Winter 2015: Chicago snow birds (ducks who migrate south to spend the winter in balmy Chicago)

All photos taken in Hyde Park (Chicago) during the last few weeks.

Common goldeneye shows off his best courtship move. See more in video below.

Male common goldeneye in upright position

female common goldeneye

White-winged scoters sometimes show up near shore during the winter months. In the video below, watch one bird with a goody (crustacean?) get chased.

common mergansers

canvasback duck

female long-tailed duck

female red-breasted merganser

How big are these ducks compared to a herring gull? White-winged scoter (juvenile) at 2:00. Other ducks are scaup.

How big are these ducks compared to a herring gull? Adult herring gull and first winter herring gull are in the background. Left to right in front: scaup, white-winged scoter, and common goldeneye

Windy and cold at the lake

Raccoon prints with keys for scale

Full moon setting

tree sparrow

black-capped chickadee

white pigeon

 

Winter 2015: Snowy owl, swans and winter ducks

All photos taken in Hyde Park.  Most of them taken at 63rd Street beach or at La Rabida (6501 S Promontory Drive)

Snowy owl on pier at 63rd Street beach at dusk

Short video of snowy owl:

sun dog

male and female common goldeneye

red-breasted merganser courting display

See some common goldeneyes’ courtship displays in the video below:

How big is a mute swan?

A lot bigger than a common goldeneye duck.

Quite a bit bigger than a Canada Goose

Swans enjoying the outer harbor (63rd to 66th and Lake Shore Drive) until the geese come back

The geese are back.

scaup

red-headed ducks

February 1 blizzard

February 1 blizzard

fox squirrel at 63rd St Beach parking lot