Ovenbird
The Chicago Loop migrant watch continues. There was a lone Gray Catbird at 155 North Wacker Thursday morning, but yesterday he was gone. Mostly the last couple days I have been enchanted solely by Ovenbirds at the train station and Lake Shore East Park. However many times I have seen them downtown before, they never cease to bring a smile to my face. The one above was at Lake Shore East Park yesterday afternoon, blown about by blustery, cold north winds. Hey, it’s only May…!
What I don’t understand is why small birds I have never seen before seem to want to engage, interact, communicate with me on some level, once they have gotten over the fact that I am paying attention to them. Perhaps they are just curious, as I am. Why would I be bothering to pay attention to another species when all those other big clumsy humans milling by noisily never notice?
Above, a couple views of Lake Shore East Park from the street level before I descend down the steps to get to it. I’ve decided the steps are good exercise and I can already feel a slight difference in agility and strength. The crumbs you hang onto with age!
Northern Waterthrush
The only other warbler since the Kentucky last week is a Northern Waterthrush, who was still there yesterday, when I counted two Ovenbirds, one Waterthrush, about 37 White-Throated Sparrows and maybe 10 White-Crowned Sparrows. I didn’t see the Red-Breasted Nuthatch that’s been hanging out in the pine trees, though he might still be there. Not to mention that he was barely visible last time I saw him, below.
Red-Breasted Nuthatch
Here’s one of the White-Crowned Sparrows.
White-Crowned Sparrow
And I will never, ever be done taking photographs of White-Throated Sparrows. They seem to be clamoring for their own post soon.
White-Throated Sparrow
The white blossoms blown off the trees yesterday reminding me of snow, combined with the frigid temperatures. To get back to warmer thoughts, here are a couple more Ovenbird photos.
Think Spring!
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your photos definitely show that these delightful birds truly do want to engage …Love the Oven Bird…
Thanks, Syl, for your support!
Nice post Lisa! Spring started for me yesterday. I spent 3-1/2 hours under the sun mowing the lawn and could do only 1/2 of it because rain started! Today is gray and are predicting thunder showers. Yes, Spring has begun for me! 🙂
Good luck with the grass, HJ. At least you won’t have to water it! The days are getting longer and there’s just more work to do. 🙂
Great post. I have never seen an ovenbird. We have a huge number of white crowned sparrows in the back garden (I’ve been spreading a lot of white millet on the ground). I haven’t seen any white throated, though we have had them in past years. What I really want to see is indigo buntings. Do you know if they have arrived yet?
Thanks for the encouraging words. Yes, Indigo Buntings have arrived. I started seeing them a couple weeks ago, but I have heard more than I have seen. They seem to know they attract attention. Do you get them in your yard? Congrats on the White-Crowned Sparrows. I have heard them in my yard and I do get to see them on occasion. I think White-Throated have been everywhere but my yard this spring.