Tuesday morning, I went for a walk at the Chicago Portage because I needed the walk more than anything else. For a while it was so quiet, I was content to think I might be just looking at the emptiness in full. We had just experienced our first snowfall and the trees were looking less leafy.
As I started to walk past the bridge at Harlem, an influx of sparrows flew across the path over the fence from the corner. I managed to capture a White-throated Sparrow.
A Dark-eyed Junco sat still for a moment.
Two sparrows, a Fox Sparrow and a White-throated Sparrow, were in the same bare tree.
An American Robin stood out against the greying sky.
I spotted a Black-capped Chickadee.
I went through the opening in the fence and found Red-winged Blackbirds and some European Starlings foraging in the leaves on the path. They weren’t too easy to see.
I also saw a snow-covered American Robin.
I took a look at the Des Plaines River which is still quite low.
A Downy Woodpecker was busy at work on some interesting tree bark.
A flock of 30 or more European Starlings flew into the bare trees.
There were at least 40 American Robins, so it was difficult to ignore them all.
On my way out, I had to take notice of the dramatic looking oak trees.
I hope to be back with more soon. I’ve been inconvenienced recently by some technical issues and spam: it’s exhausting. But I suppose I should expect no less in these surreal times.
One more of the bird at the top of the post. I always look forward to seeing Fox Sparrows, so this day was a special treat.
Looked like Marquette was pointing North indicating the winter birds are arriving. I wonder how long the snow stayed on that Robin?
Good question about the snow-covered Robin. I’m reminded of a House Sparrow years ago when I was playing music for the birds on the third floor of the 6-flat. He showed up on my window sill covered in snow. I could only imagine him sitting on a branch somewhere and a chunk of snow falling on him.
We are going to get freezing temperatures next week but no snow. I am sorry about the spam. That is very wearing.
We didn’t get all that much snow, but it was a reminder. We’ll be warmer for a few days and then cool off again… but precipitation is really iffy these days.
As for the spam, I’m trying hard to not feel spied upon…