A TRIO OF MERGANSERS OCEAN I reached the trailhead soon

I reached the trailhead soon after leaving the house with camera gear in hand and it wasn't long before I started seeing the wildflowers along the lake which included cup plants

This July morning started out like most other recent mornings with cool temperatures that brought mist to the low lying landscape here in Northern Illinois

With the sunlight beginning to illuminate the cottonwood trees from behind

north-northwest on this January morning

A TRIO OF MERGANSERS OCEAN I reached the trailhead soonA trio of red breasted mergansers spend a few hours swimming around Wildflower Lake diving occasionally looking for a meal of fish before they move northward on their spring migration. This was the first time seeing and photographing these beautiful and colorful water birds. It was a pleasure to have seen and photographed them. (480 116)