It’s been hard to focus lately, but what else is new? My indoor birds remind me every morning that the sun is coming up, we are all still here and somehow life continues to amuse and sometimes amaze us. Spring being what it is, instead of the post I was writing, I am going to recap the last few days. But first, speaking of the indoor birds (apologies for the size, I can’t seem to shrink this cell phone video)…

On March 10. in Riverside, the abundant sunshine brought out a Blue Jay.

The Northern Cardinals have been singing for awhile, but now they are serious. I couldn’t resist trying to shoot the video below of the singing Northern Cardinal who is also at the top of the post.

Earlier that morning I had stopped to record this Northern Cardinal and another male a few trees away, singing what sounded more like a duet to me than countersinging.

The next day, Bob and I drove down to the Des Plaines SFWA Widewaters in Will County where numbers of waterfowl had been reported earlier. Unfortunately, most of the birds had moved on, but it was a nice change of scenery. Thanks to Bob for driving, and I will have to make a point of visiting this spot again. I did get a few photos, although most of the birds were too far away.

It was nice to see two Bald Eagles, a juvenile and an adult.

There were a couple Mute Swans, and I caught one as it flew closer.

The next morning in Riverside, the Red-breasted Merganser couple was out on the river again.

Song Sparrows have been singing and displaying. I haven’t recorded one yet this year, but they know I’m listening,

I saw a female Northern Cardinal foraging in the mess of branches off the trail close to the river.

And a male Red-winged Blackbird posed by the river.

A Dark-eyed Junco popped up, reminding me that soon I will not be seeing this species for a while.

A Black-capped Chickadee showed off its calisthenic prowess.

Thursday the 13th, back at the Chicago Portage, the ice had finally melted and there was water for a few Mallards.

Red-winged Blackbirds were abundant and singing like crazy. They haven’t been posing yet on territories, but I caught one in flight. Below the photo is a sample of the chorus.

I barely saw an American Tree Sparrow. This is another bird that will be disappearing soon.

I stopped to admire some moss growing on a decayed stump.

A Red-tailed Hawk flew beyond the fence

And a male Downy Woodpecker was close enough to contemplate.

Later that evening, I stepped outside to look at the full moon.

Then the next evening, I did not try to get up in the middle of the night to see and photograph the lunar eclipse. Now I am sorry I didn’t, because when I did wake up in the middle of the night, around 2:40 AM, I took a peek outside the back door. I could see a partial eclipse, and after I tried to see if the cell phone camera could do anything, I went back in and grabbed my camera. The photo isn’t great, but it was amazing to be standing out on my back porch steps in my flannel pajamas on a March evening.

Beyond that, I walked in Riverside Lawn before I went swimming, saw the Red-breasted Merganser couple again…

and an enthusiastic-looking American Robin, who seemed to be tuning up, if not yet singing.

I will try to show up here more often. Especially because even as the weather keeps fluctuating wildly, I expect I will be seeing some more birds. I did not go out today for a walk because of the weather which actually gave me the time to write this post: we are in between storms and it is too windy. I also need to save my knee and energy for the weekly living room cleanup and singing with the choir tomorrow.