Lately, the geese have been very vocal and we love to laugh at them as they scream at each other and flap their wings vigorously.  I never think of birds having tongues, so it’s especially funny to me to see their pink tongues protruding as they scream.

Grace spotted a red tailed hawk’s nest and we love seeing the pair work on their home together.  They bring back sticks and carefully arrange them.  As they fly to and from the nest, they can their feathers and you can really see how their earned their name.

I know we’re not free of cold and snow quite yet.  But I’ve heard the great blue herons are coming back to roost.  Before long the woods will be loud with springtime birdsong and brown will give way to green.

I can’t wait for Grace to really see the wonders of spring this year!

I stepped away and waited. Before long, the stump was busy with little birds coming and going. White-breasted nuthatches skittered up and down the tree trunk ducking down quickly to grab a nut before darting away. A tufted titmouse perched on a branch nearby to survey the situation before taking his turn at the table. Tiny black-capped chickadees disappeared entirely into the turn before popping out with little bits of food in their beaks. A few larger birds barged in – a red-bellied woodpecker and a cardinal took turns showing off their vibrant plumage, but they didn’t stay long. A sweet little downy woodpecker appeared. It was a treat to see one so close; they are shy and quick. But food trumped fear and so I was able to get a clear close view of his intricate feather pattern and the spot of red on the back of his heat. It was hard to tear myself from this busy spot, but Chuck insisted it was time to go. So, we moved away quietly, leaving the little birds to their feast.

A few mallard ducks murmured quietly among the reeds.  Otherwise, the woods were hushed.  Then, I spotted a large shape in a misty treetop.  I zoomed in.  An eagle!  As I tried to focus on it, another swooped in and landed nearby.

We made our way around the marsh to try to get a closer look at the pair.  Bushwhacking with Chuck tethered to my waist is not easy, but we managed to get close enough for a decent view before the birds had enough of our clumsy approach and moved off to a distant perch.

As soon as we entered the woods, I spotted a pileated woodpecker.  It’s a large bird with a bright red shock of feathers on top of its head and a beautiful black and white tuxedo-looking body.  I’ve been trying for ages to get a clear picture of one!  We stood still and waited until we heard a loud rat-a-tat-tat nearby and saw him working to extract a meal from a dead tree near the path.  His feet were splayed wide, gripping the bark.  He tipped his head to the side, listening.  Then, resumed hammering away with his beak.  What a treat to watch him work! I had to put my camera away for the rest of hike as the rain picked up. But I will take it as a good omen that my first steps on the trail this year yielded an encounter with a long-sought bird.

Happy New Year, everyone!

On the small beach, geese and ducks gathered.  They swam away from shore when we approached but quickly returned to the sand as we made our way up the grassy hill at the center of the park. A barge slowly slipped into the river.  Gulls whirled and soared and cried all around it.  Little silver fish littered the pier, dropped by the squawking birds.  Chuck did her best to taste them all!

In a tall tree overlooking the lake and coast guard station, a bald eagle was keeping watch.  I was so surprised to see one here on the lip of Cleveland’s industry. I love the way this park connects downtown to the lakefront and invites city dwellers to engage with grass and trees and water. It’s amazing that you don’t have to go deep into the Cuyahoga Valley to see wildlife; it’s thriving on every little patch of green.

I am so grateful for the adventures we enjoyed this past year. This was the year I picked up my camera and got comfortable with it on the trail. It was the year I launched Walking With Chuck to share my hikes with you. It was the year I was fortunate enough to travel cross country with my dog and my mom. Thank you 2022. I’m looking forward to what lies ahead.

We were almost back to the car when there was a flurry of birds all around. Finches, dark eyed juncos and even some small woodpeckers fluttered across the trail. They were all calling and flying here and there in a big hurry. I’m not sure why they were gathered in this particular spot, but it was quite a show. Then, just overhead, I caught sight of a pileated woodpecker. I’ve been trying to get a clear shot of one for months, and I thought today was my lucky day. But the bird was obscured behind a tangle of small branches and I couldn’t get a clear shot.

We walked down to the old coastguard station and watched the gulls along the river. They were smaller and more delicate than the ring-billed gulls we watched at Edgewater the other day. These were Bonaparte’s Gulls. They floated on the water like ducks, swimming with the mallards and cormorants. They lined the piers and loading docks.

We turned back. Just at the edge of the walkway at the edge of the beach, I spotted a big hawk sitting on a stump near the ground. I was excited to see one so close and from an unusual vantage point!

We looped back through the fields and Chuck was eager to run and play. She loves this weather! So, I stashed the camera in the car and we ran in circles until Chuck lost some steam. Then, we headed home for coffee and kibble.

The wind was cold and relentless. Flocks of gulls swooped and dove and hovered over breaking waves. They lined the railings of the pier and perched on the light posts. Chuck and I enjoyed watching them watch us as we crept close to take pictures of them. We walked with their haunting calls always in our ears.

Just as we headed down the path, a ripple on the water caught my eye. It was off on the other side of the pond, but it was definitely a beaver! It swam through the water and then emerged to chew loudly on a large tree before slipping back into the water.

At one point, we stopped to watch a red-bellied woodpecker. It clung to the side of a tree, tilting its head to listen for grubs or insects under the bark. When it finally found a tasty morsel, it flew down to a nook in a nearby tree and stashed it there. Then, it flew off to look for more food.

As soon as it left, other birds fluttered down to the “pantry”. They looked around furtively, then descended into the hole and flew away with the stored goods. It was hilarious to watch, but I felt bad for the unwitting woodpecker!

Shy deer peek out from their hiding place in the woods.  A little red squirrel wrestles a huge mushroom cap up his tree.  A downy woodpecker comes down from the treetops to scour the dry reeds and grasses for a nibble. Flocks of tiny sparrows swoop in and out of the fields with a swoosh of wings and warbles.

Soon, we will get a storm that will strip off the last of the leaves and the woods will be stark and bare. But for now, there is still a lot of motion and subtle color. The path is blanketed in leaves and our footfalls are quiet rustles. Chuck enjoys chasing the leaves. She dances around and looks up at me with an excited gleam in her eye as if she’s asking, “Isn’t this amazing?!”