The water level on the Des Plaines River at Riverside is back to what I guess is summer normal. We haven’t had any significant rain for over a week. All the little islands have reappeared, making life a lot easier for the herons. These photos are from August 7. I will follow up with another short post from August 9. I thought I was going to combine the two but wouldn’t you know, I just have too many photos.
Even the passerines seem to be celebrating. Actually what’s happening is the juveniles are starting to figure out how to be birds on their own and get ready for their first migration. There seem to be some watchful parents on hand too, like a few male Indigo Buntings.
Juvenile Warbling Vireos, an Eastern Wood-Pewee and an Eastern Kingbird were flocking for insects.
Suddenly there are a lot of really active juvenile Warbling Vireos after their parents were nearly impossible to see all spring and summer.
On the paved trail, I found a Hackberry Emperor butterfly. For comparison I am also adding a photo of another one on the bridge at the Portage the next day. It would not open its wings.
Back to Riverside Lawn, where I encountered the usual entourage of Blue-fronted Dancer Damselflies.
I spotted a young-looking Hairy Woodpecker in Riverside Lawn.
And along the river, a good-sized turtle.
i can count on seeing at least one Great Blue Heron by what used to be the Hofmann Dam.
Walking through Riverside Lawn, several off the fallen trees have lost their bark to some live-in artists.
Just crazy about the Indigo Buntings now, pretty soon they will all disappear.
I have a feeling fall passerine migration will be early this year. We are returning to warmer day temperatures again but we cool off considerably at night and it’s been great to have the windows open.
I’ll return shortly with Part Two.
Another interesting post. I liked the butterfly with its wings folded as much as I did with its wings open. I am pleased that you have had some cooler weather.
Oh it was so easy to get spoiled. Now we’re back in the heat, but after all, it is still summer. I’m looking forward to some predicted rain this week.
I am also happy to see the Hackberry Emperor butterfly more than once this summer. I haven’t seen them that often before.
I am still not getting into butterflies yet, but if I keep looking at those juvenile Warbling Vireos. It might teach me to be more focused as I look at the soon to arrive fall warblers.
I admit I was kind of using the flocking Warbling Vireos to reacquaint myself with what I’ll need to focus on the fall warblers.