Forest Park Nature Center and Lorentz Ave Park

Downy Woodpecker. One of the many birds we encountered on a short walk through Forest Park on Wednesday morning.

White-breasted Nuthatch in the woods close to the Ranger Station.

Baby Downy.

Downy Woodpecker followed closely by her baby.

Downy Woodpecker Mom feeding baby.

Turkey Tom 1. In the wooded area between the main trail and the prairie remnant at Forest Park.

Turkey Tom 2. Crossing the open prairie.

Turkey Tom 3. Off in the woods behind the prairie.

The Wood Chippers at work on the main trail at Forest Park. They created such a racket that we cut our walk short. But not before spotting a lone Tom Turkey, some Downy Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, and numerous other birds outside the ranger station.

McCluggage Bridge panorama. While looking around the little park at the end of Lorentz Ave, it suddenly grew extremely quiet. We looked and saw there was no traffic on the bridge. I took a quick panorama to mark the event. Soon the cars and trucks returned with the usual background roar.

Graffitti (and no anchor or dredging, please!).

McCluggage Bridge viewed from under the electrical tower.

Canada Geese on the beach at the end of the Lorentz Street Park.

Northern Flicker at the nest in the woods by the park at the end of Lorentz street.

Cement Silo on the Dike at Bell's Landing, Banner Marsh.

Tuesday morning Scott and I drove down to Bell's Landing at Banner Marsh to see if we could find the nesting Osprey that the Goodners reported seeing. They were right where they said they would be, on an electrical directly behind the old cement silo. We also looked for the Orchard Orioles that the Goodners reported seeing but did not find them. We did find a female Baltimore Oriole, several Indigo Buntings, and a flock of American Goldfinch, as well as three Belted Kingfishers. Look at the Archive for 06/06/06 to see the Osprey photographs.

Belted Kingfisher 1.

Great Egrets congregating.

Female Baltimore Oriole.

Belted Kinfisher 2.

Female Northern Cardinal.

Eastern Wood Pewee.

Heron peeking out from behind the thistle.

Indigo Bunting 1.

Indigo Bunting 2.

High above the river, behind the old cement silo that still stands on the dike that separates the marsh from the river, we found the Osprey nest.

How big are the babies?

Two Osprey sitting on the nest.

He's thinking about leaving.

Dad (presumably) takes off . . .

And he's off, flying down the river, behind the trees, so we can't watch.

Alone on the nest.

Sunset over Banner Marsh.

Fisher Folk in the light of the setting sun.

Female Baltimore Oriole sitting on the suspension bridge at Bell's Landing. I prevously thought this was an Orchard Oriole, but the color was wrong for that species. I'll go with female Baltimore, as suggestd by a couple of IBET members. It was fun watching her drink from the hardware holding up the bridge. She flitted from piece to piece drinking a little at each spot.

Off to the other side of the bridge.

Female Baltimore Oriole drinking from hardware holding up the suspension bridge.

Speed Limit is 15. That Robin zooming past must not have seen the sign.

Bales of hay in the setting sun.

Banner Marsh Windmill.

Banner Marsh Windmill was Donated by David Jacobus Family.

Northern Bobwhite Quail and a Common Grackle.

Run away! Run away!

Grain Elevator from Bell's Landing.

View from Bell's Landing at Banner Marsh, Fulton County, Illinois.