Moraine Hills State Park Young Sandhill Crane © Robert P. Whitney

Moraine Hills State Park © Ken Schweder

Moraine Hills State Park Painted Turtles © Robert P. Whitney
If you walk the trails near the McHenry Dam you can easily find painted turtles by the dozens sunning themselves in channels along the trail.

Moraine Hills State Park Sandhill Crane © Robert P. Whitney
This Sandhill Cranes head is stained from digging in the wetlands muck for food. Its mate and chick were nearby.

Moraine Hills State Park Sandhill Cranes © Robert P. Whitney
The adult Sandhill Cranes head is stained from foraging in the wetland muck for food. Its mates head had similar staining.

Moraine Hills State Park Young Mink © Robert P. Whitney

Moraine Hills State Park Chipmonk © Robert P. Whitney
These little guys can be found foraging for food in wooded areas all over the park.

Moraine Hills State Park Great Egret Ardea alba © Robert P. Whitney
Egrets are a common sight in as they fish the wetland areas in the park.

Moraine Hills State Park Young Mink © Robert P. Whitney

Moraine Hills State Park Sandhill Crane © Robert P. Whitney

Moraine Hills State Park © Ken Schweder

Moraine Hills State Park Spring Flooding © Robert P. Whitney
In the spring, parts of the western area of the park, closest to the Fox River, flood and provide terrific sunset reflections.

Moraine Hills State Park © Ken Schweder

Moraine Hills State Park Sumac © Robert P. Whitney

Moraine Hills State Park © Ken Schweder

Moraine Hills State Park Foot Bridge © Robert P. Whitney
The park has miles and miles of trails with the occasional foot bridge to cross streams.

Moraine Hills State Park © Ken Schweder

Moraine Hills State Park Red-Winged Blackbird © Robert P. Whitney
Red-Winged Blackbirds are territorial and will let you know if you are invading their territory by squawking at you and sometimes hovering over your head. If you walk away they will stop.

Moraine Hills State Park Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus © Robert P. Whitney
These birds can be seen on trees in and near the wetland areas.

Moraine Hills State Park © Harris Wishnick

Moraine Hills State Park Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar © Robert P. Whitney

Moraine Hills State Park Late Purple Aster - Symphyotrichum patens © Robert P. Whitney
These small pleasantly colored asters can be found in the late summer and early fall.

Moraine Hills State Park Golden Garden Spider © Robert P. Whitney
Golden Garden Spiders are the largest of the most commonly seen spiders in the park. In the prairie areas they build their webs among the grasses. I have never heard of one bothering a human, they have no interest in us.

Moraine Hills State Park © Ken Schweder

Moraine Hills State Park Lake Defiance © Robert P. Whitney
These boats are available to rent in the warmer seasons.

Moraine Hills State Park Water Lilies on Lake Defiance © Robert P. Whitney
Water lilies bloom in July and provide a beautiful reward to those who stroll the wetland boardwalks around Lake Defiance. They close at night and open in the morning so they are best viewed midday.

Moraine Hills State Park Purple Coneflowers © Robert P. Whitney
Beautiful prairie plants are found in grasslands throughout the park and deliberately planted in wonderful arrays near the entrance.

Moraine Hills State Park Compass Plants © Robert P. Whitney
Compass plants flower in the late summer/early fall.

Moraine Hills State Park Sunset at Moraine Hills © Robert P. Whitney

Moraine Hills State Park © Upendra
Taken Aug 7, 2010, 430PM

Moraine Hills State Park © Upendra

Moraine Hills State Park Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas © Robert P. Whitney
These very small birds nest in the wetland areas and can be photographed by strolling the boardwalks that meander through the wetlands.

Moraine Hills State Park Great Blue Heron © Robert P. Whitney
Great Blue Herons are not an uncommon sight at Moraine Hills. They are more skittish than Egrets and will often fly away if they believe you are coming closer. Try to photograph them from a distance so you dont disturb them.

Moraine Hills State Park Mink © Robert P. Whitney
Mink are extremely cute animals but admire them from a distance. They can spray like a skunk and are vicious hunters who can protect themselves quite well.

Moraine Hills State Park Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum © Robert P. Whitney
Small flocks of waxwings appear on the trees in the wetland areas from time to time. I have noticed they seem to show up about an hour before sunset. Its possible they come around at other times though.

Moraine Hills State Park Moraine Hills State Park © Joe Thill
This was taken from the Leatherleaf Bog Trail, located in the Northern Woods section of the park. May 31, 2008.