Fall Feathers

This post features several of the beautiful birds I have seen throughout the autumn months.

~ Identification corrections always welcome ~

A most striking raptor ~ Juvenile Cooper's Hawk



A pretty Palm Warbler seen against a colorful autumn background

American Goldfinches are a common sight during the fall months 

Goldenrod offers a nice perch for this stunning White-crowned Sparrow

A beautiful Black-throated Green Warbler forages amid the tree branches

 A gust of wind fluffs the feathers of an American Kestrel

I spotted this Dark-eyed Junco bathing delightfully in a puddle after an early morning downpour

A Horned Lark explores washed up vegetation on the Lake Michigan shore

A handsome juvenile Red-tailed Hawk scans the nature preserve for prey

A Red-eyed Vireo passes through our property on its migration south

A peanut is this Blue Jays snack of choice ~ This particular Blue Jay would repeatedly pick up 4 - 8 peanuts and toss the rejects before it decided on the perfect nut

A Semipalmated Plover enjoys a sunny day at the beach

Floating lazily in the cool pond waters ~ Hooded Merganser

Fall Feathered Friends

Autumn is a most beautiful time of year in the Midwest. Below are a series of photographs taken in the fall season.

A sightly Hooded Merganser glides along in cool waters

I believe this stunning creature is an immature Cooper's Hawk ~ Identification assistance always welcome ~  I had to shoot through the middle of an extremely dense bush for this shot

An American Coot enjoys a peaceful day at the pond

A windblown American Kestrel scans the beach for a lunchtime treat

The lovely reflection of a Mallard Duck

A White-breasted Nuthatch searches for food amid fallen russet leaves

A female Northern Cardinal delights in a bounty of berries

The splendid wings of a Downy Woodpecker

A pretty Yellow-rumped Warbler forages in the grass

Luscious, plump, red berries for this lucky Cedar Waxwing

Two Canada Geese enjoy a morning swim ~ The interesting reflection on the water is from a highrise building in the city of Chicago

A pretty Hermit Thrush against lovely autumn leaves

A tiny Golden-crowned Kinglet searches for sustenance

A Look Back

Here in the Midwest, the fall season brings many changes. Cooler, more comfortable temperatures arrive delivering crisp, clear, refreshing air. Brilliant golds, burgundies, umbers and reds replace the lush, green leaves of summer. Autumn also brings about a chance to view beautiful birds on their migration south to warmer climates. I always look forward to visiting my favorite birding locations in the fall, as there is usually an abundance of activity. Surprisingly, this autumn season has been especially quiet for bird viewing. That being the case, I took a look back at my photograph archives to see the images I captured last year at this time. Below are several beauties seen in 2009.
~ Identification corrections welcome ~

A striking Cooper's Hawks scans for prey atop a park fence

A most comfortable place to have lunch

A pretty Hermit Thrush framed by brilliant fall foliage

A busy Golden-crowned Kinglet in search of insects

This Eastern Phoebe has its eyes on a swarm of gnats nearby

A VERY berry Northern Cardinal face

A fluffed up White-throated Sparrow also enjoys the plump, ripe seasonal berries

An Orange-crowned Warbler carefully extracts tasty seeds

A White-breasted Nuthatch against a pretty autumn background

Tasty seeds galore for this beautiful White-crowned Sparrow

A lovely Wood Thrush amid damp grass blades

Sweet mush face

Views From the Water's Edge

Below are a series of photographs taken from the water's edge of beautiful Lake Michigan and scenic North Pond in Lincoln Park.

A colorful male Wood Duck wades in the cool waters of North Pond

 

A lone Semipalmated Plover scans the shoreline for tasty treats

 

A Northern Shoveler glides on a reflective pond

One of several Horned Larks seen foraging along the beach

A handsome Peregrine Falcon stands in the shallows of Lake Michigan

A striking Killdeer enjoys a sunny day at Montrose Beach

A stunning Hooded Merganser swims in a sunlit pond

A Black-bellied Plover searches the shoreline for delectable morsels of food

A pretty Dunlin gets doused by Lake Michigan waters ...

and recovers quite nicely

A most beautiful autumn day at North Pond

A diminutive Pied-billed Grebe delights in a morning swim

A tiny Sanderling searches the shoreline for sustenance