Bumble Bee in the Prickly Pear Blossom

Prickly Pear Cacti are everywhere you look as you climb the sand dune at Robert Allen Gleason Preserve.

Big Sand Beetles at Gleason

Six-lined Racerunner at Gleason

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Fragrant Sumac Berries at Gleason

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Originally uploaded by jward199

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Black Swallowtail at Gleason

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Spiderwort at Henry Allen Gleason Preserve

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Originally uploaded by jward199

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Beaver Damage at Thompson Lake

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Evidence that beavers are in the area!

Nesting Tree Swallows at Emiqon

Tree Swallows are nesting in the bluebird box along Prairie Road at the Emiquon Preserve.

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Flycatcher

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Eastern Kingbird at Emiquon

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Sheep along Clark Road

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Baby Mallard Ducklings

Feeding in the marsh at Cooper Park.

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Cedar Waxwing

Dozens of Cedar Waxwings filled the woods along the trail at Cooper Park.

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Swainson's Thrush

A Thrush was foraging in the bottom land near the marsh at Cooper Park. I thought it was a Hermit Thrush, but he is actually a Swainson's Thrush. (Thanks, Mathew!)

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Killdeerat Cooper

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Fishing on the Illinois

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Swamp Iris at Cooper Park

The irises are in bloom.

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Tree Swallows Nesting

Tree swallows are nesting in a hollow tree close to the boardwalk.

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Prothonatory Warbler at Cooper Park

A Prothonatory Warbler was flitting around in the canopy over the boardwalk at Cooper Park last week.

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Tree Swallow at Cooper Park

This little guy was singing on territory on a branch of the tree where his mate was sitting a nest in the hollow tree. What an interesting little song! and how wonderful to have a close up view of his throat warbling in song.

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Maidenhair Ferns Cover the Forest Floor

At Jubilee, down by the creeks, Maidenhair Ferns are lush and green.

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Apple Blossoms in Bloom

Jubilee was alive with birds and flowers last weekend.

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Geese and Goslings Splashing

Two Geese with fifteen goslings were swimming and splashing in one of the back ponds at Banner Marsh. They guided the goslings to an island, where they briefly climbed up onto it before continuing their swim. Two other adult geese were near by but not paying any attention to the fifteen goslings.




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Originally uploaded by jward199

Snake at Banner Marsh

A snake swam across the slough at Banner Marsh last weekend.



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Originally uploaded by jward199

Red-headed Woodpeckers Nesting at Banner Marsh

A Red-headed Woodpecker was tending a nest in a hollow tree at Banner Marsh. He was at the top hole first, then came back and attended the lower hole, before disappearing inside.


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Originally uploaded by jward199

Feeding Time for Eaglets

Dad came in with a fish and Mom looked at it like "Is that all you could come up with?" She soon left and then came back for a brief stop (sans fish) before going out again. She circled around over the nest once or twice and then flew off to hunt, leaving Dad to share the fish with the hungry eaglets. He made sure all three were fed, even though the oldest, in front dominated the group.

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Originally uploaded by jward199

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Spring Bird Count: Woodford County SFWA

We found four Baltimore Orioles at Woodford on the Spring Bird Count. At one point there were three orioles in one tree.

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Originally uploaded by jward199

This raccoon was making his way down the slough until he spotted me and Scott. He looked at us for about a minute before plunging into the water, swimming across the slough and scurrying across the woods.

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Red-headed Woodpeckers

Three Red-headed Woodpeckers in the same snag at Woodford.

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Originally uploaded by jward199