CONGRATULATIONS LINDA ON HAVING YOUR PHOTO CHOSEN AS THE WINNER!!
Good for you Linda Your photo is indeed a gorgeos one

I just had a look at your last batch of photos and videos. I love watching the Killdeer feeling around with their feet; they look like they are dancing The coots are aways fun to watch. I was amazed the last time I went to King's Pond here because one of the coots was wandering along the path with the mallards, wigeons and wood ducks and wasn't in the least wary of me being there

Excellent pics Linda. I agree, the Killdeer is fun to watch. I like seeing the turtles. I haven't seen any type since I was a child and lived near ponds. My cousin said the Sandhill Cranes have arrived near her house.
Enjoy looking at nature through your eyes. :nod:

Again, congrats on the win. Fantastic photo of immature eagle.

Congratulations Linda.

That photo is certainly an award winner. I love the sharp detail and the composition and the wonderful combinations of browns in the bird and the complimenting browns in the background.

Good for you!

Thanks Scott, Kay, Candy, and Elle, I'm still on cloud nine over the young eagle photo winning the contest. I had to work the past two day and have not had a chance to absorb that I finally won the Alton Winter Eagle Contest. I will meet with a representative of the contest Monday, that will be fun too. I will keep you all updated.

The Killdeers were really fun to watch, as I stated with the photos, they generally are very people shy and fly off calling. I usually also see them pecking at the water and never was cose enough and long enough to see them use their feet to locate food. It was really cool!

Thanks again my Friends, you are the Best.

Hi Linda * Congratulations on winning the eagle photo contest !! You certainly deserve it.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos. What a great variety of wildlife.
Every time I visit your thread, I think that one day I will have to visit your area. Cheers !!

Hi Linda I already congratulaed you, but want to do it again. I love that pict.
Great last outing. Really love the turtle pics. awesome reflections.
Love the eagle looking down at you.
Beautiful selection of bird pics, especially the bluebird. They are so beautiful.
Thanks for sharing your outing with us

Thanks Doug and Iona, Doug you are welcome anytime you want to come my friend. I will be your personal tour guide.

This past week Spring has sprung early with temperatures in the 70-80F and with it has brought the springing of Nature. I have not been too the eagles nest, I'm allowing the pair peace and quiet while they are incubating. I did watch from the opposite shore of the slough and all was going well at the Lock and Dam nest. I spent quite a bit of time at the Horseshoe Lake area, which was formed from a curve of the Mississippi River. There were many species of birds in the area and I made this video of some I saw on the lake.

Spring has Sprung

Now to show you some of the spring in my area. I will start with the Mute Swan Pair. The juvenile, born last year in April-May, is no longer with the parents. It is now breeding season for the mute swan pair and they are getting ready for their next family. I did not witness the parents running the juvenile off the breeding territory, but research of this bird states that is what happens. The juvenile will join other immature Mute Swans and in a couple years will find its own mate and its adult life journey will begin. I wish that with all my heart for the Juveniles from the past two years I have observed.

These are the parents now on the marsh pond, in April the female will lay their eggs and incubation will begin.

The male, also called the cob, has a knob at the top of its bill that enlarges during the breeding season.

This is the female, she also has a knob at the top of her bill, but it is much smaller than the males. In these photos I found the female, also called a pen, sleeping on the water and the male in some tall grass sleeping. In the photos of the female, as you will also see in the video, is falling back to sleep.

These Swans are very gentle and may be that way since they have seen me many times with my camera, therefore they do trust me. Generally even during the breeding season they accept my presence.