More Outside U.P. Discoveries!

We have been seeing more Partridge

this Spring than ever before...

which is a great sign

that winter

was gentle on a lot of the animals up north this year.

He didn't let me get very close with my lens before he flew away on me!:

It was so great to see things budding and bees pollenating!:

And, the Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks came back!:

When driving on a road past a river this Spring,

I spotted this heart-wrenching sign:

It sure reminds each and every one of us to remember to "Seize the Day!"

and how very, very short life is.

I love me a group of tree mushrooms against a bright blue Spring sky!:

And on textured birch bark:

We HEARD this bird before we saw it and then photographed it.

I don't know what it was.

Can someone tell me??:

Here is another view of it:

I know it wasn't an Evening Grosbeak,

and I know it wasn't a Goldfinch....

We haven't had one at our feeders, ever:

So, just leave me a comment to educate me on what the bird's name is?

I know my Blogger friends are so much more knowledgeable about bird species than I am....

Thanks!!!