Jennie, Dakota, and I went to Rock Cut to check for ducks. We had started our day off at Deer Run Forest Preserve and there were tons of ducks and geese flying around. We saw a group of Common Mergansers and Wood Ducks plus tons of Mallards and Canada Geese. We figured there would be many more ducks at Rock Cut.

Before heading out we heard an Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Bluebirds, and tons of Red-winged Blackbirds.

At Rock Cut the duck highlights included: Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Redhead, Common Goldeneye, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, and Mallards. Other bird highlights included a lot of Turkey Vultures that were feasting on a deer carcass on the ice.
Turkey Vultures

We also were delighted to see a coyote that first eyed the carcass, then eyed us, and then crossed the frozen lake.
Coyote

Perhaps the biggest highlight were two TREE SWALLOWS flying over the ice. Seems early for them!!