Rondeau Ric

Great Grey Owl , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. We have only seen a great grey owl once before and that was across a field. They are a northern bird that is very rare in our area. This is the first record for Essex county. This owl showed up in southwestern ontario a few days back and has been perching in trees beside the road. It comes within 10-20 feet and doesn't pay much attention to people. He was hunting and flying down into the roadside ditch. Great looks for a great owl.

Time to call pest control. , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr.

Wilsons brother, Breeze , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Think about it.

CAUTION: Politcians Ahead. , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr.

Tern, Tern, Tern , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. To everything there is a season. Sandwich terns

Red billed gull , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. I like bird names that actually describe the bird. New Zealand.

Look Ma, no hands. Some kids will swallow anything. Don't believe it, just look at this street entertainer in Toronto. Sneezing is not recommended. A spoonfull of sugar helps the sword go down

Rough road ahead , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. When I see a hubcap collection I'm always confused. Should I slow down because there is rough road ahead or should I go really fast as they are good at stealing hubcaps? Monday mornings are hard. This photo is from New Zealand. They drive on the wrong side of the road. Does that mean they put hubcaps ON your car? Monday with out coffee is really hard.

Odonata , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Spoted this large dragonfly - Colourus craftus- resting on the end of a garage yesterday. Big one, probably eats dunkeys and mules. Odonata are dragonflys.

Birders go to the nicest places , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Dumps and sewage lagoons are high on the list. The birding center was beside the sewage treatment plant. Maybe people look at birders funny because we smell? Ah, who cares, that's where the birds are.

They're at the post... , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. they're off............. they're (turtle) neck and neck... Soft shell hatchlings headiing for cover.

You know you're in the city when...... , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. the outdoor johns have attendants. Love the name on the one in the centre, Tropic Thunder!! What have they been serving in the beer tent? Have a good weekend.

Anybody home?? , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. A downey woodpecker checking to make sure he didn't miss anything.

If bulldogs were cattle.... , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. this is what the would look like. Not sure what a wee heeland coo (a small highland cow) is doing in Southern Ontario. They usually don't migrate from Scotland. Small wings I guess.

Heavy water , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Had severe weather Tuesday, very strong winds and lots of rain. It came out of the east resulting in 7-8 foot waves pounding into the beach in front of the cottage. A lot of sand was stirred up by the waves making them look thick, almost sludge like. If you look at it in large you will see what I mean. I decided not to go swimming.

Were you born in a barn? , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr.

You mallards are all quack , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. and no waddle. Lots of ducks on Rondeau Bay. It is hunting season so they are a little sjittish. This pintail doesn't seem to hold the sleeping mallard in very high esteem.

tense , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. tense : 1. stretched or stressed tightly; taut or rigid 2. under mental or emotional strain

Around and around you go.... , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Crash has taken a liking to the dryer. He hops in when it stops and likes to curl up in the warm clothes. If they aren't quite dry and it gets turned on again..... around and around we go.

Still on the job , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. What has three legs, one eye and attitude? This dog. Still patroling his yard and challenging strangers. I assume he was a rescue dog, he lives near Port Aranasas Texas. Texas--- yah that explains a lot.

Sometimes the kids need a break. , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Not sure what the sign is for. Do you really drop of your parents? If it is to give care takers a break that's great, otherwise it seems odd.

Yellow Warbler , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Haven't had much opportunity to get out for a few weeks. This is from last May

Hey Jackson, you want to go to lunch , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. In a small texas town and yes the food was good.

misty sunrise , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Early morning, just grabbed the camera, opened the door and shot.

FOOD FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. When we were in New Zealand in 2009 we went on a pelagic trip, a fancy name for taking a boat out into the ocean to see sea birds. They put a bait ball bull of fish bits over the stern of the boat and albatross and other birds came in. Occasionally they were very aggressive. The bird on the right has a 10 foot wing span.

The Emerald Isle , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Can you see the Leprechauns?

Thrush , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. When I was a young fella there was a brand of mufflers named Thrush. They were desined to be fairly loud and rumbly. Considering how melodious thrushes are I don't understand the muffler name. You can hear the wood thrush here. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Thrush/sounds

Burrowing turtles a video by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Something different today. A short video of hatchling soft shelled turtles burrowing into the mud. When your small and something big comes along, you hide.

