Sunday

I'm afraid I don't have much to add today. The weather has been yucky, and we haven't been out much, but the backyard birds are still here to provide entertainment.
Above is the same Red-bellied woodpecker I posted last Wednesday, but this morning I was able to get a shot at her underside to prove that these woodpeckers  really DO have a red belly after all.
Have a great day everyone.

World Bird Wednesday

I had a pair of Red-bellied woodpeckers all last winter, and 2 days ago the female showed up at my feeders. I haven't seen the male yet, but I'm still waiting with camera in hand. They are spectacular birds, and I'd really like to see where they are nesting.

Another cold and gloomy day here, but no snow in the near forecast. This has been such a crazy winter, not that I'm complaining. In case you wanted to know, last year on the 25th of January we had received 167.5" of snow, and as of today we have received 66.5".  For the most part the roads have remained bare, and we're saving money on buying diesel fuel for the tractor that snow blows our driveway.
Do click on http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com to see lots more bird photos, and visit with Springman.

Day Trip

Friday we took a day trip and first stopped at the Kinzua Dam about 9 miles from my home town of Warren, Penna. This Dam has been in place since 1962. Before that the water from the Allegheny River quite often would flood the towns down stream. I'll save that for another post. My parents owned a cottage 6 miles below the Dam, and more than once had lots of high water. The Allegheny River runs South to Pittsburgh, Penna where it joins up with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River, and eventually joins with the Mississippi.

Across the road from the Dam is a very high rock wall , and there are several pretty waterfalls.

We took our GPS "Lizzie" with us, and sometimes "she" leads us astray... Friday was one of those days! She said to turn left and I did down a one lane dirt road. Bad choice! We were to go 3.8 miles, and once I got on this road there was no turning back! It truly was one lane right through the deep woods. The road was narrow and had many deep mud puddles, and rocks.

Not only was the road deserted, but this Ruffed Grouse was the only wildlife we saw, and then we almost missed her.

Just no place to turn around. We could only go about 2 mph too.

This was the driest part. Finally we got to turn around and would you believe "Lizzie" never told us "Recalculating" LOL

Our destination was Kinzua Bridge State Park in Mt. Jewett, Penna. We went to see the highest railroad bridge in the world. This was before it got struck with a category 1 tornado in 2003. You can read more about it on Gary's blog http://steamacrossthetrestle.blogspot.com/ There is a picture there, and we will be telling the story about this wonderful bridge in the next couple of days.

While at Kinzua Bridge State Park I noticed lots of woodpeckers flitting through the trees. They were Yellow bellied Sapsuckers. There were so many and they were so quick. I felt fortunate to have gotten 2 shots. All 3 were males.

It was a cool and windy day. We managed to get back home withOUT "Lizzie's" help too.

Have a wonderful and Blessed Easter everyone.

RUBY TUESDAY

I was counting the birds this afternoon for the Great Backyard Bird Count, and this female Red bellied woodpecker showed up. She stayed for quite a while. I know I've photographed her many times before, but she's worthy of Ruby Tuesday.
Thanks to mary/the teach for hosting this great site. Click on http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/ to see lots more RED photos.