I started writing this post trying to take advantage of rainy, gloomy, chilly, stormy weather that followed my participation in “Loonapalooza” on March 28. We traveled around in a bus to six small lakes in Lake County. The first bird greeting us at our first stop at Diamond Lake as we got off the bus was a Bald Eagle flying by.

Our next stop at Columbia Bay afforded close encounters with some American White Pelicans.

We had plenty of Common Loons throughout, but they were distant most of the time. I snuck a few long shots.

We had one very distant immature Red-throated Loon, but it was nearly impossible to see, especially with the glare of the sun on the water.

We had lots of ducks, but most were too far away for decent photos. I did catch one female Wood Duck flying by.

Horned Grebes were at two locations.

More pelicans were at Lake Marie North.

We made an extra stop for an Eastern Screech Owl.

At our last stop, Almond Marsh Forest Preserve, we saw two Sandhill Cranes.

I took a blurry photo of a Tree Swallow, for the record. I had not seen one before that weekend.

One closer Loon gave me better looks at one of the last locations.

The days are getting longer, providing more time to do things, and suddenly there is even more to do. More birds are starting to show up. I will try to be back soon. The sun starts shining and I feel swept into spring madness. Admittedly it’s a delightful delirium.