Eagles at Banner Marsh and Copperas Landing

On our way to Copperas Landing, we stopped by Bell's Landing after spotting two eagles flying over the bluffs on the other side of the highway. We stopped at the entrance, just off the highway. It was an adult and a juvenile. We then spotted a second juvenile, then a third, then a fourth, and finally a second adult. A family. Well, maybe not a family, but it looked like one! They were flying together, back and fourth across the bluffs. It was an amazing sight! Photos here are a second-year juvenile interacting with an adult.

Adult and Juvenile Bald Eagle 2.

Downy Woodpecker.

Downy Flight.

Song or Swamp Sparrow?

American Tree Sparrow.

Great Blue Heron 1.

Great Blue Heron 2.

Bald Eagle at Copperas Landing.

Red-tailed Hawk.

Mystery Hawk--most likely a Red-tailed.

Most likely a Red-tailed Hawk.

Hawk, departing.

Illinois River Valley -- Eagles and more!

Illinois River from Poplar Lane Park as the morning fog began to lift.

Poplar Lane Park in fog.

Could this be a Bluebird? I couldn't see it very well and this was the best photo I could get.

Eagle Nest 1.

Eagle Nest 2.

Eagle Nest 3.

Eagle Nest 4.

White-crowned Sparrow at Woodford County Wildlife Area.

Marshal County State Fish & Wildlife Area.

Eagle flight 1. He is getting ready to take off.

Eagle flight 2.

Eagle flight 3.

Eagle flight 4.

Eagle flight 5.

Eagle flight 6. Going in for a catch!.

Eagle flight 7. He got something!

Eagle flight 8. And he lost it . . .

Eagle flight 9.

Eagles Along the Illinois River

We found 10 Bald Eagles on a short drive from Peoria to Chillicothe this afternoon. We found most of the eagles along River Beach Road. The weather was warm, but overcast. The snow (we had 18 inches last weekend!) was finally melting, causing a mist to flow out over the river.

Bald Eagle, thinking about leaving.

Bald Eagle flight 1.

Bald Eagle flight 2.

Second-year Bald Eagle.

Copperas Landing and Forest Park

Pileated Woodpecker flying across the road leading to Copperas Landing yesterday morning.

Is this a Lincoln's Sparrow? No, it's a Song Sparrow. I'm working to learn to distinguish them. I need better photographs I think. Perhaps when my birthday present arrives, a new lens with image stabilization, I'll get some better photographs of the elusive sparrows.

Great Blue Heron.

Red-bellied Woodpecker male.

Red-tailed Hawk at Copperas Landing.

Red-tailed Hawk in flight. This is a cool shot of the Hawk as he switched locations in the bottom land woods by Copperas Landing. Click on the photo to see the full-size pic.

One of several slougs leading from Copperas Creek to Rice Lake.

View from Banner, Illinois.

Downy Woodpecker at Forest Park.

Tufted Titmouse tossing a seed. For additional photos click on the image below to view my Picasa Web Album:

Forest Park on a Cloudy Day

White-tailed Deer at Forest Park.

Tufted Titmouse off the main trail at Forest Park.

Glen Oak Park.