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.

On the Fox River

The other day after my dentist appointment I decided to take a walk along part of the Fox River.
It was so nice and peaceful. I could sit and watch the water travel by.  One place in the river was this Great Heron and several mallard ducks.  The mallards were this years, as they were just beginning to distinguish between males and females.

The dragonflies seem to be quite plentiful. I love it when one lights long enough for me to take a picture.

The Cabbage White butterflies seem to be plentiful as well.

The grasshopper looks so fierce up close.

This mallard is a male.  You can see that his head is beginning to turn dark green.

I think I have finally determined that this is a Downy Woodpecker.
I have had such a time between the Downy and the Hairy.  I am taking more time to read up on the differences between similar birds.  I never was able to get a totally clear shot, as there were a lot of tree branches between him and me.( I really need a longer distance lens!)  These old eyes just don't always see very well.

While I was standing checking out the Downy Woodpecker, I heard another noise.  Look what I came upon. This time it was a Red-Bellied Woodpecker.  He was so pretty

I was able to get a better shot of his back.  It looks like a Zebra.  

This was a different Heron on the river.  I must have seen at least 6 Herons that day.  He was stalking small fish. 

Having a bit of trouble identifying this dragonfly.  There was red on his wings not on the body.

Not sure what this bird is either.  He was very nice for me. I almost think it is a fledgling.

Then turned around, like, "are you done yet?"

Another dragonfly.  Maybe I better find a book, or some sort of reference so I can start to identify them. Some of these are beautiful.  

This is the same Heron in the above picture.  There was another one that had just came out of the tall grasses. I thought it was neat that I could get two for the price of one!

This is the same dragonfly as above with the red on his wings.
I was there about an hour and saw all these wonderful creatures.
I am so enjoying spending time out doors and having the chance to photograph nature at it's finest.

Great day for birds and insects

After a weekend of sewing, decided it was time for a ride in the country.

It was a gorgeous day, blue skies and white fluffy clouds.  We took a ride out to Yorkville, and see what was happening on the Fox River.

We have had Cicada's in our area.  Such a small insect can sure make a lot of noise.  According to my bug guide there are over 75 North American species and can grow to 1.5 inches.  When several of them get buzzing it is very loud.

On the Fox River today we saw this Greater White-Fronted Goose.  We can visit this river any other time of the year and not see this bird.  In the late part of the summer, this goose shows up.  This is not the first time this has happened.  We have seen this goose before in other years.

Always with what I think is a Cackling Goose.  This goose is a bit smaller then the Canadian Goose.

Love this picture.  The White-fronted Goose is at the top of the damn and the Cackling Goose is on the second step of the damn. The white goose was fishing, the other looks like he was just chilling! Can you see how the wing feathers are sticking out on the Cackling Goose.
This part of the river has been very dangerous, in past years.  People think they can boat over it, and must forget about the undertow.  It has been reworked and now has a bypass that you can tube, or kayak on.  Today, a lot of people were on the river.  A lot of men were fishing below the falls,  The river is shallow and you can walk out there to fish.  One family walked across the river to have a picnic on the other bank.  It was fun watching all the folks today.

Caught this grasshopper taking a rest and feeding on this flower.

White cabbage butterflies were all around.  There were 3 to 5 at a time on this plant.

We could see turkey vultures were circling.  I thought there might be a nest around and kept watching this tree on the other side of the river.  If you look close there are two sitting in the tree. (Now I need a longer distance lens.)

On the way back home we came across this hawk.  Do not have any idea of what kind.  Told Ron to slowly move toward it.  He flew up and over to the next pole.

He did that 2 times, but still could not get a closer picture of him. Maybe next time!

Forgot, I saw small dragonfly over by the river too.

It was such a beautiful afternoon.  You can tell that fall is on its way.  Not ready for summer to end.

New York wildlife

While traveling some of the back roads around East Aurora, I caught sight of this buck resting in a wooded area.

Ron was inching up and down the road so I could get a shot.  He could see the deer, but I could not get a shot of him.

Finally, I got the perfect shot!  He was so nice to sit there while I composed my picture.

Ring-billed Gull

Mallards by Niagara Falls.  There were sheltered from the rapids.  Still some fairly young ones.

Geese sitting on a log by the edge of the American Falls.

Mallow

In one of the small gardens by the falls were these beautiful, Black-eyed Susan's.

House Sparrows were in big supply looking for handouts by the falls.

How many times do you get to see a black squirrel?  He sat very nice for me.

Gulls sitting just out of the rapids by the American Falls.

View of some of the rapids.

Gulls

The identity of gulls is a bit hard, as you can't tell if this is a different type or just a different phase of the Ring-billed gull.