Birding with a Weedpicker and a Celebrity

Howdee all,

I have yet to tell you about the second bird festival we attended last month..

The Biggest Week in American Birding

I am working on several blog posts about our two week visit..here is my first post on our birding trip to the area..stay tuned for more.

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Birding with a Weedpicker and a Celebrity

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While in Ohio and during the Biggest Week, we were invited by Cheryl Harner to join her, Greg Miller and a group of birders for a bird walk at Sheldon Marsh.

It was a pleasure meeting Cheryl for the first time. I have been reading her blog for several years now. Cheryl is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to wildflowers and everything nature.

Two great nature bloggers…Cheryl's blog Weedpickers Journal

Greg's blog… Greg Miller Birding  Did you know that Greg is being played by Jack Black in the upcoming movie The Big Year?  Read Birdchicks post about the Movie The Big Year~~ I cant wait to see it!

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Sheldon Marsh

In the early 50's, a Sandusky physician named Dean Sheldon, bought a 56 acre tract of valuable lakefront land in Huron Township. Although many local developers thought it was a waste of valuable land, Sheldon worked to develop the land as a nature preserve. Recognizing the value to the community and the local habitat, The Ohio Department of Natural Resources purchased the property in 1979 and combined it with an adjoining 330 acre marsh and in 1980 dedicated it as "Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve"

 

It was a beautifully overcast morning..

Pink petal on grass

The fog softens everything..

Wildflowers

Wild Geranium and mossy rock

Cheryl told me what this was..but..forgetsies

Thanks Michael Bartneck for your kind ID

Hydrastis canadensis Goldenseal

Oh lookie here..I found some droplets..

Another nice thing foggy mornings bring..

We are here to bird as well as check out the plants..

Mallard on log in the fog..

I love Greg Miller!

What a sweet man, not to mention an extremely knowledgeable birder. He is a super teacher..I learned allot the few times we were birding with him…wish I could tag along with him some more. Oh.and did you know he is a secret pirate? Argh..

Here, Greg talks to a young birder we meet along the way. He gives the birder his card, tells him about the soon to be released movie and a photo is taken. Memories made for this young birder.

We did see birds…Warblers and other goodies

Willow tree me thinks..

Our birding group..taken by my camera on a timer

Oh..lookie..me next to Greg Miller :)

Birders doing what they do best…

Fox squirrelCritter in a shell..

Most of the area is easily accessed via this road..no cars

Ant for Breakfast …Snake hanging out in a shrub..

It was a lovely morning..

Human plantings blending with mother nature’s plantings..

We had a Super time hanging out with our new friends Cheryl, Greg Miller ,Greg & Leslie and the other birders.

Thank you Cheryl for inviting us to this event and others during our stay!

You are the best Hostess..Thanks for making us feel so Welcome in your neck of the woods!

Greg Miller Birding

Birdchicks post about the Movie The Big Year

 Cheryl Harners blog~Weedpickers Journal

Stay tuned for more of the Biggest Week