Dickcissels arrive late in the spring migration, May to early June, and this one found a comfortable perch for a couple of minutes in an Illinois prairie in late June.

This female Yellow-headed Blackbird is one of several females (sometimes up to 8) attracted to a male's small territory among the reeds in the marsh. The scientific name for Yellow-headed Blackbird is Xanthocephalus, which means "yellow head" (All About Birds). Now say that three times real fast . . .

We've been in a serious drought for several weeks, but we recently had a significant rainfall (with more to come the next few days) and oh what a relief it is. Decided to take a hike along a prairie between the raindrops, and came across a puddle on the trail that was quite the happening place for our feathered friends . . .

So there is only one eaglet again this year, and the activity around the nest is clearly more subdued than when there are two and three eaglets. But it's still a treat to watch the adults raise the young'un, bringing in fish, taking turns feeding, keeping outsiders away from the nest, squawking at each other . . .

Great Blue Heron in flight during a light rain shower . . .

Sandhill Crane colts on the move . . .

Today is World Turtle Day (who knew, right?!) so here are some Painted Turtles in flight, errrr I mean, doing what turtles do best, hanging out on a log . . .

American Bald Eagle stickin' the landing . . .

And just one more Short-eared Owl post . . . why not!

A Sandhill Crane and its colts out foraging on a beautiful spring day. The odds that both colts survive their first year is about 50%, so hang in there little ones. If they do survive, sandhill cranes can live as long as 20 to 30 years in the wild.