Nachusa's Spring Savanna Flowers 2011

Spring was bursting at the seams the second week of May.  During a hike through an oak savanna at the Nachusa Grasslands, a number of wildflowers were blooming.  The lupines were just opening up, and there was a single columbine.  The scent of fresh growing things filled the air (along with several Turkey Vultures).  Clockwise from the top left, the pictures show a wet sdege meadow, Wild Lupine, Wild Columbine, Wild Geranium, Shooting Star, and Blue-eyed Grass (a State Endangered plant). 

Indigo Bunting 2011

When I was a child, my Grandmother Smith would take me on Sunday morning spring bird walks at Forest Park Nature Center in Peoria with a group of 12 or so people.  At age 10, I was by far the youngest.  One of the birds that the leader would point out  was Indigo Bunting.  For some reason, my young eyes never saw it.  Since INBUs favor the best highest branch in the tops of trees, they were usually too far up or obscured for me to see.  But I wanted to see him so desperately!  The field guide my grandmother gave me had a beautiful plate of this bright blue bird.  With more practice I learned to see INBUs a little more easily.  In the shade they appear rather dark, but in the sunlight their blue color gleams intensely. With some luck I was able to photograph these guys in an old oak savanna at the Nachusa Grasslands.  There were at least 4 males constantly darting around each other in the lower branches, singing their little hearts out. 

Volo Bog 2011

A visit to Volo Bog State Natural Area in mid-May brought forth a number of prairie and bog plants.  Clockwise from left to right they are Bog Buckbean, Pasque Flower, Starflower, Hoary Puccoon, Purple Pitcher Plant, Prairie Smoke.

Wesley's Three Simple Rules

My father commissioned these beautiful banners for my church, and he gave them to me on Easter Sunday, the same day he was discharged from the hospital after his heart attack.  Ms. Gloria Delinger made the banners by hand.  The theme is John Wesley's Three Simple Rules to Do No Harm, to Do Good, and to Stay in Love with God through the means of grace such as worship, prayer, Bible study, Lord's Supper, fasting, etc.  They are now hanging in the Fellowship Hall.  Thanks, Dad!

Scarlet Tanager 2011

During a field trip with the Illinois Audubon Society, this handsome male Scarlet Tanager was foraging on the ground, unusual behavior for a neotropical migrant that spends most of its time higher in the trees.  The weather may have been a factor--cold, breezy, and a little drizzly. 

Baltimore Oriole 2011

This male Baltimore Oriole was singing in the lower branches along the trail at Morain Hills State Park.   

Moraine Hills State Park 2011

The Black Tern Marsh wetland habitat at Moraine Hills State Park in McHenry County used to be home for Black Terns and Yellow-headed Blackbirds, but they have not returned for several years.

Sandhill Crane, however, are easily seen.  There were at least 6 pairs seen on the 2 mile loop trail around the wetlands.