Hunting for two

Nearby mama owl

flying and hunting for two.

No success, no food.

Great Horned Owlet

A Great Horned Owlet

perched patiently on a branch.

Just learned how to fly!

Spring leaves

Beacons of new hope;

spring leaves shining in the sun.

New season begun.

Swimming Coot

American Coot

swimming in the clear water.

What great swimming feet.

Migrating Horned Grebe

Migrating Horned Grebe

staying over at Lake Calhoun.

Please enjoy your stay!

Reeds in morning light

Pond reeds reflected

in the early morning light

cast their artistry.

Fresh leaves unfurling

from a once baron tree branch.

New life exploding.

Blue Jay

Blue Jay on its perch,

looking out over the pond,

from the river birch.

Earth Day 2015

Hold on there people!

Look what you're doing to my pond.

Please clean up your act.

Swamp alder

Swamp alder catkins;

both male and female.

Striking silhouette.

Weeping willow

A weeping willow

shouts for joy to the heavens.

Weep not, spring is here!

Return of the Great Blue Heron

The Great Blue Heron

back to its northern pond home.

Nice to have you back.

Can you find this bird?

 

Can you find this bird?

A red-winged black bird chirps loud...

Yes, right over there!

Nature's fireworks

Nature's fireworks

exploding April 16th

at Bassett Creek Park.

Spring ornaments

Look.... spring ornaments

stunningly adorn the tree.

Wow, I am impressed!

Still smiling

After a big loss

the Macalester team smiles.

Spirit of the game.

Ultimate Frisbee

Ultimate Frisbee.

Discs and bodies all flying

gracefully in air.

Spirit of the game.

Reinforcing sportsmanship;

good friends all around.

A cool relaxed vibe

permeates throughout the sport.

Ultimate Frisbee.

Food Bank Haiku

Racks all loaded full

Quietly eager to feed

Once volunteers come

Massive totes of food

Donated and unsorted

Waiting patiently

Carrots from the dirt

Arrive massed together by the pallet

Waiting for red mesh

Cones of cereal

Towering in the warehouse

Waiting to be bagged

Could there be a prize

in one of those massive bags

volunteers wonder…

Volunteers storm in

Often times by busload

 All eager to help

Orientation

After they are all signed in

Sitting in their chairs

Many hands at work

Packaging food for those in need

Gladly with smiles

Then time for clean-up

Tables washed floors swept all clean

Then time for wrap-up.

Then hands all washed up

Preparing to repack

After instructions

What accomplishment.

So many tons of food packed

All for those in need.

Quickly they all go

Yet, another miracle

At Second Harvest.

Co-pilots for life

Side by side they fly,

Canada Geese together.

Co-pilots for life.

Muskrat photo op

Muskrat in the pond

pauses for a photo op.

Thank you furry friend.

A pair of shovelers

A pair of shovelers

making waves across the pond.

Welcome sojourners!

Hooded merganser

Hooded merganser

startled takes off into flight

up, up, and away.

Territorial red-winged black bird

Territorial

red-winged black bird chirps away,

fending off others.

Territorial geese

Territorial 

geese ward off others around,

both honking away.

Portraits of young girls

Jaume Plensa: 1004 Portraits (Millennium Park, Chicago, IL)

Portraits of girls

cast in iron and resin

elegantly stand.

Pussy willows

Spring pussy willows

highlighted in morning's light.

Beacon of new life.

Mallard in flight

A mallard in flight

powering out of the water

and into the air.

Lightening hits the tree,

scattering wooden splinters.

Beware of lightening!

Reflecting on Chicago's architecture

Standing side by side,

reflecting on Chicago.

Buildings old and new.

Flower Child

A flower child

on full display at Macy's.

Standing tall and proud.