Cooper Park provides a great habitat for migrating birds. It is a tiny strip of wetland/bottom woodland between the industry along IL 116 in East Peoria and the river.
A tree with a lop-sided smile!
A White-tailed Deer peeking over the boardwalk.
Swamp Sparrow in the willows, which are making a come-back after the beaver demolition over the icy flooded winter.
White-throated Sparrow foraging on the debris washed in by the floods over the winter.
SwampSparrowCooper_MG_1978
Originally uploaded by jward199
I watched this little wren climb the locust tree to the top where it is hollow. Wrens have nested there in past years. I think they have a nest up there again!
See how tiny she is? She is sitting on one of the thorns, not a branch.
Yellow-rumped Warbler came briefly into view.
Palm Warbler foraging along the floor of the woods at Cooper Park. Click the photo to see the larger version.
I thought this bird was a Tennessee Warbler, but it turns out it is a Warbling Vireo!
The Rough-winged Swallows were flying low over the stream leading away from the beaver pond. The tree swallows were flying higher around the tops of the trees. This guy took a break and posed for me.
20-30 Yellow-rumped Warblers were flitting from tree to tree at Forest Park on Saturday afternoon.
Tennessee Warblers were mixed among the Yellow-rumped.
A female Northern Cardinal posed prettily for me in the Red-bud tree.
One of the warblers looks like a Nashville Warbler.
Black-capped Chickadees were chattering and feeding on seeds and bugs in the prairie remnant at Forest Park.
Maidenhair Fern poking its head up in the ravine where the creek runs through.
Dryad's Saddle.
Eastern Towhee at Jubilee State Park.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak at Forest Park. Something is wrong with his beak.
