Bald Eagle on ice, Illinois River
As winter wanes (we are experiencing a significant thaw as I write this), I feel compelled to get caught up with the past couple weeks’ photos. On February 24, 2013, I joined two other Elles on a DuPage Birding Club field trip to Starved Rock. It was my last chance to see numerous Bald Eagles, this time on the Illinois River. It was a beautiful day, but because there wasn’t a lot of frozen water, the birds were farther away and harder to photograph.
Bald Eagle, soaring
Juvenile and adult Bald Eagles
Bald Eagles, three plumages
Of course there are always gulls too, although we did not see anything very unusual.
Lock and Dam 13, Illinois River
As we moved down the river, we saw more species, some on land, some on water.
Belted Kingfisher
It was wonderful to see a Pileated Woodpecker, but impossible to get close enough for a decent picture. The quest continues.
I forget exactly where we were when I got the picture below of the Ring-Necked Pheasant.
On the grounds of the Starved Rock Visitor’s Center, where there are some feeders, there was a very cooperative Tufted Titmouse. Since I don’t get these guys in my yard and they can be elusive in the woods, I am always thrilled to see them.
Singing Tufted Titmouse
And of course, there were a few White-Breasted Nuthatches. I like the branch this bird chose to pose on.
White-Breased Nuthatch
On the way back, numerous flocks of blackbirds. Below, Cowbirds in a Bare Tree. It always amazes me to see Cowbirds find their own species after being raised by others.
Brown-Headed Cowbirds
On the way back the three of us stopped at Gebhardt Woods State Park in Grundy County for a little walk along the I&M Canal.
One species we picked up here was a Winter Wren. He was mostly preening, behind these stalks.
Winter Wren
At the end of a long but beautiful day outdoors, perhaps the full moon from the parking lot where we’d started was the best image of all.
