Mark's Reading Place: Chapter Thirteen

-Mary Carlton

Audiobook:



Graphic/Comic:


Books Read So Far...

OTS- Off the Shelf

February:

13) Only Killers and Thieves by Paul Howarth 4.5 stars (E)
14) What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi 3.8 stars OTS
15) Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead 3.7 stars (audio) AAC OTS
16) Salt Houses by Hala Alyan 4.2 stars OTS
17) The Power by Naomi Alderman 4.3 stars (audio)
18) The Largesse of the Sea Maiden: Stories by Denis Johnson 4.3 stars
19) Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay in 40 Questions by Valeria Luiselli 4.2 stars
20) Barkskins by Annie Proulx 3.8 stars (audio) OTS
21) Artemis: A Novel by Andy Weir 3.6 stars (audio)
22) The Log from the Sea of Cortez by John Steinbeck 4.2 stars
23) The Country I Remember by David Mason 4.5 stars (Poetry)

March:

24) Don't Skip Out on Me by Willy Vlautin 4 stars ER
25) Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie 4.6 stars OTS (audio) OTS
26) An American Marriage by Tayari Jones 4 stars (audio)
27) Saving Tarboo Creek: One Family’s Quest to Heal the Land by Scott Freeman 4 stars
28) American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee 4.5 stars (audio)
29) The Night In Question: Stories by Tobias Wolff 4 stars AAC OTS
30) My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman 4.2 stars (audio)
31) Where the Dead Sit Talking by Brandon Hobson 3.4 stars E
32) Where Now: New and Selected Poems by Laura Kasischke 5 stars Poetry
33) The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks 4 stars (audio) OTS
34) Mozart's Starling by Lyanda Lynn Haupt 4 stars
35) Celine by Peter Heller 3.4 stars (audio) OTS
36) On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder 4.5 stars (audio)
37) Arthur & George by Julian Barnes 4.4 stars OTS
38) I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search by Michelle McNamara 4.3 stars (audio)

April:

39) Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Pénélope Bagieu 5 stars GN
40) Since We Fell: A Novel by Dennis Lehane 3.3 stars (audio) OTS
41) All the Names They Used for God: Stories by Anjali Sachdeva 4.5 stars
42) Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly 4.3 stars (audio)
43) We Are Okay by Nina LaCour 4.2 stars
44) The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe 5 stars (audio) OTS
45) In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens: Womanist Prose by Alice Walker 4 stars AAC
46) Becoming Unbecoming by Una 4.6 stars GN OTS
47) Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi 4.3 stars (audio)
48) The Book of Dust: Vol 1 by Philip Pullman 4.2 star
49) Birding Without Borders by Noah Strycker 4.5 stars OTS
50) Cove by Cynan Jones 3.7 stars
51) Career of Evil (A Cormoran Strike Novel) by Robert Galbraith 4 stars (audio) OTS
52) When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors 5 stars (audio)
53) Happiness: A Novel by Aminatta Forna 4 stars

May:

54) Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover 4.6 stars (audio)
55) The Jump-Off Creek by Molly Gloss 4.2 stars OTS
56) Black Swans: Stories by Eve Babitz 4.4 stars OTS
57) A Plague of Giants by Kevin Hearne 3.6 stars (audio) OTS
58) The Beekeeper's Lament by Hannah Nordhaus 4 stars (audio)
59) Tabloid City: A Novel by Pete Hamill 4 stars AAC

Welcome to the AAC V! It should be another fun year. Some interesting and diverse authors.

2018 AAC

January- Joan Didion Completed The White Album
February- Colson Whitehead Completed Sag Harbor
March- Tobias Wolff Completed The Night in Question: Stories
April- Alice Walker Completed In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens
May- Peter Hamill Completed Tabloid City
June- Walter Mosley
July- Amy Tan
August- Louis L'Amour
September- Pat Conroy
October- Stephen King
November- Narrative Nonfiction
December- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Here is a link to the General Discussion Thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/279501#

^My next print book will be Black Swans: Stories. I did not realize who Eve Babitz was, until I started looking into who the author is and discovered that she is a cultural icon. I had never read any of her work though, and this new collection has been very well-received.

Also, a big Thank You, to Benita for picking me up this copy from ALA.

Has anyone read any of her memoirs?

^I am a big fan of Hearne's Iron Druid series and A Plague of Giants kicks off a new series. I snagged an ARC of this late last fall but waited for the audio to appear, since I love his books in that format. It is a big one, 600-plus pages, so it will take me a bit to get through.

Micro-minutes on Your Way to Work

Days are unusual. The owl sends
out 5 zeroes from the pines
plus one small silver nothing. Where
do they float? Maybe out to
sea, where jellyfish are aging left
& right. They have some nerve.
Today, no new wars, probably. No
big button. The owl could be
your scholar of trapped light or
Walter Benjamin who writes a storm
blows in from paradise. Thinking through
these things each week, you cross

the bridge: gold coils, fog, feelings…
syllables also can grow younger like
those jellyfish. You bring your quilt
of questions in the car. At
work, you’ll have to be patient
at the risky enterprise of talking
to other people; so little progress
in this since the Pleistocene. Mostly,
though, you’re calm when traveling: silver
nothing, moving right & left; day
releasing the caged stars; one thought
mixed with no-thought, packed with light…

-Brenda Hillman

Hope it's ok to sneak in. Nice new thread toppers for a happy new thread.

Eleven minutes have passed since you last edited your last post so I'm chancing this...........Happy New Thread, Mark!!
I see by your topper you're now hanging out on telephone lines! Awesome!!

Lovely topper and poem Marc! Happy new thread.

Happy new one, Mark. I love the Carlton painting on the top. It's lovely.

Happy new thread, my friend!

I kept getting distracted while posting the new thread, so that is my explanation. Damn you, RL! Grins...

>7 lindapanzo: Hooray for being Number 1, Linda. Glad you like the toppers.

>8 Carmenere: Thanks, Lynda. I am not fond of heights, so I am not sitting very far off the ground, as I read to my bird pals. Smiles...

>9 EllaTim: Thanks, Ella. Glad you like the topper and the poem.

>10 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. I have had that Carlton image saved for a long time. I am glad I finally used it.

>11 alphaorder: Thanks, Nancy.

Hope you're still in the warm air, Mark. I was taking a nap this afternoon with the windows open when the wind shifted off the lake. It's been in the 40's ever since. We refuse to put the heat back on but it's really chilly.

Happy new thread!

>4 msf59: That Cover has quite the 70s look to it!

Happy New Thread, amigo!

Looking forward to the warbles that await. Nice toppers up there.

>1 msf59: LOVE!!!

I'm barely keeping my head above water but wanted to swing by and say hello!

Happy new thread, Mark.

Happy new one, Mark. What a beautiful topper.

Happy new thread, Mark!

>1 msf59: Lovely paiting at the top, I like the cows grazing on a hill.
>2 msf59: Your January readings are misssing.

Hey Mark- how's those birds!? I agree with >15 Copperskye:, the cover in >4 msf59: is totally retro!

>13 msf59: Hey Marc, I've a question for you. I loved the poem you posted, but I also feel there's things in it, that I don't really 'get'. I still love it anyway.

So I wondered, did you feel the same, and how do you feel about that, do you feel you have to understand everything, that a poem is like a riddle you have to solve? (In order to be a good reader, or something, or for your own satisfaction?)

Happy new thread, Mark!

>14 lindapanzo: I don't think it ever really cooled off down here, Linda. We slept with the windows open.t was breezy though and remains so.

>15 Copperskye: Thanks, Joanne. Good to see you. The author of Black Swans: Stories seems to have been a big part of the 60s and 70s pop culture, so that observation fits, much like Joan Didion.

>16 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe. Happy Friday. Yes, more warbles to come, the bookish & birdy ones. What did you think of the poem up there?

>17 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Great to see you, stranger. I have missed you. Glad you like the toppers.

>18 Familyhistorian: >19 Ameise1: Thanks, Meg & Barb. Hugs to both.

>20 FAMeulstee: Thanks, Anita. I really like that colorful topper too. I can't fit all my yearly reads up there in post #2, so I usually just include the past 3 months or so. It is less to scroll through. Plus, you can find them pretty easily.

>21 LovingLit: Hi, Megan. The birds have been great. This is spring migration, so it is exciting for us birders. You are probably experiencing the reverse migration. Do you notice it at all?

>22 EllaTim: Hi, Ella. I have only been reading poetry, for a few years, and there is plenty of it, that I don't "get" either, including in a poem I love. Sometimes, while rereading it, the layers peel away and something is now clear. The nature of poetry, I guess.

>23 scaifea: Thanks, Amber.

'Morning, Mark, and happy new thread to you.

Nice toppers. Keep the cows two dimensional! I just noticed more damage from the cow invasion we had several weeks ago. Sigh.

Happy Friday, Mark!

The poem in >6 msf59:: I like the owl etching a lot. :-) The poem ain't bad, but it didn't zing me. "Days are unusual" isn't the greatest way to start, seems like.

I'm reading that Drawing from Memory graphic memoir by Allen Say and liking it. I hadn't realized he grew up in Japan, and studied graphic art there.

Hope the day goes well for you. Looks like it'll be windy but otherwise pretty good.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread, Mark!

