Two days after we left the fair skies of Florida behind. we arrived at our second home in NE Illinois.
Sunburst over the back gate:
![Sunburst HDR 20150416](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8815/17169281811_c1b2a2521a_z.jpg)
Clouds over the Everglades:
![Clouds over Everglades HDR 20150417](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7636/16558788203_2cbf42de4e_z.jpg)
We were harshly greeted by cold, windy and wet weather. We ventured afield briefly in near-freezing temperatures and found that the dark skies and high winds rendered birding and photography nearly impossible. Staying in or near the car, my first shots were of a group of Northern Shovelers in a roadside pond.
![Northern Shovelers 3-20150421](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8701/17038564839_886d3d7964_z.jpg)
A Red-tailed Hawk kited motionless in the sky against the sharp headwind, with gusts over 40 MPH:
![Red-tailed Hawk 20150421](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5328/17017323017_3a9e22d3dd_z.jpg)
The buildings also stood still for the camera:
![Barn Albumen 20150421](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7669/16605068633_5645b9049a_z.jpg)
![Barn2 Albumen 20150421](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7686/17225259375_a3396f15c1_z.jpg)
After a sub-freezing night with snow flurries, the next day dawned bright, but the winds persisted. We got out to nearby Fabyan Park in Geneva, Illinois to see the nest of a Great Horned Owl with three owlets.
Only two showed their faces:
![Great Horned Owls 20150422](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7657/17049367180_973c246691_z.jpg)
![Great Horned Owl 2 of 3 owlets 20150422](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8690/16614466814_7a4f400d6f_z.jpg)
American Robins were special to me as a youngster in New Jersey, for they stirred hope that spring would soon arrive. They usually came in early March, but I still remember their early arrival on February 12, 1949, bird #18 on my first formal life list. On that same day I saw my first Redpoll, a species I would not see again until a trip to Alaska in 2011 :
We rarely see robins in our south Florida neighborhood. They may appear sporadically some winters for a few days as small bands or even huge migratory flocks, but they sometimes do not appear at all. Fabyan Park was full of them. This male was a particularly robust individual:
![American Robin HDR 201500422](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7635/17235182572_b62bcc9be0_z.jpg)
A colorful Yellow-rumped Warbler foraged on the path ahead of us:
![Yellow-rumped Warbler 3-20150422](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7617/17050735549_da677d2911_z.jpg)
Our granddaughter helped me stock their backyard feeders, and they instantly attracted colorful Northern Cardinals...
![Northern Cardinal 3-20150422](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7609/17059044098_cd336a344c_z.jpg)
...joined by a male House Finch:
![Northern Cardinal and House Finch 20150422](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7691/17246263421_a8ce4c8020_z.jpg)
![House Finch male 20150422](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7613/17246262311_090ec37dfe_z.jpg)
Red-winged Blackbirds and a Common Grackle quickly helped deplete the seed:
![Red-winged Blackbird 20150422](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8775/17220848036_140ce7beb4_z.jpg)
![Common Grackle 20150422](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8771/16626615623_30e66bc535_z.jpg)
Rain was predicted again, but we got out early to Lippold Park, where another Red-tailed Hawk soared above in circles:
![Red-tailed Hawk 2-20150423](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8752/17060033198_225b588ee2_z.jpg)
Stopping to photograph wildflowers, I had fallen behind Mary Lou. She called me excitedly to report her sighting of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet with its bright head feathers extended. When I caught up to her, the kinglet's head was no longer adorned:
![Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6-20150423](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7706/16625338164_e22f3b23c7_z.jpg)
I took over a dozen photos, trying to catch at least a glimpse of its signature crown as it weaved through the understory, to no avail until suddenly it rewarded me!
![Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3-20150423](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7674/17221826486_424f1e3d2d_z.jpg)
![Ruby-crowned Kinglet 20150423](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8709/17060250270_091bb048ae_z.jpg)
During the past week the trees have started leafing out and wildflowers have appeared. Among the early flowers--
Bluebells:
![Bluebells - Mertensia virginica 2-20150427](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7714/17298497822_ee49a5a884_z.jpg)
Blue Violets:
![Blue Violet 20150427](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7685/17112778870_c05e3e0090_z.jpg)
Blue and White Violets:
![Blue and white Violet 2-20150427](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8713/16677860524_49dbb9f370_z.jpg)
Spring Beauty:
![Spring Beauty - Claytonia virginica 2-20150423](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8741/16625333474_629eb2122e_z.jpg)
Cutrleaf Toothwort:
![Cutleaf Toothwort - Dentaria laciniata 20150423](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7717/17254866492_c3fd995788_z.jpg)
White Trout Lily:
![White Trout Lily - Erythronium albidum](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8817/16634165274_e5af318cd6_z.jpg)
And fittingly, a Wake Robin:
![Wake Robin 20150429](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8761/17127285738_1db38f43a4_z.jpg)
Simply wonderful series, Ken! Even if it is from "up north"! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm really jealous of that kinglet shot. I've yet to get an image of one showing of that crown.
Hope your spring is off to a great start.
It doesn't happen very often Kenneth, but I am absolutely speechless at all these fabulous photos.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots! amazing skies, cute owls & amazing flowers!
ReplyDeletexoxo, Juliana | PJ’ Happies :)
Your photos are absolutely stunning, Kenneth!
ReplyDelete