Tag: Canada Goose

With the temp in the mid-40s, we thought a jaunt to McGinnis Slough Forest Preserve would be a good way to spend the morning. We brought the scope (and saw some delightful birds that way), and muddied our shoes, and boy, did we have a good time. (Ebird checklist)

Here are some of the friends we saw:

Two Canada Geese in the water
Two Canada Geese at McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26
Two Canada Geese in the water
Two Canada Geese in the water at McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26
Gadwall in the water
Gadwall in the water, McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26
Great Blue Heron in a tree
Great Blue Heron in a tree, McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26
Four Northern Shovelers in the water
Four Northern Shovelers, McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26
Two Pied-Billed Grebes in the water
Two Pied-Billed Grebes, McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26
Two Sandhill Cranes flying very far away
Two Sandhill Cranes, flying very far away, McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26
Turkey Vulture flying
Turkey Vulture flying over McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26
White-throated Sparrow on a log
White-throated-Sparrow on a log, McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26

TukreTurke

We spent a lovely couple hours strolling around the Crabtree Nature Center, with lots of feathered friends in attendance. We spotted 34 species! Here are some of the highlights. Here’s our Ebird list.

An American Phoebe on the lookout for bugs
An Eastern Phoebe on the lookout for bugs; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Blue-winged Teal swims in a pond
A Blue-winged Teal swims in a pond; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Blue-winged Teal swims in a pond
A Blue-winged Teal swims in a pond; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Brown Creeper on its way up a tree
A Brown Creeper on its way up a tree; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Brown Creeper, well, creeps up a tree
A Brown Creeper, well, creeps up a tree; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Canada Goose browses for its breakfast
A Canada Goose browses for its breakfast; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Golden-Crowned Kinglit peeps between two branches
A Golden-Crowned Kinglit peeps between two branches; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Killdeer flies overhead, peeping!
A Killdeer flies overhead, peeping! Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Northern Flicker peeks its head up against the top of a tree
A Northern Flicker peeks its head up against the top of a tree; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Palm Warbler looks at us
A Palm Warbler looks at us; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Palm Warbler eyes us suspiciously
A Palm Warbler eyes us suspiciously; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Palm Warbler perches on a twig
A Palm Warbler perches on a twig; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Palm Warbler perches on a twig
A Palm Warbler perches on a twig; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Pine Warbler sits on a perch
A Pine Warbler sits on a perch; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Pine Warbler makes its way to a new perch
A Pine Warbler makes its way to a new perch; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Red-Tailed Hawk soars overhead
A Red-Tailed Hawk soars overhead; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet shows its crown
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet shows its crown; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet calls out
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet calls out; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet perches on a twig
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet perches on a twig; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
Two Sandhill Cranes stand among the reeds
Two Sandhill Cranes stand among the reeds; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Yellow-Rumped Warbler sits above us
A Yellow-Rumped Warbler sits above us; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Yellow-Rumped Warbler perches on a log
A Yellow-Rumped Warbler perches on a log; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025

Dean Nature Sanctuary felt a bit desolate — they’d done a controlled burn and a lot of the grasses were denuded. The Robins and the Red-winged Blackbirds were out in force.  No new lifers, but an enjoyable time nonetheless.

Two Brown-headed Cowbirds chat in a tree
Two Brown-headed Cowbirds chat in a tree; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025
Canada Geese enjoy the lake
Canada Geese enjoy the lake; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025
A Great Blue Heron cruises on by
A Great Blue Heron cruises on by; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025
A House Sparrow surveys things from atop its box
A House Sparrow surveys things from atop its box; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025
Mourning Dove enjoys the sun
Mourning Dove enjoys the sun; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025
A Northern Flicker waits in a tree
A Northern Flicker waits in a tree; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025
A Song Sparrow sings from a tree
A Song Sparrow sings from a tree; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025
A Tree Sparrow waits in a tree
A Tree Sparrow waits in a tree; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025

 

We had a nice outing to Bemis Woods and Salt Creek, our first visit of the year. We saw a bunch of fun feathered friends.

Black-capped Chickadee perches saucily
Black-capped Chickadee perches saucily; Bemis Woods Forest Preserve, Cook, IL; 5 April 2025
Canada Goose stands by salt creek
Canada Goose stands by salt creek; Bemis Woods Forest Preserve, Cook, IL; 5 April 2025
White-breasted Nuthatch climbs a tree
White-breasted Nuthatch climbs a tree; Bemis Woods Forest Preserve, Cook, IL; 5 April 2025
Wood Duck enjoys salt creek
Wood Duck enjoys salt creek; Bemis Woods Forest Preserve, Cook, IL; 5 April 2025
Great Blue Heron enjoys salt creek
Great Blue Heron enjoys salt creek; Bemis Woods Forest Preserve, Cook, IL; 5 April 2025
Mallard soars above salt creek
Mallard soars above salt creek; Bemis Woods Forest Preserve, Cook, IL; 5 April 2025