Teenager Bird

This cute fellow is a baby cedar waxwing -- or a teenager one -- that has fledged the nest, but can't do a whole lot yet.  So we were able to get right up close to him or her... I hope s/he makes it through the next few days OK while s/he learns to be a grown-up bird!

Welcome Back to IL

Wind, snow and a big flock of cedar waxwings...

Cedar Waxwings

Suddenly, they descend upon us in large flocks that adorn the trees for a short while, and then take leave.

One Warm Day...

... and things are popping up all over the place.
Daffodils in the yard, which may have even been there under the snow, became visible today.

Here is a baby columbine. The tiny buds on my Am. Hazel have started opening as well, but they are too tiny for me to photograph. Also, pick up a few of winter's decomposing leaves, and I found all sorts of squirmy life. Worms, centipedes, little roly polies, and some tiny white bugs are all active and plentiful under there...

Also heard, seen, or reported by a third party:

• killdeers, today.
• sandhill cranes, a few days ago, reported by fivecrows' father.
• a bat, reported by fivecrows,
  
• herons, seen by me today but earlier in the week by fivecrows,
  
• our porch raccoon is back to looking longingly (or with loathing, I'm not sure) into our window.
• cedar waxwings, also seen by fivecrows.
• it is very muddy!
  

Ice is still on the lakes, but there's a lot of melted water on top of it...

Cedar Waxwings

Today is a Cedar Waxwing Day.  Every so often they come through in large flocks, and then I won't see another one for months.  Technically, they are year-round residents of this area, but it sure seems like they're migrating!  

At any rate, they didn't choose the prettiest day to be here.  As this photo shows, they are all facing the same direction -- which is west, into the extreme winds we are experiencing at the beginning of what they say will be a crazy storm.   (Note the ash leaves are all blowing to the side, and it was quite dark for the middle of the afternoon!  Not good for showing their black masks, etc.  But I promise, those are waxwings in the picture!)  It was so windy that I saw one fly backwards, I don't think on purpose, and several hovering in one spot before finally landing on the tree again.

Anyone know this little blue flower?  I found it at school, and am not entirely uncertain of its identity.  But my guess is Lewis' prairie flax.  I bought seeds of this prairie (but west of here) native at Monticello 2 years ago as part of a seed collection of plants that were discovered on or named by or were otherwise related to the Lewis and Clark expedition.  (The collection also included Clarkia, monkey flower, w. Jacob's ladder, osage orange, blanketflower and others -- plus a booklet about them!)  I thought the flax was quite lovely and planted it in my garden, despite it being not technically native to Illinois, where it now grows in 3 clumps.  Chris also planted some of the seeds at school, and this may be one of them.  Mine aren't close to blooming yet, but this one is in a sunnier spot.  When mine opens, I will be able to confirm the identity (or disconfirm it).  I could also study the leaves of the plant at school... but that sounds like work. 

Speaking of Monticello... Thomas Jefferson took some pretty meticulous and informative phenology notes... so I guess I'm in good company.  (I suppose I am presuming that my phenology notes are informative and/or meticulous.)

Another observation!!!  Butterflyweed emerged today, just peeking up, less than 1/2 inch tall.  (Yea!  I was worried... And now, for next year, I'll know not to worry until after May 15 or so!)