Category Archives: breeding birds

A Visit to the Hebron Trail

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I went up to what is now officially called Goose Lake Conservation Area in McHenry County on June 2, to see and hear the Yellow-headed Blackbirds that return every spring. I had to psych myself up for a drive that was even longer than the usual hour-and-a-half, due to the extra weekday traffic. But it was worth it, even if the birds were still quite far out from the observation deck. I envisioned returning later this month before my surgery, but decided to get some extra rest instead. Now that July looms ahead as a vast recovery experiment, maybe I can think about returning in a couple weeks.

My first photo was of an Eastern Bluebird. I think this is my first of this species this year.

Next I found a couple usual suspects, a Common Yellowthroat and a Song Sparrow, although there were fewer of the sparrows that morning.

I don’t have to ignore Red-winged Blackbirds all the time…

The Dickcissels were nice to see and hear.

I never ignore an American Crow.

When I could finally spot male Yellow-headed Blackbirds, they were extremely far away even for the 400mm extension of the lens, but I managed to get a few images. I always hope for closer encounters and I am betting they might be easier later in the season as the offspring fledge.

I can usually count on Willow Flycatchers here. These two were a bit hidden.

I found a Northern Yellow Warbler as well. I have heard them elsewhere, but this is the first one I’ve been able to photograph.

There were several Indigo Buntings singing.

Here’s one more Common Yellowthroat.

Well, I had my carpal tunnel release surgery yesterday, my surgeon said it went well, and I am feeling quite good this morning. It’s harder than ever to type with the dressing that won’t come off for three days, but I hope to play a little piano this afternoon and see what it’s like to move my car to the other side of the street for tomorrow, if not actually drive somewhere. I will know more about possibly swimming after I get the stitches removed in two weeks. Recovery is so far proving interesting. As long as I can take care of the birds, all is well. They are my best therapists.

The Portage Lately – and Ottawa Trail North

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It’s been an up-and-down spring. As we approached the summer solstice, I found myself craving shorter days so I don’t feel quite so guilty about resisting an earlier rise. This is a mix-up featuring a few takeaways from several visits to the Chicago Portage and one visit to Ottawa Trail North.

On May 24, I found an Eastern Wood-Pewee and an Olive-sided Flycatcher. I had been seeing the latter species over a couple weeks during migration and this was likely my last encounter.

On May 26, I noticed an American Robin busy gathering nesting material, a Green Heron and an Indigo Bunting. Notice how much darker the bunting’s color is when compared to the bird at the top of the post. It’s all about the light with these guys as their feathers are actually all black, but the reflection as blue is in the available sunlight.

On May 28, I found an Eastern Phoebe, a Red-eyed Vireo and a Tree Swallow.

On June 4, the two Green Herons who have been showing up lately got into some interesting interactions.

On June 9, I spotted a Black-crowned Night-heron and the two Green Herons.

Other birds on June 9 were a bit more subdued. A Brown-headed Cowbird female, a singing Eastern Wood-Pewee, and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

That brings me to Ottawa Trail. We had a terrific storm on June 10 and when I got to the Portage on the 11th, it was closed because so many trees had come down and crews had to deal with all the fallen. Here’s a couple photos I took with my phone on my next visit.

Ottawa Trail North can be an interesting spot if you walk along the levy which abuts the Des Plaines River. You’re up high which gives a different perspective of the river and also great open views of the sky. The first thing I noticed was two Great Egrets in the trees across the river. They were at quite a distance, but I haven’t seen any of these birds in Riverside lately so I was delighted to see them here. I then found they had flown down into the marshy area below the levy, where I usually see Green Herons.

I got nice views of a Red-tailed Hawk.

I noticed a Common Grackle, a Green Bottle Fly on thistle and a White-tailed Deer doe cooling off by the river.

I found the Green Herons well-camouflaged in the marsh. I didn’t see the second one in front until I uploaded this cropped photo.

As I was walking back, I barely caught a Blue Jay flying away.

House Sparrows don’t get enough credit for their ventures into the wilderness.

I am about to hear more about my surgery appointment, and I seem to be in the mood to get more rest ahead of it, as many things as I want to accomplish beforehand. Rain was graciously in the forecast today which allows me some time to get household chores done. I hope to be back soon.

P.S. Somehow I missed the image selection for the top of the post in Facebook, my apologies to FB readers if I don’t figure out how to fix it.

