More Trees

 More trees.  This time from Matt's parents property. 

Grey Day

I was very disappointed Friday not by the cold or grey but because Magee Marsh was closed for hunting.  Sob.  No visit to the lake or boardwalk.  We did drive over to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge where the FREEZING wind deterred us from taking much of a walk.  But we did get to enjoy the beautiful winter colors.  The word enjoy here means that I got to take a few shots before Matt declared "If you take ONE more picture of ONE more tree..."  I can't remember the rest something about leaving me there.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Quack?

Well, actually none of these ducks quack.  The male Green-winged Teal whistles and the Northern Shoveler male makes a soft snuffling kind of sound.  Their females do "quack" a bit but not as distinctively, or to quote allaboutbirds.org, quintessentially as the female Mallard.  The Ruddy Ducks, on the other hand, offer up the sound of their wings beating the water as they fly away from me.  They make a popping noise too but I can't say I've heard them do it.

Time Off

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Northern Shrike

Last year everyone but me saw this bird.  Seriously.  So you can imagine how happy I am to have seen this Northern Shrike twice this fall already!  And this last time was a really good look.

Female Green-winged Teal

This sweet little Green-winged Teal flashed a little teal at me this weekend.  She's a cutie and not shy at all. 

Flying Squirrels

I'm pretty sure as a child I thought flying squirrels were in the same category as paint that would render you invisible, in other words, imaginary.  But at some point last year I noticed that Manassas Battlefield National Park had flying squirrel photos on their website.  And that's when it first occurred to me that I might actually be able to see a flying squirrel.  (In between 8 and 41 I think I developed the idea that flying squirrels could be found in other countries/locations like maybe Brazil or the Amazon or something.)  I got even more excited when I saw a photo someone took at Hawk Mountain of a flying squirrel at a bird feeder.  But I can honestly say I did not think I would ever see one at my own feeder.  Well I didn't.  I saw at least 5.  This is so exciting it warrants an extra post for today. 

More from Bombay Hook

West Chester Marching Band

While we were waiting for the Cavalcade of Bands judges to tally up their scores we got to see an amazing performance by the West Chester University Marching Band.  It was a very cool fire themed show and these photos are just a few highlights.  

Champs Again

Saturday our band tied for second place at Champs in Hershey, PA.  It was a great show and it's been a lot of fun to watch! 

More Color

This is for all the people telling me we didn't have fall.  From the perspective of leaf color we've had the fall that just keeps on giving. 

 

I'm having serious problems deciding which photos to post today.  The ducks at Heinz NWR are letting me get a bit closer.  Good thing too since my go to close duck place, Forsythe NWR, is still closed after Hurricane Sandy.