Emerging from the Deep Freeze

Lisa Rest

Jan 21

Apologies for the fuzzy appearance of most of the photos in this post, but it's been a week of huddling indoors and watching the birds through the screened porch windows. The few times I've gone out back to try to capture anything, it's been cloudy or the birds have been obscured by branches, which is understandably their strategy in this weather. It's been too cold to go for a walk anywhere else. We are supposed to get a warm up, but with it will come snow and rain, so I may be off the trails for a while yet.

The feeders have been popular.

There was sunshine that day, at least. But I barely captured a few cold-looking House Finches.

The American Goldfinches are back in full force. This is the one time of year I see more of them in the yard.

It's good to see more of the Black-capped Chickadees too.

I bought a couple new feeders this year to try and confuse the squirrels. The birds are definitely not confused by them. Their favorite is extremely messy, which could be why they like it so much.

This other feeder has only 4 ports, but it hasn't stopped the House Sparrows from emptying it.

I have been very happy to see some American Tree Sparrows in the yard.

I see one American Robin on occasion.

More feeder action.

I tried going outside a couple times, to no avail.

American Tree Sparrow

I went back inside for more fuzzy glimpses.

Cooper's Hawk

Then Friday on my way to the pool I decided to take a look at the Des Plaines River, which had been under a flood watch for a couple days, due to an ice jam. The ice was starting to break up.