Poking Around Palos

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I did something out of the ordinary on Saturday morning. I decided to “chase” a Cerulean Warbler that was being reported for about a week in the Palos region. It turned out to be quite predictable and fortunate. If it were only this simple more often. Cerulean Warblers are rare in this area, and when they are found, they tend to stay high in the treetops. This one had claimed an Eastern Black Walnut tree as his territory as he advertised constantly for a mate.

I had never been to Cap Sauers Holding Forest Preserve, but the Cerulean was just another reason to check out more locations in this vast area. Unlike years ago when I had to get out the map book and study a location, now I can follow my GPS. The first bird I photographed while searching the trees for the singing Cerulean turned out to be a Yellow-throated Vireo.

Then the Cerulean began to appear. I took way too many photos. Here are a few…

I walked in to Cap Sauers a bit and saw a pair of Scarlet Tanagers and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, but it was difficult to photograph them in the density of the forest. I made note of the cooler temperature, however, surrounded by trees, and decided that this was probably a decent place to revisit this time of year. The trail is long and is advertised as the most remote in the entire region, so I will hold onto that thought for further exploration.

A week earlier, I visited McGinnis Slough, my favorite little Palos haunt. There always seems to be something going on there. Even if seeing Great Blue Herons this time of year is predictable, I never get tired of them.

Wood Ducks were present. The Marsh Wrens were calling everywhere, but I could not manage a look at any of them.

Perched on the tree where I have often seen several Wood Ducks later in the season was a Double-crested Cormorant.

I was surprised to see a Viceroy Butterfly.

A Tree Swallow took a break against the blue sky.

I walked back along the grass path to the picnic table lookout over the slough and was greeted by the huge Snapping Turtle below. I asked for permission to sit on the far side of the table. We sat in quiet communion for several minutes. It did not move the whole time, except to shift its weight a tiny bit when I started to think about getting up and leaving.

Here’s one more action shot of the Cerulean Warbler.

Summer weather is upon us. I will still go back in time here for earlier captures from spring migration, but for the most part, the breeders have arrived and are busy taking advantage of various habitats as they perfect the art of survival.

Two Days in May

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The long-awaited spring warbler migration got off to a rocky start, with a brief burst of activity while prevailing winds were still trying to make up their minds, and suddenly after a cold spell when the warm air seemed to be back in earnest, the warblers took advantage of the southerly winds and got closer to their destinations without visiting us.

I am here with two mid-May days of heightened activity, and there are one or two more posts coming from this migration, but it’s been rather frustrating unless one managed to visit well-known hotspots. I have to wonder if even those places experienced a bit of downturn.

On May 16, the Oak Park Migration Bird Walkers were at Thatcher Woods. We saw some warblers there.

Northern Waterthrush

As we walked down the steps off the trail that runs along the back of Trailside Museum, we were greeted by a very friendly male American Redstart.

There were several other American Redstarts in various plumages.

The birds were now high in the treetops which made photographing them more challenging. We briefly saw a Black-throated Green Warbler.

There’s no mistaking a Blackburnian Warbler.

A Chestnut-sided Warbler was also spotted by someone else after I kept hearing him sing.

We had a few Magnolia Warblers for good measure.

Beyond warblers, we found a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher with its back to us.

Three days later I was at the Chicago Portage, where I was pleased to see a Great Egret if only briefly. Large waders are infrequent here.

Baltimore Orioles have moved in for the summer. That’s a female on the left.

I found a nearby Red-eyed Vireo.

I had heard Scarlet Tanagers were in town, so I was glad to see a pair.

I found an Orange-crowned Warbler.

I couldn’t resist photographing a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. They are already getting impossible to see in all the leaves, and that will continue most of the summer.

I then found the very engaged Canada Warbler who is also featured at the top of the post. He was singing and showing off his lucky worm.

I saw a Nashville Warbler that day too.

Shortly before I left, I took a quick photo of a Red-bellied Woodpecker. These birds are also harder to see now, so it was nice to catch his color in good light.

I’m going to spread out a little and visit some places I haven’t been to in a while. I went to McGinnis Slough yesterday and I plan to visit what is now called Goose Lake Conservation Area in McHenry County tomorrow as the number of Yellow-headed Blackbirds reported is substantial and there are other birds there too I don’t get to see often. We are experiencing beautiful, cooler weather before a warm up and accompanying rain, so I may as well explore while I can.

