A tremendous spring for rarities

Ever since the weather turned warm on April 30--very conveniently, the very day I got back from my Texas trip--the birding on the Chicago lakefront has been consistently excellent. This was great for my local spring guiding and it also meant we had a tremendous run of rarities. Here are photos of some of the less common birds that I saw this spring, including some excellent vagrants. Click on the photos and scroll through to see what the birds are and where the photos were taken [note that on a phone you might not be able to see the photo descriptions]. 

In the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, the Ring-tailed Pigeon is a pleasantly common endemic. Usually seen flying between feeding sites, one can occasionally find one perched where the subtle colorations (and ringed tail!) can be fully appreciated. #redh
Travel to the Brazilian Pantanal isn't complete without a search for South America's top predator, the jaguar. We had continued success on our October tour this year, with jaguars seen daily along the Cuiabá River! Here, a mother surveys the C
We're gearing up for a return to Namibia next August, where a Sociable Weavers and their enormous nests are always a highlight. The birds themselves are charming and their communal nests are impressive to say the least! 📸: @josh.rhb #namibia #kala
The Western Great Lakes region is in the midst of an unprecedented irruption of Harris's Sparrows. We have a couple of spots left on a half-day trip this Saturday to Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve, where you can be sure that @bilskypics will be trying