Another beautiful day

My husband planned a nature outing for today. It is so nice being retired. You can just pickup and go and enjoy the day.Today we started out at a new nature area north on Route 25 in Aurora.  Lipold Park is being restored and refurbished. Board walks are being installed so you can walk along a pond area down to the Fox River.  As we were going to park we came upon this doe and her fawn.  The fawn still has spots on it.  They were not afraid of us.  There is a bike path alongside where they were standing and it did not seem to bother them at all.

Walking toward the river was this huge stand of  Sawtooth Sunflowers.  

This was the view at the edge of the river.  There was a small island in front of us.

This view is facing south.

There were a couple of Cedar Waxwings flying about in the tree on that small island.

These four geese were just floating  with the river current. One decided it was splash time.

Just as we got in the car this Cardinal  flew into the tree next to the car.  Had to try for the shot!

He was just looking at us.

Then we went down to the Glenwood Forest Preserve. It is just a bit farther north on route 25 This young lady was very vocal.  All the other ducks wandered off as we came down the trail.  She even responded if you made quacking noises. She was not going to give up her post.

This is a small creek bed that ended at the river.

.  As we headed down to the river we were greeted by the "herd" of mallards!  It looked like there were a couple of adults, but all the rest must have been this years babies.

This one odd "duck" was among them.  I think this may be a American Black Duck that mated with a Mallard.  According to the one Illinois Bird Book I have it happens.  The American Black Duck female will mate with a Mallard it she does not find a suitable mate.

While we were eating lunch I spotted this Red-bellied Woodpecker in a tree near us.

Can't decide if this is a "Tall or a Field Thistle.  It was on the edge of a wooded area. This plant was only about 4 feet tall.
There were only a couple other of these plants near by.  It just did not resemble others I have seen.

This is a form of Goldenrod.  The field all around had several types of Goldenrod.  This is just like a big head with multiple flowers.

We did move along to the Peck Farm Park to see if there were any butterflies.  They have a great butterfly house. I will give them a post all of their own. It was just such a beautiful day, I did not want it to end.