Raptors

A Sharp-Shinned Hawk heading in one direction, and a Great Blue Heron in the opposite one.

Ducks and a Redwing

Ducks, seen as usual in a couple, swim along the shoreline.  Another Redwing Blackbird perched on a narrow branch and just showing those wonderful colors!

SUNDAY POSTER

Geese Landing

The pair came down in tandem, as usual, and lit on the surface of Mallard Lake with ease and grace.  The closeup is one of my favorite bird photographs ever.

More Aviators

Redwing Blackbirds are easy to spot when perched; the bright colored stripes always make me think of them as 'sergeants' in the air corps.  Swallows are quick and can best be photographed when they are leaving the area, but that shows the distinctive twin tail shape.

Mallard Lake Birding

Just four days prior to the Helicopter flight we have been posting, I had joined a small group of birdwatchers for a nice walk through Mallard Lake in search of birds.  Either in flight or perched on branches, birds are a beautiful and challenging project.  Here a robin poses in profile and an egret soars in full flight.

Two Postcards

Two postcard views as the copter returned to base.  We skirted Mallard Lake again, with the smoke from the Controlled Burn diminished quite a lot.  And then we approached the runway -- two niner, I believe -- and I noticed the obvious movie title.  Planes use the runway, of course; above that to the south is the local Metra commuter railroad track.  Below the runway, to the north, is Irving Park Road.