Having sold our Illinois condo in April, this was the first time since 2006 that we spent the entire summer (except for two weeks in early September) at our permanent home in south Florida.
This Northern Cardinal has finished molting into a new, brilliant coat:
The weather continues its summer routine of heat, humidity and pop-up showers. I have added a new piece of equipment to my hiking gear-- a folding umbrella, which has come in handy several times.
Days usually start out clear, such as this morning under the waning crescent Harvest Moon:
A Great Egret may be out on the lake before first light:
However, one morning the sky looked very threatening at sunrise...
...rain approached...
...and the shower was followed by a rainbow.
The earliest of our arriving warblers was a Louisiana Waterthrush. It showed up on July 30 and has been present every day through this morning (October 10), an unusually long stop-over. According to eBird, for the past ten years, except for a single sighting in December, 2008, this species has not otherwise been recorded in our County after the end of September. A very early migrant, it usually arrives in south Florida by mid-July and disappears to wintering grounds in the Carribbean or Central America by early September.
Louisiana Waterthrush:
A similar Northern Waterthrush arrived only this morning. Louisiana Waterthrush has a broad white eye line which contrasts with its undersides and buffy flanks. The Northern Waterthrush has a relatively shorter bill, its eye line is buffy and is darker than or matches the color of its undersides, which are more densely streaked, often up into its throat.
Other arrivals included American Redstarts...
...Blue-gray Gnatcatchers...
...Red-eyed Vireos...
...Ovenbirds...
...Black-throated Blue Warblers, eating the Fireweed berries...
...Palm Warblers...
...Northern Parulas...
...Eastern Kingbirds...
...Ruby-throated Hummingbirds:
New arrivals bolstered local populations of Prairie Warblers...
...and Common Yellowthroats:
Days are getting shorter. Sunrise is later each morning and has shifted to the south of the gate in "Sundial Alley:"
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
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
________________________________________________
Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
________________________________________________
This week has been hectic as we were totally immersed in the tasks related to the sale of our Illinois condo, so Mary Lou and I have missed seeing nearly all the transient spring migrating birds.
We never reached our daily goal of 10,000 steps, although we got lots of exercise climbing up and down the three stories of our town-home, carrying furniture and household items. A good friend with husky relatives did the heavy lifting. Tonight (Tuesday), after attending our granddaughter's graduation from 8th grade we must catch a limo ride to the airport at 3:00 AM.
We visited Nelson Lake only a couple of times. This is the east entry path:
Earlier in the month we were able to drive through a nearby disturbed vacant area several times. We arranged our route so that whatever our destination, we could make one tour around the block. The area of grassland is platted, utilities and roads are in place and lots for future homes are marked out with signs and wooden poles. Using the auto as a blind, I captured a few decent shots.
Savannah Sparrow:
Eastern Kingbird:
Grasshopper Sparrow:
American Robin singing:
A female House Sparrow joined a male who was perched on a post:
The couple posed for a portrait:
This was the first time we found Bobolinks at this location:
Horned Lark:
A nice find was a Lark Sparrow. They have returned to this area after nesting here last spring for the first breeding record in Kane County. We are at the extreme northeastern limit of their breeding range:
A pair of Lark Sparrows foraged together. Another birder found a third:
Lark Sparrows are large, have long tails with white markings and their face pattern is distinctive:
A Killdeer had three newly hatched chicks:
Canada Geese dabbled in a roadside puddle:
A Bald Eagle flew overhead:
ADDENDUM: With all that is going on I forgot it was already Thursday and the blog posted automatically. I wanted to add a sky and cloud shot from the airplane as we were in final descent about 15 miles west of the Fort Lauderdale Airport and 6 miles north of our home. I was surprised to see that my neighborhood was visible just before we entered the heavier clouds. Click to enlarge and see annotations:
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
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
________________________________________________
Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
________________________________________________