>25 msf59: I like that idea Marc, of layers peeling away, with rereading, and some time. I don't like aging to do heavy analysis.

Happy Friday, Mark! Cavs won! :0)

>26 karenmarie: Morning, Karen and thanks. Boo, to the cow damage. Hope it was minimal.

>27 jnwelch: Morning, Joe! Happy Friday. Sorry, the poetry didn't to your horn, but that is poetry for you. Glad you like the owl though.

The graphic memoir sounds like a good one. I have not started a GN in awhile.

>28 drneutron: >29 harrygbutler: Thanks, Jim & Harry.

>30 EllaTim: I agree with you, Ella, on the heavy analysis. Let it come through naturally.

>31 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda. Hooray for the Cavs. They are on fire.

Happy New Thread!

I finally finished my audio of Bring Up the Bodies and after decided to go with American Wolf for my next audio. I just read a terrific review that Donna did and remembered that you had enjoyed it, too.

I laughed to see that one of its prominent tags is 'Mark's fault'; followed up and found this page under tags:

http://www.librarything.com/tag/Mark%27s+Fault

:) :)

>34 streamsong: I LOVE it, Janet. That just put a big smile on my face. This is something I definitely do not mind being blamed for.

Happy Friday, my friend. And I am glad you are going with American Wolf. It is an excellent read. You should love it.

Happy new thread Mark!

I started American Wolf. I'm only about 30-something pages in but definitely liking it. Thanks for the recommendation.

Educated is already on my list.

>36 SuziQoregon: Happy Friday, Juli and thanks. I am so glad you enjoying American Wolf. It only gets better and better. Enjoy!

^I did make my owl family visit today. Honestly, I thought the owlets had fledged and moved on, but one little guy remains. This is not my photo, but the image is pretty close. The willow tree is starting to green, so he will have more cover, but he was craning his head around to watch me. I will miss them, when they go, but hopefully I'll spot them as juveniles or adults, as I stroll through the woods.

-Harry Bliss

We are watching Duke for a couple of days. I have missed him. He is a good boy!

Late but happy new one, Mark!

Love >39 msf59:, lol!

Late on the scene again, Mark. So this thread, while newer than that previous one, is getting a bit shopworn.

Bwaaahaahaahaahaaa

>40 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley. I saw that comic in my newspaper this morning and knew I would share it.

>41 weird_O: Shopworn you say? I completely agree, Bill and I have 250 more posts to go. Sighs...

^I saw a white-crowned sparrow on the route today and then I saw another one, under my feeders, when I got home. Always a pleasure to see these guys.

#30
I often don’t understand things the first time I read them, and I think because poetry is stripped down prose that instead of making the meaning sharper and clearer it sometimes clouds the meaning. That leaves interpretation more open ended. That ambiguity, at times, makes me uncomfortable.

I also think that meaning changes given circumstances and stages in life. Time also affects meaning. The words don’t change, but what is going on inside and outside of me changes, therefore interpretation changes.

I find that the “meaning” in poetry is fluid, and sometimes that makes me uncomfortable.

I am deep into reading Killers of the FLower Moon and find this a very good book. I knew something about the Osage and the wealth that made them easy targets. A few years ago there was a good work of YA nonfiction about that same subject. Searching For Sarah Rector: The Richest Black Girl in America was written by a very fine YA nonfiction author Tonya Bolden. Bolden has written several other nonfiction works for children and YA audiences. I didn’t think the book on Sarah Rector was the best one written by Bolden, but it is about the only one out there on this subject for children and YA’s.

#4
Glad to assist a fellow reader. I have a copy of Eve’s Hollywood by Eve Babitz and knew I wouldn’t get around to reading this book of short stories for a long time. It is the kind of title that our library would get so I figured it could go to another happy home. I also knew that you were making an effort to get more short stories into your reading diet, so thought I would help out.

Happy Saturday, Mark.

>44 benitastrnad:- >46 benitastrnad:

Happy Saturday, Benita. Thanks for your thoughts on poetry. Sorry, much of it, makes you uncomfortable. If I don't "get" something or the whole thing, I just move on. If there is something I am unsure about, I will reread it a time or two and sometimes it comes through.

I am so glad you started Killers of the FLower Moon. It is NNF, at it's very best and a haunting one too. I did not know there was a YA novel about this subject. Interesting. I have taken note.

Black Swans: Stoires is off to a promising start. Her prose is crisp and clear. Thanks again.

>47 Ameise1: Hi, Barb. Have a good weekend.

I am heading out early today, to meet a couple co-workers for breakfast, before work. I will check in later. Gorgeous day in Chicagoland. 80 and sunny...

'Morning, Mark! I hope you have a nice breakfast with your co-workers. Yay to the White-Crowned Sparrows.

Poetry is hit or miss with me, and stodgy as it is, I prefer structured poetry - rhyming or following a specific pattern like haiku. The one exception is E.E. Cummings, although quite a few of his poem rhyme. Two of my favorites are She Being Brand which doesn't rhyme and I sing of Olaf glad and big which does.

>43 msf59: Good morning, Mark! Congrats on the white-crowned sparrows.

>50 karenmarie: Like Karen, I prefer structured poetry. In addition, my taste tends toward narrative verse rather than lyric, though I can appreciate well-crafted shorter poems as well.

Happy Saturday, Mark! It's a beauty of a day over here, hope your sharing in the sunshine.
hahaha, perhaps the little white crowned sparrow followed you home.

>50 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Breakfast was nice. Just 4 of us, but we are all old pals. Shaping up to be a gorgeous day.

Thanks for your thoughts on poetry. It is interesting how different, it affects us.

>51 harrygbutler: Morning, Harry. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on poetry. Whatever works, I always say.

Do you see white crowned sparrows in your neck of the woods?

>52 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda. It is going to be a beauty here today too. Plenty of sunshine, low humidity and light winds. All adds up to: Happy Camper!

Do you see white-crowns at your feeders? I also want to see a white-throated. Also nice looking birds.

Happy Saturday, Mark! Enjoy your pooch sitting!

>55 ChelleBearss: Morning, Chelle. We love Duke, but he barked off and on, during the night and this can get irritating. Maybe, he hears something down the street, like a car door slamming, who knows.

Happy Saturday, Mark. Nice one out there.

Interesting to see the poetry discussion. I've been a little better about posting to the Poetry thread. Paul got me thinking about who my ten favorite poets are, so I'm figuring it out. One of them is the 18th-19th century Zen poet Ryokan, whom I'm reading again now - One Robe, One Bowl. Tracy K. Smith has convinced me, so I think she'll be on it, too.

I'm late to wish you happy on your newest thread, Mark! I loved the cartoon in >39 msf59:, and the white-crowned sparrow is so pretty - I have never seen one of those.

Best thing on twitter today:

“my mom put oil on her bird feeder to keep squirrels from stealing the bird food and”

https://twitter.com/christinaroto/status/992501036219846656

Hey Mark, thanks for the tip about the Audubon app. It was indispensable on this morning's bird walk. We were in a park north of the city, a small park but one the organizers said always yielded a lot of birds. Today was no exception: 24 species sighted, and the guide pointed out many more through their songs & calls. I guess I could have used a notebook & a pen, but the app makes it easy and I never could have reconstructed my list from memory after the fact.

Enjoy your day of nice weather on the route, Mark. It is shaping up to be a nice day here too although I will be stuck inside volunteering for a few hours. I will have to make time to get out in it later.

>50 karenmarie: In school, I was never too big on poetry. As I get older, I wish I knew more. I've reserved the new book, How to Read Poetry Like a Professor from the library. The subtitle is: A Quippy and Sonorous Guide to Verse. I'm hoping to learn a lot and maybe understand why I like some but not others.

Mark, hope you're enjoying this beautiful day. Sunny and 80, a gentle breeze, and almost no humidity. I sat outside with my "read outside" book, Donna Leon's Dressed for Death. I can't read on my Kindle Fire outdoors, either with or without sunglasses and so, during the warmer months, I keep a PB handy, near my sunglasses, for outdoors reading.

>56 msf59: - He was probably a bit disoriented, waking up and not being in his own place. Or maybe he was calling for your daughter!

Gorgeous day here today too. I had plenty to clean up in my back yard after yesterday's insane wind storm.

>59 SuziQoregon: - Oh, that is priceless!

Happy Saturday, faithful visitors! I had to do some mad-dash errands after work and now we are heading out for the evening. Our friends have their new camper set up, at a forest preserve campgound, (a short distance away) so we are going to join them for a few hours, of laughs and brews, taking full advantage of this gorgeous day.

Thanks for stopping by and I'll reply to everyone later or in the morning.

>43 msf59: Hey,Mark thanks for helping me identify some birds I've seen. I've seen the white crowned sparrow a few times while out walking, but I did not know what I was looking at until your bird popped up there. I'm fairly certain I've seen bushtits as well. Behind our place are a couple of big cherry trees and they are often busy with birds. But I think I'd need binoculars to know for sure what is on the tree. I've seen some birds with " yellow " on them - but more than that, I"m not sure ;-)

Happy New Thread!

Enjoy your outdoor time!

#48
The YA book is nonfiction. One of those YA picture biography’s and Bolden is a well known author of that kind of nonfiction for YA’s.

>57 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Sorry, for the long delay on the response, but I finally got a chance to sit down for a few minutes, for LT time. I will be leaving in less than an hour for a morning bird walk. LOL.

