Lakeside!

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Our Room

Arrived in Lakeside about noon on Thursday. Time for the Midwest Birding Symposium 2011 at last! This time we are staying at the Hotel Lakeside, built in 1873. It was very windy and the lake was choppy and rough, but the boat cruise went on this evening.

On the way here we stopped at East Harbor State Park, and saw two unfamiliar gulls. Looked them up- greater black-backed gull and Bonapartes gull-two new birds for us!

Vacation

Wednesday evening we stayed in Port Clinton, Ohio. This is the view from our motel windows.

Started off Tuesday to drive to Shipshewana, IN; but the car broke down on the way about 30 miles west of South Bend. So we spent the afternoon in a repair shop there. It was a nice one though, with a waiting room and a beautiful ladies room! Made it to Shipshewana that evening, found our hotel, ate supper and slept. Wed. morning we went shopping - I got to go to Lolly's quilt shop (woo hoo!) We had a nice lunch, then on to Port Clinton. Took the Jet Express to Put-In-Bay - saw a bald eagle flying low right over us just as we were pulling out of the harbor; also cormorants, gulls of course and a bird I couldn't identify- it put me in mind of a pelican- will check the guide to see if I can figure it out. Had a good supper and walked around Put-In Bay. It was raining a little as we got off the boat back in Port Clinton. It was very windy during the night, but the clouds were breaking up and the moon was still out in morning.

Chrissy

Chrissy is on the left on top.

We went to a scrimmage game at Millikin to see her cheering for the first time.

Empty Nest

I hadn't seen or heard the parents this morning, so I went out to look in the nest and the babies have fledged! I had hoped to see them learning to fly, but they must have taken right off while I wasn't there to see. No evidence of foul play; the nest is intact and empty. It's pretty quiet in the yard now.

Babies

The eggs have hatched. As I was sewing, I watched the adults going to the nest with bugs in their beaks. When I went out and peeked into the nest I saw little baby birds.

Expecting

Four eggs are in the nest.

Carolina Wren Nest

The other day as I was at my sewing machine, a Carolina wren pair were singing loudly right outside the window. I watched as they built this nest in a hanging flower basket. Today, I went out to check the nest because it had been so quiet, and was surprised when the female flew out.

I quickly took photos and went back inside. A few minutes later she returned.
It will be fun watching this new family.

As you can see the deer (or rabbits or both) are munching on my hosta, leaving bare stems sticking up. In the past I've put netting over my plants but birds get caught in it, so that was nixed. We have some repellant spray but apparently that wears off too soon. Next I plan to try fishing line and soap.