Tuesday, March 14, 2006


Coopers Hawk at Forest Park Nature Preserve. Scott and I spotted three hawks flying through the woods on our way out of the park today. I was able to get photographs of two of them. This is the second one that I was able to photograph.
J G Ward

Coopers Hawk, same hawk as above, side view.
J G Ward

Cooper's Hawk, ready to depart. This is the first of the three hawks we saw this morning.
J G Ward

Coopers Hawk, same hawk as above, taking off.
J G Ward

American Robin hunting on the trail.
J G Ward

This deer takes a closer look at me.
J G Ward

Deer at Forest Park Nature Preserve, Peoria, IL.
J G Ward

Monday, March 13, 2006


Grackles were everywhere this afternoon, 40 or 50 of them worked their way from one yard to another.
J G Ward

Two grackles sitting in a tree.
J G Ward

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Song Sparrow or American Tree Sparrow?


# 1 -- probably a Song Sparrow; photographed at the Northgate Entrance to Merwin Nature Preserve. He was hard to spot among the grass and leaves. The cloudy day didn't provide much light for contrast. His beak looks black to me, which confused me when I was trying to identify it, but it is probably just the way it looks to the camera in the poor lighting.



# 2 -- I'm confident now that this one is a Song Sparrow; photographed at Cooper's Park in East Peoria. This little bird was singing up a storm.



# 3 -- possibly an American Tree Sparrow; photographed at Cooper's Park in East Peoria. He was busy looking for food under the leaves in the woods near the beaver pond.