Summertime at Goose Lake Prairie

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A week later than my usual annual visit to Goose Lake Prairie, I decided to visit. The forecast was for halfway decent weather, partly cloudy and not too hot. I arrived a little after 8:00 AM. There was another vehicle in the parking lot overtaken by weeds, and no sign of a Killdeer to greet me. Just as I started walking the trail, I encountered two well-established birders – so well-established I decided to keep quiet and confirm their identity later. Suffice it to say that the one without the wheelchair rattled off a list of birds they had encountered. I did not find everything they saw, but I had a good walk.

The first bird I met was an Indigo Bunting.

Common Yellowthroats were predictably everywhere. American Goldfinches as well.

American Goldfinch

The Red-winged Blackbird below looked so excited to be singing, I had to pay attention. Meanwhile, a merciful cloud cover was making the increasing heat more bearable.

I always have to take this picture of Cragg’s Cabin

I saw a Tree Swallow or two.

Northern Cardinals were hanging out.

There were several Barn Swallows.

I was delighted to find a Halloween Pennant Dragonfly, and then another later. In the panel below the Halloween Pennant, a Common Whitetail and a Black Saddlebags.

I was intrigued by a Common Yellowthroat in thorns.

Now, I nearly always expect to see Dickcissels, but I heard only two, and barely managed to capture this one too far away to be barely distinguishable even with my 400mm lens. Logically I am trying to make up an excuse for their absence: their territories are already established, they’re busy raising young and it’s none of my business.

I nearly always expect to see an Eastern Meadowlark or two as well. There were some foraging ahead in the grass on the trail, and this one flew by.

I was a little surprised to see a single Cedar Waxwing.

More Common Yellowthroats. In addition to the male posing very nicely below, I encountered a couple youngsters. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen juvenile Common Yellowthroats. I had to refresh my memory when I processed the photos.

I was hearing Field Sparrows but didn’t think I saw any until I realized later the camera had captured a few. All these birds were so far away and the cloud cover made it difficult to distinguish them. The two in the bottom photo appear to be juveniles.

Here’s another American Goldfinch.

I haven’t been seeing many butterflies, but this is an Orange or Clouded Sulphur.

I walked quite a ways before I encountered some very noisy Bell’s Vireos.

Willow Flycatchers were also on hand.

Noticeable flowering plants were Great Mullein and Silphium (Rosin Weed). I think this is the first time I have seen the Silphium there. It’s not a tall plant, which intrigues me seeing as how I have encountered problems with my natives growing tall this year. Maybe this is something I should consider in my backyard.

When I finally got all the way around the trail to a view of the Goose Lake as such, I did not see anything in the water. Previous years there has been at least a heron or two. I also noticed that the blind structure had been removed.

I heard Yellow-breasted Chats and did finally come across a juvenile that was willing to be photographed. i think the last bird in flight might be a different individual.

Also in flight, a Killdeer and a Red-winged Blackbird.

As I was coming to the end of my walk, I noticed an Orchard Oriole on some Great Mullein.

Here’s one more of a Bell’s Vireo. It picked such a beautiful spot to sit in, with the colorful sumac berries.

It shouldn’t have taken me a week to write this post, but I have been busy in the yard, among other things. One thing I have definitely noticed: insects seem to be back. I had been bemoaning the dire lack of insects and consequently swallows, swifts and flycatchers, and I am still sure the number of birds has decreased. But I can attest to the return of insects from one very personal observation. When I got home from Goose Lake Prairie, my legs were covered in bites. I was not aware I was being eaten while I was walking. I had tucked my pants into my socks to oblige the warning sign about ticks at the beginning of the trail, but I did not use any spray as it didn’t seem necessary. Suffice it to say I suffered raging itch for days, more like chigger bites (maybe they were) but the itching has subsided and I will live. Now I am using a little eucalyptus bug spray when I venture out. And I am seeing more birds and dragonflies. Apocalypse Not Quite Yet. To be continued.

After the Fireworks

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I went back to Gooselake Natural Area and the Hebron Trail Saturday, getting up early enough to leave so I would arrive by 8:00 AM. I had hopes of perhaps seeing more Yellow-headed Blackbirds among others, but mainly it was just good to get away from everything after the noisy night before.

