It’s been increasingly quiet at the Chicago Portage and just about everywhere. Between the weather, the shorter days, it’s a quiet time.

Before I get much further, below is my one and only photograph from the Christmas Bird Count on December 16, where we were out in the rain pretty much all day. I did manage to barely capture the two Sandhill Cranes we saw with about 150 Canada Geese.

Well, here are a few photos from 3 visits to the Chicago Portage on 12-14, 12-17 and 12-19. I have gone back four times since, and things have slowed down even more. But that just gives me a chance to appreciate even more the birds that make this place their hangout.

On the 14th I photographed two birds that I don’t often get a chance to see, however regular they may be: a Hairy Woodpecker, and a Blue Jay.

On 12-17, it was becoming pretty common to see some birds on the gravel trail. Someone (not me) left them some birdseed.

Some days the Northern Cardinals are all over the place, and others I hardly even hear them.

American Tree Sparrows are the same way. They either show up, or they don’t, in some numbers. I barely captured this one. I love how it blends in with its surroundings, even if the camera doesn’t always appreciate the focus challenge.

Dark-eyed Juncos are here and there.

At one point on that cloudy day, 8 American Crows flew over. That number, however small, was significantly more crows than I have seen together around here in a long time. One was calling. And then maybe it was the same one that came back to check me out. It even moved to a closer perch so we could exchange thoughts for a moment or two.

On the 19th, I had a lot more participation in front of the camera, with the light being maybe a little bit better than on the 17th.

I see Red-bellied Woodpeckers just about every time I go out, but they have been distant, except for this one.

I saw a Hairy Woodpecker again, and a Downy Woodpecker, which is in the third photo for comparison.

Birds on the ground were mainly Dark-eyed Juncos and Northern Cardinals.

And a Blue Jay showed up for good measure.

I was treated to an almost-great look at a Fox Sparrow that popped up onto a branch in my view.

I barely saw one American Tree Sparrow.

One Black-capped Chickadee gave me a little bit of an action shot.

And so goes December. The promise of longer days, however elusive it seems, gives me something to look forward to. I was baking Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin breads all last week through the morning of Christmas Eve, as the list of recipients kept growing. But it was great fun to wrap them up and make deliveries. In particular, I made three unannounced house calls yesterday and I so appreciate the welcoming gifts of my friends’ time. It felt almost like I was back in another century.

The choir sang for the annual Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve, and we now have the rest of the year off. We go back to rehearsal on January 3rd, 2024.

I wish you all Hope, Love and Peace for the New Year. We sure need a lot of it.