Song Sparrow, Springbrook Prairie
I am trying hard to get my head around my imminent departure. There are simply too many things to do, and I seem to have left them all to the last moment. The laundry list gave me an excuse to stay home this weekend, although it would have been a beautiful one to be out birding. But perhaps my one triumph was to rearrange the feeders a bit and stump the gray squirrels. Watching one squirrel slide off a baffle guarding the peanut feeder, which has not been up for months, gave me hope. And I haven’t seen a squirrel sitting on the “squirrel proof” sunflower seed feeder either. Of course I have been gone all day and it’s pitch dark now when I get home, so I won’t know if any of this is working until I get back. The squirrels have always proven to be smarter than I am and I am sure they will come up with a new plan. But I have a sizable investment in birdseed from the Audubon sale and I’d like as much of it as possible to go to the birds.
Canada Geese
Mallards
The pictures are from a couple weeks ago when I paid a visit to Springbrook Prairie in DuPage County. I didn’t see all that many birds and definitely missed the legendary Nelson’s Sharp-Tailed and LeConte’s Sparrows, but it was another chance to wield the Tamron 150-600mm lens around and try getting used to it.
White-Crowned Sparrow
As much as I look forward to my trip, I hate to leave my birds. It’s also frustrating to find myself thinking about what I will do when I get back, when I haven’t even left yet!
Mallards
American Goldfinch
It’s amazing how a difference in light can almost obscure the identity of a bird like the American Goldfinch below.
American Goldfinch
I haven’t seen many Field Sparrows this year so it was nice to catch this one.
Field Sparrow
No matter how big the lens, a bird that is far away remains…far away.
Northern Cardinal
It’s hard to capture the enormity of Springbrook Prairie. I did not walk the entire trail, which can take hours. Nevertheless, several cyclists and runners kept passing me by again and again.
Cedar Waxwing
I will try to come back with one more post before I disappear for a while, as a few last minute contributors to my inner and outer landscape have vied for my attention.
Lisa,
Enjoy your trip as we have enjoyed your blog and pictures. Thank you.
Julie & Jim
Thanks so much! Greetings! 😊
I love that you are as excited about your local birds as you are the Costa Rican ones. They are all precious and beautiful! I’m looking forward to your next post. Have fun!
Susan
Thank you so much, Susan! It has always been about the connection with another species and I sometimes forget that but the locals remind me all the time. And thank you for making me realize it. 🙂
Hi Lisa,
I have been enjoying your blog ever since we got back from our Operation Rubythroat trip to Belize last spring.
Today, I am writing to wish you a great trip to Costa Rica. Will be really looking forward to hearing about your adventure and seeing your pictures in “Goldbird Variations” when you return.
Bon voyage,
Ethelyn Bishop
Ethelyn, how wonderful to hear from you! Thank you so very much for following me and your comment. It seems like Belize was only yesterday one moment & then it seems hard to believe it was this year. Oh well i have to get off the train! 😊
What pests these cyclists are.
🙂 Sorry, didn’t mean to offend you. I think if there were more places to ride one’s bike like you have, there would be fewer cyclists on preserve paths.
I was only joking. When I am a pedestrian, cyclists can get me going. I am not a great fan of shared use paths for that reason.
I thought you were joking…just my cycle guilt acting up. 😌