Prescott Mills

There is a subdivision not far from where I live that has a pretty big pond.  Several birds check it out on a regular basis.
Yesterday I needed a little down time and decided to see what was there.
I love to watch the Pied-billed Grebe.  They have the softest call that is interesting to hear. 

There were at least 5 Great Egrets in various places around the pond.

One of the places I walked I saw American Coot. As I continued walking the suddenly took flight.  They did not go far though.  They hop on the water before actually taking flight.  

Somehow I manage to get the Blue-winged Teal with their heads in the water.
The pattern of their feathers is so pretty.

I felt like every Canadian Goose in the United States was here.  The park area was covered with them.  Watching them coming in for a landing is so interesting.

Greater-yellow legs

Killdeer were present around the edges of the pond.

Two American Finches were talking up a storm with each other.

This one was enjoying the sun.

House Sparrows are flocking up.

This one tree was full of sparrows.

Better picture of the Blue-winged Teal.

Great Blue Heron seemed to be hiding from the other birds.
There were lots of Mallards along the shore area.

A closer look at the Heron, you could see Mallards resting in the background.
Have a wonderful Fall day.

Spring is coming to Blackwell Forest Preserve

The usual first of spring birds are arriving. The grackles, cowbirds, red-winged black birds.

At the front of the subdivision where we live, we have a sitting goose.

More swallows.

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebe

Ring-necked duck, male

Ring-necked Duck

Male and female ring-necked duck

Snow Goose

Snow Goose, with a Canadian Goose
There was this one snow goose, with 14 Canadian geese.

Eight American Coot were at the lake in Blackwell Forest Preserve.

Saw a Killdeer by the entrance to our subdivision. 

Meadowlark

The miniature iris in our front garden.

Our daffodils have begun to bloom.

Nelson Lake

Saw my first Meadowlark this year. 

This new camera is great.  I am liking what I can do with it.

Norther Flicker, not a great picture. It is nice to be able to see pictures of the birds.

American Coot

Blue-winged teal

I think a robin was going to try to build a nest behind one of our lamps.

Kane County Forest Preserve

Here is another picture of the unknown duck. This was taken a couple days later, and he was still there.

The flock of American Coot. They too are sticking around.  

They have been loving the edges of the pond, as there is a lot of vegetation.

Lake Patterson, in Kane County Forest Preserve.

Gray Catbird
Had gone to Lake Patterson which is in one of our forest preserves in Kane County a couple of weeks ago.
He was kind enough to sit which I took a couple of pictures.

Gray Catbird.

Baby robins are still in the area.  They have been gone from our yard for quite a while, but the forests in our area are full of them.

This guy was hiding right along the creek by Lake Patterson

The one cormorant is a visitor everyday that I go to that forest preserve.  He is always swimming.  It is interesting when he ducks underwater.  You try to anticipate where he will come up again.  He does stay down  for what seems like a long time.

I thought we were about done with Monarchs.  They seem to still be around.

The flock of American Coot arrived.  This is the first time I have ever seen them on this little lake.

We have a visitor at our house.  He is getting ready for winter.  There is a hole right behind him.  I had been putting dirt in it all summer, as it settled.  This character showed up,  and actually threw some stones from that hole  out again..  I put the stone and more dirt in the hole, and within a couple of days the stones were back out.

Coot

In the forest that day, this bird showed up.  So far I have not be able to identify him.

One of our woodpecker friends.  Hairy or Downy.

This little guy has shown up too on the lake.  I am pretty sure it is a youngster, but have no idea what.  He is always by himself, and never gets very close to the shore.  I am continuing to go back to see if I see him again. I am not so sure he has left.