Spring Brings ...

The first day of spring is only one week away. This post contains photographs from my archives featuring several birds I am looking forward to seeing over the coming spring season.

Beautiful Yellow Warblers will soon flutter about the marsh area at the back of our property

I've already spotted many American Robins hopping through the grass seeking sustenance

Tiny Ruby-crowned Kinglets are always a delight to observe

Pretty Yellow-rumped Warblers will soon fill the trees

One of the most lovely birds I have ever seen ~ Blackburnian Warbler

This stunning Prothonotary Warbler was a life bird for me last year

The the high-pitched song of Common Yellowthroats will soon fill the marsh

Rusty capped Palm Warblers will be passing through on their way to Canada

I am looking forward to the arrival of diminutive Ruby-throated Hummingbirds during the month of April

Resplendent Black-throated Green Warblers briefly visit the Chicago area during spring migration

Eastern Bluebird  ~ We already have a few bluebird couples checking out several of the nest boxes on our property ~ Last year, one pair raised three successful broods in the same nest box

Backyard Birds

During the cold winter months, plenty of feathered friends visit our backyard for tasty treats and a refreshing sip of water. Black oil sunflower seeds and suet cakes seem to be the most popular snacks. Below are photographs of several birds that have visited our backyard throughout the winter season.

A beautiful Tufted Titmouse selects from many sunflower seeds

Blue Jays seem to favor sunflower seeds, dried corn and unsalted roasted peanuts

White-breasted Nuthatches are quite fond of suet cakes and a variety of seeds

A lovely Dark-eyed Junco samples the seed selection on the ground

Downy Woodpeckers can be seen quite regularly nibbling on suet cakes

 Northern Cardinals visit our feeders most often at dusk. They can't get enough of the fatty sunflower seeds.

Red-bellied Woodpecker ~ These noisy birds fly clumsily in and eagerly feeds on sunflower seeds, corn and suet cakes

Delightful Black-capped Chickadees are the most common of our backyard visitors

Male Northern Cardinal most always arrive accompanied by a mate and  other cardinal couples

Quick moving Red-breasted Nuthatches have been frequent visitors to our feeders this year. Suet cakes and sunflower seeds are their snacks of choice. 

I recently saw a Pileated Woodpecker flying about the area where many of our bird feeders hang. Though the photograph is blurry, I was thrilled to finally snap a shot of one of these shy interesting birds (photograph taken in November)

Tufted Titmouse ~ Delicious!

Birds of Paradise

The winter season has been slow to start here in Chicago. Up until two days ago, our weather has been very spring-like. Currently, as I gaze out the window, I see six inches of pristine snow blanketing our lawn, bushes and trees. The air is crisp at 20 degrees. Winds are brisk. Winter has finally arrived.

During January and February, the coldest months of the year, I spend less time outdoors photographing birds because of the frigid temperatures and frequent snowy days. I really do miss meandering though nature preserves, strolling around ponds and scaling small sand dunes. With this post, I thought I would warm up a bit and revisit our recent vacation destination, the gulf coast of Florida. Truly a tropical paradise! Below I feature many of the lovely birds seen on our two week trip.

The magnificent wings of an Osprey ~ It appears as if this female was eyeing me as if I were prey!

Pretty Northern Mockingbirds are a common sight on Longboat Key

The freshly fluffed plumage of a Wood Stork

A lithe Greater Yellowlegs seeks nourishment in the shallows

We delighted in watching this juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron stalk crabs on the beach

A stunning Snowy Egret looks out over the deep blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico

Two feisty Great Egrets engage in a territorial dispute

A dainty Black-bellied Plover escapes the frothy waves of the Gulf

Little Blue Herons are often seen hunting in Sarasota Bay

A Yellow-crowned Night Heron wades the bay waters in search of prey

Crouched and ready for take off ~ Great Blue Heron