![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_2354.jpg) |
Dickcissel |
Today began at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Illinois, our nation’s first federally designated tallgrass prairie. A beautiful morning with much birdsong. Dickcissel were quite common along the entry road.
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_2356.jpg) |
Dickcissel |
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_2635.jpg) |
Dickcissel |
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Cedar Waxwing |
A pair of Cedar Waxwings continued to build and tend their nest as we photographed them and other species.
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_2688.jpg) |
Bell’s Vireo |
A Bell’s Vireo sang continuously as it bounced through the shrubbery by the parking area. A singing Common Yellowthroat was not cooperative for the camera.
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_2711.jpg) |
Bell’s Vireo |
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_2807.jpg) |
Eastern Bluebird (female) |
A pair of Eastern Bluebirds fed young in a box along the entrance road. Spiders, caterpillars, crickets and a few unidentified morsels were brought to the hungry chicks as we enjoyed watching their hunting forays.
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_2817.jpg) |
Eastern Bluebird (female) |
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_2829.jpg) |
Eastern Bluebirds |
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_2837.jpg) |
Gray Copper |
Later in the day we made a visit to the Neal Smith NWR, a tallgrass prairie in Iowa. Here we found a wonderful, large group of Gray Copper butterflies!
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_9722-Edit.jpg) |
Elk at the Neal Smith NWR in Iowa. |
Along the driving tour we found a photogenic pair of elk before we continued west toward Omaha.
Tomorrow we head off to explore the Platte River, heading west to North Platte, Nebraska.
-photos and text © Kevin Loughlin