While driving through Du Page County this afternoon, I spotted a Caspian Tern flying overhead.  I didn’t have my binoculars with me, but with its black cap and large bill, it was quite easy to identify.

The male Indigo Bunting who has been calling on top of the White Pines for the past several days finally got himself an interested female.  I was coming home tonight, and as I was getting out of my car, I heard the chips of the female.  I pulled out my binoculars, and sure enough there was a female Indigo Bunting on the small oak tree in the prairie.  Another sign of success for our prairie.

Another new bird has found its way into our prairie.  I heard heard this Indigo Bunting calling, and I jumped up from my chair to see where it was.  It was perched on top of the white pines.  Those pines have turned out to be a great addition to our land.  This has been the second new bird for the prairie and both have appeared on top of these trees. (The first one being the Eastern Meadowlark).  He has been calling all day, I hope he finds a mate.

What is happening with the prairie this year?!  After years of hearing the meadowlarks calling in the distant treeline, they have finally showed up in my prairie.  This one was perched up at the top of one of the new white pine trees we planted last fall.  They must like that high vantage point, as he was sitting up there calling all day long.

Holy Cow!  A Great Blue Heron landed out in the middle of our farm field.  A few minutes later, a second heron joined it.  The only thing I can come up with is maybe they are hunting mice.  They are not limited to just eating fish as most would assume.  In addition to fish they eat mice, snakes, frogs, and really anything they can catch and swallow.  It was such a treat seeing them on our land.  It makes me want to make my wetland that I have been dreaming of building for the longest time….