My bird observation life has been peripatetic at best. Last Saturday was probably the best recent weekend day to go out, but I was at our annual choir retreat for three hours in the morning to prepare for this coming Choir Sunday. The weather was predictably cloudy and more miserable last Sunday so I stayed at home and took some pictures of the yard crowd.
I did manage to get out on March 31st to the Portage. Even though it was chilly and cloudy, I wanted to see if there were any new arrivals. For the most part I saw regular visitors. One White-Breasted Nuthatch was particularly cooperative. Perhaps he is related to the one who visits my yard on occasion.
The locals were all busy.
Perhaps the most evident Sign of Spring was seeing the return of a Turkey Vulture.
In the yard, I am happy to still have two Pine Siskins hanging out. I hope this means they have become regular visitors.
The Goldfinches are looking a little in-betweenish these days.
Not too clear pictures through the porch windows and screens but the House Finches are bonding. There’s a Pine Siskin mixed in the group shots too.
When I managed to stand in the backyard and wait for the birds to come back for photos, a male Downy Woodpecker made sure he checked out everything.
I still have a Dark-Eyed Junco or two, as of Sunday. And even though we had a nice warmup on Monday and Tuesday, the winds have shifted and we are back into chilly, windy gloom.
In a way I am glad I have not had time to start cleaning up my yard because there are undoubtedly a lot of overwintering insects I don’t want to disturb.
This Saturday I’m “leading” a walk at Columbus Park. So far the weather looks promising. I expect we will have a few migrants and with any luck I’ll get some pictures of them.
I’m looking forward to Choir Sunday. Our last rehearsal is tonight. We are singing a wonderful work by John Kramer entitled “The Immigrant Experience.” If you are anywhere within striking distance of Oak Park, Illinois, I urge you to attend either one of the two Sunday services at Unity Temple. Yes, this is a plug, but for a good cause. The music will be breathtaking.
With any luck I’ll be back to this page before next Saturday. Then I will be gone for a birding trip to Big Bend and the Hill Country in Texas. It’s been on my list of places to visit for a long time, and I wanted to see it before any habitat is destroyed by the border fiasco.
Good luck with your Choir event, Lisa. I see that your backyard is getting busy too! 🙂
Thanks, H.J.! Now if it would only just warm up a little. 🙂
A great picture at the top of the post but I expect the worm wasn’t so happy about it.
I have mixed feelings about worms. I suspect they’re one motivating factor for our robins having adapted so well to us. What’s really fun is to see the robin stand over the ground sensing the worm underneath like it has a built-in geiger counter.
Some great catches, especially the robin and worm! I went to the Lincoln Memorial Garden yesterday and saw a bunch of birds and got decent pics of none of them. Bird photography is a challenging skill, which is why I like to take the pictures from the comfort of our back porch, and with feeders to draw them close. Good luck with the concert!
Thanks! Agreed, bird photography is challenging and especially frustrating when trying to focus with cold fingers which is what I was up to this morning. Oh well, there’s always next time. You have a spectacular yard which attracts some great birds!
Beautiful captures, Lisa, I love the White-Breasted Nuthatch and Downy Woodpecker shots! Have an awesome birding time in Texas!
Thanks, Donna! I’m running on adrenaline today. It’s been fun to see the birds come back into the yard, even when I don’t always get to photograph them.