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.

Birds of a feather

Dickcissel, There is a meadow and swamp area not far from our home where I caught sight of this bird.

Dickcissel

Sparrow?

Gray Catbird
This is a handsome slate gray bird with a black crown. He is a secretive bird that the Chippewa Indians names "the bird that cries with grief" due to its raspy call.It often mimics other birds.  It will only nest in thick shrubs and is more often heard than seen.

Cat Bird or is it a Mockingbird

Steve said this is a cat bird, but it looks more like a mockingbird to me.

I just got word, it is a Mockingbird. My friends referred to it as a cat bird, because it loves to tease the kitties in the neighborhood.  It would sound like a cat!

A mockingbird has a silvery gray head and back with light gray check and belly. White wing patches, seen in flight and during display.  Tail black with white outer trail feathers.  Black bill

A Gray Catbird is slate gray bird with a black crown.  Long think black  bill.  Often seen with tail lifted exposing chestnut colored patch under tail.