Downy Woodpecker at Jubilee

 

Eagle on River Beach Drive

I found one eagle yesterday on my drive along River Beach Drive. I only stayed for a minute to get this photo.

 

Sand Ridge Cemetery, south of Spring Bay, has an interesting tree.

 

Ice patterns remain as the ice melts in Cooper Park.

 

Jenkins Farmers Market in Woodford County

 

Whiffle Tree Place in Sparland

 

Tom Turkey and the Jersey Cheese Shop

Tom, the Turkey at the Jersey Cheese Shop in McLean County

 

When we drove up, Tom was waiting in front of the store. This cheese shop is on a dairy farm where they make the cheese in an on-farm cheese processing facility. It has windows so you can look inside and watch them making cheese. This is a family dairy farm. Mrs. Ropp showed us around the facility, including the dairy barn, where we got to feed the Jersey cows and pet a frisky calf. Jersey cows are smaller than the cows I normally see around here. We bought some cheese, which is great (they have over 40 varieties!). However, Tom was the highlight of the visit!

 

Pheasants on the Run

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eagles in Marshall County

The eagles were checking out their nest the last week in December. Nesting season isn't far away!

 

 

Juvenile Eagles Along Copperas Creek Road

Scott and I went out looking for eagles along the road leading to Copperas Landing and found five, four juveniles and one adult. At least 2 of the juveniles may have been first year eagles, with very dark feathers and bill.

 

 

 

 

Of the five eagles we spotted, all but one were juveniles.

 

 

 

Red-winged Blackbirds Flocking near Banner, Illinois.

 

 

 

Eagle at Hamm's Holiday Harbor

We stopped by Hamm's Holiday Harbor on our way down River Beach Drive. Our first eagle of the day was in a tree over looking the river off the dredged beach.

He took off as I was photographing some juncos. Scott said, "He's going to fly," and I looked up just in time to get this shot.

Photos originally uploaded by jward199

Eagle with Fish and Flag

As we drove south on River Beach Drive, we came across 7 eagles. This one had just captured a fish! He flew past a neighbor's American Flag as he took his fish to a better eating place.















Photos originally uploaded by jward199

Northern Harrier and Horned Larks in Woodford County

The light was shining on the red barn by the Woodford SFWA.

This male Northern Harrier was flying low over the grassland along Route 26 in Woodford County.

I spotted him as we were driving North and found a pull over and waited for him to fly past.

Four or five of these little guys were in the cornfields on the way into Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area. I thought they were Lapland Longspurs, but it turns out that they are Horned Larks, but just not very good poses to see the marks I was looking for. Thanks, Jim, for helping with this ID!

Photos originally uploaded by jward199