An Osprey mama with two of her three chicks (you can see the beak of the third one in the lower left). These chicks had not yet fledged back in July and were hanging out with mama waiting for daddy to bring back some more fish. Ospreys eyes are a dark blue when they hatch, but after a few days the turn to the beautiful orange/red you see in this image. At the age of maturity which is around two years, the eyes will then turn yellow.

The Yellow-headed Blackbird is on the endangered list in Illinois, so it was quite a treat to observe and capture this beauty (male) in the reeds and cattails of Goose Lake in northern Illinois this past June . . .

It's easy to tell this was taken during the breeding season (this past spring) as American White Pelicans develop what are called nuptial tubercles on the tops of their bills. Both males and females develop these tubercles and they fall off when mating season is over; these are unique to the American White Pelican.

The first Saturday in September (Sep 5th in 2020) is National Hummingbird Day, so happy day to all of our little feathered friends and to those who celebrate them! They are quite busy here in northern Illinois getting ready for their big trip south . . .

A yellow warbler fills the summer morning with its joyful song, and we are grateful for the moment.

The Ruby-throated hummingbirds have become quite active in the last couple of weeks, and really enjoy watching them hover, dart from flower to flower, and of course chase each other with abandon.