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!
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.