An incoming squadron of American White Pelicans tightening up their formation and banking to the west.

A tree swallow captured in flight before it lands on a fiercely contested birdhouse this spring in McHenry County, Illinois.

Two American White Pelicans practice their synchronized flying on an early spring day.

Look at the color of that mouth! Double-crested cormorants usually don't make the list of my gotta-have bird captures, but sure glad I paid attention to this one. It had been sitting in the west end of the lake, and like the excellent diver and fisher that it is, it made a catch and promptly took off flying. It had a precarious grip on the fish, and a few seconds after this capture the fish lived to see another day as it plopped back into the lake.

Look at those feet! This great blue heron had been wading along the shoreline not too far away when it decided to fly to the other side of the lake. I captured a few frames as it flew away, and while reviewing the images later, I was struck by the size of its feet and toes! Further research led me to the fact that Great Blue Herons have pectinate toes. Huh? . . .

American White Pelicans may look a little wonky, may not be the most beautiful bird, but they are one of the most graceful fliers in the sky. When they pass through this area during their migration in April . . .