My windshield looked like this, this morning, when I went out to start the car so I could sing with the choir for our first choir Sunday in two years.
It fits this post, which is a little collection of wintertime visits that I never managed to mention. The first was a visit to Columbus Park on 12-30-21.
I had gone to see if a Greater White-fronted Goose was still visible after it had been reported for several days. But by this time the water had frozen and so many Canada Geese were sitting on the ice it was too hard to tell.
Still, it was a beautiful, sunny day with lots of virgin snow.
Another beautiful sunny day a month later, on January 30, 2022, I decided to visit the Little Red Schoolhouse after another snowfall. Below is a view of Longjohn Slough which borders the trail starting at the Nature Center.
A few birds were visible.
As I walked the trail, I came across a sign denoting the original location of the school for which the forest preserve is named.
Then in my yard on February 15, a Cooper’s Hawk sat for a long time in the redbud tree right outside the porch windows. I could not resist taking too many pictures. Here are a few.
I miss a lot of beautiful sunsets and can barely see hints of them through my kitchen or porch windows, but I tried to commemorate the winter clouds anyway.
I am full of music from singing at the service which was devoted to the Spring Equinox. What began as a cold morning has turned into a beautiful day. The sun is shining brightly. I hope this is my last windshield ice for a while.
How good to have singing to welcome the new season in. I hope that the sun keeps shining.
It was also interesting to come home and then watch the video, but nothing compares to singing again in front of the congregation. And the congregation got to sing the hymns too, for the first time. In all it was a great way to start spring.
I hope that this good start keeps going and doesn’t falter with a new wave.
Lisa, your winter photos do make me happy knowing spring migration is moving in. On this beautiful day at Portage I did see a junco, Cooper’s Hawk, eastern phoebe and yes a few robins. At Little Red School House the water was no longer frozen and the buffleheads and ring-necked ducks were out in numbers. A small group of Sandhills flew by, but no American Tree sparrows, Keep birding the scenery is changing and the temps are rising.
Nice to hear about the Phoebe. I missed their presence all last dry summer. I was in Riverside yesterday morning and saw a Great Blue Heron on the river when I got back to my car. I will have to get to Palos again soon. Not sure yet about today’s rainy overcast gloom.