I think that is great you are making a list of your favorite poets. I will give it a few years, before I can make that distinction. I am not familiar with Ryokan. Would it be something I could relate to?

>58 Crazymamie: Thanks, Mamie. Yah, for the white-crowned sparrows!

>59 SuziQoregon: Hi, Juli. My daughter sent me that squirrel video too. LOL.

>60 lauralkeet: Morning, Laura! Hooray for Audubon apps & seeing 24 bird species. That is impressive. Did you list any of the birds, that you saw? I keep a notebook, with me and take notes and then add anything interesting to the app later on. The E Bird app is also very good, for keeping a checklist, with much more detail. This is the perfect time to get out for a bird walk.

>61 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. It was a beautiful July-like day yesterday. A bit cooler today, but not bad at all. We will take it.

>62 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. I should get How to Read Poetry Like a Professor from the library. It could be useful. Yes, it was a lovely day yesterday.

>63 jessibud2: I think you are right about your observations, about Duke. He definitely was better last night. He sleeps in her old bed. She will pick him up today. I also hope she picks up his poop too. Grins...

>66 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb. Glad I could help you identify the white-crowned sparrows. They are striking, aren't they? White-throated sparrows are also nice looking birds. I haven't seen one this year yet. We do not get bushtits here but they are adorable. Somewhat like our chickadees.

>67 banjo123: Thanks, Rhonda. I definitely plan on it.

>68 benitastrnad: Thanks, Benita. I will have to look into Bolden's work.

^Heading out on an early organized bird walk. This will be at a new location for me and it is supposed to be very productive. Looking forward to it.

>70 msf59: Mark, I thought about bringing a small notebook but in my morning fog, I forgot. So I entered my sightings in the app in real time. It doesn't require much detail so it was pretty doable and I will probably stick with that method. We saw some of the usual suspects (robin, blue jay, grackle, house sparrow, catbird), several warbler species (9 on my list), and, to everyone's surprise, an osprey flew over the park at one point. Very cool. I hope you have a great walk this morning!

I am getting later and later to the party, Mark.

Missing being able to whizz around the threads with my usual gay abandon but at least I have the time today to wish you a wonderful Sunday, dear fellow.

Good morning, Mark, and good luck on your walk.

>59 SuziQoregon: Thanks for sharing! That is an absolute riot.

Happy Sunday, Mark. I hope you're having a good bird walk.

>59 SuziQoregon: LOL! Love that sliding squirrel. My squirrel-fighting dad (protecting our bird feeders when I was a kid) would get a kick out of that.

>69 msf59: Yes, there's a very good chance you'd enjoy Ryokan, Mark. Zen simplicity; he reminds me of Cold Mountain (Han Shan).

Hi Mark, late to the new thread but you’ve got plenty of company. Love the Mark’s fault tag.

Hi, Mark! I'm just stopping by to wish you a good week ahead!

A nice finish to the CTM season. These seasons seem to be getting shorter and shorter.

Another long, active day in Chicagoland. Not, one down moment, not one page read, but no regrets here. Wonderful birding and great humane activities.
I am glad I have tomorrow off, to regroup...

>73 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. Use, whatever works for you. I like things in print. Perfect for reference and to keep printed record of what I saw and did, throughout the year.

>74 PaulCranswick: Great to see you, Paul. I want to see you flitting around again, with gay abandon.

>75 karenmarie: Hi, Karen. Great bird walk. Report to follow...

>76 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. It was a very good day, despite no reading or LT time. I will catch up on both....

>77 brenzi: Hi, Bonnie. Good to see you. Hooray for the Mark's Fault Tag. I live for this.

>78 tymfos: Hi, Terri. Good to see you, stranger.

>79 lindapanzo: Happy Sunday, Linda. We are a couple of episodes behind on CTM. Hope to catch up this week.

^Golden-Winged Warbler, (lifer)

I had a terrific organized bird walk this morning. Nearly 3 1/2 hours. We saw nearly 15-16 warblers, and I probably saw a dozen clearly, with at least three lifer sightings, including the gorgeous golden-winged. I will post a couple more photos. Other highlights were: green herons, sandhill crane, eastern towhees, red-headed woodpecker, indigo bunting, bluebird, blue-headed vireo and rose-breasted grosbeak.



-Blackburnian Warbler, (another favorite).

Sounds like a great bird walk, Mark. I'm quite sure I Northern Flicker yesterday out on my walk with Poppy. It had very distinctive markings that I tried to memorize as I watched and checked my book ID book at home. My walks with Poppy are that much more interesting as I keep an eye out for the birds. Lovely warblers!

I am almost inspired, Mark, by your early morning energy. But I've been a night owl most of my life, hence the "almost".

Got half the yard mowed yesterday, then was saved by rain this afternoon. Tomorrow is supposed to be nice, so I'll do the south acre then. Interrupting for a 2 p.m. appointment at the P.O. for to apply for passports. Spendy business just to get out of the country. :-)

Finished a Hamill today. Also a Tey.

Glad to hear that your birdwatching was a success. Wishing you a good start into the new week.

>82 msf59: nice! The warblers are on the move and very plentiful this time of year. We saw 12 species on our walk, but not the two you show in your post. My fave from our walk was the American Redstart (a lifer!)

>83 vancouverdeb: Hi, Deb. Glad to hear that your walks with Poppy have grown brighter, as you browse for birds. Northern Flickers are good looking woodpeckers. I sometimes see them foraging on the ground. They have a brown back, but with a white spot on the back of their tail, which you clearly see, as they fly away.

>84 weird_O: Hi, Bill. I love owls but I am definitely not a Night Owl...closer to a Morning Owl. Good luck with the mowing. I know you have a lot to do. My son cut my back grass yesterday and i will do the front today. It is looking shabby.

What country are you venturing to?

>85 Ameise1: Hi, Barb. It was a very nice, but busy weekend. I have another one planned for next week.

>86 lauralkeet: Hooray for the Redstart! Aren't they beautiful? We saw one yesterday too. A female was spotted too, but their coloring is more of a duller brown. I have no idea how people can ID them. I am continuously amazed by these wacky birders. LOL.

-Eastern Towhee. I like these guys. I didn't realize they were part of the sparrow family.



-Red-Headed Woodpecker. Another favorite.

^These were also seen on yesterdays walk.

Good morning, Mark, and happy Monday to you!

So glad you had such a great birding adventure yesterday. Thanks for the pictures! The Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks have finished migrating through here.

>90 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Rose-Breasted Grosbeak was one of the last birds I spotted yesterday, although a couple of others were seen flying. I really like the look of these birds. I think our grosbeaks summer here. I am off today, so you know I'll be out for a stroll, a bit later.

>53 msf59: Hi, Mark. We don't have the white-crowned sparrows around here, so far as I know. We do have at least one chipping sparrow back around the feeders.

>82 msf59: >89 msf59: Sounds like a great walk, Mark! I saw my first Blackburnian warbler within the last couple years; I don't think I've seen the golden-winged.

Morning, Mark! Lots of great bird photos. Sounds like a most excellent bird walk yesterday.

I finished Lilac Girls, and do highly recommend it. Remarkably well-researched, well-written, and well-structured. The different POVs of the 3 women - wow. Harrowing, but remarkable.

>48 msf59: Sorry to hear your pooch friend is a barker. That can get tiring. Our pooch that passed away was a barker and it drove me bonkers. One of our neighbours fosters rescue dogs and one of the dogs she has now is a very aggressive barker but we can't even get mad about the constant noise as apparently the pooch had a rather rough life so far.

Hope you had a good weekend!

Glad you had such a busy but fulfilling Sunday, Mark! Now you can enjoy your day off :)

Will I be banned from your thread if I admit that most birds look the same to me? Heh.

>88 msf59: I have no idea how people can ID them. I am continuously amazed by these wacky birders. LOL.

I know, right?! Our guide last weekend was the Director of Urban Conservation for Audubon PA, and he really knew his stuff. He was able to identify birds by songs and calls. When he heard something he would imitate it to help us hear it, and then try to locate the bird so we could see it as well. He was amazing, so much expertise. It made me realize if I trained my ear I could better identify birds -- definitely a long-term goal.

Hi Mark. Thought you might enjoy this article:

http://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/attracting-birds/feeding-birds/squirrel-pr...

>82 msf59:

Another impressive list!

I think there was a Scarlet Tanager in the Amur Maple outside our kitchen window - is that likely?

>92 harrygbutler: Hi, Harry. I have only seen the one white-crowned sparrow at the feeders. I am sure I'll be seeing more. We have one little chipping sparrow that visits regularly. An industrious little guy. Aren't those Blackburnian warbler beauties?

>93 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. I hope folks don't tire of the bird photos and chatter. Once the spring migration is over, things will slow down over here. Grins...

It looks like I should find a copy of Lilac Girls. Sounds like a winner.

>94 ChelleBearss: Hi, Chelle. I am not a big fan of barking dogs either- At home or on the route. We have been lucky so far, although Reese, Bree's first shepard was a bit of a barker and drove me nuts. And yes, I had a very good weekend.

>95 katiekrug: Hi, Katie. Great to see you. Yes, it was a busy weekend but mostly a fun one and next weekend will be the same.

No worries, about being banned from here. Even if you hated birds, (although, not books...grins) you would always be welcome here. I am actually surprised and pleased that most of my visitors seem to like the bird chatter.

