  See that smooth back- no lines?  That is a bull frog my friend.   Or shall I say, "That is a bull frog, my friend!"?

Thanks again to the Birding Ohio folks and all the friends who made this day special!  

Daughmer Prairie Dedication

Daughmer Prairie is about to be dedicated as Ohio's newest State Nature Preserve, and the good news: You are invited!

Daughmer Prairie, photo by Ian Adams

 Daughmer Prairie has been the topic of numerous blog posts, feel free to click on the following links:
Preserving, its Gems, Fire, and  Revisited

But for all my words, Ohio's famous photographer, my friend  Ian Adams captures the feel in one photo.  Amazing.  Thank you Ian.

And now, it is your chance to walk under the Oaks at Daughmer.  You are invited to the Dedication at 10:00 AM on Monday August 27, and tours will be given afterward. We hope to see you there!

Click on Invitation to enlarge. 

Seaside nature- Nova Scotia

Nature in Nova Scotia can be very different from that which I am accustomed to in Ohio, but there are some things I found readily recognizable.  All of the following photographs are taken within a 1/4 mile of the ocean in Nova Scotia, basically most of the visit involved trips to port towns or walks on beaches.  It is an altogether pleasant way to pass a week, I assure you.

Seaside Goldenrod,  Solidago sempervirens

 The Seaside Goldenrod has robust look to it.  Often the stems are reddish and seem quiet succulent.  It has an altogether different appearance than our field-types of goldenrods.

Fireweed, Epilobium angustifolium

Fireweed is a disturbance species, found growing in a weedy manner along the ditches.  It is worth stopping to get a better look.  On close inspection the inflorescence is quite lovely.

Fireweed along the road.

Fireweed growing along the road in large swathes.  It is often found of ditches, disturbed areas (such as roadsides) and does especially well where a burn has occurred; hence, the name Fireweed.

The most common butterfly was the Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui.  Once called the Cosmopolitan,  indeed, it is found on more continents than any other butterfly species. It cannot winter over in these northern regions, but is it is famous for its mass migrations. Butterflies East of the Great Plains, (Opler and Krizek) says it can even use the thistle as a host plant.  Perhaps that is what this "lady" is up to.  

  

American Copper, the smallest of all copper butterflies.

Sheep Sorrel, Rumex acetosella

American Copper butterflies were found in several locations.  This was not too surprising as their host plant, sheep-sorrel is found in many locations.  It is a low to the ground, weedy plant which thrives in damp places- especially damp places with sheep.  That pretty much describes Nova Scotia.

 Nova Scotia is well-known for sheep.  Since much of the rocky shores are impossible to till, many of the islands  have sheep free-ranging during the summer months.  This ewe and lamb were photographed at the base of the Cape Sable Lighthouse.  The sheep keep paths open on the island as they feed on many of the native grasses, but the thistles must not have been to their taste.  

In some cases is it believed sheep contribute to the erosion of sand dunes, shores and can be disruptive to shorebird colonies- such as Roseate Tern and Piping Plovers.  Those beaches and islands receive more protection under current management practices.   

Le Village Historique Acadien, Pubinco Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is a  land of great natural beauty and history. It is no wonder the early French settlers clung tenaciously to the land.  Some risked their lives hidden in exile and others returned many years after "The War of Conquest", otherwise known as the Seven Year War or French and Indian War.

Do not be confused, the French and Indians were allies- against the British.  However, when the war was  lost, the French settlers were expelled from Nova Scotia.

 

The Historic Acadian Village is found in Pubnico, on the south shore of Nova Scotia. I was told Pubinco was a Mi’kmaq (First Nation tribe) word meaning "cleared land."  This village is the oldest Acadian village in the world.  

The blue sky reaches out to the waters, as women pull weeds from the potatoes grown in a village garden.  It seemed like hot work, however they said it was much preferred to the kitchens in the summer.

A typical house, neat as a pin... and filled with children.  This village was founded by Philippe Mius d'Entremont in 1653.  In the yard stands one of the many relatives of Philippe that remain in Pubnico; Ronnie was happy to chat-up the docents in their native French.   

The interior of the house was well-appointed.  This village is one of the most complete historic sites that I have ever had the pleasure to visit.  It was as if  Henry Ford's Greenfield Village meets Canada.

A flat bottom Dory is being built in the boat shop.

A fisherman repairs nets by hand, and he has stories to tell.

 One building was set aside for the purpose of drying and salting cod.

Lobster is still an important industry in Nova Scotia.  However, these historic wooden traps have been replaced with modern metal ones.  They stack better and last longer.

And last, but not least a harbour light. Unfortunately the lighthouses of Nova Scotia are rapidly being decommissioned, as they are no longer needed for modern navigation.  It is a great loss, in my estimation, to the scenic (and tourist $$) value of the land.   Ronnie was thankful the lighthouse from Abbott's Harbour was moved to the village for preservation, as it played a huge role in his childhood.

 My recommendation to travelers:  Don't just see the birds or botany;  immerse yourself in the culture of a country as well.  View the local historical sites and learn about the people.  If you find yourself with 3 hours to kill at the airport, might I suggest reading Henry Wadsworth's Longfellow's Evangeline.    It is a romantic poem retelling the tragic story of two star-crossed Acadian lovers and their deportations.  The story eloquently immortalizes the landscape and people of this nearly forgotten land.

"Talk not of wasted affection, affection was never wasted."  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Birds of Nova Scotia

Today's blog is a photo- fest from Nova Scotia, courtesy of my friend Ronnie d'Entremont.   Ronnie was gracious enough to take me birding a couple of times during my recent visit, and he shared some of the best spots and best birds to be found in the area. 

Ronnie got excellent photos of the Atlantic Puffins carrying food for their young.

Stunning, is it not?  How he got these shots from a bouncing boat, I'll never know.

 A fly-by Atlantic Puffin, carrying food.  This must be the closest thing on earth to a flying penguin.

Red-necked Phalaropes

 We were thrilled to see a small flock of Red-necked Phalaropes as we were returning from the puffin trip.  This is not a bird commonly seen in southern Nova Scotia.  They were migrating through in a group, nine birds in total.  The dark under-wing shot is diagnostic.

Hudsonian Godwit

Hudsonian Godwits are the default godwit for this area.  Their migration path often brings them through these shores and islands. We saw four at one time, which was a breath-taking sight.  Thank you to Ronnie for sharing your amazing photography with us.

Ronnie d'Entremont

And here is my photo of Ronnie on the shores of the Cape Sable Lighthouse Island, N.S.  The crystal clear waters and white sand beaches have a surreal beauty of their own.

My thanks to Ronnie for his excellent services as a bird guide, and the added bonus of a trip to The Historical Acadian Village of Nova Scotia, to be featured in the next blog.