EXTRAVAGANT MORNING FROZEN BRANCHES A male ring-necked pheasant forages

A male ring-necked pheasant forages for food on this prairie landscape scene during an early spring morning at Wildflower Park

which makes for some good photography

what stands out are the three cottonwood trees in front of the oak trees and right next to the path

photographing any kind of sunrise was out of the question

A beautiful spring sunrise illuminates this scene along the south fork Kishwaukee River as a male mallard duck swims close by

EXTRAVAGANT MORNING FROZEN BRANCHES A male ring-necked pheasant foragesA slight breeze moves across Wildflower Lake leaving soft ripples of peace as the morning colors of the sunrise shifts from the purples and pinks to the oranges on this beautiful spring morning in Northern Illinois. (501 19)