Observations by kylecmsmith

On our way to see the total solar eclipse, we stopped at a gas station. We noticed a large, reddish squirrel climbing up a fence. I expect I have seen fox squirrels before, but this was my first time positively identifying one.

While walking my dog on the Lemont railroad tracks, I heard and saw two Cooper's hawks. They seem to be nesting at a tree there. I expect I have seen Cooper's Hawks before, but this was my first time positively identifying them.

I had seen on eBird that Pectoral Sandpipers, Wilson's Snipes, and a Greater Yellowlegs had been sighted in the flooded fields off of Tadpole Rd. I went there and was able to add all three species to my life list, with the help of another birder present who helped me spot them.

I had seen on eBird that Pectoral Sandpipers, Wilson's Snipes, and a Greater Yellowlegs had been sighted in the flooded fields off of Tadpole Rd. I went there and was able to add all three species to my life list, with the help of another birder present who helped me spot them.

I was driving down to Latvia for a day trip, and shortly after crossing the border in Valga/Valka, I noticed a large number of cranes in a field off the side of the road. I pulled over and got out of the car for a better look. I think I startled them, as they flew a little farther away and settled down in a different field.

We had hoped to see a moose during our Estonia trip, and we finally got lucky on the last day of our trip. We were driving from Tallinn to the Pärnu area to go on a mushroom foraging trip, so we were on the road in rural areas early in the morning. I spotted a large animal moving in a field off to my left, and I immediately pulled over to get a better look. Sure enough, it was a bull moose with a full set of antlers! It walked along through the field and disappeared into the trees.