A TRIO OF MERGANSERS OCEAN Cup plants grow abundantly around

Cup plants grow abundantly around the South Fork Kishwaukee River and throughout much of Wildflower Park

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

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

An Eastern Bluebird stops for a rest on a burr oak tree branch along its migration in Northern Illinois

A TRIO OF MERGANSERS OCEAN Cup plants grow abundantly aroundA 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)