Naturally sepia sparrows

Our stay at our second home in northeastern Illinois coincides with the visible signs of the changing seasons. In Florida, we slip seamlessly from wet season to dry, with no noticeable change in the foliage. Here in Illinois, the prairie has turned to gold, and the slightest breeze sends leaves flying from the trees. 

This path at nearby Nelson Lake/Dick Young Marsh county preserve runs along the south end of the lake:



A wide view of the lake:



On the lake we "discovered" a flock of fourteen migratory American White Pelicans, but then learned that they had already been reported a couple of days earlier:



A Gray Squirrel watched me from a tree along the trail:



Cedar Waxwings were plentiful, helping themselves to the numerous berries:



A cold snap curtailed the butterflies, but during the prior week they added color to the landscape. A Red Admiral gleaned nectar from the Heath Asters along the path:



A Painted Lady put in an appearance:



Sparrows were suddenly in season, and a mixed flock got my attention. They blended so beautifully with the high grasses that I rarely got good "field guide" images with my new camera, a Canon EOS 80D. Although my subjects were usually partially hidden, I loved the monochromatic effect as I viewed them through gaps in the blades--

Immature White-crowned Sparrow:



Song Sparrow:



Swamp Sparrow:



Lincoln's Sparrow:



Adult White-crowned Sparrow:



My photos were all taken without a flash, often under heavily overcast skies, but I was pleased with the low-light performance of my new camera. This shot of a White-throated Sparrow hiding deep within a thicket came out surprisingly bright:



This Savannah Sparrow posed briefly out in the open:



My patience in pursuing a Swamp Sparrow paid off when it unexpectedly landed out in the open on the path just in front of me:



I also obtained a clear photo of another Lincoln's Sparrow:



As if on cue, a Black-capped Chickadee plunged into a sea of bokeh created by autumn leaves:



A White-crowned Sparrow flew up into a small oak tree to provide the day's favorite image:



Our daughter's Tibetan Mastiff, Siboney, is now almost 11 months old and weighs over 100 pounds...

 

...out-sized by 130-pound Agramonte:



Windy weather spoiled most of my "reflections," but the water was reasonably placid for this view of the Fox River from Lippold Park:



Under fair skies, leaves are beginning to turn on the majestic twin oaks near the entrance of Nelson Lake:



In keeping with the theme, an Eastern Bluebird found a very appropriate landing place on a sign advertising yet another new development near us:

A Great Horned Owl has been calling most mornings from our roof or those of neighboring condos, but it always flies away well before sunrise. In an ultimate test of my new camera I took this hand-held image as it roosted on the roof across from us. I tried to stabilize the camera against the window pane. At ISO 6400 the shutter speed was 1/4 second. Oh, well, there is a limit to the low-light performance of my new gear!:

  

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Linking to Misty's  CAMERA CRITTERS,

Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,

Linking to GOOD FENCES by Tex (Theresa). 

Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy

Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James

Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart

Linking to Today's Flowers Friday by Denise

Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) by NC Sue
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Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
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