Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Sunday 9 April 2017
69 °F
Today my mom and I flew into Cleveland, Ohio because over these three days (Sunday - Tuesday), I will be visiting Oberlin and Cincinnati Conservatory.
Before I tell more about today, though, here are some photos from a recent productive Oak Park Bird Survey:
Male HOUSE FINCH:
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET:
HERMIT THRUSH:
FOX SPARROW:
Leucistic (partially-albino) male AMERICAN ROBIN:
So today was our travel day. We chose this week to tour the two colleges because I am on break from choir (Voice of Chicago) for this week.
Since we arrived in the morning and had nothing scheduled but to check into the bed and breakfast that evening (not to mention that it was BEAUTIFUL outside today), my mom and I decided to go birding in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The birding was fairly productive, but my enjoyment level was considerably reduced today due to a sore throat & head cold.
BLUE JAY:
The mossy rock formations adjoining the loop trail which we took were stunning:
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH:
By far the highlight of the day was watching a pair of PILEATED WOODPECKERS. The male has a red moustache while the females' is black.
A stop at a place called Beaver Marsh afterward was pretty but mostly unproductive. Here is a female MALLARD:
It was a good day of birding. I am not sure when I will post next because it is unclear whether I will get to do any more birding tomorrow or before I leave the next day. Anyway, May migration madness keeps getting closer and closer!
Good birding,
Henry
World Life List: 929 Species (no recent life birds)
Hi- Great pictures as usual. Do you ever sing for your avian audience? Liz Cifani
by Liz Cifani