Welcome to My Blog!
This blog is where I’ll share what I’m seeing in our yard, in the gardens, and around our small lake—anything related to birds and gardening. I’d love to hear from you as well! Whether you’re observing something interesting or have a bird-related question, feel free to reach out. I don’t follow a strict blogging schedule, but I typically post every 4 to 7 days—sometimes more often. Let’s enjoy learning about birds together.
If you’d like to get in touch, please email me directly at lindahendricksspence@birdingbeyondthefieldguide.com.
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26Aug
Spotted a Green Heron!
As you know, we live in central Illinois and August is NEVER a month to sit around a fire pit in the late afternoon. But this August has been so ‘un-normal’. We have had low humidity, days in the high 70’s, and nights in the high 50’s. We are beginning to wonder if we have […]
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23Aug
The groundhog is back! And it’s not just squirrels who are smart.
After circling the birdbaths a time or two, and then sitting on its haunches and just looking up at them, this is what happened. Success! He is drinking from the birdbath as I am drinking water at my desk. And I raised my glass – toasting his cleverness,
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19Aug
A Black-capped Chickadee? Are we sure???
Our good friends, Jim and Judy Oettel, live about 30 miles north of us. Both are very good birders, and it is always a joy to either go with them, or to hear about what they have seen and heard. They live in an older, well established, tree-filled neighborhood. The back of their house looks […]
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14Aug
15 crows in the backyard!
That is a whole lot of crows! At least for us. The most we have ever had is 5 and the usual number is 3. And to have them in our backyard at this time of year is rare. These are American Crows and live in the vast woodland across the lake from us. We […]
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12Aug
The kings have finally been spotted – Kingfishers and Kingbirds!
We have Belted Kingfishers around the shore of our lake all year. These are good-sized birds whose call is a loud, prolonged rattle*, but it has been months since we last heard or saw one. We finally spotted one a week ago and the first time we saw it, it was right off our patio […]