Goose Lake Prairie Natural Area

Another beautiful fall day in northeast Illinois.  Too nice to do yard work, which will always be there.  Did a couple of local walks.  If you consider a local walk in the next county.

Started at Goose Lake Prairie State Natural area.  Saw evidence of deer and raccoons on the short 1/2 mile trail.  Also found a few butterflies.

I found this guy hanging out by the visitor center.  "You looking at me?"

The saying is that if the bees all die, so will mankind.  Nice to see our pollinators are still hard at work.

This nature area has a nice little visitor center to learn about the prairie.  According to signs, this is the largest natural prairie east of the Mississippi. 

An egret in the marsh

Sandstone bedrock found when the pond was enlarged

I saw these two pheasants on the road behind me.  They stayed on the road just long enough for a quick picture

On the way out, stopped at Heidecke Fish & Wildlife Area. 

Then back to Plainfield for a stop at Lake Renwick Preserve.  This is a heron rookery and reserve.  I've ridden my bike there before, but always when most of the rookery trails are closed. At this time of year, all trails are open.