Hermit Thrush

I've never encountered a Hermit Thrush before, so identifying this type of thrush was difficult. I, at first thought it was a Wood Thrush.



This guy, from a distance looked like a "boring" bird, so I didn't even bring the lens up. As I got closer, I knew it wasn't so "boring", but still didn't have a clue. I was hoping for an Ovenbird, because I have yet to see one, but...



It was a bold little creature, only hopping to another branch if I got too close. I enjoyed my time spent with this little brave guy.

Can You Catch A Gnatcatcher?

It's never an easy task to photograph the itsy-bitsies of the bird world. They almost never stop hoppin, flying, jumping, flitting, you get the point.



Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are a tiny, long-tailed bird of deciduous forests and scrublands, & makes itself known by its soft but emphatic "spee" calls and its constant motion. By flicking its white-edged tail from side to side, the gnatcatcher may scare up hiding insects. (Source: All About Birds)

Pterodactyl

I was driving home, taking a different route after work, and saw something strange in a cornfield. I didn't get a good look, but I felt it was worth turning around for. What I thought looked like a giant paper bag... I mean GIANT, which doesn't make sense at all, but I am being honest here... turned out to be a juvenile Sandhill Crane (it's head was down in the corn). How cool is that?

It was my first of the year, which sounds like they are common, but they absolutely are not. I've just been lucky...they only stop for a day or so, so to run into one is pure luck! Note: There has been rumors of a resident in the prairie near by, but the place is huge, so again, for it to be seen where it was (not in the prairie) was amazing. My friend Pam told me of a story where a guy who had no knowledge of birds talked to her while in that particular prairie of a pterodactyl-like creature flying over his head. She thought he might be referring to a crane or a heron, although he described it as being brown. After telling her of my find, she was sure the Sandhill was the responsible party.

Cool Facts: Breeds across Alaska and Canada, eastward to western Quebec, and southward to northern United States. Also in scattered localities across western United States. Also in Siberia. Resident in southern Florida and Cuba.The Sandhill Crane is a tall gray bird of open grasslands, meadows, and wetlands. It congregates in huge numbers in migration.
(Source: All About Birds)

Walking Among Deer

As I explored a new path in McKinley Woods, I thought I might have a good day because of the quality of the trail. It was a soft path of mush and muck, so I figured it was of lesser traffic. Immediately, my wish was granted. I froze in midstep as I caught a glimpse of a deer not 30 feet away. We both looked at eachother with curious eyes. My movements were minimum as I raised my lens after a minute or so. I couldn't believe I didn't get an alarm raise of the tail, typical of deer about to run.



I continued on and encountered another deer just a few strides away, and again, I froze, met his eyes, brought my camera up, shot off a few, and continued on my way. And again, no alarm...I walked parallel to them, as not to provoke stress & my gait was lazy as well.



Guess what happens next? Yep, same thing again, just a few steps down the path. I felt like I was a part of the herd and could join their gang. I couldn't believe it. I had to have seen 20 deer that day, and not one ran. It was an amazing experience to watch them graze on grass without the worry of my presence.



I went back a few days later with Cuttidad, to duplicate the experience, but they were not around. We ended up finding them at a flooded area, and when they saw us, (there were at least 30 of them) they ran.

Gray Catbird

The Gray Catbirds were abundant at my secret spot in Channahon Park. A few flew in & landed just a few feet away. It always surprises me when they do that.


A secretive, but curious skulker of dense thickets, the Gray Catbird is heard more than it is seen. Its rambling song contains imitations of other bird songs, but the characteristic "mew" that gives it its name is not an imitation and sounds only vaguely cat-like. (Source: All About Birds)

More Backyard Birds

Another first to my backyard this year is the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. I was thrilled when I first caught a glimpse of him on my platform feeder. My camera was in my car, so I waited for it to leave to go retrieve it and bring it in. When I got back, and waited a few more minutes, I got another gift of 2 male grosbeaks at that feeder. I grabbed the camera, cracked open the sliding glass door, and they were gone. After a little while longer, they were back with their ladyfriend, but I couldn't get that shot either. What I did get, was a photo of 1 of the Grosbeaks at my feeder near my kitchen window. This was taken thru the glass.



I was so thrilled with the last shot, who'd a thunk I would get a grosbeak and an oriole at the same time? My luck was on...



I have been putting out fresh orange halves daily, because they pluck it completely clean by the end of the day.



The female is a bit more timid, but I managed a few shots.



The Grosbeak couple came back to feed, and luckily I was able to sneek out the door for some crappy shots.




She landed on a tree and made a weird face...



And finally, something is interested in my suet feeder. I don't know why, but I don't have luck with suet, although Mr. Red Belly seems to like it.

Red-bellied Woodpeckers

This series of shots was basically a burst in sequence to the action of these Red-bellies.






I won't bore you with a story, because it happened so fast, there really wasn't one. I just feel fortunate enough to see the action. Yet again, it all took place in the exact same spot as the previous posts of the blue jay, red headed, wood ducks, and flicker, etc...