Where’s Wildlife / Out exploring
A closer look at the places behind the photographs.
Join me for a look back at parks, preserves, and trails I’ve explored with my camera—through the wildlife, landscapes, and little discoveries I photographed along the way.
Combine a state, habitat, and search to narrow your results. Places can belong to more than one habitat.
Near Sullivan · Jefferson County, Wisconsin
A State Natural Area with spring wildflowers, ferns, birds, and woodland paths, reached on foot from Rome Pond Wildlife Area parking.
Explore →Near Palos Park · Cook County, Illinois
Woodland trails, spring wildflowers, birds, treefrogs, and mossy mushrooms, including walks from nearby Cherry Hill Woods.
Explore →Colchester, Illinois
Look closer at Woodland Stonecrop, spring wildflowers, woodland birds, and small discoveries from past visits to Argyle Lake.
Explore →Near Barrington, Illinois
An island rookery, Ospreys on a nesting platform, and prairie life beyond the water.
Explore →Near East Troy · Walworth County, Wisconsin
Follow the boardwalk into a world of rose pogonia orchids, pitcher plants, sundews, and quiet water.
Explore →Northwestern Cook County, Illinois
Woodland paths, open meadows, and small discoveries along the way.
Explore →Des Plaines, Illinois
Herons, cormorants, and small shoreline discoveries beside a lake connected to the Des Plaines River.
Explore →Elgin, Illinois
Discover spring-fed wetlands, native prairie flowers, and the decades of care that helped restore this special landscape.
Explore →Bull Valley, Illinois
Follow open meadow paths, look closer at summer flowers, and discover a landscape that protects the headwaters of Boone Creek.
Explore →Braidwood · Will County, Illinois
Wildflowers, prickly pear cactus, birds, and reptiles in a sandy Illinois landscape.
Explore →Town of Saukville · Ozaukee County, Wisconsin
Explore winding boardwalks, quiet lakes, orchids, and woodland flowers through the photographs.
Explore →Near Havana, Illinois
Birds among leafy branches, quiet woodland paths, and small discoveries at an Illinois River refuge.
Explore →Rochester area · Racine County, Wisconsin
Spring woodland trails, wildflowers, and birds around a protected wetland within Honey Creek Wildlife Area.
Explore →Caledonia · Racine County, Wisconsin
Lake Michigan bluff views, woodland trails, open fields, and shelf fungi along the way.
Explore →Walworth County, Wisconsin
Explore open wetland views, orange Michigan Lilies, and small summer flowers in a spring-fed Wisconsin fen.
Explore →Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana
Follow woodland paths and wetland edges toward the dunes and Lake Michigan, with crane families, wildflowers, and small discoveries along the way.
Explore →Barrington area · Cook County, Illinois
A look back at one of my favorite places to photograph, from prairie gentians and woodland paths to herons, turtles, and muskrats along the water.
Explore →East Troy area · Walworth County, Wisconsin
Winding water, oak-covered hills, wildflowers, and birds in the Mukwonago River headwaters.
Explore →Will County, Illinois
Discover broad prairie views, delicate flowers, and visiting butterflies at Des Plaines Dolomite Prairies Land and Water Reserve.
Explore →Richmond · McHenry County, Illinois
Look across a diverse wetland landscape and discover summer flowers, white flowering vines, and wildlife near the Illinois–Wisconsin border.
Explore →Illinois
Waterbirds, nesting Cliff Swallows, and seasonal wetland views from the Emiquon area, including the neighboring preserve.
Explore →St. Charles, Illinois
Follow boardwalk views through the wetlands and discover summer flowers, an Osprey, and smaller wildlife along the Fox River.
Explore →Chicago, Illinois
Explore garden rooms, colorful flowers, sculptural desert plants, and waterlily pools through photographs from an earlier visits.
Explore →Ringwood · McHenry County, Illinois
Explore rolling prairie, oak savannas, and wetland views, with winter coyotes, Sandhill Cranes, wildflowers, and tiny discoveries along the trails.
Explore →Grundy County · Near Morris, Illinois
Explore wide prairie skies, changing wildflowers, and wildlife encounters—from prairie birds and Monarchs to turtles and a White-tailed Deer family.
Explore →Hebron · McHenry County, Illinois
Follow a former railroad corridor from Seaman Road toward Goose Lake, with shaded trail views, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, wildflowers, and small discoveries.
