Upper Falls, Old Man's Cave Hocking Hills

Upper Falls
Old Mans Cave
Hocking Hills, OH

Ash Cave Hocking Hills, OH

According ODNR the Ash Cave waterfall has not frozen into one column since 1994. The time before this was 1988. I went today(Tues 2/18/14) to make a few pics. About 12:15PM, while I was there, the top section came crashing down. Only the bottom section remains. This is the whole column before the crash.

Hocking Hills Ash Cave Waterfall

Beautiful Start To Winter

The last 2014 snow here at Whispering Pines

Very Active Spring

This spring has been an active one for the birds. I have more nesting species than ever before. Also I have more House Wrens than ever. Unfortunately, the House Wren is aggressive when it comes to claiming a nest box, even one that is occupied. This year, for the first time, House Wrens are destroying eggs already laid by Blue Birds, Chickadees and others. They pierce them with their beaks and throw them out of the nest box to the ground.

Eastern Bluebird Eggs destroyed by House Wren

More Late Spring Sightings-

The butterflies are flying around the Sand Coreopsis planted in front of the house.  Shown here is a Fritillary, a somewhat common visitor here, along with Swallowtail.  The daisies grow in many places around the land, so sunny and cheerful.  Also, a common sight is mushrooms/fungus of different sorts - this one I haven't been able to identify yet, it is growing on the stump of a White Pine.





Fritillary Butterfly on Sand Coreopsis

Sand Coreopsis

Swallowtail on Arrowwood tree blossom
(Arrowwood is in the Viburnum Family)



Golden Daisy Margeurite

Unidentified Mushroom andFungus



Eagles Nest in the Hocking Hills

Finally, found where the Logan, OH, Bald Eagle is nesting. The nest is near by in a Sycamore tree along with several Heron's nests that have been abandoned since the Eagle took up residence. 

Adult Bald Eagle with eaglet

Eaglet

Stretching

Adult Bald Eagle, with Baltimore Oriole !

Bird Antics

As I'm sitting in front of the computer on this chilly, dreary Sunday, a Tufted Titmouse flew up to the window and clung to the side of the window frame, as if to say "Hey, I'm here!"  Later, on the front porch, the kitten is laying on her chair asleep - a Blue Jay flies up and lands on the kitten!  She woke up startled but just went back to nappin..... Her food is on a tray just beside the chair and it is a bit surprising that the birds see the food and fly in to chow.