Deer at Forest Park Nature Center.

Red-winged Blackbird with Mayfly. This guy was going crazy as Scott, Ed and I walked down one section of the boardwalk at Cooper Park on Sunday morning. He had this Mayfly in his mouth, ready to feed his babies, but we were in the way, and he let us know about it in no uncertain terms.

Caterpillar in the sun.

The Tadpole is almost a Frog, photographed by my friend Ed. Like the beginning of time.

Scott and Ed found two baby Red-winged Blackbirds in the dried weeds next to the boardwalk. You almost couldn't see them, they blended in so perfectly. If the dad hadn't been acting so squirrelly, they might not have been looking for them. Ed and I both took photographs of the babies.

Baby Red-winged Blackbird, up close.

Baby Red-winged Blackbird, calling for food. Photographed by Ed.

Bull Frog, photographed by Ed.

One of the many bunnies who live in the grass near the entrance to Spindler Marina.

Marsh flowers with fruit, photographed by Ed.

Marsh flowers, photographed by Ed.

Boys swimming with gulls at the campground at Spindler Marina. I guess they don't know how dirty that river water is.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak hiding behind the leaves. He would not come out where I could photograph him.

A vole family lives under the boardwalk at Cooper Park.

Young Baltimore Oriole.

Peoria Skyline as seen from the point at Spindler Marina.

Baby Killdeer in the parking lot at Spindler Marine, East Peoria, Illinois.

Red-winged Blackbird at Cooper Park. Defending his area. He had a nest nearby, and young redwings from the previous brood.

Red-winged Blackbird, getting ready to call.

Red-winged Blackbird calling.

Red-winged Blackbird, calling again.

Adult male Baltimore Oriole.

Juvenile female Baltimore Oriole.

Tree Swallow, checking out the marsh.

Tree Swallow, thinking about leaving.

Fly away!

Purple marsh flowers, growing in the beaver pond at Cooper Park, East Peoria, Illinois.

Barn Swallow.

First Summer Male Purple Martin.

Geese and Goslings. Swimming out on the river from the point at Spindler Marina in East Peoria.

Goose Reflections on Peoria Lake.

Girl by the River.

Muskrat out in the Marsh at Cooper Park. Check out those teeth!

Dredged beach at Hamm's Marina in Chilicothe, Illinois.

Yellow Prairie Flower at Forest Park.

Spiderwort at Forest Park Nature Center.

Common Milkweed blossom.

Tufted Titmouse.

Purple Cone Flowers.

Chicory Flower. I love this color of blue.

White Cabbage Butterfly.

White Cabbage Butterfly in flight.

Cooper Park in Tazewell County

Prothonotary Warbler. Cooper Park was full of life on Friday. We observed the Prothonotary Warblers, Baltimore Orioles, and House Wrens that we have been seeing there. Unfortunately a large group of people came through like a heard of elephants, scaring most of the birds away. They let one of the boys in the group climb down from the boardwalk into the beaver pond with a net; he was trying to catch something, possibly one of the turtles we had seen sunbathing by the beaver den earlier. We told them they were not allowed off the boardwalk and that the area was a protected nature preserve. They were pretty testy with us, but they soon left and we continued our walk without further interuption.

Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Mayfly.

Water Snake.

Canada Geese and Goslings in the marsh at Cooper Park.

Leading the Goslings out of the marsh to the lake on the other side of the willows. We watched them go through this hole one at a time.

Muskrat.

I don't recognize these ducks. I thought they might be hybrids, but it looks more like they are molting mallards.