Besides wanting to go somewhere else other than my usual stomping grounds, McGinnis Slough was on my mind the past week or so since my health club announced the pool will be closed this coming week. The logic here is that McGinnis Slough is on the way to another health and fitness center operated by the same enterprise and I can purchase a week’s membership to use their pool. I might visit Orland Grasslands too. Or any one of a number of places to find birds in the Palos area.

Anyway on my visit last Sunday, I first spotted a young Eastern Kingbird.

Then Cedar Waxwings appeared, with one in particular hogging my lens.

The slough is completely overgrown. As is everyplace else.

The Swamp Rose Mallow is blooming.

Some young-looking Mallards took flight as I walked to see what was in or near the only open water, where I found some more Mallards. I was surprised there were no Wood Ducks as I have seen them in this location other years.

Then a Great Egret flew right overhead.

Soon, Great Egrets were the focal point of my visit.

There was a distant large group of Great Egrets and some Great Blue Herons. A Little Blue Heron has been reported but I did not see it.

Only one Great Blue Heron stood out from its tree perch.

I caught a glimpse of a Blue Jay before it took flight.

And a Double-crested Cormorant flew over, for good measure.

On my way back through to the other end of the trail, more Swamp Mallow caught my eye

A Coyote and its mate ran out into the woods from the little stream that hugs the trail.

With nothing to see at the lookout over the large part of the overgrown slough, I headed back in the other direction, and inadvertently flushed a young Cooper’s Hawk who flew over my head and then sat for a while.

I’ve seen a few interesting birds over this week and I intend to get caught up with them before I run out of room and time. At least I am not leading any bird walks until the last Saturday of the month. I was confused and thought the walks started this weekend but it turned out to be my phone calendar lying to me, or perhaps I to it. More social events loom, with choir practice starting on Wednesday. Everything will fall into place as long as I keep swimming three times a week and playing piano for the birds every afternoon. And right now we are enjoying some blissfully cool weather.

Here’s one more of the Cooper’s Hawk, simply because I took too many.