Les Winkeler
@leswinkeler.bsky.social
Retired sports editor, Southern Illinoisan. Owner Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife. Member of Illinois Outdoors Hall of Fame and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Cranky old man.
An eastern meadowlark headed to lunch. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
February 3, 2026 at 3:22 PM
An eastern meadowlark headed to lunch. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
A brown thrasher looking for a winter meal. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
February 2, 2026 at 4:08 PM
A brown thrasher looking for a winter meal. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
Trumpeter swans on the move. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
February 1, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Trumpeter swans on the move. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
A horned lark taking a break from a roadside snack. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 31, 2026 at 2:45 PM
A horned lark taking a break from a roadside snack. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
The northern harrier has been bumped from my nemesis list. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 30, 2026 at 4:02 PM
The northern harrier has been bumped from my nemesis list. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
Great blue herons manage to look elegant when they're cold. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 22, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Great blue herons manage to look elegant when they're cold. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
Go figure, another yellow-bellied sapsucker ... Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 21, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Go figure, another yellow-bellied sapsucker ... Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
It had been a bad day birding til this guy appeared ... Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 20, 2026 at 3:03 PM
It had been a bad day birding til this guy appeared ... Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
Ring-billed gull close-ups are irresistible ... Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 19, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Ring-billed gull close-ups are irresistible ... Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
The name sounds weird, but yellow-bellied sapsuckers are gorgeous. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 18, 2026 at 5:03 PM
The name sounds weird, but yellow-bellied sapsuckers are gorgeous. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
I've been seeing belted kingfishers with surprising regularity. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 16, 2026 at 4:49 PM
I've been seeing belted kingfishers with surprising regularity. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
An unusual sight -- an American black duck swimming in open water. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 15, 2026 at 5:17 PM
An unusual sight -- an American black duck swimming in open water. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
White-throated sparrows are plentiful, beautiful and melodic. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 14, 2026 at 3:03 PM
White-throated sparrows are plentiful, beautiful and melodic. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
I get loon-y over these guys. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 13, 2026 at 1:57 PM
I get loon-y over these guys. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
Awaiting spring and the return of prairie warblers. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 12, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Awaiting spring and the return of prairie warblers. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
Cooperative cormorant, stubborn sun. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 11, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Cooperative cormorant, stubborn sun. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
I like the bird, not the ice. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 10, 2026 at 2:49 PM
I like the bird, not the ice. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
Real life in the real world ... a black vulture feeds on a raccoon. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 9, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Real life in the real world ... a black vulture feeds on a raccoon. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
Female lesser scaup at Crab Orchard. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 8, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Female lesser scaup at Crab Orchard. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
Never tire of seeing these short-eared owls. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 7, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Never tire of seeing these short-eared owls. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
Chaos or coordination? Ring-billed gulls at Carlyle Lake. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: Facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 6, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Chaos or coordination? Ring-billed gulls at Carlyle Lake. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: Facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
The common merganser hen is one elegant lady! Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 5, 2026 at 1:58 PM
The common merganser hen is one elegant lady! Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
OK, seriously, what's more beautiful than a ringneck pheasant rooster? Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 4, 2026 at 3:15 PM
OK, seriously, what's more beautiful than a ringneck pheasant rooster? Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
Finding tiny songbirds like the Carolina chickadee is a rewarding pursuit. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 3, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Finding tiny songbirds like the Carolina chickadee is a rewarding pursuit. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
Mallard couple out for a swim. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.
January 2, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Mallard couple out for a swim. Read more at Winkeler's Wings and Wildlife's Facebook page: facebook.com/brdtrip. Also, see wildlife photo album.