I’m staying in this morning while I await the threat of thunderstorms. It’s still quite warm and the increase in humidity helps to hold in the heat after some overnight rain. I did manage to visit the Chicago Portage yesterday. In retrospect, it was quite a successful outing. Although quiet and not terribly “birdy” most of the time, I am beginning to realize that it is those quiet, uncluttered moments that allow one to focus more deeply on an individual subject. The birds that made themselves available to me might have been missed in a more crowded context.

Of course there were the American Robins on the trail and everywhere.

But then, after weeks of hearing Red-winged Blackbirds singing and seeing them at a distance, I finally had one close enough for a few photos, even though poor light made it challenging.

It wasn’t long before I heard and saw an Eastern Phoebe, but I had to wait until later in my walk to visit with one.

Then the most unexpected and therefore rewarding surprise was seeing a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

I made note of a White-breasted Nuthatch.

Then I encountered the Eastern Phoebe close to the smaller bridge.

Things calmed down after that. I listened to a Song Sparrow.

I have seen more than my share of empty Common Milkweed seed pods but this one spoke to me with its stubborn endurance.

And among a few deer feeding off the paved trail was this one very young individual.

I’ll be back with a little more or less (or more!) as I realize these quiet, isolated little one-on-one encounters have occurred more often than not lately and they are a great opportunity to be in the moment. As much as I look forward to the chaos of spring warbler migration, perhaps in hope of drowning out some of the chaotic malaise of our own creation that we battle daily, I am going to try to appreciate these emerging chance encounters more for what they are, while they last.