Shelley

@smackbrl

Love native flowers, birds, CLE Guardians & Cavs, and my wonderful family

773 Folgt1.378 Follower1.423 Posts

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Shelley@smackbrl· Jun 21

Had male and female hummingbirds visit the feeder at our cabin near Leesville Lake, Ohio. Not super pictures, but they were great to watch in person. Even got to see a couple of the male swoops as it tried to get the female's attention. #birds

Male Ruby throated hummingbird with dark head, red neck, white tummy, and very long beak flying near a red and yellow feeder.

Female ruby throated hummingbird with white throat and dark head top and wings sitting at yellow and red feeder.

Shelley@smackbrl· Jun 21

Saw a couple of Eastern Towhees yesterday near Leesville Lake in Ohio yesterday. One seemed to look pretty elegant singing. The other ... well ... I can't believe it can open its mout

Eastern Towhee bird with black head and upper chest, white tummy, buff color on sides by wings. Sitting at the top of a dead tree singing.

Eastern Towhee with dark head and upper chest, white tummy, and buff on sides near dark wings. Sitting on an electric wire, singing with mouth open very, very wide.

Shelley@smackbrl· May 29

I tried posting a second time. I couldn't get the video to load but here are a couple screenshots.

Yellow-orange bird flying toward feeder.

Head of orangish bird with dark eye by feeder.

Shelley@smackbrl· May 14

I think I took less pictures today than ever. And actually needed my binoculars less, too. The birds were so close! Here are the best of a Blackburnian I got today. He was very shy when my camera was out. But I loved watching several of them flitting all over the place right in front of me.

Shelley@smackbrl· May 14

LOL I got lots of shots like that at Magee Marsh today. Not of a Harris's Sparrow but of lots of others. Here is what could be a veery hiding in the center.

A light brown bird in the mud, obscured by sticks and tree limbs.

Shelley@smackbrl· May 14

Can you tell me what this bird is that I saw today at Magee Marsh?

Small bird with light brown head, back and wings and white belly with some small light brown spots at upper chest.

Shelley@smackbrl· May 11

A couple of pictures from the Cleveland Nature Preserve today. Very cool little speck of nature in the city. We also saw some four-legged friends along the way. #birds #TenMinMerlin #TenMinuteMerlin

American redstart bird: black head, throat, wings, tail with orange under wings and orange stripe on wings, white belly, small, sharp black beak.

Yellow warbler sitting in tree. From front, whole body is yellow with some darker streaks at the front top of the chest.

Shelley@smackbrl· May 10

One more #birds identification question. Here are two pictures of the same bird from today. The lack of sun doesn't help. It's hard to tell, but that is a little patch of yellow on the wing. #birdingOH

Warbler with white belly with some dark spots near top, black head, dark wings with white stripes and yellow patch at top.

Bottom view of warbler with black around eyes, white throat, white belly with black spots near top.

Shelley@smackbrl· May 10

Today's #TenMinMerlin #TenMinuteMerlin in Carroll County, OH, led me to these two pictures. The scarlet tanager was a treat for me. #birds

A scarlet tanager -- red bird with black wings and tail -- sitting in tree.

Northern flicker sitting on branch -- gray and black stripes on wings and back, red patch on back of head.

Shelley@smackbrl· May 10

Can someone help identify this pair of #birds? They didn't seem to match anything during my #TenMinuteMerlin but they weren't making any noise either. They were just sitting on a log soaking up the sun. #TenMinMerlin

Small brown bird with white belly and small, pointy dark beak sitting on log.

Small brown bird with white belly and small, pointy dark beak sitting on log. Slight triangle of brown at neck.

Shelley@smackbrl· Apr 12

I can't believe this came to mind...

Shelley@smackbrl· Mar 28

A great crowd in Strongsville OH. #NoKings

Shelley@smackbrl· Feb 7

Hmmm.

Mira in Kpop Demon Hunters wearing black sleeping bag.

Woman carrying Australia sign wearing white sleeping bag dress.

Shelley@smackbrl· Jan 17

Good night, Bluesky. The sun has set on Anna Maria Island.

Sun setting along the Gulf horizon with an orange sky.

Shelley@smackbrl· Jan 8

Winter sowing is done for the year. A smaller crop as I'm running out of room in our small yard. Thanks to @coachmack1.bsky.social for putting these soft metal labels in my Christmas stocking. No more guessing what flower might grow in containers when the magic marker inevitably fades. #nativeplants

Picture of 12 seed packets of native wildflowers.

Picture of 13 jugs sitting outside. Jugs have no caps, contain dirt and seeds, and have blue painter's tape on them.

Close up photo of three plastic jugs with silver metal labels attached. The labels have the common and scientific names of flowers.

Shelley@smackbrl· Dec 14

My reading stack got higher while covid inhibited my ability to concentrate. Here's where it stands now. What books are up next for you? #booksky

Stack of books including The Black Wolf, At Midnight Comes the Cry, The Secret of Secrets, Rough Sleepers, and Twelve Slays of Christmas.

Shelley@smackbrl· Dec 14

Found this lovely book with wonderful stories, recipes and photographs. I've never seen recipes on gravestones but am now intrigued with wanting to see what other treasures are hiding in cemeteries. #booksky

Cover of the book To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes by Rosie Grant

Shelley@smackbrl· Oct 23

@merriam-webster.com -- in honor of your new dictionary!

Mother Goose & Grimm comic strip:
Dog: I'm reading this paper dictionary and there seems to be something wrong.
Cat: Why? What?
Dog: There's no pop-up ads, no viruses, no misinformation, so one's trying to sell you anything. It's just the word you're looking up.
Cat: What's the catch?

Shelley@smackbrl· Oct 18

Thank you to the organizers and everyone who showed up for Strongsville OH #NoKings The flags lining the square through Veterans' Day gave us a very patriotic look.

Large crowd of protesters with signs gathered near a gazebo.

Protestors with signs lining the streets near a tall clock tower.

Protest sign that reads "Elvis is the only king."

Shelley@smackbrl· Oct 11

This one's for you, @neorsd.org!

comic strip:
Hare: Our drainage system was blocked with wet wipes. But thanks fo our new rules, the manufacturer has to clean it up.
Man in sewer: That was revolting.
Hare: If only you had something to clean yourself with.

Shelley@smackbrl· Oct 10

Even the shadows of white asters show how much pollinators love #nativeplants.

Shelley@smackbrl· Oct 10

My favorite part about going downtown #Cleveland to vote early is the tradition we have of picking up Crispy Chick at Woodland and E. 55th. Best chicken wrap around!

Chicken wrap on plate. Delicious looking.

Shelley@smackbrl· Oct 2

He may have lost a hand, but it's the best I can do with my limited photoshop experience...

Rocchio with arms raised in front of flames.

Shelley@smackbrl· Sep 22

Love the fall colors in our yard along with all the insects and birds visiting! A small flock of goldfinch was feasting on the seeds of our purple coneflowers. Be sure to leave those seeds out there. No need to rush into a "clean-up." #nativeflowers