We had a lovely outing to Elsen’s Hill in West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, and got some first-sightings of the year, thanks to a local we met there, then on our own we found a wise friend of the forest watching from his stately perch. What a night!

A Great Horned Owl sits atop a tree, looking for dinner
A Great Horned Owl sits atop a tree, looking for dinner, West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 24 May 2026
A Great Horned Owl sits atop a tree, looking for dinner
A Great Horned Owl sits atop a tree, looking for dinner, West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 24 May 2026
A Great Horned Owl sits atop a tree, looking for dinner
A Great Horned Owl sits atop a tree, looking for dinner, West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 24 May 2026
A Baltimore Oriole atop a tree, in the sun
Baltimore Oriole, West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 24 May 2026
A Common Nighthawk soars overhead
Common Nighthawk, West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 24 May 2026
Indigo Bunting sings from the top of a snag
Indigo Bunting, West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 24 May 2026
An Olive-Sided Flycatcher hunts from the top of a snag
Olive-Sided Flycatcher, West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 24 May 2026
A Ruby-Throated Hummingbird chills from on top of a dead branch
A Ruby-Throated Hummingbird chills from on top of a dead branch, 24 May 2026
Swainson's Thrush on a branch
A Swainson’s Thrush on a branch, 24 May 2026