It's hard being green , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. A green tree frog on a branch. He's about the size of two thumbnails.

Home Inspector , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Mike Holmes would be proud. For those of you who don't know the reference, Mike Holmes has a show on HGTV called Holmes on Homes. It deals with homes that need repairs despite what the home inspectors said in their reports.

Rusty Mackaw , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. The Mackaws of Rondeau like pine cones and grass seeds on occasion. This one turned up in our yard and I was able to get a shot of one eating a pine cone. I think the propane delivery guy is playing a trick on us. I like his sense of humour.

Now THAT is a steep hill. , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. As seen in northwestern Ohio. If you have ever been to northwest Ohio you know it is flat as a table.

Common yellow-thraoted warber , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Such a pretty bird to be called common.

Going squirrelly , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. According to Crash, the cat, it isn't fair to have squirrels running up and sown the screen door. Now if the door was open a bit...

Big Bird , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. He may not be yellow but he is still big. The birds beside him are caspian terns which are a fairly large bird. The one in the foreground is a ringbilled gull, another good sized bird. He is a great blackbacked gull and is is really big. We get them in the early fall as they migrate through.

Doesn't that make it a tent? , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. If you can carry your lodging what else would it be?

The Kingfisher , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. He is stting on a charter fishing boat on one of the rod holders. Not sure if he is mooching for a meal or looking for some equipment to make him a better fisher bird. Belted kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon

Any shelter in a storm , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. An enterprising bird found a sheltered spot to build a nest. It probably was a robin based on where the it was and the construction. Found while birding at the Midwest Birding Symposium

American Redstart , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. We were in northern Ohio over the weekend at the Midwest Birding Symposium and the birding was good. We stopped at Magee Marsh and birded the boardwalk near the lake shore. The birds were down low and feeding which is SO much better than having to look at the tops of trees to see them. The MBS is a great event, if you are a birder and live in the midwest check it out.

The skulker , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Hidden deep in a bush an ovenbird looks for a few bugs to snack on. The fall migration is underway and we are getting lots of fall warblers and other types om birds, moving through the park. Ovenbirds are more often heard than seen and they are not calling this time of year.

Red , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. The tomatoe harvest is in full swing

messy eater , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. We have had a number of woodpeckers still feeding their young. This redbellied woodpecker, yes I know it has a red head, had a mouth full of suet which it feed to the young bird at the left of the photo. Shot through a screen.

Pretty pattern , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Just hanging around in the backyard. Happy spidery Friday.

Wind in the willow , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. This is the remnant of the willow that fell on our roof last year. It has filled out and provides shade in the morning. We have been having strong winds and rain the last few days, blowing in off Lake Erie, stirring up the lake and whipping the trees near the shore. Out willow looks like an inside out umbrella or a little bit like a palm tree. The view is from the lake side to the forest across the road from the cottage. We did have to tie the gazebo down.

Coal Mine , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Really. That small opening on the side of a hill is a drift mine in West Virginia. Drift mines have horizontal entries into the coal seam from a hillside. This one was probably used back in the 1930's. Men would crawl in and excavate a coal seam and sell the coal to one of the mines. Dirty dangerous work. Would You crawl in there?

Wilsons warbler , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. We put in a small water feature in the yard. It has a recirculating pump and two small shallow ponds that the birds are attracted to. Since the water flow was added we have had lots of activity. Yesterday we noticed 3 warblers on the south bound migration that stopped for a drink and bath. This one, a wilsons ,a black and white ,and a nicely cloured Cape May warbler.

Hi, I'm Gremlin and I'm 7 weeks old. , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. I was adopted early as I was abandoned. Now I live in a nice house with a BIG cat called Ninja. He's 14 weeks old.

A different perspective , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. I don't think you are supposed to do that on a pogo stick. In the process of doing a back flip. I can barley stay on one just bouncing around. Have a great long weekend Canada.

Tiger swallowtail , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. In the front Yard. We have had a good selection of butterflies this year.

Looking for a snack , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Wandering insectivors, standing 9 feet tall roamed downtown Toronto last weekend. Turned out they just wanted cotton candy. Buskerfest, Toronto.