Blue-gray Gnatcatcher with Prey

Waiting patiently for warblers to arrive, I spotted my first Butterbutt and froze as they flocked into the trees in front of me. As I tried to focus on one as it hopped from tree to tree, I spied this Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and aimed my lens. Wouldn't you know, he grabbed a worm just as I focused and gobbled it down! Pretty good action for my FOY Gnatcatcher! I also found a Hermit Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Greater Yellowlegs, and the Butterbutt. I can't wait to see what today brings!!!!!

(Click on photo for larger view)

Lady Killer

Male Wild Turkeys display for females by puffing out their feathers, spreading out their tails and dragging their wings. This behavior is most commonly referred to as strutting. Their heads and necks are colored brilliantly with red, blue and white. The color can change with the turkey's mood, with a solid white head and neck being the most excited. They use gobbling, drumming/booming and spitting as signs of social dominance, and to attract females. Courtship begins during the months of March and April, which is when turkeys are still flocked together in winter areas.

Interestingly, I found this guy crossing the road at about 2:30 in the afternoon. There were at least 3 hens in the woods. He didn't mind me all that much, but protested as the audience grew to 3 cars and people getting out of them to get closer. I understand curiosity, it's just frustrating...

Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker

Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

Found the barn bokeh to be kind of cool.

Sky Goat

This well camouflaged bird is usually shy and conceals itself close to ground vegetation and flushes only when approached closely. They fly off in a series of aerial zig-zags to confuse predators. Snipe hunters, therefore, needed to be very skilled to hunt these birds and they came to be called snipers, a term later adopted by the military. These birds forage in soft mud, probing or picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and earthworms, also plant material.
The male performs "winnowing" display during courtship, flying high in circles and then taking shallow dives to produce a distinctive sound, which has given the bird its Finnish name taivaanvuohi, "sky goat", because the sound is similar to the baaing of a goat. Common Snipe nest in a well-hidden location on the ground.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Whistle-Pigs

Whistle-Pigs, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

The groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as a woodchuck or whistle-pig, or in some areas as a land-beaver, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots. Other marmots, such as the yellow-bellied and hoary marmots, live in rocky and mountainous areas, but the woodchuck is a lowland creature. It is widely distributed in North America and common in the northeastern and central United States. Groundhogs are found as far north as Alaska, with their habitat extending southeast to Alabama.

I found them at Gebhard Woods State Park in Morris, IL and thought they were so adorable. They chased eachother quite a bit, and it was hard not to laugh! Cute couple!

Snipe Drumming

Shooting the camera between raindrops yesterday, the sky was filled with the sounds of Snipe. I sat in the parking lot at Goose Lake Prairie as the rain gently came in and the Snipe took to the air for their aerial display. During breeding season, they first fly up high and then plunge downward vibrating their outer tail feathers (As seen in the photos) to produce a curious whirring sound called drumming.

Note: Although the photography isn't of good quality, I couldn't put the camera down, as I was addicted to the moment. I saw at least a dozen performing and lots of chasing. I also heard a Wilson's Snipe, but couldn't find it.

Chicago Wood Ducks

I took a trip to Chicago yesterday to see if I could find some migrant ducks to add to my Life List. A place known as North Pond, which is just a leap over Lake Shore Drive on the north side, can be a great place, given that migrants need calmer waters to de-stress during their long journey. I went during mid-day, which was a mistake, and I know better, but I didn't have it in my schedule for any other time so it was what it was. I've never been there, but will definately be back! Although I found nothing to add to the list, I did find some very entertaining Wood Ducks to keep me happy! And if you have read my blog for any time at all, you will know that the Wood Duck has always gotten the better of me. I can never get close enough, but then there is never a "close enough"! Chicago was my lucky charm! I found these guys humanized to an extent and could approach them semi-easily! It was fantastic! A completely different Wood Duck World than what I am used to! I loved it!

Click on photos for large size!