>96 lauralkeet: I would like to slowly learn bird calls too, Laura and I have started a bit. There is a cd, from Peterson Field Guides, called Bird Songs, Eastern/Central, that I have in my itunes, that I sample now and then. I should be putting more time in though. Everything at our own pace, right?

>97 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. Thanks for the link. That could be very handy, for folks, with squirrel/bird feeder issues. So far, they haven't been bothering me much, so I am content...for now. Cayenne pepper, mixed in with the bird seed? Interesting, although it does say it may be harmful to the birds eyes, so that takes care of that.

>98 m.belljackson: Thanks, Marianne. There is a very good likelihood that you saw a scarlet tanager. They are back. Aren't they stunning? I am waiting to see my first of the year.

>101 msf59: - I agree, Mark. I would never use anything that is harmful to any creature, even squirrels. I still love the idea of that greased pole, up there in the thread, lol! Those very pricy but very cool feeders from the Yankee Flipper company are hilarious. There are 4 models and my local Nature store has the demo video going all the time. Such entertainment! Out of my budget bracket but there is probably a good reason for that!

>102 jessibud2: I was tempted to try the old Vaseline trick on the suet pole, to discourage the squirrels but learned that the grease is not good for the squirrel's fur. That ended that idea. We just persevere, don't we? Since I secured the suet box, with a clip and attached it better to the pole, I really haven't had any problems. They still hang there and nibble around the edges, including the plastic casing, but not doing any real harm.

^Hey, I saw an adult Great Horn Owl today, at a small forest preserve near my house. I did get a tip, awhile back that a pair of GHO's nest in this area and whammo, I saw it. I had a clear view too, perched on a branch, out in the open, like in this photo. Her back was to me, but I made a small whistle, and her head swiveled around and she looked right at me. A few minutes later she flew off to a tree somewhere behind her. I do not know if it was a female, but let's go with that.

I started the morning at the Arboretum and it was a gorgeous day there. Not as spectacular as yesterday, (bird-wise) but I did see another red-headed woodpecker, (love these guys) and a couple indigo buntings, which I also adore.

>104 msf59: well done, Mark. You'll be leading bird walks before you know it!

I'm only 105 posts behind... pah!

Morning Mark - love all the birdie pics.

>104 msf59: Beautiful owl, and near your house, maybe you'll see her more often.
Love the warblers you have seen, so colourful!
Have a nice day.

>104 msf59: Beautiful. Happy Tuesday, Mark.

Morning, Mark!

>105 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. I have a long, long way to go, before I lead anything, but one step at a time, right?

>106 BekkaJo: Hi, Bekka. Good to see you. I haven't been around the threads much either, so I understand.

>107 EllaTim: Love my owls, Ella. There are owls at the Arboretum too, which I am always looking for, but have yet to see one. It will be a matter of time.

>108 Ameise1: Thanks, Barb. Hope you are having a good holiday.

>109 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

^It may surprise many of you, but I am still reading books, just a bit slower than normal. I am about halfway done with Black Swans: Stories, which has been really good and my audio is still, A Plague of Giants. Lots of characters to keep track of, but it has been fun. Also hope to start Tracy K. Smith's poetry collection today too. See? My intentions are good...

Looks to be another beautiful day in the Midwest. We are putting together a nice stretch.

Still no hummingbirds or orioles at my feeders. Sighs...

'Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you.

I love the bird chatter.

My friend Louise has seen an Orchard Oriole, lucky lady. She also saw a pair of Cedar Waxwings. I'm just seeing the usual suspects, but I love watching them.

>104 msf59: Wow! You are really racking up the spots.

>111 msf59: Fingers crossed for some humingbirds for you. We just have our standard visitors, but due to Spring, they are all on top performance mode, so entertaining to watch.

Morning, Mark.

>104 msf59: I had a clear view too, perched on a branch, out in the open, like in this photo. I had a vision of you out there, perched on a branch, getting a really good look at that GHO. :-)

Can't wait to hear what you think of the Tracy K. Smith book.

>110 msf59: I totally get that, Mark. Your birding passion & knowledge have grown so much in a short time, I could definitely see you doing something more with it. #retirementgoals amirite?

Morning, Mark! Happy Tuesday!

>112 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Hooray for bird chatter. I have not seen a orchard oriole yet. I do not think they are very common here. Waxwings are but I have not seen many this year...yet.

>113 charl08: Hi, Charlotte. There is another LTer that likes bird chatter. I have had the hummingbird feeder up for 2 weeks,or more. I am surprised at no sightings.

>114 jnwelch: LOL. Nice catch, Joe. My tree climbing days, are long over, even for my beloved birds. Looking forward to cracking the Smith collection.

Good morning, Mark! Congrats on the GHO sighting, and good luck with looking for it again in the future.

>115 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura. Obviously, I could be working even harder at it, but I do have other interests, to attend to...grins.

Ooh, retirement goals...such sweet words.

>116 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie.

>118 harrygbutler: Morning, Harry. I have a couple other locations, to keep trying for owls. Hopefully, I will begin to learn a pattern. They do seem to stay in a general area.

I am loving American Wolf!!

Good morning, Mark! I hope all is well with you.

Still enjoying the Chernow Grant bio. I'm on disc 18. I think I may take a break at the end of the Civil War and listen to a Joe Picikett. I'll take up Grant's presidency and later life afterward.

>120 SuziQoregon: Hooray for American Wolf, Juli. I am very happy you are loving it. Sometimes the Mark's Fault Tag shines through.

>121 brodiew2: Hi, Brodie. Good to see you. That is a monster bio, so I am not surprised that you might take a break with Mr. Pickett. Fine idea.

^Spring color & spring warmth, on the route. This is what we have been waiting for. I can do without the roaring leaf/grass blowers, though. Prefer birdsong...

Well, Mark, I'm holding you responsible for yesterday's purchase. Birds of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest . The bill's in the mail :-) I already had a couple from long ago, Common Birds of British Columbia and Birds of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. When I need a pair of binoculars, I'll send the bill your way too .

Yesterday I spent a couple of hours at the dentist. I decided I needed a bit of a reward - thus the book-which I was lucky to find in that small bookstore. Maybe I should charge the dentist for my bird book purchase. Hmmm.

When I was in Costco today I saw the book Birds of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest and had to pick it up. That definitely gets the Mark's fault tag.

>124 vancouverdeb: Oh, samesies, Deb. I didn't see your post before I posted.

See what you have started, Mark!

>124 vancouverdeb: Wow, this warbling is going to cost me a lot of money. LOL. Congrats on the bird books, Deb. They come in very handy. I should spend more time looking through them, myself. You definitely should get a nice, lightweight pair of binoculars, for your walks. Can you imagine, what you have been missing?

>125 Familyhistorian: There goes a few more Mark's Fault Tag entries, Meg. This is something I have no problem with...grins mischievously.

>124 vancouverdeb: WoW, I admire your choice of stress treatment, I usually immediately go and buy some cookies after a dentist visit.

>129 msf59: - Lol!

>127 msf59: I just bought my husband a pair of binoculars from this company. https://www.opticsplanet.com/s/birding-binoculars

You can see many are on the expensive side, but I got him a great pair at a really good price. Plus his have a lifetime warranty. Worth the investment. I like to think about it in terms of cost per hour of birding and it is not very much.

Also, they are an IL company with excellent customer service. The pair I ordered said they were in stock, but when they went to ship them an hour later they weren't. A customer service rep called me immediately, offered me a better pair at a lower price, shipped them overnight, and sent me an email so I can contact him directly if I ever need anything.

Sorry for the long post, but I was so thrilled with the experience, I want those who are looking for quality binocs to check them out!

Good morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you!

>123 msf59: I always like seeing your seasonal route photos. Thanks for the newest. I'm afraid that today I'm going to be amongst the roaring leaf blower crowd as I work to get the back porch area fit for spring.

>129 msf59: Excellent. LOL.

>54 msf59: Happy Hump Day, Mark! LOL I don't know if I have white-crowned or white-throated sparrows at my feeder. I need to pay closer attention or perhaps put a new pair of binoculars on my wish list too. :0}

Morning, Mark!

>149 Ameise1: LOL! I saw your post of it on FB, too.

I'm probably one of the last 75ers to get to it, but I started Sing, Unburied, Sing. Great writing so far.

The rain has started where we are, but at least it's a decent temp. Hope today goes okay for you.

>130 jessibud2: Hooray for Mohawks!

>131 alphaorder: Morning, Nancy. It stopped raining here at the moment, but it got cooler. Thanks for the binocs link. I hope someone finds it useful. I paid about $300, for mine and I think they treat me just fine. One day, I might save up for a more expensive pair.

>132 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I was waiting for the right moment for the spring photo and that one worked out fine.

>129 msf59: Funny!

>135 msf59: We got our good binoculars at the NJ Audubon Society store down in southern New Jersey during a special optics sale / event, though I can't recall the prices we paid when we got them some years ago. I highly recommend finding a place where it is possible to try out many different pairs of binoculars before buying, as weight and size and fit really matter; although Erika's binoculars are very good, they aren't a good fit for me and don't work as well with my glasses as my pair (also very good, but not binoculars that Erika cares for).

>136 harrygbutler: I agree that trying binocs is a good idea. I had tried the ones I ordered for my husband - my coworker had a pair. But then they were out of stock.

