Thursday, May 17, 2018

Birding Bliss

Sunset over the lake at Jones Meadow, a little "pocket park" near our condo in North Aurora, Illinois:

Sunset over lake at Jones Meadow Park 20180509

A bit later, the view of the sky from the adjacent marsh:

Sunset over marsh at Jones Meadow Park 20180509

Mary Lou and I participated with Kane County (Illinois) Audubon in a Global Big Day bird count on May 5. Our assigned territory was Bliss Woods Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove, Illinois, a favorite place to visit during migration. 


This also provided one of the few opportunities we had to get out, due to other more pressing obligations. During our two hour early morning watch, we only saw 36 species, but there was lots of color!

Yellow Warblers were singing and courting:

Yellow Warbler 01-20180505

Yellow Warbler 05-20180505

Yellow Warbler 08-20180505

Newly-arrived Baltimore Orioles dashed through the treetops:

Baltimore Oriole 03-20180505

Baltimore Oriole 06-20180505

Baltimore Oriole 04-20180505

A Rose-breasted Grosbeak provided a study in black and white...

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 04-20180505

...and red:

 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 07-20180505

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 06-20180505

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 01-20180505

Mary Lou found another species which continued to carry out the color scheme--

A pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers:

Red-headed Woodpecker 06-20180505

Red-headed Woodpecker 05-20180505

Red-headed Woodpecker 04-20180505

Maintaining two homes and the associated travel has been stressful. Now that we have acquired "two of everything" it is time to let half of them go. We are busy giving away all the furniture in our second home condo. Here are some of the last items being carted off:

Moving furniture 20180512


= = =  = = =  = = = =  = = = = =

Linking to Misty's  CAMERA CRITTERS,

Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,

Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy

Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James

Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni

Linking to Our World Tuesday by Lady Fi

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart

Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) by NC Sue

Linking to ALL SEASONS by Jesh

 Linking to Fences Around the World by Gosia

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Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display

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22 comments:

  1. The Yellow Warbler is the prettiest, but the Red headed Woodpecker is the funniest!

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  2. Congratulations on simplifying your life! Maintaining two residences is indeed a challenge. We're still doing it, but I'm sure there will come a time when we say no more. Great sky shots, love the colors, and beautiful captures of the yellow warbler!

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  3. Gorgeous sky shots and wonderful photos of our 'feathered friends' ~

    Happy Day to you,
    C & Z

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  4. Hello, it is great you were able to join in on the bird count. Beautiful variety of birds, I love them all. Will you be living in Florida year round?
    Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your day and weekend.

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  5. Wonderfully successful GBD, Kenneth! Great captures!

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  6. The yellow warblers and Baltimore orioles almost look unreal! Such stunning shots! And those landscapes too. Wow!

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  7. Wonderful colors! We don't have yellow warblers; they are lovely!

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  8. WOW! Kenneth 36 birds seen in 2 hours. that is some going and it looks like a lot of them were very colourful birds. You images are wonderful as usually. Probably hardto give up half your possessions however being stressed in later life is not good or necessary. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  9. Pretty birds...I love the 2nd image of the yelliw warbler best of all!

    There comes a time when everything & anything comes to an end only to open a new chapter! Good luck with all your 'tomorrows'.

    I thank you for taking time to add your link to this post for us all at I'd Rather B Birdin'...much appreciated!

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  10. That’s a ton of birds to see in such a short amount of time. Beautiful shots. I’m partial to the warbler and those sky scenes are gorgeous!

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  11. Thank you for the explanation on my blog Ken. It makes a lot of sense to have one home in Florida!! Boy the warbler is bright yellow all over! And the red-headed woodpecker is one of the few birds I have seen in our "yard." Because of all the other animals, I haven't seen the tiny pretty birds here, only the aggressive loud ones, lol!
    Many thanks for making us part at All Seasons of your move to one house:) Florida, here comes Ken Schneider!!

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  12. It may have 'only' been 36 species - but that would probably have been 30+ new species for me! Great pictures.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  13. "We only saw 36 species"! That sounds like plenty to me, too. Beautiful, especially the redheads!
    Kay
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  14. 36 species!!! I really have to work on my birding skills. I know they are here, I can hear them, I just have to teach myself how to locate them and identify them before they fly off! In the meantime, I revel (as always) in your truly glorious pictures. Can't choose a favorite - they are all spectacular!

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  15. 36 species, wow! I don't think there are that many different birds where I live! The fabulous colors are so beautiful.
    I'm glad you are down to just one house, as I'm sure you are, too!

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  16. Fabulous photos and what beautiful birds. Great photos. Have a happy day Diane

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  17. Those warblers are amazingly beautiful - I've never seen one!
    Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2018/05/james-taylor-gotta-love-him.html

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