Explore →Schererville · Lake County, Indiana
Discover Azure Bluets, Violet Wood Sorrel, Cinnamon Fern, and other plants from one visit to this diverse prairie and savanna preserve.
Explore →Dodge & Fond du Lac counties, Wisconsin
Explore broad marsh views, Red-winged Blackbirds, Purple Martins, flowers, and a Painted Turtle from a single visit.
Explore →Southeastern Wisconsin
Discover Wisconsin’s glacial story through the photographed segments.
Explore →Zion · Lake County, Illinois
An Illinois favorite, with sandy shoreline, the Dead River Trail, remarkable wildflowers, and wildlife encounters across the seasons.
Explore →Chesterton, Indiana
Sandy climbs, wooded trails, and wide-open lake views.
Explore →Near Medaryville, Indiana
Autumn skies filled with Sandhill Cranes.
Explore →Sleepy Hollow, Illinois
Explore restored prairie and wetlands through the photographs of winding trails, reflective ponds, birds, butterflies, and flowers.
Explore →Burlington, Wisconsin
A smaller wildlife stop with a marsh boardwalk, lily-covered water, and wooded edges.
Explore →Kettle Moraine State Forest, Wisconsin
Explore these shared biking and hiking trails through woodland, pine stands, and prairie openings.
Explore →Joliet, Illinois
Discover the story behind the factory ruins, follow a short interpretive trail, and look for wildlife among the reminders of Joliet’s industrial past.
Explore →Pleasant Prairie · Kenosha County, Wisconsin
Sandy trails, Lake Michigan views, monarchs on blazing stars, and small discoveries among the dune vegetation.
Explore →Glenview, Illinois
Slow down among prairie wildflowers, watch the wetland edges for birds, and discover the Tyner Center’s planted roof.
Explore →Woodstock, Illinois
Follow the boardwalk through wetlands near the beginnings of the Kishwaukee River.
Explore →Near Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Follow winding wooden cordwalks through Lake Michigan dunes, discover beach pea and other trailside plants, and plan a visit with trail details and lakeshore photographs.
Explore →Lake in the Hills, Illinois
Explore flower-lined prairie paths and groundwater-fed wetlands, with Henslow’s Sparrows, Monarchs and small trailside discoveries in the photographs.
Explore →Near Delafield, Wisconsin
Explore the prairie trails west of County Highway C, with Evans Prairie, Timms Woods, colorful wildflowers and a wetland boardwalk from the visit.
Explore →Lombard, Illinois
A small garden escape filled with spring color, a remarkable lilac history and plenty of reasons to pause with a camera.
Explore →Grafton, Wisconsin
Wide lake views from high bluffs, wooded gorge stairways, boardwalks and small discoveries along the trails.
Explore →Willow Springs, Illinois
Follow woodland paths, watch ducks among floating leaves and discover the history of a schoolhouse that became a place to learn about nature.
Explore →Near Gladstone, Illinois
Winter Bald Eagles, open-water birds and icy Mississippi River views.
Explore →Downers Grove, Illinois
Walk through changing seasons with woodland flowers, wetland birds, deer and other small discoveries.
Explore →Cary, Illinois
Explore prairie paths and adjoining woodland trails, with Eastern Bluebirds, Monarchs, flowers and small discoveries from the visits.
Explore →Hanover Park, Illinois
Follow lakeside trails and footbridges through golden autumn grasses, with blue-water reflections and birds along the way.
Explore →Big Bend, Wisconsin
Discover woodland flowers, Wood Ducks and Pileated Woodpeckers.
Explore →LaSalle County, Illinois
Explore sandstone canyons, stepping-stone crossings and waterfalls, from leafy summer walks to snowy winter scenes.
Explore →Near Lemont, Illinois
Explore blue-water views, Northern Pintails and Common Mergansers, with a walk-in route through Sag Valley and a landscape shaped by beavers.
Explore →Lake Forest, Illinois
Discover summer flowers, Great Blue Herons, Monarchs and small details in a preserve protecting rare savanna and wetland habitat.
Explore →Will County, Illinois
Meet the American Bison, discover a former arsenal returning to prairie, and explore seasonal photographs of wildlife, wildflowers, and open trails.
Explore →Chicago, Illinois
A single winter visit captures birds, floating ice, shoreline walks, and skyline views near Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary.
Explore →McHenry County, Illinois
Follow boardwalks through summer marshes and golden autumn wetlands, with cranes, herons, and a landscape shaped by glacial ice.