>137 alphaorder: I think we were a bit surprised at how much our experiences of the different binoculars differed, and we were grateful there were many to try out. It does sound like the company did quite right by you. Good binoculars really do make quite a difference in terms of how pleasurable birding in the field is, so as you say, they're an excellent investment.

>133 Carmenere: Morning, Lynda. Definitely, invest in a pair of binocs. They are still invaluable, at the feeders too. White-crowned have electric white stripes on their heads, making them stand out.

>134 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. It is dry here at the moment. We might get lucky. I am so glad you started Sing, Unburied, Sing. Ward is such a favorite of mine.

>136 harrygbutler: Morning, Harry. That is sage advice about the binoc buying. If my wife ever wants her own pair, I will definitely try this.
I have been wearing a binocular harness, for over a year now. It really takes the stress off your neck.

^I know many of you will be shocked, (sit down if you have to) but I did finish a book today, (Black Swans: Stories and it was excellent, thank you very much) so I am moving on to this month's AAC author, Peter Hamill and will start Tabloid City tomorrow. This will be my first Hamill.

I should also wrap up, my current audio, A Plague of Giants tomorrow. See? It isn't just all about birds.

>131 alphaorder: Nancy, thanks for the binoculars link. I've been thinking about replacing/upgrading the ones we have, which we bought several years ago. I'd at least like to compare them with what's available now.

Hi Mark!! *waves *

^The Encyclopedia of North American Birds was sent to me, by a very special LT pal, Linda L. How she knew, I liked birds, is a complete mystery. Thank you, my friend. It is also a very nice volume, with stunning photos. It will see some use.

The Hamill I mentioned earlier and the brew is Surly Furious from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sadly, I have not been there...yet.

>123 msf59: Nice. About time.

Hi Mark, how on earth did it get to be Wednesday already! It seems the older I get the faster times goes by. I am sorting through my books and choosing which ones I will take with me when we head out for our road trip next week. We plan to do less driving and more relaxing, reading and walking.

>141 lauralkeet: Big waves to Laura! Let us know, if you buy new binocs.

>143 BLBera: Amen, Beth.

>144 DeltaQueen50: " It seems the older I get the faster times goes by." My Dad always used to say that, Judy. I guess, you better make the best of it, right? And you sure seem to be doing just that. I will have to stop by and see where you are heading this time.

Birdwatching story: Took the dog out this morning, and on the way back to the house, I looked up and saw a foul fowl standing on the chimney cap. Big and black. Just looking at the scenery...or more likely, looking for something dead. 'Twas a t.v. (turkey vulture). The only time I've seen a tv on the ground is when it is noshing on road kill. It always waits just a little too long to get airborne. Such an ungainly bird. Boy, once it's up and gliding, it is marvelous to watch, silently surfing the thermals, banking and turning, just an occasional flex of those huge wings. Sailing.

>140 msf59: Tabloid City is a good one, Mark, at least so far.

>129 msf59: Love it! Congrats on the new bird encyclopedia (nice job Linda!) and on finishing a book. Sweet. : )

Sweet Thursday, Mark.

>146 weird_O: Hey, Bill. Thanks for the turkey vulture sighting and spot-on description. Nice imagery. I should be seeing many of these, this weekend.

>147 Familyhistorian: Great to know, Meg. I should start it later this morning.

>148 Berly: Hi, Kimmers. Great to see you. Looking forward to spending more time with the bird encyclopedia.

>149 Ameise1: Sweet Thursday, Barb.

^After work today, I am heading due north, to Wisconsin for the Bird Festival. If those of you remember, I went up to Horicon Marsh last September and wanted to come back in the spring. It is such a cool place. Friday's bird outing will be 6-5 and Sat 6-12, so I will be busy. And as a bonus, I will meet Nancy in Milwaukee, Saturday afternoon, for lunch and brews, before returning home.

I probably won't be able to post much, after today but I will do my best.

>151 msf59: Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday, Mark! Incredible birding at Horicon. Hope the weather cooperates.

Have a terrific time Mark!

Morning, Mark! Wishing you safe travels and a weekend full of fabulous, my friend!

Have a great time at your bird festival! Hope you had safe travels and great weather!

Hi Mark! Have fun at the Bird Festival!

>152 alphaorder: Morning, Nancy. Funny, we had such a nice week, weather-wise and now it is supposed to be cool, with possible rain, the next 2 days. Sighs...

You know I will make the best of it. See you soon.

>153 jessibud2: Thanks, Shelley.

>154 Crazymamie: Morning, Mamie and thanks, my friend.

>151 msf59: Good morning, Mark! Enjoy the birding festival!

>155 ChelleBearss: >156 karenmarie: >158 harrygbutler: Thanks, Chelle, Karen & Harry. Looking forward to it.

Have a fantastic time, Mark. I hope the weather and the birds cooperate. :)

Sweet Thursday, Mark. Have a great time in Wisconsin! I look forward to tales of the North country.

Enjoy the bird festival.

Enjoy, Mark. Hope you're bringing your long underwear. Very chilly north.

>160 MickyFine: >161 jnwelch: >162 Ameise1: Thanks, Micky, Joe and Barb. I have arrived and I am getting ready for tomorrow, despite the cruddy forecast.

>163 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. Fortunately, I did bring warmer clothes, but no long underwear. It may only be in the 40s, here tomorrow. WTH?

>151 msf59: I hope you have a great time!

I hope that all the birds that you see make up for the questionable weather, Mark.

Enjoy your trip, Mark. Yesterday I was visiting my sister with the bird feeder and saw an American Gold Finch. Apparently they are quite common around here. Now that I have actually seen one, I'll be better able to identify one if I see while out walking.

>164 msf59: Should have come further north, Mark. We've got a forecasted high of 25C (77F) for tomorrow. ;)

>168 MickyFine: - We are currently at 8C!! Brrr. ;-p

>169 jessibud2: That was our high yesterday in E-town. Drizzly day all of yesterday. But it's warming up today and we're into summer-ish temperatures for much of next week. Yippee!

Could not have ordered a more miserable day for birding. The temps barely got out of the 30s and it rained most of the day. Yesterday, was sunny and 75, when I got here. That said I saw 42 species, including 5 lifers. The group saw more than double that number, which was low, compared to past years but still impressive, IMHO. The boating part of the tour was cancelled, due to lack of participation. It would have been awful, sitting in the open like that, so I am not disappointed.

My lifers included purple martins, yellow-headed blackbirds, (a new favorite) and the endangered whooping crane. There are only 400 in the wild.

I am back in my room, drinking a beer, (duh!) and watching the Cubs slaughter the Sox. I may venture out for an evening stroll, if it stops raining.

Sounds like a good time despite the weather Mark.

>171 msf59: 42 species is pretty darn good, Mark, but I'm sorry the weather was so crappy.

Sounds like a good day, despite the weather.

Loved how the Cubs wallopped the Sox today. Willson Contreras had a great day at the plate on Willson Contreras BobbleHead Day.

Of course, I went back out for an hour, after dinner and hiked around, solo. The rain had stopped but it was still breezy and chilly. I saw more warblers. I think I ended up seeing 9 different ones today. A couple, I just couldn't put a bead on. The group saw 15, I believe.

Sipping a final brew and playing a little catch-up over here...

>165 EBT1002: >166 Familyhistorian: Despite the cruddy weather, I made the best of it today. Thanks, Ellen & Meg.

>167 vancouverdeb: Thanks, Deb. Goldfinch are also very common here, all year round and easy to spot, with that bright yellow coloring. I just saw 4 of them, as I was calling it a day.

>168 MickyFine: Hi, Micky. Good to see you. I want your weather.

>169 jessibud2: It looks like we are sharing the same weather, Shelley. Are you getting rain too?

>172 Caroline_McElwee: Yes, I did. Thanks, Caroline.

>173 lauralkeet: I was hoping for at least 50, Laura. For some odd reason, several of the most common birds, no one saw today. I didn't have a cardinal, chickadee, bluejay and only one woodpecker...a downy.

>174 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. Yep, the Cubs gave the Sox a good thrashing. Go Willy. He has been red-hot.

>177 msf59: - The rain is supposed to come tomorrow, Mark, though not as much as they predicted earlier. Then, after tomorrow, the sun comes out, the temps go up and this chill will be behind us. Phew!

Forty-two species, including 5 lifers! That is no slouch birding day despite the miserable weather! It sounds like you're having a good trip.

Hi Mark! I'm sorry to hear about the yucky weather, but you're getting some good birding in. Yay for all of your new lifers, especially the whooping crane!

Wish we could send you some of our weather, Mark. It's hot and sunny here - high of 23C today, 29C tomorrow. That would be nice except for flooding as the snow pack melts quickly.

Yay, for the new lifers!

Following your thread has made me a bit more aware of the birds around me. I've been seeing snowy egrets here on the beach outside my condo during my evening walks. The yellow feet caught my eye at first...



ETA: not my pic, but there are two in particular I see most every time I go for a walk.

I'm glad that you've been staying in a motel/ hotel/ lodge of whatever. For some reason I picture you camping in that rather poor birding weather and I just shivered for you.

^Yellow-Headed Blackbird. This was my favorite bird of the trip, with absolutely no disrespect to the other special birds, I saw along the way. The Yellow-Headed was on my regional bucket-list and I am glad to have finally have checked it off the list. They can be seen in northern Illinois, but you have to get lucky.



