Last Monday, instead of walking in Riverside, I decided to visit the levee at Ottawa Trail. There had been storms and a lot of rain the night before, and more rain was in the forecast. It seemed like a good time to check out the levee and still be near the river.

From the parking lot looking out over a lot of lawn, a clear path to the Des Plaines River is not evident, but I found the foot trail leading up to the levee that was constructed a few years ago, without too much effort. The obligatory rabbit was on the trail. The levee isn’t too high to climb. Up above the river, the trail stretches out along this portion of the river’s length.

I soon encountered a mixed flock of American Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles foraging in the vegetation along the river.

It wasn’t until I was going through the photos that I realized there was a water snake sitting right behind these Red-winged Blackbirds. It’s very well disguised: see if you can detect it in the photo below.

Not seeing many birds at first but perhaps drawn to the blue sky background, I checked out a European Starling.

Flooding was easy to see below the levee, and I started to reconsider my initial thoughts about the levee being intrusive. It likely helps to preserve the habitat.

My main reason for a visit was to check out the water on the opposite side of the levee. It’s a low-lying area somewhat similar to that of the Chicago Portage. I think this is where the Green Herons that used to nest at the Portage years ago have been hanging out. It is a lot more difficult to see this area since the levee construction. You could hike down to it before, but there is no longer access, and vegetation has grown all around it. But I did find one Green Heron. I apologize for the overexposure but there was no other way to make the heron visible.

Then in the distance, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a Belted Kingfisher hunting. I managed to capture his dive at a distance.

This trail has no nearby vegetation so the birds are generally at a distance and not easy to see. I barely captured a Song Sparrow.

But I did have a cooperative Blue Jay, who is also at the top of this post.

A couple Red-winged Blackbirds suddenly appeared, escorting a Red-tailed Hawk across the river.

Before the levee, if you reached the end of the trail along the river going south, you could cross the street and the railroad tracks and be right behind the Chicago Portage, but that access is now blocked off.

At the end of the trail, I turned around and headed back. There was a doe staring at me.

It looks like the Cook County Forest Preserves has been doing some habitat restoration by planting natives, which I am happy to see. It has also been a great year for Bergamot everywhere. And the butterfly, a Clouded Sulphur, is one I haven’t seen often elsewhere.

Young American Robins below.

A couple views of the river from the levee.

Where I could actually see the water more clearly, there were only a couple Mallards in it.

Flooding persisted for most of the week, so I walked more often at the Chicago Portage. But this trail was good to visit for a change and I will probably return sooner.