Tag Archives: tagged Canada Geese

Frustrated, Fumbling – Found!

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I have been spending a lot of mental energy trying to figure out how to function with the new camera and new software, trying to find the place where it all feels comfortable again. It’s been yelling in the back of my mind through nearly everything else I have tried to do independent of photo processing for the last week. I had pretty much decided to switch back to Lightroom and engaged in a 7-day free trial. I soon discovered that naturally, even the so-called “Classic” had changed since I bought the software that has been on my older laptop for years.

As familiar as Lightroom felt automatically, two things were frustrating me. One was getting the watermark to print on the processed jpg. The other was indexing: I couldn’t find the processed jpgs on my laptop. I finally solved these two problems on Sunday afternoon, and now it feels like home again. What a relief! Of course the reason for all this is because “improvements” – i.e., more options – have been added to Lightroom in the last 10 years, so one has to dig through menus to find the familiar features and select them. I am sure there are a lot more things I will discover as I continue to explore the new camera and applications. I have to remind myself it’s good I’m going through this exercise while there are very few birds to photograph.

So now, back to those Few Birds. I’ve been to Riverside a few times in the last week and I managed a few pictures of them. On February 5, there was very little light. I tried to encourage the sun by taking its photograph.

A pair of Common Goldeneyes swam in the river.

A Northern Cardinal, also at the top of the post, provided some color.

Beyond that, there was a Ring-billed Gull overhead.

The trail at Riverside Lawn was still mostly snow and ice, not worth navigating.

But the reward at the end as I was heading toward my car was a distant flying adult Bald Eagle.

I went back two days later and got a closer look at a male Common Goldeneye.

And navigating only part of the Riverside Lawn trail, I saw a few Brown Creepers.

Two days later, on Friday, the sun was shining. I first saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker on the Riverside paved trail.

The Des Plaines River didn’t have many birds in it at that point.

I did see two tagged Canada Geese from where I stood on the footbridge: 26N and 64H. According to the band reports I received previously, they are both males.

Otherwise, there were a handful of Dark-eyed Juncos.

And I barely captured a male Northern Cardinal this time.

It feels good to be operational again. I like the new camera. Perhaps all I really did need was some new Canon batteries… if so, the old camera can be my backup. But I am slowly accepting the fact that technology will continue to rule my life and I may as well get caught up in, or better, with it, while keeping the interference to a minimum. Now I can look forward to spring migration. Birds are starting to sing.

Sunny December Days in Riverside

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Even though the rain had pretty much subsided after last night, it was still hanging in the air, making all day chilly, cloudy, and I had planned a few household chores this morning, so I did not go for a walk. I did manage my last swim of 2023, though. Anyway, it’s nice to look back to earlier days in December when there was some sunshine. Here are a few photos from December 8, 11 and 13.

The Des Plaines River on 12/8, looking south from the Hofmann Tower

I first saw three Canada Geese standing on the wall near the Joliet Avenue Bridge. Then a bit later I saw 26N, a male banded on 7/14/2016.

And there were some Rock Pigeons atop the Hofmann Tower. Nothing new there.

On the 11th I saw 26N again with 54H, a female banded 7/7/2015.

I’ve seen American Robins off and on all winter here and there, but I have not always had an opportunity to photograph them.

A Blue Jay was enjoying the bright sunshine.

Dark-eyed Juncos were made more interesting by their surroundings.

But on that day when I approached the turn in the river, where I normally look forward to crossing the swinging bridge and walking through Riverside Lawn, a crew was busy sawing and burning trees and vegetation around the telephone pole that has been designated a future Osprey nest.

So I went back along the paved trail and crossed the Joliet Avenue bridge to walk into Riverside Lawn at the other end for a while, staying clear of the destruction. I saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker…

a White-breasted Nuthatch…

and a White-throated Sparrow.

On the 13th, there was an abundance of more bright sunshine. Below is the same view of the Des Plaines River as the one above, and another look across the river at the continuing clearing.

An American Robin or two caught my eye.

And a Downy Woodpecker was foraging low.

But the biggest surprise was seeing an Eastern Bluebird. It wasn’t particularly close to it, but I managed to get a few photos before it took off. Actually as I look at these photos, I think there were two individuals, with the first three photos of a female and the male in the last photograph.

I took this view of the Riverside Lawn trail below, suspecting it might be the last time I see it after all the clearing is done.

Four Mallards took off, heading upstream.

And here’s one more of the Dark-eyed Junco at the top of the post.

The calendar has messed up my swimming routine, and the weather has interfered with the walking one. I have gotten out of bed every morning not knowing exactly what to look forward to. Just playing it by ear. A little snow is promised for New Year’s Eve. That might be nice for a change.

I wish you a peaceful New Year. I hope to be back to this page soon…in 2024.