Hummingbirds and Monarchs at Cooper Park

Monarch Butterfly at Cooper Park on Tuesday afternoon. The butterflies and hummingbirds were every where we looked in the Spotted Forget-Me-Nots.

Wood Duck in nonbreeding plumage with a Mallard.

Monarch Migration.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird # 1.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird # 2.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird # 3.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird # 4.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird # 5.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird # 6.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird # 7.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird # 8.

Great Blue Heron in the beaver pond at Cooper Park.

Champaign and Vermillion County Wetlands

Immature Bald Eagle soaring over the wetlands at Middle Fork River Preserve in Champaign County. Who knew there were wetlands in Champaign County? Not easy to find, it is a wonderful bird sanctuary, closed to the public during nesting time in the spring.

Wetland at Middle Fork River Preserve in Champaign County. Some shore birds were milling around on the mud flats but I could only identify the Killdeer. Too far for binoculars or my telephoto lens. Other photos of the shore birds are here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jward199/ShorebirdsAtMiddleFork

Osprey at Heron County Park in Vermillion County. He flew over the wetland and landed in a tree not far from the boardwalk. He stuck around for several minutes before flying over to the sothern edge.

Egret on a stick.

Great Blue Heron flight.

Great Egret.

View from the Observation Tower.

Observation Tower at Heron County Park.

Red-headed Woodpecker at Heron County Park.

American Kestrel. He was sitting in the lightning-struck Oak Tree in the savanna at Springdale. Three Northern Flickers were on guard duty.

A juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker finally chased him away.


Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker.

Boletus Chrysenteron, possibly. We found several of these in the grass at Springdale.

A young White-tailed Deer was eating grass by the side of the road leading down the bluff at Springdale Cemetery. She still had spots! She watched me photograph her for a while then went back to eating. Usually the deer in the cemetery run when they see a car approach. Maybe mom was near by, making her feel safe.

Common Nighthawks at Springdale Cemetery

Common Nighthawks flew over Springdale Cemetery last Saturday evening.

Common Nighthawk.


More Common Nighthawks at Springdale.


You can see more photos in my Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/jward199/Nighthawks