Winter Wren

I know they're considered common, but until today I have never seen one in the yard-so I'm counting him as a new yard bird. They're tiny little things, very cute.




Yesterday afternoon I had a female Towhee in the yard briefly.

The Catbird spent the whole day out there yesterday, he sampled the different flavors of suet, had a drink & took a bath. He was out there until dusk, returned early this morning & is still out there now. I know it's not the most brilliant colored bird one can have in their yard, but I must say I am adoring him & hope he stays. When I got home from work this morning I sat on the bench for awhile & it came to the suet feeder closest to me, so I got a good 'live' look at it.

Brown Thrasher was here again as well.

Have not seen the Grosbeak return, I hope he comes back & gives my yard another chance. Feeders were basically empty when he came by the first time, I don't think I made a good first impression on him.

Hubby has requested a Oriole (as if it's that easy), so I put out orange slices a couple days ago, no luck yet. All the activity has impressed the hubby. The birds used to be 'my thing' & he'd tag along, but I'm catching him in the window constantly. He's really good about hanging out w/me when I venture out beyond the yard - I think I have converted him.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Woodpeckers

I have to work tonight so I didn't want to go too far from the house. I decided to check out the local cemeteries in Forest Park that I read about from The Illinois Birding Forum. Of course being a rookie, I didn't know where to start. We only went in one area, we went through one that had a whole section under water. I saw a Downey, a pair of Northern Flickers (M&F- new for me), a Red-Bellied Woodpecker (male), White Throated Sparrows, Goldfinches, & several Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers. I will say that on our way out, I saw something land on the ground that was about the size of a sparrow & had a rusty/cinnamon coloring on it's back, it flew off before I could bring the cam to my eye.

Another new visitor in the yard - Gray Catbird

Woke up this morning to another new visitor. It hung out for quite awhile (until my neighbor mowed his lawn), didn't seem to mind that I was nearby on my bench watching him. & the Brown Thrasher returned for day #3.

Fun with cropping!

I kinda forgot that I can crop at 100%, here are some other pics from the yard this week...

Rose Breasted Grosbeak

I just had a male in the yard. So beautiful, have never seen them before. I've never had so much activity back there other than my regulars...









& look who else want to join in w/the feasting:
Is this a Coopers or a Sharp-shinned? I didn't get a look at the tail, or get a good pic of it either. I have the hardest time ID'ing hawks...





& these because the blue is so bright & beautiful!

Brown Thrasher

I got home this afternoon & checked on the yard, & I noticed a Brown Thrasher in the tree. I think I had one visit the birdbath once late last summer, but didn't get a good look at it-this bird seems similar. My suet feeders were all emptied so I refilled & a few moments later he/she returned to eat. While I was watching it & taking some pics, I looked over to the right & saw the tanager had returned for day #2. Not bad at all!










ETA: It was just here again.

Happy Spring!

I've been SO busy with school, I cannot believe that I am about to wrap up my first year as a nursing student. I feel like I still have a long way to go. Anyway, I treat myself by taking breaks & watching/looking in the yard & it has paid off! I'm such a nerd that I just leave my camera by the window now. haha. I had 2 birds this week that were "first time evers" for me (lifers?). A male (I believe) Eastern Towhee & a 1st year male Summer (?) Tanager (according to my guide)! To my knowledge they have never stopped by before, the Towhee stuck around for about a week & I haven't seen him since the day before yesterday. The Tanager visited today stopped in, grabbed a snack & left...hopefully he'll be back. Here are a few yard pics from the last week. Have a great one!








This guy was giving it all he had! He danced for her for quite awhile.


This is from about a month or so ago, I was shocked by how close it let me get to it (I did zoom in a bit as well):