Sunday, January 30, 2005
Lake Birds
The temperature was just above freezing yesterday so I went for a hike at Montrose Beach. I walked through the nature preserve there and noticed a lady with a telescope on a tripod on the breakwater that protects the east end of the beach. I asked her what she was looking at and she said "ducks" as she peered out over the frozen lake.
I couldn't see anything out there, but when I looked hard enough, I did see a few black specks out quite a ways, at the limit of my visual acuity. She let me look through her telescope, and sure enough, there were mergansers, goldeneyes, buffleheads, and (of course) gulls out there! She was trying to find a long-tailed duck, somewhat of a rarity, I guess.
It was refreshing to see someone out enjoying the wildlife in the city, on a day that many might not have thought of going down to the lakefront, but which was really quite nice. It was overcast but calm, and in Chicago we'll take calm over sun anyday, I think. Today was even nicer, so I went back down there and sure enough, more bird watchers peering out across the ice!
They were in pursuit of the elusive long-tailed duck as well, having heard that someone had spotted one there the day before. Hard to believe those guys are heading north again already!
As I walked around Montrose Harbor I was treated to this view.
Two swans had flown in and were preening themselves by the entrance to the harbor, with the city skyline behind them far to the south. How nice!
I couldn't see anything out there, but when I looked hard enough, I did see a few black specks out quite a ways, at the limit of my visual acuity. She let me look through her telescope, and sure enough, there were mergansers, goldeneyes, buffleheads, and (of course) gulls out there! She was trying to find a long-tailed duck, somewhat of a rarity, I guess.
It was refreshing to see someone out enjoying the wildlife in the city, on a day that many might not have thought of going down to the lakefront, but which was really quite nice. It was overcast but calm, and in Chicago we'll take calm over sun anyday, I think. Today was even nicer, so I went back down there and sure enough, more bird watchers peering out across the ice!
They were in pursuit of the elusive long-tailed duck as well, having heard that someone had spotted one there the day before. Hard to believe those guys are heading north again already!
As I walked around Montrose Harbor I was treated to this view.
Two swans had flown in and were preening themselves by the entrance to the harbor, with the city skyline behind them far to the south. How nice!
Comments:
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
