The garden is a beautiful feature, open to the public on a limited basis and also provides a setting for small private functions such as weddings. A footbridge is reflected in one of the ponds:
We started at the owl tree. Sure enough, both a parent and the owlet huddled in their "doorway." Since the nest is so accessible, its fame has spread among the general public and there are barriers and signs which keep visitors at a safe distance from the nest. My telephoto lens compensated for the distance, yet even though I was only one among the crowd, the adult looked surprised when I pointed my camera:
They relaxed and snuggled together for a nice portrait:
Despite intermittent sprinkles, we walked over to the garden. Almost immediately we heard the distinctive song of the Yellow-throated Warbler. At first all we could see were his undersides, but he briefly alighted on a lower branch to quickly catch and devour a caterpillar. I fired a burst of photos during the couple of seconds he was in plain sight:
This is one of my favorite warblers. Its bright yellow throat contrasts beautifully with a smart black and white body. Rather uncommon during migration here in Illinois, I have seen it at almost this same spot during three past years. It has also appeared during autumn migration in our local Florida wetlands several times. I saw this one last fall:
They seem to enjoy showing off their bright throat, as this one is doing (September, 2012):
Once satisfied with my views of the warbler, I enjoyed peeking through the shrubs at the Japanese Garden, taking photos at every angle. Looking over this fence, I felt I was seeing an oil landscape created by a Master Painter:
Indeed, I treated a portion of this image as an oil painting in Corel PaintShop PRO x8. Here is the crop before and after editing (click on images for more detailed views). The plantings and even the placement of rocks are very artful.:
The skies were too gray for this week's sky shot, so I am showing one I took on April 25 at Nelson Lake, shortly after arriving in Illinois from Florida. The trees had not yet started to leaf out:
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Linking to Misty's CAMERA CRITTERS,
Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,
Linking to GOOD FENCES by Tex (Theresa).
Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James
Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni
Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart
Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) by NC Sue
________________________________________________
Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
________________________________________________
A lovely series of photos!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful birds! And the Japanese garden photos are stunning!
Hello, beautiful images of the gardens. Looks like a lovely place for a walk. The owls are adorable and I love the warbler. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day and weekend ahead!
ReplyDeleteThe owls are just the sweetest! And we don't have to wonder how this warbler gets it's name...beautiful! Love the gardens too. Such wonderful photos this week! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful place, and some excellent shots. kudos
ReplyDeleteOh Kenneth Such a beauiful Japanese garden. Now I could stay there all day but it was wonderful to see bboth the Owls and the Warbler. he is quite a show off and I loved the shot with his beak up in the air showing his very yellow throat. Hope you and Mary Loo have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous series, Kenneth! Thank you so much for sharing the beauty around you!
ReplyDeleteAn amazing post. Love the bridge and gazebo. Stopping by from Good Fences.
ReplyDeleteSuch a marvelous tour. You did a great job.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are as always beautiful! Love these two owls, and I don't know if you edited the 2nd capture, but it's very well done! Have a great weekend:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely park! Gorgeous shots of the warbler and owls.
ReplyDeleteSchitterend ( great ) You makes me really glad with ALL your nice photos. Thanks.
ReplyDeletehttp://momentsfrozentime.blogspot.nl/
A gorgeous setting. Beautiful to wander. Adore the eyes on the owls.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photo-notes!
ReplyDeletenice sky here
ReplyDeletei love that garden. so beautiful. the owl family is adorable.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful garden, and I like you oil paint edit!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely garden area. The pink tree was so pretty. Loved the Owls and that was very nice fence. As always great to view your wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteGreat garden, and great bird shots!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful garden and your nature shots are superb.
ReplyDeleteWow - amazing shots of the garden. And those owls are adorable.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful gardens. The photos of owls and the Yellow-throated warbler are so great.
ReplyDeleteGreat bird and garden shots. I think you don't need an artsy filter to make your photo's more interesting. They are good enough already.
ReplyDeleteA delightful series Kenneth. Your Warbler is not unlike Australia's New Holland Honeyeater.
ReplyDeleteHello Ken, I just wanted to stop back and say thank your for linking up your pretty bird and post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful post. What lovely photos. The owls are truly amazing creatures
ReplyDeleteA wonderful series of photos! I love Japanese gardens and owls. :-)
ReplyDeleteWow, stunning post and images of the garden, owls and birds. Just amazing!
ReplyDeleteEvery picture perfectly beautiful as always. The owl portrait is absolutely amazing . What a great place to walk. You have the best of both worlds!!
ReplyDeleteAll very wonderful photos ~ Owls one is exceptional, love the asian gardens and wonderful macro avian shots!
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend to you ~ ^_^
I wrote a comment as answer on your intersting comment! Thank you so much. http://momentsfrozentime.blogspot.nl/
ReplyDeleteYour images of the warbler are spot on...showing why it's named the yellow throated....well done. And the Japanese Garden. Oh how I wish that was MY back yard.
ReplyDeleteFor the weekend, I want to send along my thanks and appreciation for sharing your link at I'd Rather B Birdin'.
Fantastic photos! They are so sharp and clear. Adore the owls especially and your header shot is also stunning.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful place! Oh, yes! The perfect place for a wedding! Loved the photos. That yellow-throated warbler is gorgeous and I loved seeing the owls! Great post!
ReplyDeleteGood morning!:) Japanese gardens always exude feelings of peace and tranquillity, and I love your photos, showing the pink flowering trees, and the bridge and reflections in the water. Beautiful images of the Owl and Owlet, it's great when you know where to find them, and your captures of the Yellow-throated Warbler are just gorgeous. Thanks for stopping by to see my Lapwing post I also learned something from your visit.:)
ReplyDeleteLoved the photos...beautifully captured!!!!
ReplyDeletegreat owl photos...and lovely reflections too!
ReplyDeleteThose owl shots are so good - what great birds.
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Those shots of the yellow-throated warbler are absolutely amazing...what a beautiful bird.
ReplyDeleteThe owls are so cute. Great set of the warbler, too.
ReplyDelete~
Thank you for including a link to image-in-ing's weekly linkup in your list. I always love it when you join us.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to look in my bird book - what we've been calling a rosy finch doesn't look at all like what you've pictured, but then we're relatively uneducated (though enthusiastic) bird watchers.
Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2016/05/american-tobacco-campus-durham-nc.html
I like the pictures of the owls. The blend well and are framed nicely in the natural wood.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos of the garden and birds. The owl is a surprise.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week ahead!
Alexander
Alex's World! - http://alex.kakinan.com
The Japanese garden is lovely & the Owl photos are magnificent with their lovely bright eyes. The Warbler is a beautiful bird too.
ReplyDeleteThe Japanese garden looks so beautiful and harmonious. The photos of owls and the Yellow-throated warbler are so great.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I love the bridge and the owls are adorable.
ReplyDelete