Birds are back

We played out the yard today.  We did some gardening, weeding, planting, and of course filled all the bird feeders.  The birds are back and there are tons of them everywhere you look.  From the big blue jays and cardinals to the little black cap chickadees and tufted titmouse.  They were all on the feeder today.
I caught this one (so to speak... with the camera).  What a great day for a little bird watching.

Alfresco Arts

Yesterday we went to Turkey Creek Boardwalk, and walked the 1.5 round trip along the creek. The boardwalk has a canopy of scrub oaks, cedar, and pine trees, so the walk was shaded. It was a quiet stroll, as we listened to the birds, and the water running over the rocks, sand, and vegetation. With only a few jet planes to disturb the silence. Though that is know as the sound of freedom around here. It is a great sight to see a fighter jet whizzing over the tree tops, invigorating, and loud.

When we got home, I started to make dinner, when I saw a hawk hopping around in the back yard! M grabbed the camera and commenced clicking. As he was walking toward the magnificent hawk, just next to his feet he found a small bird, paralyzed with fear. The bird did not want to fly away and risk the wrath of the hawk. It laid perfectly still until the hawk moved on.

If I were a bird I would not have moved either! What a wonderful show, right outside our window!

New Family in the Tree

Yesterday while we were swimming in the pool, I noticed that there was a dove sitting on the fence. Not to say that she was undecided about something, she was actually perched on the fence. Next to her was a baby bird waiting patiently for some food.
Just below them on the ground was another baby bird trying desperately to fly up to sit next to his family on the wood fence. He tried a few times only to crash in to the wood. Then he just sat on the sticks at the base of the fence. I felt bad for him, but at least he was trying. The two on the fence really did not care about us walking around. M went to the shed to get the mower, and neither moved. I went to get the camera and was able sneak close enough to snap a few shots of the fence sitters.

Early Bird Gets the Worm

It is like waking up in the jungle here. The birds start with their magnificent songs around 5 in the morning or so. I get to wake up gently to the sound of nature, can't get better than that. The calls can be loud and soft, I lay in bed most mornings somewhere between asleep and being fully awake and try to identify the birds by the song they sing. The usual suspects include the cardinal, whose song is fairly recognizable and the loud carolina wren who lives in our birdhouse outside our window. There is such variety, that it is easy to doze back off to sleepytown. Sunday morning I got up fairly early to take a look at which birds I could spot.
The variety is outstanding here in Northern Illinois, more so than you might imagine. Out in the newly budding trees I saw the blue jays, cardinals, and black cap chickadees. The robins, of course, where chasing worms in the damp soil, one lucky robin found a big one and gobbled it down. The squirrels take turns at the edge of the water taking small sips then they dart up the trees. On the bank of Butterfield creek sat the drake mallard, the sun shining down on his head revealing the shimmering green.
Just above him in a smaller tree was one of my newest bird findings the red breasted grosbeak, then another. I took a picture, of course, but it was too far away. The photo is not my finest work, but it works for identifying the newest addition to my birding list. It is a beautiful bird with what looks like a red shield on his chest surrounded by stark white and black on his back and wings. His beak is yellow and short, next time you are out birding be on the look out for this bird.
Over our last few weeks here in Chicagoland, I will continue my ever growing bird list, and enjoy what late spring has to offer. Then I will have to get a new bird book, one that is for North Florida!

Perfect Bird Day

I was out in the yard soaking up some much needed sunshine, when I saw that our bird house had some activity. I grabbed my camera that is always waiting just inside, and slowly sneaked on to the back porch. Just off the deck we have our bird house we made with the recycled plastic bag roof. A small Carolina wren has made it this season's house. I heard them around the corner, and then I saw them approaching the house as a pair. One seems to distract other birds, as the other one flies into provide some food for the little ones. I was not going to be distracted though. I had my camera pointed and focused on the opening on the bird house. Then the small bird landed on the side of the house, then jumped around to the front. I was able to snap a few pictures before she was off to find more food.


For being such a small bird they sure do have a loud song. One of the loudest in our yard for sure. If you are interested in hearing this Carolina Wren you can check them out here. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a great site for all your bird identifying needs!

The Kingfisher

As I cleaned the house for a showing, my attention wandered. I sat for a few minutes looking out the back door at the creek and the ducks swimming by. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw one of my favorite birds. The Kingfisher. The medium sized bird has a distinct call of a low rattling sound, and it echos as she flies down Butterfield creek. She landed so gently on a branch that over hung the creek. She preened her feathers in the sun, then dunked into the creek. Unlike most birds, the belted kingfishers female have the more colorful feathers. You can tell them apart by the rusty red feathers that she sports, the male feathers are grey.

That will be one of the things I miss about our house, the wildlife that is in our back yard. My bird list has grown tremendously since I lived here from the cedar wax wing, to the belted kingfisher. It is amazing what you can see if you just take a few minutes to enjoy the outdoors. Bird watching from inside is a great wintertime activity. To keep those birds coming back a small bird feeder is all you need. Keep it full through out the cold months and you will have a wonderful show to watch, we call it nature-vision, much better than the television, if you ask me.

Here is my latest photo capture of my featured friends.

Feathered Friends

Today the sun was shining bright. I sat in the living room working on the Rosetta Stone for Chinese, and outside the front picture window, I saw my favorite bird. They only visit here once a year, or that is we have only seen them on a rare occasion.
The cedar wax wing. They have a storm trooper look to them, and their feathers never out of place. They look as if they are wearing a suede coat and a black mask. I quickly paused the chapter I was working on and grabbed the camera, suited up for the chilly weather, and Nilla and I went outside to photograph them. There were at least 20 or so hanging around in the mulberry tree at the corner of the house. The tree, bare, except for a few berries was the popular spot for the day. I was able to snap a few shots of the gorgeous birds. I did not want to disturb them, for in the winter, they need all the energy they can get. So I tiptoed through the snow, inching closer to the tree. The birds did not seem to mind that I was there, and then Nilla came crashing around the corner, but the birds were high above, and did not even notice the 80 pound dog running around below them.