Unlike my last visit a month ago, there were very few birds to be seen. My list included far more species heard than seen. But I tried to make the best of it and I am glad I made the effort anyway. I first saw a few Barn Swallows such as the one below.

Brown-headed Cowbirds were not shy.

By the time I got to the viewing platform, a Green Heron flew past it.

I decided to walk beyond the platform a bit. Ahead, I saw a Ground Squirrel.

After hearing Song Sparrows but not seeing them, I did finally encounter this disgruntled-looking individual.

Red-winged Blackbirds began to emerge as well, and then as if a switch had been thrown, they were everywhere.

I tried very hard to see any Yellow-headed Blackbirds at all. The few I could make out with my 10×50 binoculars were way beyond the water and barely visible. I remembered trying to take a few photos, but I did not recall capturing any, so I was quite happy to see the two images below after I took them off the camera.

One female Brown-headed Cowbird was close to the trail. I had already started heading back out when her movement – any movement – captured my attention.

I did find a brave male American Goldfinch perched rather calmly. I heard several Common Yellowthroat males, but could not get even one to emerge from whatever bush it was calling from. This is all logical, of course, or so I tell myself. The birds are tending their nests, raising young, and their territories are well-established: they don’t need to advertise anymore.

Right about then, likely the same Green Heron flew in to perch on a nearby dead tree and sat for a while. I took several photographs, and it began to stretch like it was thinking about moving on, and then, when I turned my attention elsewhere, as if it now had my permission to leave, it left.

I spotted a dragonfly, but I haven’t bothered to try to identify it.

Then the most engaged individual bird appeared. I hung out with the Song Sparrow at the top of the post while he sang.

Among the birds heard but not seen were a Vesper Sparrow singing beautifully and a couple Dickcissels. I saw three distant Common Gallinules but I could not get good pictures. I am not discouraged. I will be checking eBird from time to time to see if more birds are being seen and schedule a return trip if possible.

On my way out, I encountered a young Red-winged Blackbird and a juvenile American Crow eating mulberries.

My battle continues with my overgrown yard, but although it will be ongoing, it is no longer so urgent, thanks to the efforts of my alderman to get the citation dismissed. I will receive only a warning, which is as it should be. It was still good to get the wakeup call, and since birding every morning is not so urgent while it’s hot and/or slow, I am committed to taming the beast. And it’s lovely to be out in the yard with the butterflies and bees, even if there are not as many of them.

A Three-Walk Roundup

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I was hoping to make this post manageable and not too long. These are some of the birds from the last three spring migration walks of the Oak Park Migration Bird Walkers, starting with Thatcher Woods on Thursday, May 30. We got a glimpse of the Great Blue Heron by the Trailside Museum.

Last Thursday was yet another challenge in flycatcher identification. If only it were possible that when these guys all show up at once, they at least announce themselves vocally. We got very distant looks at what turned out to be an Alder Flycatcher. Henry actually heard it.

There was also a Willow Flycatcher.

And I am thankful for Eastern Wood-Pewees having long, fluted tails.

For the record, an American Robin and a Northern Cardinal.

A pair of Blue Jays showed up and put on a little show.

It was a cool and cloudy morning but the lack of light did not dim the plumage of an Eastern Bluebird.

The now-Northern House Wren blended into its preferred surroundings.

We had a somewhat obscured view of a Great-crested Flycatcher, matching the colors of the branches and leaves.

The next day we were at Miller Meadow. Ir’s a huge expanse dominated by non-native, extremely invasive teasel. Somehow the birds tolerate it, even if it frustrates us. We saw one or two Willow Flycatchers.

The wide open expanse often makes this location a favorite of raptors. We had a pair of American Kestrels. They appeared to be using a nest box.

An Indigo Bunting provided a brief glimpse in the teasel.

Wide open spaces are good for Eastern Kingbirds as well.

And a Song Sparrow serenaded us as we walked by.

We had an Eastern Bluebird here too. This is the same individual at the top of the post.

I followed a Killdeer as it flew by.

Someone’s excellent spotting led to the discovery of a female Orchard Oriole by a nest, which I did not see, but I did manage a couple photos of the male when we caught up with him.

And a Red-shouldered Hawk made an appearance at the end of the walk.

The last gathering was on May 31 at Columbus Park. I saw a rather conspicuous Great Egret.

There was a Red-shouldered Hawk here too, perched on the fishing line recycling station by the larger body of water.

A Double-crested Cormorant was drying off its feathers.

