Sure sign that spring is near!

We are seeing and hearing Red-winged blackbirds! 

From the Heron Park

These photos are from the Heron and Eagle Viewing place that is north of Danville, Illinois.  I never know what to call the place....I find it called different things on the web. 

I was on the  boardwalk and he was out ahead of me about 12-15 feet.  When I first saw him, he did his call...you  know.  The one where they swell/fluff their wings out big and you can see all the red on it...I trained my lens on him, and eased on up.  I was so hoping he would cooperate and do another call.

It did do this number though...

And I got closer to it than I have been to one...

Mr. Red-Winged Blackbird

This is another from the Heron Viewing Park....the same place where I photographed the swan on the nest and the Canadian goose on the nest. 

Linking to I'd Rather B Birding....

Spring is in the air!

We made a run through the strip pits...found out that the red-winged blackbirds have returned. I thought at first that the one above did not have any red at all on the wing, but there is a tiny bit. Compare the amount of red on it to the amount on the one below!