Finally getting to enjoy the Spring!

It was a very busy week for me. 4 tests within a week, I thought my brain was going to explode - luckily I got to get out last weekend & today.

First: on 5/10, I spotted a Hairy Woodpecker in the yard. He went to both feeders, I am kind of wondering if he's the same one that stopped in over the winter. Pics are blurry & dark because I took them through the window.





Last weekend I wanted to get out & clear my head, especially w/2 finals down & 2 to go. Hubby & I chose to go to near the lake. We stopped at a cemetery that my Chicago region book recommended called Rosehill Cemetery. It's a very big area, & has a pond in there as well. I personally didn't think we'd have much luck, I thought I was late at 1030(am). Saw a couple firsts for us: Brown Headed Cowbirds & a Black Crowned Night Heron. We weren't there very long.

Walking up to the pond we were greeted by this family of 5:


Then mama duck & her babies came over to check us out. They were too cute, they followed us as we walked around the pond.



Here they come...


& there they go...



Mama looked exhausted, she had her 'hands' full with this bunch of little explorers.


We were on the opposite side of the pond when the Night Heron came in





& the Brown-Headed Cowbird



Today I wanted to go to the Magic Hedge (also on the lake front). Last year when I was there several birders shared that there was an oriole & I never got to see it. I found one today! (actually saw 2 today, the other one was at another location altogether). I also found some warblers that I have not ID'd yet, but I am trying. (feel free to help me out!) Some pics from the Magic Hedge, some are blurry & some had to be lightened:














A young Blackbird?






A branch is in the way, but the coloring is beautiful!






On our way back we stopped to check out a preserve on Caldwell for a future visit, it was after 2:00pm, we didn't expect to see anything. We were just about to head back to the car when something told me to take a walk around. I'm glad I did! We found another Oriole & a few minutes later something else caught my eye, it was a Green Heron (another bird I've never seen before).





I was on the outlook for either a male Indigo Bunting or a Black & White Warbler, but no such luck. They were both on my original top 5 that I wanted to see when I first really discovered birding, along with the Cedar Waxwing, Red Headed Woodpecker & Pileated Woodpecker. So far, from that list, I have only found the Waxwing. I have a longer list now, but am truly happy with each bird I see.

Have a great weekend!