We had a first-summer Black-crowned Night-heron in addition to a few adults.

The Great Egret started flying and landed in a tree.

We found a Black-crowned Night-heron in a tree as well.

We had a Least Flycatcher, conveniently identified after the Merlin app heard it first.

Here are two more Black-crowned Night-herons.

We will resume the Oak Park Migration Bird Walks at the end of August. Now that Henry is back in town, I will get a break from leading most of the Saturday walks, but I will likely join the group for most of them.

We are experiencing pleasant temperatures, but have also been under an air quality alert due to the Canadian wildfires. I try not to think about the added pressure on the migrants heading in that direction.

In spite of the anticipated quiet during breeding season, there are still a lot of birds we don’t get to see in the colder months, and I will continue to try to keep up with them. To be continued.

Farther Afield

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After three days birding with the Oak Park Migration Bird Walkers and the three early rises that facilitated those walks, you might think I’d had enough for a while. But I found myself thinking about the Goose Lake Natural Area in McHenry County, a/k/a the Hebron Trail, and the Yellow-headed Blackbirds that breed there every summer, and after checking recent reports on eBird, I decided to go there Sunday morning.

I love this place, but it takes me an hour and a half to get to it, so that’s 3 hours of driving already built into an outing. On top of it, with the long walk along the trail, I managed to spend close to another 4 hours while I was there. But as luck would have it, just as I reached the parking lot, I encountered Keith, another birder with camera, and we walked the trail together, eventually running into Barb and Laura, two expert birders that he knows who frequent this trail, so I was in good company and I am sure I saw more than I would have on my own.

The gravel road trail begins advances through farmland on either side, well-shaded by trees. Red-eyed Vireos have been singing everywhere lately, and they were no exception here. We managed to see this one.

As we approached a clearing, we found a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird perched on a bare branch. It was quite far away, and being a small, backlit bird didn’t help these photos, but still it was nice to see. And if memory serves me correctly, I have seen this bird or one like him at the same spot before.

A Killdeer flew by as we walked out into the open area.

Common Yellowthroats are seen easily here, unlike in their more secluded urban habitats, so it wasn’t too surprising to see one perched and singing immediately.

Willow Flycatchers are also prevalent at this location. Although I saw several after this one, for some reason I was intrigued by this guy when we first saw, maybe because he was singing, loudly proclaiming his “Fitz-pew.”

It’s breeding season and with that comes the need to find bugs to feed the nestlings. Red-winged Blackbirds dominate the landscape and it’s hard to ignore them, especially when they’re doing something interesting.

Not to be outdone, Song Sparrows were busy gathering food as well.

There were quite a few Yellow-headed Blackbirds, but they were far away. But they were singing, which is always a delight to my ear, and I did manage to get a few slightly-clear distant shots. I am already considering a return-trip, when the young have fledged. If eBird reports and my memory serve me correctly, I should go back early next month.

Reminding us that the Yellow-headeds are not the only yellow-and-black birds, male Common Yellowthroats popped up constantly and conspicuously.

We spotted a distant Swamp Sparrow in the marsh. We were looking for Marsh Wrens which we heard but could not see.

A Green Heron flew by and then a Red-winged Blackbird chased it further.

Another little Red-winged Blackbird display

After hearing a few Yellow Warblers, we did finally see one perched in the distance.

We also heard and started seeing Brown Thrashers here and there along the trail.

It’s difficult to see the flycatcher surrounded by all the twigs in the photos below, but I managed to get some shots clear enough for Merlin to decide that it was an Alder Flycatcher. It seemed different from the Willows to me, but it didn’t vocalize. I’ll call it an Alder.

Butterflies are starting to emerge. We saw a Pearl Crescent and a Tiger Swallowtail.

On the way out, an Indigo Bunting flew quickly into a tree.

I had been expecting to see a Great-crested Flycatcher in the wooded area and sure enough, we heard one. Thanks to Keith for spotting it. I couldn’t resist the last photo as it left, showing off that gorgeous tail.

I was thoroughly exhausted even the next day, but I am starting to revive. I will be back soon with the Oak Park walk roundup as promised. Birding will get a lot quieter now, but there’s always something happening. And the indoor Zebra Finch Chorus doesn’t hesitate to announce sunrise at 5:00 AM as the days get longer.

