franco
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Post by franco on Jan 21, 2020 22:11:43 GMT -8
Very common* , the ibis, but I like this shot from today's walk
*very common here... known localy as bin chicken (they raid rubbish bins)
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driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Jan 22, 2020 4:16:14 GMT -8
Very common? In hundreds of walks in Chicagoland and environs, I've never seen an ibis!
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Post by autumnmist on Jan 22, 2020 8:21:32 GMT -8
I want to thank all who've shared their beautiful photos, and comments. This is definitely a soothing, restful and contemplative thread.
There's a peace in watching birds; I don't know why, but they're lovely, graceful, alert, and calming.
Some of the many lakes in the county in which I live are home to swans; one lake near my father's house often has up to a dozen. If the weather was nice, we stopped by lakes after medical appointments to just sit in the car and watch the swans (and sometimes ducks or Canadian geese) leisurely swim around the lakes.
One of the rehab facilities I found was adjacent to a small forest. Deer came in the evening and redirected patients' thoughts, as did other animals. But the highlights were the visiting Sand Hill Cranes, which came within about 6 feet of the building, in one of the rehab rooms. Patients could watch them stately walking closer and closer, bending over to inspect what might be temptingly hiding in the grass. They provided respite from the challenges (and sometimes frustrations) of rehab.
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driftwoody
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Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
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Post by driftwoody on Jan 22, 2020 10:20:25 GMT -8
My situation at work has been stressful lately. On the weekends to get some exercise when I don't have time to drive to the forest preserves, I take a brisk 3 mile walk from my front door past a couple of lakes in the suburb of Woodridge IL.
I paused for a couple minutes to watch half a dozen mallard ducks going about their business, and my stress level came way down. I was so inspired that I started to write a poem about it, but gave up when I tried to think of a word that rhymes with ducks.
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bcpete
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There's cool, and then there's me.
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Post by bcpete on Jan 22, 2020 17:51:19 GMT -8
I was so inspired that I started to write a poem about it, but gave up when I tried to think of a word that rhymes with ducks. Ahh shucks, it can't be that hard!
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franco
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Post by franco on Jan 22, 2020 18:40:54 GMT -8
We have had some good rain that finaly has almost cleared the air from smoke. The birds are back. Yesterday I saw again kestrel N2 , back to his spot. he still does not let me get as close as N1 or N3, these two have not returned yet. Still trying to get some decent photos of the crested terns. Some from today
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franco
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Post by franco on Jan 22, 2020 19:26:26 GMT -8
Another one from today because this is a new one for me . I know because it is a juvenile my first photo of one. Used to be called Black Shouldered Kite, now called Australian Kite
That brown collar disappers later on.
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franco
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Post by franco on Jan 23, 2020 13:00:40 GMT -8
I did go out again yesterday afternoon because I was enjoying the clean fresh air after weeks of smoke . I was rewarded by an overhead visit from a little eagle that was close and personal. nobody else about.
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franco
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Post by franco on Jan 23, 2020 19:17:18 GMT -8
Two from this morning
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franco
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Post by franco on Jan 26, 2020 19:02:20 GMT -8
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franco
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Post by franco on Jan 28, 2020 14:31:54 GMT -8
This is a Willie Wagtail. Very common here (do you have them in the US ?) it is a very inquisitive bird. Often one will come along flying near you, then a bit ahead, it waits and repeats sometime for a few hundred yards.
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Post by autumnmist on Jan 28, 2020 14:56:50 GMT -8
Beautiful, and very artistic photos of birds. This thread is a target thread for each visit, to see and admire the birds.
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franco
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Post by franco on Jan 28, 2020 15:19:56 GMT -8
I took that last photo going around a tree where a kite was. This is one of my non portrait type photos
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franco
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Post by franco on Feb 11, 2020 0:58:34 GMT -8
I still go out most days and get some photos that are OK. At the moment the raptors are coming back and we have large numbers of black swans and pelicans about. Kestrel N3 is been good to me, this is from yesterday after she cought a grasshopper that was at least 50 metres away . this is a Little Eagle, not sure if it is one of a pair that was about a few months ago one from today , a few egrets on a tree that often has a blue heron or two (one is there too) and some of the pelicans also from this afternoon we still have hundreds of ducks about.
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franco
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Post by franco on Feb 11, 2020 1:03:39 GMT -8
another photo of kestrel N3 from 2 days ago. Same tree , this time eating a Blue Tongue Lizard, probably the largest prey she can carry (she is the size of an ordinary pigeon) I am less than 4 metres away
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