Berry Fight

A Canadian Goose and a gull were fighting over some type of red berry. Apparently it wasn't worth the effort since the gull subsequently spit out its "prize" and flew away.

I like the "expression" the goose has ;)

Watch Out!

It's happened to me and I've seen it happen to others. Red Winged Blackbirds are very protective of their nests. Certain colors of hats and shirts seem to really set them off and they also - quite sneakily - sometimes attack from behind you.

There's been a pair by the Shedd (I don't know if it is the same pair each year) that are particularly territorial and protective. I think that's what prompted these signs.

National Wear Red Day

Today is National Wear Red Day. Organized by The American Heart Association, National Wear Red Day aims to raise awareness of women's heart disease.

This cardinal wears red everyday and seems to be enjoying a good diet of fruit and grains.

Feathered Friends: Watching the Watcher

This Cooper's Hawk, at the Magic Hedge, caught us bird-watching last Sunday. He must have been out people-watching.

Another photo of this hawk is at my Chicago birdwatching blog, which is here.

Feathered Friends: Getting All Your Ducks in a Row

Chicago currently has a few rare visitors: Harlequin Ducks. They usually don't come to this area. There was one around last year, though, so maybe he recommended our fair city to his duck friends.

They were displaying some interesting activity. One of the three would start splashing. Then the other two would splash and all three would dive.

More photos of the Harlequin Ducks are at my bird-watching blog, here.

Welcome Back Little Warblers

I shouldn't be surprised. The human bird watchers figured out a while ago that Grant Park was a great little spot for bird watching during the Spring and Fall Migrations. It was only a matter of time that the birds of prey figured out that Grant Park would be a good - um, shall we say - culinary destination?

This guy swooped by me on Tuesday morning. Sparrows, warblers, thrushes, and finches all headed for cover. He landed in a tree and, as his expression shows, caught sight of a potential mid-morning snack. He swooped away a few seconds later -- I didn't see if he caught his target or not. I do know that it was pretty quiet, bird-wise, in Grant Park after that.

Moving Migration

Lately I've been focusing a bit more on my other hobby - bird watching, so I don't have too many city scenes. However, I think it is interesting to see how many different birds stop by Chicago on their way north during Spring Migration. I love that I was able to take all of these bird photos right in the downtown area.

Here is a collage of birds from the past week or so. You can click on the image to enlarge it or visit my bird-watching blog, which is here, to see larger photos of these birds.

Column 1 (top to bottom): Wood Thrush, Veery, Palm Warbler, Black Throated Green Warbler

Column 2 (top to bottom): Prothonotary Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Oven Bird

Column 3 (top to bottom): Magnolia Warbler, Hermit Thrush

Feathered Friends: A New Batch

A new batch of migrating birds have stopped in Chicago.

Clockwise from top right

Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Caspian Tern, Brown Creeper

A few more pictures of each are at my Chicago Birdwatching blog, which is here.

Feathered Friends: The Next Wave

The next wave of migrating (and some Summer residents) birds have arrived in Chicago.

Top row

Northern Flicker (top), Killdeer (bottom), Long Eared Owl, Dark-Eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker

Bottow row

Fox Sparrow (top), Hermit Thrush (bottom), Eastern Phoebe, Field Sparrow (top), Vesper Sparrow (bottom), Ruby Crested Kinglet (top), Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, Song Sparrow, Hermit Thrush

Click on the photo to enlarge it

The individual photos will, over the next day or so, get to my Chicago Bird Watcher site, here.

Feathered Friends: Early Birds

I thought the saying was "The Early Bird Catches the Worm" but maybe it is "The Early Bird Catches the Slush". After a brief visit, Spring decided it wasn't ready to commit full-time to Chicago yet so winter is back (slush is falling from the sky, it's in the 30s).

But the mid-week Spring conditions did get the birds moving around a bit. Here is a pictorial summary of bird sightings this past week.

Clockwise from top left

Male House Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, very noisy Red-Winged Blackbird, Robin, Song Sparrow, House Finch, White Throated Sparrow, Common Grackle, Female House Sparrow

Feathered Friends: Wearing Red

Since today is National Wear Red Day, I thought I'd post some photos of some Vermillion Flycatchers. These were taken at a bird/nature area in San Juan Del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Organized by the American Heart Association, the purpose of Wear Red Day is to raise awareness of women's heart disease.

Under the Eagle's Eye

Went snow-shoeing at Fisherman's Island State Park in Charlevoix, Michigan today and saw several Bald Eagles. We got the distinct feeling they were glad to see us leave when one flew over our car, following the road in front of us but barely twenty feet overhead, as if it were showing us the way, or perhaps escorting us, out of the park.

Amazingly beautiful birds, whether they are glaring at the camera or soaring overhead.

A Sparrow in a Pine Tree

This little white-throated sparrow and several of his friends were enjoying Chicago's Official Christmas Tree in Daley Plaza. I guess the lights are welcoming (they're LED so probably do not give off much heat) and they have a steady stream of food from the Christkindlmarket that is also underway (brat bun scraps, pretzel pieces, etc.). I hope they stay out of the gluhwein, else they'll be flying a bit crooked.


The tree is a single 55 foot Blue Spruce tree. The city budget didn't allow for the usual jumbo tree (made of several tiny trees). The signs say that this is the first time since 1955 that the city has used a single tree. I like the natural and simple look of the single tree.

Waiting ...

... for their ship to come in?
... for the great Seagull King?

Who knows?

But these seagulls certainly think that this marina
is the place to be while waiting for it!

Today is December 1st, which means it is theme day at City Daily Photo. The theme is Waiting. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Feathered Friends: Hiding In the Leaves

I almost deleted this photo. I thought I missed the little Ruby Crested Kinglet that was hopping around in Grant Park. Then I saw him in the photo - definitely keeping an eye on me from his "hiding place". He really blended in with the leaves.

More photos of the little Kinglet are at my bird watching blog: from Autumn and from Spring.

Feathered Friends: Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween!

Feathered Friends: In Costume

The male Wood Ducks at North Pond recently got their adult feathers. They have amazing colors and patterns. They look like they are in their Halloween Costumes.

More pictures of the Wood Duck are at my bird watching blog, here.

Feathered Friends: Stretching

With a long flight still ahead, this migrating Nashville Warbler is getting some dinner and doing a little yoga stretching so he's limber enough to get down to Mexico.

More pictures of the Nashville Warbler are at my bird-watching blog, which is here.

Feathered Friends: It's Just a Phase

Pity the poor Cardinal.

They go through so much ...

... a mottled mess of gray and red ...

... a Bozo the Clown Orange Phase ...

... before getting their beautiful red, adult colors.

A few more pictures of the Cardinal's "transitional"phases are at my bird blog, here.

Whatcha Got?

I can't say it's the official birdwatching greeting, but you do get asked "Whatcha Got?" occasionally if you're standing in a park looking at something through binoculars. Usually by someone else with binoculars. (People wearing uniforms and badges tend to say "Miss, what exactly are you doing with those binoculars?")

It seems the Fall Bird Migration has begun to get active in the Chicago area. I was at the Magic Hedge (by Montrose Beach) and happened to turn around to see this sight.
Not wanting to miss anything, I walked back and looked in the general direction as everyone else. There were a lot of warblers flitting about in a tree. Sitting at the very top (a rather dangerous location given that two Cooper's Hawks were in the area looking for a snack) was the immature bay breasted warbler, shown below. It doesn't have its full adult colors, like it will in the spring. In fact, most of the birds going through now won't look like they did in the Spring. That's what makes it challenging.