It just gets slower and slower. No mammals at all, but I did see a 4 eagles, 2 kingfisher and a few young Wood ducks:
Search
Archives
-
Recent Posts
Rock River Drift 8/4/26
The sun looked big this morning. Seems a lot has changed since I was out last time. Most of the cormorant moved out along with Killdeer, Sandpipers, and other songbirds. There was hardly any Eagles around, I saw 2 juveniles maybe.
I did see 2 young Kestrel Falcons mingling with Redheaded Woodpeckers. I also saw a Beaver who have been hiding. I saw one young Raccoon. Everything seemed spooked. I also saw another Coyote while running up river pre-dawn.
The river came up about a foot and water Temp is 72, it cooled down some.
Posted in Rock River Drifts
Leave a comment
Rock River Drift 7/30/26
Another slow morning, but I did manage a few photos. Full moon with contrails, scenic Rock River, Great Blue Heron at tree top, Flycatcher, Kingbird, Raccoon family, 8 point buck, whitetail deer, Eagle, Spotted Sandpiper, Killdeer in flight, Grey Squirrel, Juvenile Redwing Blackbird, Moon river.
The river was low and clear, but that is about to change with recent rains.
Posted in Rock River Drifts
Leave a comment
Rock River Raccoons
It’s been slow this year, much slower than last year and I thought that year was bad. There’s just hardly any ducks, songbirds and other wildlife around. I am drifting and seeing nothing. Last week I was one mile into drift, saw nothing and went to get something out of the back of the boat and missed seeing 3 raccoons, a mom with 2 kits who disappeared into the shadows.
I went back a few days later and this time I was at the same bend around the same time and there she was again! I got some nice photos of her. I went back the next day, yesterday, and around the same time, in the exact same place was that Raccoon family again! I mean the exact same spot! She is working the bank, on the move and the chances or seeing her in the same spot are extremely rare. I should have bought a lottery ticket!
Day 3, Mom teaching young ones:
Rock River Drift 7/29/26
I went out and saw a coyote standing along the river, but it was still too dark to get a photo on the fly. The pup didn’t even look at me, just looked down river as I ran by. Then I didn’t see much of anything for the longest time. The ducks are missing, there’s hardly any around now. I did see a Raccoon with her young ones. Otherwise what I am seeing is long distance.
Raccoons, Female Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Grey Squirrel, Goldfinch, Whitetail Deer, Killdeer, Flicker, Cardinal
Posted in Rock River Drifts
Leave a comment
Kingfisher with Mudcat
Kingfisher caught himself a Mudcat. A female Kingfisher was interested in his catch, possible his mom. She followed, landed by him but he took off with the fish.
7/23/26 Rock River Drift
It’s barely worth it, but just getting out is fun and wildlife gets used to seeing me and maybe I will see more soon. Scenic Rock River, Great Blue Heron, Juvenile Kingfisher with mudcat, Juvenile Kingbird, Cardinal
Posted in Rock River Drifts
Leave a comment
7/22/26 Rock River Drift
I didn’t see much at all today. Deer, Rock river scenic, Redtail Hawk, Juvenile eagle, Great Blue Heron, juvenile female Kingfisher:
Posted in Rock River Drifts
Leave a comment
7/20/26 Rock River Drift
I didn’t get many photos. I had a delay with the clouds and smoke blocking the sun, then see much. I did see a few young Raccoons, 4 adult eagles and a couple juveniles. I also saw a fawn with a doe while running up river. The photos are soft because of the smoke:
Rock River Drift 7/7/26
I was excited to get those juvenile Red tail Hawk photos the day before so I went back out. It seems to get slower every trip out. I did see one las Eagle chick at the nest sight, the other two are hanging around the islands. I got photos of that and a kingbird and not much else. I did come across another Blue Heron that was soaked in oil. I saw one year before last, same time of year. Adults bring their young to fish in the Rock River and they sometimes land it a nasty oily pond.
Photos by Dave Tackett, Sterling Illinois
Posted in Rock River Drifts
Leave a comment