Whoop there it is...finally a blog update

2020....does really more need to be said.  The last few months have just been some of the worst ever.  Chaos fought back with Nerve Agents this time and another shocking issue, all at the same time.  So way too much has been going on that has thrown things so far out of balance now.  I've still managed to bird almost 100% in the yard.  So Every month since last update I've hit new highs for days and for the months.  I can count on one hand the number of birding trips I've taken since end of July.  So nothing super exciting to report on until today.  
After a futile chase a little over a month ago for what was likely a dilute Sandhill Crane, there was a text message sent out to the Kalamazoo group...Whooping Crane on 20.5 Mile Road and N DR N.  I booked out of the house as quick as I could.  Sure enough as I pulled up there its head was peaking up over the ridge.  After some time it worked itself first out, and then back in to view.  Really good looks at about 200 yards or less.  

A really great bird to get.  I thought I was going to get skunked out on new County birds this year.  I dipped on a Red-throated Loon again, and Evening Grosbeaks have shown up at private residence once in Albion.  I put in a third feeder pole and a few more platform feeders to fill with BOSS, but no luck so far.  Not even Pine Siskins yet.  Have some hopes that this irruption finch year will hit me at some point.  Grosbeaks and Redpoll would put me at 240.  A nice round number.  

One good thing that happened through this Chaos has been this "little" guy.  Hercules arrived day after my birthday and has been a joy to watch grow up.  I swear he is my Bassett Hound re-incarnated.  Bis Sis tolerates his constant torment, and encourages it every once in a while.  

I still don't have my good lens fixed yet with everything that has happened, just haven't had the time.  I've burned through 10 vacation days that were dealing with the virulent attacks from Chaos, so good pics have been nearly non-existent.  This juvenile Red-tailed Hawk had a squirrel trapped under the deck remnants and was trying to figure out how to get to it.