This first day of meteorological spring (today) started out chilly and windy. Although the wind was blowing from the south earlier and increased the temperature to 55 degrees, however briefly, the wind gusts were up to 40 miles per hour and now the direction of the wind is changing, and we are dipping down into the 20’s and low 30’s overnight through Sunday, with a little rainy snow in the forecast for Friday.

These photos are from the end of February at the Chicago Portage when we had some unusually warm days – yes, warm enough for the turtles to come out and sun themselves. But here we go in chronological order. On February 20, I first encountered some White-tailed Deer right off the parking lot.

American Robins get short-shrift, taken for granted, but I always welcome their presence and their stalwart tolerance of us humans.

Here’s how the Portage looked on that day.

I always expect American Tree Sparrows to have left and then they show up again.

I can’t always count on a photograph of a Black-capped Chickadee either, even though I see them year ’round.

I saw both Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers that day.

The photos below are the Hairy Woodpecker.

Female Northern Cardinals have been rather easy to capture lately but that will change soon.

Then there are the birds I don’t always see, but usually hear loud and clear. Red-winged Blackbirds have been on site for weeks. And Song Sparrows have been, well, singing of course.

Two days later on the 22nd there was more sunshine, if not more birds.

It must have been warmer, because this was the first time I noticed turtles sunning themselves with the pairs of Mallards and Canada Geese. I couldn’t stop taking pictures… Turtles in February!!

Then on February 27, it was even warmer. The European Starlings that nest in the statue were celebrating.

More Mallards came in.

Blue Jays were here and there.

And it was another fine day for the turtles.

When I got home, as soon as I got out of my car, Sandhill Cranes were flying over. It’s impossible to capture the enormity of the flocks as they merge and swirl around in the sky. One thing is certain: Sandhills like to party.

At the same time they were flying over, the kids in the grammar school down the street were outside in the playground, and my wind chimes were carrying on as well. In spite of all this I am including the tiny video below if you like sound effects.

Going back on February 29 (which happens only every 4 years), the temperatures had cooled down again and not much was happening. The turtles had gone back to bed.

There was a doe on the ground taking a break from her hectic deer life.

So I guess there is a little consistency to this post, beginning and ending with deer. Now I can finally move on to March before it escapes me entirely. More birds are trickling in. The weather is changeable and dominated by strong winds, but spring is now official.