Blogging...

I am a bad blogger! I can barely keep up with one, let alone two. I've decided to combine them. So if anyone would like to join me, I can be found at: Little Brick Bungalow

Yard has been pretty busy with the regulars, but this cute little Red Breasted Nuthatch is new. It's been hanging out since Christmas Day. It may have been here sooner, but this is the first that I've seen it.

I also saw a White Breasted Nuthatch on Christmas Eve, but not since.

Happy New Year!

A couple from the yard

Hi everyone (ok, all 2 of you), been busy but wanted to share a couple a pics from the yard...

A bit from the yard & beyond...

Happy Easter Weekend! Today I went through the ritual of cleaning & moving feeders around my yard. I saw my FoY Eurasian Collard Dove in the tree first thing this morning, but it took off before I could snap a pic. It came back later in the day, but my neighbors are having some home improvement done & the guy has set up shop in their yard-it bolted again as soon as it heard the saw. I am also seeing that the Slate-Colored Juncos are still here, about 8 or so of them-mostly females. I also had my FoY wren in the yard, so cute! It wouldn't sit still for a minute, & then finally I got it. I'm sure the contractor was wondering why I was crouched down on my back stairs with a camera. :)





& one of my favorite visitors, the Chickadee:


On 3/23, I went to Nelson's Lake to see the Pelicans. There were several in the lake & more in the sky. Pics are not the greatest, but it was still nice to see. Also had what I believe are Tree Sparrows (not 100% sure yet - ETA: ID'd as SONG Sparrows), I saw a Northern Harrier (no pic), Brown-headed Cowbird, and 3 Great-Horned Owls (another pic that's not so great).

Catching up!

Been very busy w/school this past year. There's a saying: "Take a break from life, attend nursing school." I graduate in 2 months, & it's been a crazy ride! I had to put a lot of things on the back burner, including birding. I have started to get back out there & I am anxious for spring to get in full swing.

Last week I returned to Fermi Lab:

It was a chilly overcast day, didn't really see many birds. Some ducks, hundreds of geese, a family of deer & a few coyotes walking through the fields. On our way out, I spotted a Red-tailed hawk perched high in a tree, got a good look at it from the roadside. Just before we got back onto the expressway, I saw what I am pretty sure to be a cormorant flyover.













We had gorgeous weather yesterday (today is cold & snowy), so after class I decided to grab the hubby & go on a late afternoon walk. I thought it may have been too late in the day, we weren't really seeing anything. The preserve locks their gates at 4:30p, and at about 4p, making our way out... I saw my first Red-headed woodpecker! This bird has been near the top of my list for awhile now.

Elsen's Hill

I finally saw an Indigo Bunting, pics are not so great...but it was a beautiful bird. I saw several there actually. At first I could only hear him, had to look up high for him. I also saw 4+ Cedar Waxwings (a favorite), Black Billed Cuckoo (ID'd w/assistance from a poster at the bird forum), tons of Blue Jays, a Hairy & Downy WP, a M&F Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, a wren, a hawk flew over quickly (not exactly sure which kind), a few Robins, heard a Cardinal & chickadee's. I also have a pic (kinda dark) & I can't tell if it's a Great Crested Flycatcher or an Eastern Pewee.

Magic Hedge Warblers (5/29/9)

We went back to the magic hedge (I love it there!) because I was determined to get better pics of the Canada Warbler & I ended up finding some new ones (new for me). I still have to really look in the guide to help me, but it is fun to try & figure it out...
We saw several: Canada's, Redstart's (M&F), Magnolia's, Wilson's, Mourning's, & Yellow's. We also saw (what I believe) are vireos/flycatchers, an ovenbird, a hermit thrush, an oriole, a song sparrow (I think) & a bird that flew by so quickly that I didn't get a pic. It was about the size of a starling & looked to have a mostly yellow body & black head. For some reason a lot of these pics had to be lightened, & a few are very blurry. They are in no particular order, I tried, but there are too many...
































































Some info about The Magic Hedge... http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/custom.natureOasis11