Not What I Was Expecting

This Great Blue Heron Gave Me a Bird-day Present Today
Can you guess what is was?

The landing.

Checking himself out first.

There it is ...

...in all his glory.

I think he is proud of himself.

Yep, I was flashed by a Great Blue Heron on my birthday.
Not at all what I was expecting .
It was hard holding the camera still
as I laughed and photographed this moment.

Showing off made him a little thirsty.

The shiver ... I just told him I was posting these on the internet.

He is okay now ... thinks he can handle the publicity.

My My ... Magnolia!

More Magic at the Hedge

A stealthy masked migrant emerging from the forest edge.

Pausing,

perching, searching,

enjoying the buffet in this leafy bug infested bush.

My my ... the breathtaking beauty of a Magnolia Warbler.

Mmmm ... a tasty treat.

Then inconspicuously back in the bush.

Magnolia Warbler during spring migration
at Magic Hedge, Chicago Illinois
May 2010


You may also enjoy views of the Common Yellow-throat warbler, in addition to
the Least Flycatcher and Ruby Crowned Kinglet from a recent visit.

Fine Feathered Friends on Friday

Common Yellowthroat

A happy migrant pops into the Magic Hedge bird haven with eager eyes.
Just one of many happy visitors this month.

May 2010
Chicago Illinois at Magic Hedge

Wondering Wednesday

Magic HedgeI saw this bird last weekend in the Chicago-land Area.

I'm sure it is a flycatcher. But what kind?

There are so many similar looking flycatchers in the field guides.

This bright patch of sunshine colored blossoms
supplied a jungle of delicious bugs and larvae.
It kept this flycatcher very busy.

I saw what I think is the same bird in several different spots on my walk.
This one was happy under the canopy of green leaves.

Here assessing my presence ... deciding I was not a threat.

Eyes peeled continually searching on and under leaves.

Here the pause ....

then the preen and fluff.

A fence at the woodland edge leads to a smorgasbord of potential bugs
in an overgrown field of weeds and prairie plants. It was just a small piece of
the beautiful view this flycatcher and I enjoyed today at Magic Hedge.

I am wondering this fine Wednesday if anyone can help
me identify this beautiful flycatcher?

Other beautiful birds I saw on this visit to Magic Hedge

• American Goldfinch
• Catbird
• Black and White Warbler
• American Redstart
• Ovenbird
• Magnolia Warbler
• Common Yellow-throat
  
• Sparrows (I will ask for ID help on)
• Winter Wren (I think)
• Yellow Warbler
• Many regulars including a Robin that stood on one leg to get my attention ... competition.
  

Birds Eat The Strangest Things

Good BirdEvery spring I look forward to the return of the sweet

song and beautiful blue hues of the Indigo Bunting.

This weekend my husband and I went to Lake Shabbona to search.
Within minutes of entering the campground area an unmistakable brilliant
blue bird caught our eye bouncing around in the grass along the roadside.

It was enjoying a little grass seed.

The bunting took notice of us but really was more interested in the seed.

Grass seed wasn't the only thing the Indigo Bunting enjoyed here today.

Suddenly the bunting dove it's face and beak
into a dandelion that had gone to seed.

Pulling and twisting it's beak around ...

and around.

... finally coming up with a beakful of dandelion fluff.

Dandelion is usually thought of as an annoying weed,
especially once it has gone to seed.
As a child I enjoyed blowing the fluff while making a wish.
As an adult I cringe at the sight of it floating toward my lawn.

The earth definitely yields a bountiful harvest of dandelion seed.

Good bird.

Indigo Bunting Lake Shabbona May 2010

You may also be interested in:

As The Sun Sets Lake Shabbona posted July 24, 2009

Wordless Wednesday

Great Blue Heron