It can happen. This image was taken on April 22 last year. But so far, so good this year. 😋

HMBT & HTM

Tags:   Crystal Lake HMBT HTM Illinois Monochrome Bokeh Thursday Nikkor 18-300mm Spring blossoms Thursday monochrome (Donnerstagsmonochrom) blossoms bokeh branches bush flowers nature snow square

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Helios 40-2 85mm f/1.5, at f/4 (I think) with 20mm extension tube

Happy Bokeh Wednesday

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It's a male Red-winged Blackbird making its noisy presence known.

Crazy Tuesday: "Black Beauty" theme

HCT

Tags:   Agelaius phoeniceus Black Beauty Crazy Tuesday HCT Illinois M.Zuiko 100-400mm f/5-6.3 + MC-14 McHenry County McHenry Dam State Park Moraine Hills State Park Red-winged Blackbird bird birds branches calling male nature wildlife Sunrays+5 coth5

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...at least not where I live.

It's a Greater White-fronted Goose, which appeared at a local pond, where it was mingling with the Canada Geese one day late last month. According to migration maps, however, this goose doesn't doesn't come as far east as my area of Northern Illinois. And it's the first time that I've ever seen one. So perhaps this one got off course.

Greater White-fronted Geese breed in northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland and Russia, and winter farther south in North America, Europe and Asia, according to Wikipedia. This bird's name comes from the patch of white feathers bordering the base of its bill. You can zoom in for a closer look.

Tags:   Anser albifrons Crystal Lake Greater White-fronted Goose Illinois M.Zuiko 100-400mm f/5-6.3 + MC-14 Veteran Acres Park bird birds geese goose nature water wildlife Sunrays+5 coth5

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After all, what else have they got to do?

HSS

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