^Whooping Crane. In second place, (and it was damn close) is this endangered bird. We saw one, lonely crane, standing in a field. There are only 400 of these left on earth and Wisconsin has over a 100 of them. They are trying to increase their numbers but it has been a tough battle.

>184 msf59: Congratulations with those two Marc. Love the yellow-headed, but I'm most jealous of the Whooping Crane. Only 400 left is bad news.

I hope you have a nice Sunday, and at least some spots of better weather.

>184 msf59: - Wow, that blackbird is stunning! Glad the lousy weather didn't seem to impede your sitings

>178 jessibud2: Morning, Shelley. I ran out of gas last night, after my whirlwind birding extravaganza and never got a chance to reply. It was cool here in Chicagoland when I got back and it rained a lot during the night. Today looks a bit better today and much warmer next week.

>179 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. I was able to beat Friday's totals, on Saturday, by spotting 54 species, in less time too, although the weather was much nicer.

>180 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. I will have to tally up my lifers, for the weekend. Maybe 6? I will report back...

>181 Familyhistorian: I sure wish we could have had you weather on Friday, Meg. Actually, it was beautiful here on Thursday and dropped 40 degrees on Friday, along with the cold rain. But...I still made the best of it.

>154 Crazymamie: wow, those are two really amazing birds, Mark. I'm also glad the weather improved for you!

>182 drneutron: Ooh, I love the snowy egret. What a good looking bird, with cool feet. I have yet to see one. It seems like they stay in the southern regions and Florida, may be as far north as they come. Maybe, some day?

>183 vancouverdeb: Thank God I was not camping, Deb. LOL. That would have been truly miserable. I stayed at an old, no-frills motel, but it was warm, dry and clean.

>185 EllaTim: Hi, Ella. Thanks to many dedicated conservationists, they were able to bring back the whooping cranes, from the brink of extinction. It is quite a success story but the fight continues and they remain endangered. There were only 20 left, back in the 1940s.

>186 jessibud2: Happy Sunday, Shelley. I definitely made the best of it. It was great being around such impassioned bird lovers. I only saw the osprey briefly, sitting on a nest. I wish I could have seen her flying. I did see a bald eagle, perched and flying.

^Happy Wishes to all the Mothers out there. My Mom has been gone 24 years, (she would have been 78, this month) but I never stop thinking about her, especially when I look at my kids and wish she could have been part of their lives. They would have loved her too.

Happy Mother's Day to my wife too, who has done a fine job, with our children. We are going over to Bree's house for a cookout.

>188 lauralkeet: I think you meant #184, correct? Grins...and yes, they are beauties.

Wishing you a great weekend, buddy.

>191 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. Good to see you.

^On my way back from Horicon Marsh, I stopped in Milwaukee and met Nancy for lunch, at the Black Husky Brewery. Nancy picked us up a pizza and we ate, chatted and enjoyed some brews. Always nice catching up with one of my favorite LT pals.

My face is a bit sunburned here, from yesterday morning's bird outing. I didn't think I needed sunscreen, but obviously I was wrong. It turned out much more pleasant than Friday, although it was still cool.

Loved getting together with you! We have a great conversation every time.

>184 msf59: Nice bird sightings, Mark. It seems like you had a worthwhile time. Yes, don't forget the sunscreen!

>194 alphaorder: I agree, Nancy. We will be back up, sometime over the summer. Enjoy your Mother's Day.

>195 BLBera: Thanks, Beth. I am usually very good at applying sunscreen. This time I failed but it was only a minor case. Have a good Mother's Day.

Good morning, Mark! Happy Mother's Day to your lovely wife.

My Mom's only been gone a year and a half, and I miss her all the time. Holidays and her birthday are always sad now because I could expect a call and I loved buying cards for her.

Yay for the lifers! I need to read up about the Whooping Cranes recovery.

FYI
The Whooping Crane is on its way back. At one time there were only about 20 of the birds left in the wild. To have 400 is as remarkable as the comeback of the California Condor.

When I was growing up in Kansas - every once-in-a-great-while, somebody would see a Whooper and it would get reported in the paper, (Of course the same thing was true of Deer back in the day. Seeing a deer was that rare.) and talked about for days after. Now people are talking about spotting wildcats and even an occasional cougar. Now there is talk of reintroducing the Grizzly Bear to Northern Washington State. In some ways this country has done a remarkable job of preserving some species - but we aren’t done yet.

>197 karenmarie: Happy Sunday, Karen. Yep, we miss our mothers don't we. Unfortunately, mine was taken far to young.

And yes, read up on the Whooping Cranes. It is great story.

>198 benitastrnad: Happy Sunday, Benita. Thanks for sharing the Whooping Crane story. You are correct, hunters nearly wiped them out and there were only 20-something, in the 1940s.

I wonder how the residents of Washington state feel about the grizzlies? It was very controversial in Wyoming, along with the wolves, re-introduction.

^We have hummingbirds! The Ruby-Throated have returned to my feeder. My wife first spotted them on Friday and I have seen them a couple of times today. Yah!

No, Baltimore Orioles yet, though. Although I did spot one at the Bird Festival yesterday:

>193 msf59: LT meetups are always special Mark.

>201 Caroline_McElwee: They sure are, Caroline. These are treasured events.

Yay for the hummingbirds. In another life I will have a garden they can visit!

Looks like you enjoyed your LT meet up and even remembered to take a photo! It is encouraging that the Whooping Crane made a significant come back from frighteningly low numbers in the '40s.

>190 msf59: It is nice to celebrate mothers with a special but it can be a sad reminder for those of us who have lost our mothers along the way. It is good that your children do something for their mom.

>190 msf59: oops, yep, you caught my typo, Mark.
I'm really sorry you lost your mom when she was still so young. I hope you enjoyed your cookout.

What a great weekend! A bird festival and an LT meetup. (>193 msf59: Great pic!) Even if the weather wasn't the best, it sounds like a lovely time. I'm also impressed with the Yellow-Headed Blackbird and the Whooping Crane.

Love the hummingbird and especially the yellow headed blackbird. Very cool.

Mark, I just started the audiobook When They Call You a Terrorist, on your recommendation. Only on the first disc (of 5) but already it is heartbreaking.

>203 charl08: Hi, Charlotte. Once the hummingbirds lock in, they visit regularly. Good to see them back.

>204 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. It is easy to forget to take a Meet-Up photo, but I do know how much the LT crowd appreciates them, so I do my best. Hooray for the Whooping Cranes and boo to losing our mothers to soon.

>205 lauralkeet: Hi, Laura. We had a good time at Bree's place. She cooked steaks and we had laughs and played games. Sue was happy.

>206 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary. It was a good long weekend. I hope our photo opportunity happens this August. Fingers crossed.

>207 brenzi: Hi, Bonnie. Happy Mother's Day, my friend.

>208 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. I am so glad you are listening to When They Call You a Terrorist. It is a definite heart-breaker but a Must-Read all the way.

>193 msf59: cool! Sounds like the prefect meet up :)
Eta Also....this:

>211 LovingLit: I LOVE this! Now, everyone knows!

Hi, Megan. Always good to see you stop by.

^Very little reading, these past few days, so I have some serious catching up to do. I really want to get deeper into Tabloid City, since I have barely skimmed the surface. I did start a new audio, on my trip, The Beekeeper's Lament, which has been very good. Nature and environmental NNF. I might even finish it today. I also hope to spend more time with Wade in the Water, but I really like this collection so far.



^I did see my first scarlet tanager of the year, up in WI. Always a breath-taking sight.

Good morning, Mark! Too bad about the adverse weather during the birding festival, but congratulations on the sightings you did have — and in particular the whooping crane. I hope your Monday goes well.

>213 msf59: that's a nifty "currently reading" graphic you have there, Mark! Happy Monday ...

Morning Mark! I hope you have a great week. Our house will be torn up until Saturday. I haven't read much all month. Thankfully, there is my commute.

Good morning, Mark, and happy Monday to you!

Lots of great bird photos, Mark! That yellow-headed blackbird is my favorite, too, although the scarlet tanager is cool, and how great that you saw the endangered whooping crane. Sorry you had the crummy weather, but it still sounds like you had quite the trip. Love the photo of you and Nancy at your meetup, too.

It's mighty stormy here right now. I hope today goes okay for you.

Well, it poured on my way into work but it has stopped, as I head out to the route. Fingers crossed, it remains that way, for the rest of my beat...

>214 harrygbutler: Morning, Harry. Hope your Monday goes smoothly. Hooray for the Whooping Crane.

>215 lauralkeet: Morning, Laura. I need a cool "currently reading" graphic, to make up for my lack of reading. Grins...

>216 alphaorder: Morning, Nancy. Good luck with the house rehab. I hope it goes smoothly for you all.

A storm rumbled through, but it appears to be fleeting. Good timing, as I start my residential...

>217 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Enjoy your Monday.

>218 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Glad you like the bird photos. Saw some beauts. I alway have a nice visit with Nancy and I hope to still host a Meet Up, sometime over the summer.

I hope the rain holds off for awhile.

Happy Monday, Mark. I hope it stays dry for the rest of your route.

