Uplifting Birding at Exner Marsh

William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message

Two American Goldfinch birds, Spinus tristis, feeding each other on a branch at Exner Nature Wildlife Preserve in McHenry County, Illinois. The goldfinch is a migratory bird in North America.

My aging father went into assisted living one year ago, in August 2020. It wasn’t long and Alzheimer’s had tightened its grip, moving him to memory care by last December. Over the last few months, his sentences have become shorter and shorter, and his body weaker and weaker. To make the most of these last years, my wife and I have been trying to get to Illinois every few months to visit him. Our meetings this week were short, but sweet.

Being able to sit with him for only an hour per day, I was afforded some solace in birding and wildlife photography. As usual, I went for a morning hike at the Peter Exner Nature Preserve near my brother’s house in Huntley, Illinois.

American Goldfinch, Spinus tristis, song bird perched on a branch at Exner Nature Wildlife Preserve in McHenry County, Illinois. The goldfinch is a migratory bird in North America.

I was amazed at the number of American Goldfinches flitting across the fields. Their cheerful calls and bright colors were enough to lighten any dark mood. The American Goldfinch, Spinus tristis, is a bright gold migratory songbird of North America. It has an affinity for seeds and is often found in pastures and meadows plucking at the seed heads and will readily visit a thistle sock feeder.

The morning mood was also uplifted by the happy whistles of the Black-capped Chickadee. Poecile atricapillus is a small songbird named for its chick-a-dee-dee-dee call. I found it in the more wooded areas of the Exner Marsh, rather than the open fields along with the Goldfinches. They are reportedly a non-migratory species and move only slightly within their ranges in the northern United States and Canada.  

I was also cheered by lifers. I added the Northern Waterthrush and Warbling Vireo, bringing my world lifelist to 245 species. I also added 8 new species to my Illinois list. Always a spark of joy for a birder! ​

Exner Nature Preserve; McHenry County, IL. August 26, 2021.
 - Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
 - Sunrise 6:12 am; Sunset 7:36 pm
 - Daylight Hours: 13 hours, 24 minutes (-2m 39s)
 - Moon: 82% Waning Gibbous

Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus, song bird perched on a branch at Exner Nature Wildlife Preserve in McHenry County, Illinois. Black-capped Chickadee is a small non-migratory bird in North America. It is the state bird of Massachusetts and Maine.

Monarch Butterfly on a branch at Exner Nature Wildlife Preserve in McHenry County, Illinois. Danaus plexippus

Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus, song bird perched on a branch with leaves at Exner Nature Wildlife Preserve in McHenry County, Illinois. Black-capped Chickadee is a small non-migratory bird in North America. It is the state bird of Massachusetts and Maine.

American Goldfinch, Spinus tristis, song bird perched on a branch at Exner Nature Wildlife Preserve in McHenry County, Illinois. The goldfinch is a migratory bird in North America.