Mallard Family 4

Mom turned and touched bills with one of the ducklings, then they all began feeding in a tight little group.

Monarch

Monarch Butterfly with open wings.

Woodpecker Back Flip

Woodpecker taking off upside down.

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing posed briefly for me.

Tiger Swallowtail 1

Yellow Tiger Swallowtail.

Tiger Swallowtail 2

Yellow Tiger Swallowtail with open wings.

Catbird

Catbird waited patiently for us to leave his area. Is that nesting material in his bill?

Beaver 1

We spotted a baby beaver between the main damn and the den.

Beaver 2

He looked at me and then dove under.

Bumble Bee

Bumble Bee on Purple Loosestrife, an invasive plant that has established itself in the wetland.

Cooper Park Wetland Wonders

Juvenile Northern Flicker. He got my attention during a walk at Cooper Park in East Peoria, Illinois this morning with his constant calls for his parents.

Closeup of the Juvenile Northern Flicker.

Pecking at the trunk, but waiting for Mom or Dad to feed him.

Mother Flicker lands on the otherside of the tree.

Baby Flicker wastes no time finding his mom.

I mean it Mom, I'm hungry!

Song Sparrow.

Singing!!!

Mallard.

Mallard Ducks.

Rose of Sharron.

Cattails and Purple Loosestrife.

White Cabbage Butterfly.

Marsh Flower.

Monarch Butterfly on the Loosestrife

Monarch Butterfly.

Orange Sulfur Butterflies on the dike at Bell's Landing, Banner Marsh in Fulton County, Illinois.

Orange Sulfur Butterflies.

Orange Sulfur Butterflies 3.

Red-headed Woodpecker sitting on top of the utility pole at Banner Marsh last Saturday.

He hopped up. . . .

and landed on the side of the pole.

Red-headed Woodpecker. He flew over to the trees on the river side of the dike.

Red-headed Woodpecker, cropped for a closer view.

Juvenile Common Grackle at Cooper Park last Sunday.

Pied Grackle, juvenile. He has been hanging out at our feeders lately.

Great Blue Herons at Banner Marsh

Great Blue Heron took off in flight as we drove past. We were able to get quite a few photos of the herons on Saturday when we visited Bell's Landing at Banner Marsh in Fulton County, Illinois.

Great Blue Heron Flight 2.

Great Blue Heron Flight 3.

Great Blue Heron Flight 4.

Great Blue Heron. He took off as soon as we stopped the car.

Made a tight turn.

He flew away.

After landing on the other side of the pond. . . .

He stood still for a few seconds.

Composing himself in his new safer location.

Great Blue Heron flying across the marsh.

Great Blue Heron Flying-1.

Great Blue Heron Flying-2.

Great Blue Heron Flying-3.

Great Blue Heron landed on a stump and posed.