As promised, I am back with photos from a few last visits to the Chicago Portage over the past two weeks. I haven’t been there too consistently. And it feels strange to be inside on this bright sunny day when I would normally be walking the trails over there, but as I started writing this post, I checked my phone and it was -8 degrees Fahrenheit. Feels like -16, if one could comprehend what -16 feels like. I have been out to the backyard this morning to fill a couple feeders and clean up the heated birdbaths, so I’m not completely out of touch with reality, but I am grateful to be inside a warm house filled with birds.

I mused about writing my book while stuck inside the house these few days, but I am more tempted to bake cookies. I never paid much attention to those motivational proposals such as how to write a book in a weekend, but it sometimes seems like I’m running out of time, so the idea briefly became more attractive. Of all the reasons why I should get back to it, I should do so for the sake of fulfilling my promise to the birds.

Okay, here we go – three cold, icy, snowy, fairly uneventful walks at the Chicago Portage. The first was on January 9 when the trails seemed walkable again. I first noticed the Red-tailed Hawk in the distance. I never did get any closer to it.

The ice was noticeable. The birds were not. I last saw two White-tailed Deer before leaving.

Two days later, on January 11, there was snow.

I could see a Northern Cardinal here and there.

There were a few deer again

And what seems like a real treasure these days, a glimpse at a White-throated Sparrow.

Finally, on January 16, after more snow, there was a snowman of sorts, out on the snow-covered ice.

As I walked the trail, I looked up to see the Red-tailed Hawk across the frozen water, blending in with its perch.

I found a Song Sparrow.

And another. Or it might have been the same one,

I looked around to see if I could still find the Red-tailed Hawk.

Then a Red-bellied Woodpecker captured my attention.

A look out toward the river confirmed what I had been seeing in Riverside.

I saw a Downy Woodpecker briefly.

There was another Red-bellied Woodpecker.

An American Robin gave me the eye.

And a Black-capped Chickadee came around.

I tried to get one more, closer look at the Snowman. It was gone the next time,

I think it’s time to get up and make myself useful in the kitchen. Since I might not be walking trails much in the next few days, I may return with a few photos of the backyard birds before I delve into my endless stash of historical photos. Keep the faith…