Mark, my friend just sent me some photos she took using the zoom on her new camera. At her feeder: a female evening grosbeak, an adorable baby blue jay and a goldfinch. Of course, I am blessed with tons of goldfinches daily, and though I hear the jays, I rarely see them. And in all the years in this house, I have only once seen a (male!) grosbeak. It was a one-off and I was so stunned and mesmerized, I just stared, totally forgetting to grab a camera

>220 msf59: We had storm after storm this morning, probably between 4 am and 9 am. Lots of roads and houses flooded up this way, though, thankfully, not ours.

Just another day at 90+ in the 'Ol South. I can't wait for summer to be over.

>213 msf59: Lovely bird! Thank you so much for sharing your birdy photos and news. Becoming a "birder" seems like so much fun and such a healthy hobby. I will certainly keep up with you and your watching.

Karen O.

>221 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. I definitely got lucky today and stayed perfectly dry. It actually got warm & humid in the afternoon. Storms are moving in as I type and I completely okay with that. Grins...

>222 jessibud2: Hi, Shelley. Thanks for the thorough bird report. We get rose-breasted grosbeaks here. Not sure they are related. I may have seen a female grosbeak, feeding off the ground, but I just don't know for sure. It does seem they are common at feeders, so I would not be surprised at your sighting. I have never seen a blue jay at the feeders but have seen and heard them in nearby trees and not very often.



^This is the Rose-breasted grosbeak and I did see one on Saturday. Nice looking birds. They summer here. The Evening Grosbeaks appear to have more yellow and brown. I like their looks though.

>223 lindapanzo: Hi, Linda. I heard the north got hit the hardest. Our storms were not as fierce, although more storms are rolling in at the moment and these can also be intense. I have no problem with after hours storms. Smiles...

I wish we could have came back in that Cubs/Braves game.

>224 benitastrnad: Hi, Benita. Boo, to such hot weather, this early on. I know I was complaining about our cool weather but I also don't want it, jumping to hot & muggy. Keep cool, my friend.

>225 klobrien2: Hi, Karen. Good to see you. Yes, I have been enjoying my fledgling hobby. I still have tons to learn but I like getting out and learning, whenever I can. Sorry, to see migration season wrap-up, in the next few weeks.

I’m here as promised, Mark. It’s always fun catching up with your birds and books. I am so impressed you have a tag with your name on it. I could certainly add the tag “Mark’s Fault” to many of my books.

That Yellow-Headed Blackbird is a handsome fella as is the Scarlet Tanager. It seems like the festival was a success despite the miserable weather. The birds don’t seem to care!

>226 msf59: - Just a little correction. Those birds I reported on were seen by my friend, at her feeder, not by me at mine. And now that you show the pic, the one and only time I spotted a grosbeak, it was this one you show, the rose-breasted.

And I've never seen a baby jay, only the large loud ones! ;-)

>228 Donna828: Hi, Donna. Good to see you. Hooray for books, birds & the Mark's Fault tag! I am very proud of that one. Seeing any interesting birds down there in Missouri?

>229 jessibud2: Thanks for the correction, Shelley. I saw that it was your friend's feeder and when I started typing, I jumped right into it, like it was your personal sightings. LOL. I blame work day Monday. Yah, for the rose-breasted. I like the look of the evening grosbeak too. They breed in Canada and the mountains of the west.

Glad to see you got to meet up with Nancy as well as see some great new birds! Thanks for sharing the photos.

Oh and Chris gave me a GN - Daytripper. It’s very good, have you read it?

>231 Copperskye: Hi, Joanne. I have been able to visit with Nancy on several different occasions and we always have a nice time. We plan on going up to Milwaukee, sometime over the summer and spend the weekend. More bird walks and book chatter. Yah!

Yes, I have read Daytripper. It is a terrific GN. Chris has such good taste. You taught him well.

Morning, Mark!

'Morning, Mark, and happy Tuesday to you! It's your turn for the Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks since they were only migrating through here on their way to you. They are so striking and I'm glad you're seeing them.

>233 scaifea: Morning, Amber!

>234 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Hooray for the grosbeaks. I am going on a walk this A.M., so I should see one. Smiles...

^Harry Bliss

Morning, Mark. Lots of pretty birds hanging out over here. Looks like your birding outings have been successful

Morning, Mark.

I re-read a Reacher book just for the fun of it, Worth Dying For. Dark material, but one of the better ones in the series. My poetry book is The Book of Endings by Leslie Harrison, which was a National Book Award finalist. I've also got Jane Austen at Home and Sing, Unburied, Sing going.

Gray day out there, but with any luck the rain will hold off for you. Have a good one, buddy.

Just saw that Tom Wolfe passed away.

Hope you see lots of birds on your walk today, Mark. Enjoy your day away from the route.

>237 ChelleBearss: Happy Tuesday, Chelle. Yep, we love our pretty birds around here.

>238 jnwelch: Hi, Joe. Sometimes I am busier on my days off, than on my work days. I was up at 530 and out by 715. Now, I have yard work to do...

Thanks for the book update. My reading has been slow, including my Smith poetry collection, but I will get back on track.

>239 lindapanzo: Thanks, Linda. I did not hear this. Sad. Glad I paid him a Right Stuff tribute.

>240 Familyhistorian: Hi, Meg. Only out for 2 hours but it was a jackpot morning. Report to follow...

-Bay-breasted Warbler

^It was a warbler-extravaganza, this morning. I clocked in 13 different warblers and got good looks at all of them. They included- Tennessee, Nashville, redstart, yellow-rumped, bay-breasted, blackburnian, magnolia, wilson's, canada (lifer), chestnut-sided, golden-wing (lifer), blackpoll and black & white. And I didn't have to drive 160 miles. Only 10. I also saw a broad-winged hawk, a bluebird and an eastern kingbird.



^Canada Warbler, (sing it, baby!)

Now, I have yard work to do. Shit! See you in a couple of hours. Shuffles off, with much reluctance...

>242 msf59: - Is he singing *O Canada*? ;-)

>242 msf59: The Blackpoll Warbler was today's bird on the Cornell Ornithology calendar. They're having a bit of a warbler extravaganza as well!

>244 jessibud2: Maybe, I couldn't quite tell. LOL.

>245 lauralkeet: Hooray for the the Blackpoll Warbler! A few people spotted one, at the Bird Festival but I never could, along with the black & white. Better late than...

And hooray for the Cornell Lab calendar! They have been warblin' lately.

Cannot keep up with you...and I can't skim with all these marvelous bird sightings! We have a mourning dove nesting in our apple tree---very easy to watch Mr. and Mrs. from our front window. Such a treat, as I've never seen a nesting bird other than a robin before.

>247 laytonwoman3rd: Hi, Linda. Good to see you. Glad the bird sightings are preventing you from skimming. Smiles...We have a pair of mourning doves, that regularly visit our feeders. Of course, they peck on the ground.

^I was crazy for The Girl with All the Gifts, when I read it and warbled about it, a few years back, but for some inexplicable reason, I never got to the follow-up, The Boy on the Bridge. Well, I recall Mary gushing about it, (last year?) so I knew I had to track a copy down. This is my next audio and will start it this morning.

I am also still enjoying Tabloid city, as I am hitting the halfway point.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Wednesday to you! Congratulations on your warbler extravaganza.

Hi, Mark! Loving all your many bird photos--I miss seeing Baltimore Orioles. Congrats on the fun trip and all the lifers you saw! I think I have The Boy on the Bridge around here somewhere and I keep meaning to get to it. Maybe you will help motivate me to find it again...

Morning, Mark.

Good timing on reading The Right Stuff. Mr. Wolfe just departed. He left a lot of good books he'd written. My first date with Debbi was after we both went to an author appearance by him at Barbara's in Chicago.

Looks much nicer out today. Have a good one, buddy.

>250 karenmarie: Morning, Karen and thanks.

>251 Berly: Morning, Kim. Glad you like the Birdy photos. I am still waiting to see an oriole at my feeder. The Boy on the Bridge is off to a promising start.

>252 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. Gorgeous start to the day out here and it looks like it will continue, through the weekend.

Cool news on attending a Wolfe author event. He had a good life. I can't believe he was pushing 90.

Sorry to hear about Wolfe's passing. I only read 3 of his back in the 60s/70s: The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, Radical Chic and Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers, and The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby. (Love the titles so much!) Based on your recent warbling, I have The Right Stuff on my TBR list.

>249 msf59: Oh, yes! You will love it, I think! It's set in the same world, with mostly all new characters, but it's definitely connected to Girl.

Mark, do you think that Scott Kelly will be at Wolfe's funeral? Not that we have a way to know but I'd guess that if he is able, he'd be there!

>254 Storeetllr: Hi, Mary. Good to see you. Thanks for chiming in on Mr. Wolfe. I did love Acid Test and I would really like to read The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby and more of his essay collections. i hope you can bookhorn in, The Right Stuff. It is a classic.

The Boy on the Bridge is off to a good start. I appreciate the nudge.

>255 jessibud2: That is an interesting question, Shelley. I would think so, but you never know, right?

^Wilson's Warbler

I saw one of these guys on the route today, just for a few seconds, which was enough time to make out the black cap. Seeing one yesterday, (with assistance identifying it) put me in the cat-bird seat. Only warbler of the day, although the robins and house sparrows were quite industrious out there.

