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 at McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26Two Canada Geese in the water at McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26Gadwall in the water, McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26Great Blue Heron in a tree, McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26Four Northern Shovelers, McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26Two Pied-Billed Grebes, McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26Two Sandhill Cranes, flying very far away, McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26Turkey Vulture flying over McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26White-throated-Sparrow on a log, McGinnis Slough, 15 Mar 26
The Daylight Savings Time clock shift happened last night, so we went to Fermilab to see what the birds think of the time shift.
Sandhill Cranes in marshy land, Fermilab, 8 March 2026Sandhill Cranes in marshy land, Fermilab, 8 March 2026Northern Shovelers in a lake, Fermilab, 8 March 20263 Green-winged Teal in a lake, Fermilab, 8 Mar 20266 Gadwalls in flight, Fermilab, 8 Mar 2026Canada Goose in flight, Fermilab, 8 Mar 2026Bufflehead landing in a lake, Fermilab, 8 Mar 2026Bald Eagle in Flight, Fermilab, 8 Mar 2026
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 Eastern Phoebe on the lookout for bugs; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Blue-winged Teal swims in a pond; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Blue-winged Teal swims in a pond; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Brown Creeper on its way up a tree; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Brown Creeper, well, creeps up a tree; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Canada Goose browses for its breakfast; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Golden-Crowned Kinglit peeps between two branches; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Killdeer flies overhead, peeping! Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Northern Flicker peeks its head up against the top of a tree; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Palm Warbler looks at us; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Palm Warbler eyes us suspiciously; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Palm Warbler perches on a twig; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Palm Warbler perches on a twig; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Pine Warbler sits on a perch; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Pine Warbler makes its way to a new perch; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Red-Tailed Hawk soars overhead; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet shows its crown; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet calls out; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet perches on a twig; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025Two Sandhill Cranes stand among the reeds; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Yellow-Rumped Warbler sits above us; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025A Yellow-Rumped Warbler perches on a log; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025