Blog

Welcome to My Blog!

This blog is where I will share with you what I am seeing in our yard, in our gardens, and what is happening on our small lake.  I will also tell you about birds I observe when traveling.  And I would like to hear from you!  The purpose of this website is for all of us who are interested in birds, to share what we are seeing and thinking.  Please use the Public Forum to post what you are observing and to ask and answer questions.  I do not have a rigid schedule as to when I blog, but I generally post every 3-5 days – occasionally more often.  I will also use this blog to inform you when Cleon and I will be live, on camera, explaining what we are doing at the feeders and birdbaths.  I will also post the day and time when I mow as birds most often will not be at the feeders at that time.  So, I will use this blog – you use the Public Forum – and let’s learn about birds together!

  • 26
    Aug

    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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  • 23
    Aug

    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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  • 19
    Aug

    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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  • 14
    Aug

    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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  • 12
    Aug

    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 […]

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