Well, this is the 3rd day, but this post is about the birds I was able to photograph on Friday and Saturday.
New Year’s Day was chilly and gloomy, until the sun came out early in the afternoon and I was compelled to see what birds were in the yard. My FOY (first of year) bird was a Downy Woodpecker when I went out to fill the feeders earlier. But in the afternoon, the new yardbirds for the year were two American Tree Sparrows.
Tree Sparrows have visited the yard before in previous winters, but they are always a welcome surprise after the usual cavalcade of House Sparrows. This pair started out taking cover in the dogwood but then became rather relaxed and started foraging about on the snow.
Others in attendance and photographable were four Downy Woodpeckers, the White-Breasted Nuthatch, a Black-Capped Chickadee, and four Dark-Eyed Juncos. The lack of light became a bit of a problem, though, especially with the Juncos.
Then yesterday morning I decided it was time to see what was happening at the Chicago Portage. If nothing else, the sun was shining brightly, eventually even taking the chill away temporarily when the breeze subsided. I could not help but be a noisy presence as the snow on the path covered a substantial layer of frozen ice, so I crunched my way through every step. In spite of my intrusion, the Northern Cardinal males were more than happy to pose in the bright sunshine as long as they felt sufficiently obstructed by a few twigs here and there.
There were also plenty of American Tree Sparrows and Dark-Eyed Juncos, plus a good representation of American Goldfinches. Although geese and mallards flew overhead there were no waterfowl in the mostly frozen water.
I headed out to the Palos area afterward to see if I could find any ducks but the entrances to parking weren’t even open and there were no water birds to be seen.
When I got home I noticed this Mourning Dove sitting on the neighbor’s ham radio antenna across the street.
Today is gray and chilly, so maybe I can start working on the leftover resolutions I’ve been carrying with me for the past year…
Happy New Year to all from me and my bird friends. Savor the present, relish your memories wisely and do not fear the future but embrace possibility. Just a thought! I’ll let you know when we write a song about it. 🙂
Happy New Year to you, Lisa. I enjoy your posts.
Jim
Happy New Year, Jim! So delightful to hear from you. Stay warm. 🙂
Not so bad to start the year Lisa! Have a happy 2016! 🙂
Thanks HJ!! Happy New Year!
A happy new year Lisa and may all your resolutions carry you forward with joy.
Thanks so very much, Tom. I’m adding to my list to try to follow you more often! May your new year bring you many more joys as well.
My life follows a well trodden route so occasional visits are all that is required.
What a delightful series of photos!
Thanks, Julie!
Wonderful photos, Lisa, and a great New Year start despite the cold! I loved your ‘thought’, going to tape that one to my computer screen. Happy 2016 Shooting!
Thanks so much, Donna! Happy 2016 Shooting pictures to you too!