We had an awful lot of rain yesterday and many lightning strikes. I was wary of leaving my laptop plugged into the docking station at my desk, so I took it to the kitchen to work. (My last computer blew up from a lightning strike!)
While I was busy working on a project, I heard a loud, high-pitched bird call I didn’t recognize so I went to the porch to have a look. I listened and waited until I could see what was making this unfamiliar sound. The bird was in our Elm tree — a juvenile (immature) male Red-winged Blackbird. He made his way to the side yard where he searched the food sources and continued to sing. He didn’t sing the usual call of this kind of bird. (Listen to the sound I heard, the “check” call, here.)
I didn’t get a picture since I was too busy watching him with my binocs. Here’s what he looked like, courtesy of Cornell’s AllAboutBirds.org.
photo AllAboutBirds.org
The Red-winged Blackbird usually prefers marshy areas and wetlands, but I do see them through my yard during migratory periods looking for food. They’ll forage for seeds and mixed grains in backyards. You might see them under feeders as they prefer to feed from the ground.
Do these birds visit your yard?
Guess I have more room for new plants! 
