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