Another Portage Post

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July 25 was a good morning to observe behavior and juvenile birds trying out their wings, if you will. I first spotted the European Starling clan that nested in the statue.

Butterfly action was confined to the Pearl Crescents that I have seen frequently this season.

Eastern Kingbirds were busy that morning. From the youngest…

…to an adult wrestling with what looks like it might have been a cicada.

Then I spotted a raptor across the water. It didn’t look like a Cooper’s Hawk. but it was so far away and difficult to see, I couldn’t be sure.

I followed it as it flew from its perch. It turned out to be a juvenile Merlin. I admit to even asking the Merlin app on my phone to identify the Merlin from one of my photos. I wondered if it could be objective.

It kept flying and I managed to follow it.

Another Pearl Crescent was resting on the path in front of me.

Tadziu the Indigo Bunting was sitting patiently on his newest favorite perch. He wasn’t singing. He just seemed to be asking me something…

Back to the Eastern Kingbird at the top of the post, who flew in the photo below.

Then two birds interacting, both juveniles, could be an Eastern Kingbird and a Baltimore Oriole.

A few more of the Eastern Kingbirds…

Juvenile Cedar Waxwings were available, but I didn’t see any adults.

American Goldfinches posed in the duckweed.

And Baltimore Orioles were here and there.

I will be back with more from recent visits. Beyond that, I have run out of ways to use the weather as an excuse. Yesterday I drove around the Morton Arboretum with a friend in an air–conditioned car, to see a sculpture exhibit that spans the acreage. This morning I tackled some more of the overgrowth in my yard while I await a promised visit from my tree trimming person. It takes a leap of faith to visualize fall, cooler temperatures and more birds but the days are getting shorter.

Fruits of the garden come indoors

Summer Back at the Chicago Portage

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I would have gone to the Chicago Portage this morning if it hadn’t started raining. The rain stopped early, however, and did not amount to much. I am tired of living under the threat of heat and rain, but the humidity is certainly real. In cooler weather, these decisions would not consume so much of my mental energy. Suffice it to say after I refilled the birdbaths and one of the hummingbird feeders, I decided to devote myself to grocery shopping. I need to get over feeling guilty for not taking a walk, so I will try to do a blog post instead.

My last visit to the Portage was on Tuesday morning. In spite of the fact that I encountered perhaps 10 cyclists on the paved parts of the trail, it was otherwise relatively quiet and I saw quite a lot in a little over an hour of a slow summer morning.

Pearl Crescent butterflies were prevalent.

It was nice to see this Delaware Skipper.

I have been following a snail’s progress for a few visits. The photos below are from July 23, July 25 and then on July 30.

A Chipmunk appeared on a branch close to the trail and insisted I take its photograph.

I did manage to capture a couple Indigo Buntings. First, a juvenile, and later, Tadziu on his latest favorite perch off his bridge.

There were a couple Red Spotted Purple butterflies. The one in the third photo unfortunately had some chunks taken out of its wings.

The Northern Flicker below blends so well into the tree stump, it’s a challenge to see it.

I haven’t seen or even heard too many Red-bellied Woodpeckers lately but I did find this young-looking one.

The challenge this time of year is often with identifying some juvenile birds. This Baltimore Oriole wasn’t hard to identify but it was quite far away.

American Goldfinches have been attracted to the duckweed.

When I went back to check the bridge near Harlem before I left, I saw two ducks I quickly assumed were Mallards but later when I cropped the photo, I realized they were actually Blue-winged Teal. Could be a pair, with the male in eclipse plumage looking just like the female.

This is the same Blue Jay at the top of the post. It looks like a young bird to me.

This Red Admiral butterfly on some blooming burdock was not shy. For as much burdock as the volunteers have removed, it still persists in a few spots.

I was done then, I was sure, but I decided to walk back along the paved trail and out the other side. My extra walk was rewarded by a look at a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Not too easy from this distance, but I managed to get a few images before another pair of cyclists came through. You have to use your imagination on the last photo.

My last reward was a Tiger Swallowtail on the paved trail, attracted to one of several piles of dog poop. I have cropped out as much as I could so you could see the butterfly. I had seen someone coming out from the trail walking three dogs when I first arrived. But I have never seen this much mess left on the trail. I’m hoping for enough rain to at least wash it away.

So that’s it for my last visit. Next, I will backtrack through some others that proved interesting. The forecast for tomorrow morning is again for rain, but I’ll believe it when I see it.