An Eared Grebe paddles in a lake at West Branch Forest Preserve in DuPage County, Illinois. It had been diving and popping back up in various spots along the shore on this early Spring day.

Two Great Horned Owlets peek out from Mama's side last week while she tries to catch a little nap in Kane County, Illinois.

One of the Great Horned Owlets peeks out from underneath Mama's wing on a cool, early Spring day in Kane County, Illinois.

Mama Great Horned Owl has been on her eggs for several weeks, and when this image was captured in mid-March, the owlets had most likely already hatched. They are somewhere there under her wing, waiting for the big reveal in the coming weeks.

The late winter evening sun highlights a juvenile Eastern Red-tailed Hawk as it glides in for a landing to the top of an oak tree in McHenry County, Illinois.

A bald eagle banks into the blustery southern wind on an early Spring day near the Fox River in northern Illinois.

Two Trumpeter Swans bank to the south during the golden hour of an early March evening. They were so beautiful and graceful as they flew a couple of circles over a lake in McHenry County, Illinois.

Trumpeter Swans are the largest native waterfowl in North America so it is no surprise that they need up to a hundred yards of water to taxi and takeoff. They typically bob their heads up and down and honk a bit right before they are ready to go, and these two swans in McHenry County, Illinois were no exception in early March as I watched them gather at the north end of the lake so they could take off into the south wind . . .

A plane flying to Chicago's Midway airport passes in front of the rising (almost full) Super Worm Moon on March 8, 2020. Even though the crest of the full moon isn't until 12:48 Central time on March 9th, the moon did appear full to the eye on March 8th. And since it is cloudy and rainy here on March 9th, it looks like this March 8th capture will have to suffice for this month's full moon photo.

Late last summer a couple of ruby throated hummingbirds had a territory tussle, and one was clearly letting the other know that there was a new sheriff in town. Hands in the air stranger!