Moraine Hills SP, IL - Part I - Lake Defiance

Moraine Hills SP in Illinois is in far north McHenry Country. Really nice paths part crushed limestone part asphalt.

Boardwalk over the wetlands - only wet in parts.

 Saw 2 turtles (sorry for being fuzzy, still figuring out macro on new camera).  Both were this same color with a long tail and hooked nose.  Maybe baby snapping turtles (?)

 Two male mallards

Signs said the trail around the lake was 3 3/4 miles.  Starting at the nature center (which was closed due to lack of staff) and walking the loop, I think was actually closer to 4 miles because the starting post was about 1/4 miles away from the center.  From this section of the trail, about 1/2 mile away.

 Very few benches to sit and watch for birds (or turtles or snakes).  Wondered if they cut this tree into a chair on purpose.

 
. . .as well as garter snakes.  The snakes came in all sizes.  This  7" checkered garter was moving slow (too cold?) or not enough slither power.  The largest I saw was about 3' and looked like a common garter snake (with the yellow stripes), but that one was over the path & back to the tall grass before it even registered that he was there.

 

 Lots of woolly bear caterpillars on the path. . .