>257 msf59: Such a cute guy! And that's my experience as well, that when you have seen a bird once, you start seeing it again and again.

>258 EllaTim: Hi, Ella. Warblers are particularly tough for me. They are small and tricky to spot, especially in the foliage and many have very similar markings. The only way I will learn, is to keep getting out there.

58) The Beekeeper's Lament by Hannah Nordhaus 4 stars

"Award-winning journalist Hannah Nordhaus tells the remarkable story of John Miller, one of America’s foremost migratory beekeepers, and the myriad and mysterious epidemics threatening American honeybee populations."

^This was the audiobook, I listened to, on my way and back from the the Bird Festival and it was solid listen. Nordhaus is a very good writer and John Miller is a very interesting subject. No question, bees are fascinating creatures and I learned a lot and one fact for sure- folks that become beekeepers do it for the sheer love of bees and nothing else. It is a constant struggle and keeping these remarkable insects alive and healthy is quite a challenge. There may be some dry spots here, but the author keeps most of the narrative entertaining and engaging.



^One interesting fact about honey bees- They are not native to North America and were introduced by European colonists, in the 1600s. They originated in Africa and southwest Asia.

Good for you, Mark. I like off the beaten track books like The Beekeeper's Lament (but haven't read this one). Nice review.

>257 msf59: in the cat-bird seat
Look at you, making bird puns.

That's a pretty warbler, but I like catbirds too.

>261 jnwelch: Thanks, Joe. I know it is not much of a review but it is a start. LOL. I am ridiculously behind on the mini-reviews. Not sure, if I have ever hit such a bad stretch. Damn birds...

>262 lauralkeet: Glad you caught the birdy pun, Linda. I like catbirds too. I need to learn their song. Folks hear them more than they see them.

Wonderful birding experiences you are having, Mark. And I love the photo of you and Nancy. I hope for another meet-up with you before too long. I agree with her: we always have such great conversations.

The Beekeeper's Lament sounds like a good audiobook and I have been looking for one. I'll give it a try.

My current read is Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke and it's excellent so far. I love a book that grabs me and wants to hold on tight!

Morning Mark!

Shoukd be a nice day today! I am looking forward to tonight - we are hosting Dan Egan again. I suspect Foxconn and its afffects on Lake Michigan will be a topic. Plus, it is always good to see a friend you don’t see often. My mom came down from GB for Alina’s orchestra concert last night, so she will be there tonight too.

Morning, Mark!

I need to get round to some Wolfe at some point. And The Girl with All the Gifts. And the beekeeping book. Yoicks.

>264 EBT1002: Hi, Ellen. Good to see you. We love our Meet Ups, don't we? I hope to get a few more in this year. The Colorado one, is a long time coming. I think you would like The Beekeeper's Lament on audio, plus it is a shorty. Bluebird, Bluebird, (great title, BTW) has been on my list for awhile. Glad you are enjoying it.

>265 alphaorder: Morning, Nancy. Hooray for the Egan event and your Mom being in town. Let me know how it goes. I have A Higher Loyalty downloaded. I hope to get to it soon.

>266 scaifea: Morning, Amber. The Girl with All the Gifts are really good on audio. Just sayin'...

^I prefer Batman slapping Drumph, but this will do...

'Morning, Mark, and sweet Thursday to you.

>260 msf59: Apropos of a book about beekeepers and bees, I had a swarm visit for about an hour on Tuesday. I found out about and called the Chatham County Beekeepers Association's Bee Swarm Patrol (I am not kidding!) but the bees left so quickly that I had to call them back when the swarm left so they wouldn't waste their time. I don't know where the swarm went.

Hi Marc, in the course of looking up some of those warblers you were warbling about (sorry couldn't resist) I found a very interesting article about the link between warblers and coffee.

You probably already know everything about it, but anyway:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/in-colombia-shade-grown-coffee-sustains-songbirds-...

I didn't know this, but it's a very interesting article about how to grow the best coffee (in the shade) while at the same time giving shelter to lots of warblers. Those same ones you are seeing right now!

>268 msf59: - LOL! Ain't that the truth!

>242 msf59: >257 msf59: Hi, Mark! Hurrah for the warbler sightings! Enjoy your Thursday.

>269 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Glad to hear that the bee swarm moved on quickly. What kind of bees were they? I very rarely see honey bees here.

>270 EllaTim: Hi, Ella. I will have to come back and read the warbler article. This definitely looks like something I was not aware of.

>271 jessibud2: Morning, Shelley. Shaping up to be another beautiful day here and I hear birds singing in the background.

>272 harrygbutler: Morning, Harry. Hope to see my daily warbler today. Of course, I would be happy to see more than one. Smiles...

Sweet Thursday, Mark.

I'm pretty sure we had a beer-confirmed deal to get those mini-reviews done, man. Not sure, if I have ever hit such a bad stretch. Damn birds... That cracked me up!

I'm going to finally read a bunch of Gwendolyn Brooks poems. I've read some of her famous ones, but never really dug into her poetry. She's considered a guiding light at Young Chicago Authors.

Gorgeous out! I'm going to head to a cafe soon - the retired life sure has its upsides.

No daily warbler sighting yet, but I did get a nice look at a northern flicker...

>275 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. That was definitely a beer-confirmed deal and I plan on getting back on track with my mini-reviews. I will be watching your thoughts on The Brooks collection. I have not read much of her work.

Ooh, the retired life. Stares off dreamily...

Good Morning Mark

I've been out of touch for a few weeks. I'm stopping by to see all the beautiful bird images! We saw three cardinals at our bird feeder this morning. They love the food we placed in the feeder.

>269 karenmarie: >273 msf59:

I set one of those little Bee Houses out on the ground - no sightings so far.

Has anyone had experience with these?

You got me! Two Book Bullets. Beekeeper's Lament and I was unaware that there was a sequel to Girl With All the Gifts so onto the wishlist went Boy on the Bridge.

Hi, Mark. Hope you were able to avoid rain on your route. I have had quite ENOUGH OF THE RAIN ALREADY!!! I know I'm just one of about 150 million of my closest friends in saying that.

I'm enjoying your bird spotting reports.

Keep on keeping on, my friend.

>277 Whisper1: Sweet Thursday, Linda. You made my day with your appearance. Yes, this thread has become birdy and hooray for cardinals. I see and hear them, nearly every day.

>278 m.belljackson: Hi, Marianne. Good to see you. Not familiar with Bee Houses. I will have to research.

>279 benitastrnad: I love delivering those BBs, Benita. Both books are very good.

>280 weird_O: Hey, Bill. Sweet Thursday. We have had a very rainy spring but it has been nice and dry, the past few days.

The bird reports will drop off, as summer approaches, so I will get them in when I can.

^I did not visit the owlets last week, since I was heading up to Wisconsin, plus I heard that they had all fledged and moved on. Well, I stopped after work today and lo & behold, there was still one owlet, high up in the tree and he/she looks quite comfortable. This is a photo from my cellphone, so not the best quality but good enough to share.

I also saw a Canada Warbler there. Yes, it was not on the route, (where I did not see one, Shucks!) but I think it qualifies for my daily warbler.

^After finishing Tabloid City, I am switching to The Parking Lot Attendant, which Jeff kindly sent me awhile back. I am also continuing to enjoy The Boy on the Bridge, my current audio.

'Morning, Mark, and happy Friday to you!

I do not know what kind of bees they were - between the phone guy and trying to get hold of the Swarm Patrol I didn't think to take a look through the binoculars.

Glad you saw your daily warbler, and thanks for sharing the photo of the owlet.

Happy Friday, Mark!

Going to be cool but otherwise okay, looks like. Have a good one, buddy. I reviewed the Ryokan poetry book we were talking about over on my thread, after a re-read.

>283 msf59: Good morning, Mark! Congrats on the owlet and the daily warbler sighting.

Morning, Mark! Happy Friday! You are reminding me that I need to get to Boy on the Bridge - I also have that one on audio.

I forgot my iPad at home. Dadgummit!

>285 karenmarie: Morning, Karen. Hooray for the owlet and the warbler. Hey, that could be a book title. Grins...

>286 jnwelch: Morning, Joe. It looks like it will be beautiful, out this way. Keep 'em coming, I say. I will stop by later and check out your poetry review. Thanks.

Okay, I did spot 2 warblers but could not ID them properly, due to distance and foliage. I am still counting them, because I can...

>287 harrygbutler: Happy Friday, Harry. Hope your day goes smoothly.

>288 Crazymamie: Happy Friday, Mamie. I think you will enjoy Boy on the Bridge and it is working well on audio too.

Happy Friday, Mark! Are you off tomorrow or is this a long week for you?

Hi Mark! I really liked The Parking Lot Attendant, hope you do to.

We saw a lot of birds on our trip east, at the Great Swamp Refuge. I am hoping to write a report of them soon. The most exciting was a barred owl.

>291 Storeetllr: Happy Friday, Mary. This is a normal work week for me. I was off Tuesday. Next off day is Wednesday. No birding planned but I do plan on a Meet-Up with Joe, on Sunday.

>292 banjo123: Hi, Rhonda. Good to see you. The Parking Lot Attendant is off to a very good start. 60 pages in.

Looking forward to your bird report. Not familiar with the Great Swamp Refuge. I will have to swing by your thread and get details. Congrats on the barred owl sighting. I have yet to check one off the list. I am hoping this is the year.