The Official First Robin of Spring

AMERICAN ROBIN, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, FEBRUARY 28, 2012

Pentax K-5
Sigma APO 135-400 at 280mm
1/60 sec. f8
ISO 400

What a delight to spot the first robin of spring at our backyard bird bath. It made up for the cold, overcast morning, and I was grateful the robin held still long enough for the slow shutter speed to capture it.

Fourth squirrel of the season

GRAY SQUIRREL, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, FEBRUARY 3, 2012


Pentax K20D
Sigma APO 135-400 at 340mm
1/90 sec. f8
ISO 800


It was a gray and overcast day with the sun trying mightily to cut through the clouds, and I'd just spread some stale chunks of my signature breadmaker pumpernickel on the backyard deck balustrade. Wonder if pumpernickel works with Sports Illustrated models, too.

Female of the species

FEMALE HOUSE FINCH, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, FEBRUARY 20, 2012

Pentax K-5
Sigma APO 135-400 at 400mm
1/180 sec. f9.5
ISO 800

Right on the tail of yesterday's male House Finch arrived this female, presumably his companion. At first I thought it a Pine Siskin (another variety of finch), but the heavy beak, lack of yellow highlights in its wing feathers, and broken belly stripes all suggested the proper species.

House Finch

MALE HOUSE FINCH (CARPODACUS MEXICANUS), EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, FEBRUARY 20, 2012


Pentax K20D
Sigma APO 135-400 at 320mm
1/180 sec. f9.5
ISO 800


The colorful, cheerful and gregarious House Finch makes a nice change from the ubiquitous sparrows, with whom the species often hangs out. Today this male tarried just long enough for me to snap its portrait before it took off for the trees.

Thread Agave

THREAD AGAVE (AGAVE FILIFERA), CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, FEBRUARY 3, 2012


Pentax K-5
Tamron SP AF 90mm f2.8 DI Macro
1/125 sec. f9
ISO 1600


This Mexican succulent, popular in container gardens, comes from the desert cliffs of Sinaloa. Its threadlike leaves have hard and sharp points and are often used as emergency needle and thread for temporary repairs of torn clothes and the like.

Jamaican Poinsettia

JAMAICAN POINSETTIA (EUPHORBIA PUNICEA), CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN, GLENCOE, ILLINOIS, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Pentax K-5
Tamron SP AF 90mm f2.8 DI Macro
1/125 sec. f6.3
ISO 1600

There is only one example of this evergreen succulent shrub in the Botanic Garden's lush tropical greenhouse, but its bright red winter bracts and intense yellow blooms leap out at the passerby.