Explore →Wisconsin
Kettle Moraine State Forest: woodland paths, evergreen details, wildflowers, and wildlife from a walk north of Stringers Bridge Road.
Explore →Illinois
Bison and calves on rolling prairie, colorful wildflowers, birds, and wooded rock outcrops near Franklin Grove.
Explore →Illinois • 2021 trip
Explore the DuPage River from the water, with basking turtles, swallows, and flowers along the banks.
Explore →Wisconsin
Walk through tall grasses and prairie flowers near Eagle, with an Eastern Kingbird, interpretive signs, and the story of the artists whose gift helped protect this landscape.
Explore →Wisconsin
A short boardwalk outing in Caledonia, with wetland birds and seasonal views.
Explore →Wisconsin
Explore pine woods, leafy paths, and meadow openings across the road from John Muir.
Explore →Illinois
Ice-coated trees, curtains of icicles, snowy trails, and winter birds along Lake Michigan.
Explore →Oak Park, Illinois
Look closer at colorful flowers, citrus fruit, sculptural cacti, and animal encounters in this historic conservatory.
Explore →Darien, Illinois
Explore owl portraits, deer, wildflowers, reflective pools, and woodland paths through the seasons.
Explore →Glencoe, Illinois
Explore the photographs from several past show years: colorful displays, intricate orchid portraits, unusual greenhouse plants, and a few quiet garden views.
Explore →Near Eagle, Wisconsin
Explore the old fieldstone spring house, clear-water reflections, and ghost pipe on a short paved walk.
Explore →Gary, Indiana
Follow the trail through wetlands, black oak savanna, and dunes to Lake Michigan.
Explore →Somers · Kenosha County, Wisconsin
Explore the forested Petrifying Springs and UW–Parkside trail area through 69 photographs of woodland paths, spring flowers, the Pike River, and small wildlife discoveries.
Explore →East Troy area · Walworth County, Wisconsin
Explore photographs from the North Entrance and Nature Conservancy office areas: lake views, wetland flowers, tiny orchids, and a treefrog on a fern.
Explore →Near Woodstock · McHenry County, Illinois
Explore prairie paths, oak-lined trails, wildflowers, and small discoveries from the hike starting at the John Sullivan Memorial area.
Explore →Channahon, Illinois
Explore the Daryl Cole Trail Network through 59 photographs of wetland views, wildflowers, birds, turtles, and other wildlife.
Explore →Crystal Lake, Illinois
Explore the prairie, ponds, and woodland of Silver Creek Conservation Area through 188 photographs of birds, wildflowers, insects, and trails.
Explore →Caledonia · Racine County, Wisconsin
A favorite woodland for spring flowers, with colorful hepatica, trilliums, and woodland wildlife. No trails or designated parking.
Explore →Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Explore Brown’s Fen, woodland boardwalks, misty hills, and prairie flowers through 134 photographs, with orchids, a Wild Turkey family, and the story of the Retzer farmstead.
Explore →Loves Park · Winnebago County, Illinois
Snowy woodland paths, rocky outcrops, and winter wildlife from a single visit to the park.
Explore →Riverwoods · Lake County, Illinois
Woodland trails, spring flowers, owls, and discoveries through the seasons at Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area.
Explore →Near Willow Springs · Cook County, Illinois
Bald Eagles, winter waterfowl, and icy shoreline views from a single winter visit.
Explore →Mount Pleasant · Racine County, Wisconsin
Spring wildflowers, fern-filled woods, and woodland birds along the trails of this state natural area.
Explore →Cary, Illinois
Follow grassy paths through a rare prairie landscape and look closer at Leadplant, Pale Purple Coneflower, and summer wildlife.
Explore →Near Eagle · Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Explore Scuppernong’s own woodland loops through pine stands and hardwoods, with flowers, ferns, and tiny mushrooms beside the trails.
Explore →Cary · McHenry County, Illinois
Winding boardwalks, open prairie, egrets, and butterflies around the wetlands at the Rawson Bridge Road entrance.
Explore →Schaumburg, Illinois
Woodland boardwalks, prairie paths, pond wildlife, and farm animals at Volkening Heritage Farm.
Explore →Near Dundee, Wisconsin
A fern-lined boardwalk, glacial kettle lake, orchids, pitcher plants, sundews, and wetland wildlife.
Explore →No places match your selection. Try another habitat, state, or search—or use Clear filters to start again.
