Cooper’s Hawk stopped by my backyard for dinner. #birdsofbluesky #bird #hawk #birdphotography

Cocoa is hoping for a good weekend with lots of snuggles and treats and maybe some bacon #dogs #dogsofbluesky #labrador #mutt #rescues

October super moon over Illinois tonight. Canon Powershot sx50hs. No edits. #moon #photography #supermoon #canon

Neighborhood Great Egret is still here but he will be migrating south soon for the winter. Illinois. #birdsofbluesky #birds #birdphotography #egret

Glory is wondering if this pic makes her ears look big #dogs #dogsofbluesky #mutts #rescues

Cocoa wants to wish everyone a Happy Labrador Weekend! Oops, she meant Labor Day Weekend! #dogs #labradors #rescues #dogsofbluesky

That’s my chair but Cocoa does her job of keeping it warm for me. #dogs #dogsofbluesky #labrador #rescues

My (now late) mother and I planted this maple tree about twenty years ago when the trunk was as thick as a pencil and it was about eight feet tall. Now it is around forty feet tall and will be gorgeously full of red leaves in a few weeks #greensat #photography #nature #tree #maple #illinois #summer

It’s a picture postcard perfect summer day in Chicago alone the Lake Michigan shore. #lakemichigan #lakeshoredrive #chicago #hydepark

Glory supervises while I do my weekend chores and she gives the most judgmental looks #dogs #dogsofbluesky #rescues #mutts

Cocoa eats a sky raisin (fly). Then gets a tummy ache. Then can’t figure out why she has a tummy ache. #dogs #dogsofbluesky #labrador #rescues

Great Blue Heron today in the neighborhood pond. #heron #birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #Illinois

Butterfly enjoying the summer flowers today in Illinois #butterfly #nature #naturephotography #photography

Saw this Black Crowned Night Heron in Chicago yesterday. Gorgeous bird. No fear of humans. #birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #Chicago

Double crested cormorant today in Aurora, Illinois. #birds #birdphotography

The Rose of Sharon plant that my neighbor gave me is showing off its blooms this season #flower #gardening #bloomscrolling

Neighborhood Great Egret enjoyed lunch fresh out of the pond. #bird #birdsofbluesky #egret #birdphotography #canon

Chicago style pizza from Waldo Cooney’s is what’s for dinner tonight #pizza #chicago

The daisies were putting on a show in Hyde Park, Chicago, yesterday. #gardening #bloomscrolling #bloom #flowers #daisy

Thanks to my neighbor on the other side of this fence, my backyard has some common milkweed. The butterflies are happy #bloomscrolling #blooms #gardens #flowers

Cocoa Beans (formerly known as Cookie) gives excellent side eye when she is not included in my Saturday plans. #dogs #dogsofbluesky #labradors #rescues

It is Tiger Lily season in Illinois! #gardening #bloomscrolling #blooms #flowers #lily

Cocoa: “I see you have chicken Mom. I like chicken too Mom. Will trade ball for chicken.” #dogs #dogsofbluesky #labrador #mutt #rescues

Ruby throated hummingbird today. Female juvenile recently out of the nest. #birds #birdsofbluesky #hummingbird #birdphotography

Tonight’s Strawberry Moon over New Lenox, Illinois with Canon Powershot SX50HS #moon #photography

Neighborhood Great Egret today in New Lenox, Illinois. Still a bachelor but doesn’t go hungry in his pond. #birds #birdsofbluesky #naturephotography #egret

Cocoa hates thunderstorms so she cuddles in my lap. I found out today that she gets highly insulted when I call her a scaredy-cat 🤣 #dogs #dogsofbluesky #labradors #rescues

“You’re so vain, you probably think this photo shoot is about you,…” Egret in Aurora, Illinois. #birds #birdsofbluesky #egret #naturephotography

Saw some wisteria today. It’s pretty but I wouldn’t want it in my yard. #flowers #gardening #bloomscrolling #gardensofbluesky

It was a rainy day, so the hummers were favoring the feeder instead of soggy flowers. Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird in my backyard today in Illinois. #birds #birdsofbluesky #naturephotography #hummingbird

One from my files: a pair of baby Bald Eagles wait patiently in the nest for mom and dad to bring some food. Mooseheart, Illinois. 2022. #birds #birdsofbluesky #eagle #naturephotography

The backyard is full of newly fledged Robins #birds #birdsofbluesky #robin #photography #illinois

First the dragonfly landed in my hair. Then he jumped over to the fence as if to say “sorry about that!” #nature #dragonfly #naturephotography

Cocoa: “You went where without me??” 🤣 #dogs #dogsofbluesky #labradors #rescues

Double crested cormorant closeup. Love the blue eyes #birds #birdsofbluesky #photography #cormorant #illinois

This Double Crested Cormorant was getting ready to dive for some lunch today. It’s amazing how long they can stay under water. Aurora, Illinois #birds #birdsofbluesky #cormorant #photography

The neighborhood pond had a new visitor today: Great Blue Heron #birds #birdsofbluesky #heron #photography #Illinois

My Japanese Irises are putting on a good show this spring. #bloomscrolling #gardening #iris #flowers #illinois

The neighborhood Great Egret had a buddy with him today in the pond but they were both males. He has yet to attract a mate. #birds #birdsofbluesky #egret #photography #wildlife #Illinois

She has such tiny cute feet. Ruby throated hummingbird. #birds #hummingbird #birdsofbluesky #photography #nature #Illinois

This would have been a gorgeous action shot if I was any good at action shots. Great Egret takeoff. #birds #birdsofbluesky #egret #illinois

Today’s neighborhood Great Egret caught a little something for dinner. #birds #birdsofbluesky #photography #egret

Pretty boy American Cardinal came for a visit to the backyard feeder today #birds #birdsofbluesky #photography #illinois #cardinal

First customer on the new hummingbird feeder. Juvenile female Ruby-throated Hummingbird in the backyard today in New Lenox. #birds #birdsofbluesky #photography #Illinois #hummingbird

Mug shot Great Egret yesterday New Lenox, Illinois. “Is this my good side?” #birds #birdsofbluesky #photography #canonpowershotsx50hs

Red-winged Blackbird attempting to hide today in New Lenox, Illinois. #birdsofbluesky #birds #photography #blackbird

A Kong with peanut butter inside and Cocoa is a happy camper #dogsofbluesky #dogs #labradors #rescues

The Japanese irises are starting to bloom in my yard #gardening #iris #bloomscrolling #flowers

Friday’s dust storm south of Chicago on Friday late afternoon. #weather #duststorm #illinois

I had lunch with this Double-crested Cormorant family of five on Thursday. Fox River, Geneva, Illinois #birds #birdsofbluesky #photography