Blue Grosbeak

My wife and I moved and restored an old Log House which my wife rents out as a guest house/bed and breakfast called The Osage Inn. The setting is an old meadow bordered by Oak and Hickory woodlands. Additionally, last year we planted 20 acres of native prairie grass and forbs nearby the old log house. This cabin dates back to the 1850's and has become a very popular getaway for many. Last weekend, three sisters stayed there. One of the sisters was actually born in the bedroom of the old log house when the house was still located on its original site in Missouri. Two weeks ago my daughter got married there and the setting helped make for a truly memorable event. Earlier this spring, we had very well-known bird guide authors stay at the Inn. They left us with a very precious gift - sketches in the guest book of all the birds they saw at the Inn. Today, I came across a Blue Grosbeak, the first one I have ever seen at the cabin site. I got a picture of it as it perched on the stem of a Cup Plant. It is going through its' molting process. This process involves shedding old feathers which are then replaced by new ones. When done, the Blue Grosbeaks chest will be completely blue.

Tallgrass Prairie Forbs

We'd like to keep you updated this spring, summer and fall on what is growing and blooming in our tallgrass prairie.
A profuse bloomer and a welcome guest in the prairie landscape, the Black-eyed Susan adds real beauty and loads of color. This plant has an erect growing habit and will reach 3 feet in height. The stems and leaves of the Black-eyed Susan are very hairy and rough, making it an easy plant to ID as it emerges from the ground in the spring. This plant has made an easy transition into the garden setting and is appreciated for its' easy care. A large number of native prairie species have become a common plant in our midwest garden. In folk medicine, the roots were used to brew a tea used to cure a cold. The flowers were thrown in early dye pots to lend their beautiful butter yellow color to fabrics and to dye rushes for basketmaking.

Ohio Spiderwort

The Ohio Spiderwort, also known as cow slobbers and widow tears, is blooming profusely right now in our prairie. This beautiful forb grows to a height of 2 to 4 feet. Each vibrant, blue flower lasts only one day. By late afternoon, the bloom will turn into a sticky jelly. If touched, it will drop a "tear", hence the other common names cow slobbers and widow tears. Each day, new flowers emerge on the stem. When viewed in an expanse of prairie, the flowers take on an almost neon appearance. Because the plant was thought by Native Americans to cure spider bites, it came to be called spiderwort.

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warblers are often seen in migration because they often feed low on shrubby vegetation. They were named by an early American ornithologist, Alexander Wilson, when he first saw them in a stand of magnolias in Mississippi. They have several identication markings such as a dark mask, white eyeline, yellow breast with black streakings, a yellow rump and white tail panels.

Baltimore Oriole

The Baltimore Oriole was named for the colonial family who settled Maryland. Their orange and black body is very beautiful and easy to recognize. The bird I show here is singing his song which he does usually at the tops of trees. They can often be heard before seen so learning their song, which is fairly easy, is important.

More Back Yard Birds

The parent birds are very busy gathering food for the newly hatched young. I got a picture of a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers feeding their young. One waiting with a tasty bug while the other gets ready to exit the hole. Also pictured is a Summer Tanager. I also have a couple of baby Song Sparrows about ready to fledge the nest and hope to have their picture posted later this week.

Cold May

The weather in East Central Illinois has been overcast, rainy and very chilly. That being said it hasn't been good for taking pictures of birds. Today was just a bit better so I went to the Arcola Slough. There were several Yellow-rump Warblers, Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows, a Yellow Warbler, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, some Common Yellowthroats, a couple of Yellowlegs, Sora, American Coots, Swamp and Song Sparrows to name a few. Pictured is a group of Purple Martins huddled up trying to keep warm and an American Redstart who was constantly flitting around in the trees.

Spring Bird Count

This was my wife and I second year participating in the Spring Bird Count. We live in East Central Illinois and are very amatuer birders. We count birds only on our own property. We have several different habitats including Oak and Hickory woodlands, tall grass prairie, short grass prairie, tall and short grass meadows, bottom ground in which a creek runs through it and a couple of ponds. Today we saw 62 species which we thought was very good. We saw two Lark Sparrows which are uncommon in our area, a Prothonotary Warbler at very close range maybe ten feet, an Ovenbird which was the first time for our property, an American Redstart, a Scarlet and Summer Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Baltimore Orioles, and 54 other species.
Pictured are a Eastern Kingbird and Common Yellowthroat Warbler. We both enjoyed viewing the birds using our Stokes Binoculars.

Birds

Pictured today is a Northern Waterthrush, a Gray Catbird, and a Yellow Warbler.

GreatHorn

I was just leaving Rural King heading back to work when my wife called and said we had a situation. Bob our neighbor had flagged her down and told her a Great Horned Owl had been sitting at the edge of our pond not moving much and probably hurt. As I headed home I was thinking how was I going to rescue a hurt Great Horned. I had seen the talons on these guys and I knew in a fair fight he was going to win even if I meant no harm. When I arrived, my lovely wife Diane showed me the location of the owl. I started in that direction with my leather gloves on and going over in my mind the knowledge I had just obtained from local birding expert Barrie . He said that whatever I did don't mess around with the talons. He said grab him from behind and hold him away from my body and I should be alright. Well as luck would have it, before I got to the bird he flew to the other side of the pond. I walked around to where he perched in a tree and took a couple of pictures. He then flew back to the other side and again I followed and took a couple of pictures. Finally, he flew into a large ravine and disappeared. I surmised from all this flying he must not be hurt too bad. One thought was that he might have been grazed by a car and was just stunned. Well all's well that ends well. What a neat bird and since he (she) is at the end of the food chain, I figured the habitat is fairly healthy.

Also today I saw the first Rose-breasted Grosbeak of the season which I got a great picture of feeding at our feeder with a sunflower in his mouth, the first ever American Redstart on our property, a Yellow Warlber, and flock of Amerian Golden-Plovers all dressed up in their black vests.