Troy Marcy Photography

Troy Marcy Photography I'm all about capturing the moment. I'm primarily a nature/wildlife photographer operating in Central Illinois. You can order images directly through my website.

I have and do take senior, family, and pet photos upon request. Please take a moment to check out my website at www.troymarcyphotogaphy.com to see my work. I do sell prints of my nature/wildlife images in various print sizes and mounts. My images make for perfect fine art decor and gifts for your loved ones. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions.

Captain Tern Dive - This morning my son and I went out to look for the cool Krider’s Red-tailed Hawk I saw earlier in th...
06/26/2026

Captain Tern Dive - This morning my son and I went out to look for the cool Krider’s Red-tailed Hawk I saw earlier in the week, but we had no luck. To salvage the day, we decided to make a quick drive around Dawson Lake. I happened to pull into one of the parking lots just to see what we might find. Evan spotted a couple of birds flying over the lake and wanted a closer look. He hopped out as I parked. I knew something was up when his walk turned into a jog. I caught up with him to see four Caspian Terns flying up and down the lake. You should have seen both of our faces as we watched one dive into the water and come out with a fish. For the next 20 minutes, we sat there watching these awesome birds fish. They are migrating through, so they won’t be here long. The fact that we were able to capture this moment was very lucky. This series of images shows one of their fishing sequences.

Red-tailed Hawk (Krider’s Subspecies)I had a pretty exciting moment earlier this week. I was driving home after spending...
06/25/2026

Red-tailed Hawk (Krider’s Subspecies)

I had a pretty exciting moment earlier this week. I was driving home after spending some time photographing birds at Moraine View State Park. I was close to home, traveling down Empire next to Central Illinois Regional Airport, when I noticed a beautiful white hawk soaring high above. I pulled over onto the shoulder and took several images of what appeared to be a very unusual Red-tailed Hawk. It was being chased by a Cooper's Hawk and eventually flew out of view to the north.

I couldn't wait to get home and load the images so I could get a better look. After consulting message boards and Facebook groups, along with friends and experts, I received confirmation that it was a Krider's subspecies of Red-tailed Hawk. This is the first documented Krider's Red-tailed Hawk in Illinois in June. Its mostly white tail and strikingly white face make it especially distinctive.

I went back out today to see if I could relocate the bird. I'd love to find it perched so I can capture some closer images.

Blue GrosbeakMoraine View State ParkMcLean County, IL6-16-26This is my fourth Blue Grosbeak of the summer. This one was ...
06/22/2026

Blue Grosbeak
Moraine View State Park
McLean County, IL
6-16-26
This is my fourth Blue Grosbeak of the summer. This one was along the road leading to Moraine View State Park. I saw him perched on a power line. As I pulled over, he flew into some trees and posed handsomely for a couple of portraits.

Black-bellied Whistling DucksMcLean County, IL White Oak Park6-20-26This was my first time seeing these in Central Illin...
06/22/2026

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
McLean County, IL
White Oak Park
6-20-26
This was my first time seeing these in Central Illinois, although they have been reported on and off over the past several years. There were nine of them at a local park in Bloomington. The Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks have brightly colored bills and a pretty cool-looking brown mohawk-like stripe on their heads.

Northern Flicker in FlightMcLean County, IL - Moraine View State Park4/19/26Few birds can match the beauty of a Northern...
06/21/2026

Northern Flicker in Flight
McLean County, IL - Moraine View State Park
4/19/26
Few birds can match the beauty of a Northern Flicker in flight. I never pass up a chance to photograph one when it takes to the air. As those wings open, flashes of color burst to life, and in the right light, they are absolutely breathtaking.

I made the most of my time photographing this sweet fawn yesterday afternoon. It was pretty amazing. At one point, I tho...
06/20/2026

I made the most of my time photographing this sweet fawn yesterday afternoon. It was pretty amazing. At one point, I thought it was going to walk right up to me. The mama stayed in the taller grass feeding, just far enough away to be safe, yet close enough to keep an eye on her baby.The sweet fawn was such fun to watch. It would run up and down the trail, playing. I sat down in the grass to try to be less intimidating and took hundreds of photos over about 30 minutes as it played, ate, and even nursed at one point. I felt like I was keeping the fawn busy while its mom enjoyed a little peace and quiet while she ate.Just before the sweet fawn disappeared into the taller grass, it looked back and gave me the sweetest look, as if to say, “Bye, and thanks for the fun.”

Yellow-breasted ChatMcLean County, IL - Moraine View State Park6/19/26This bird has been a bit of a nemesis for me. I’ve...
06/20/2026

Yellow-breasted Chat
McLean County, IL - Moraine View State Park
6/19/26
This bird has been a bit of a nemesis for me. I’ve heard them, seen them flash by me, and have even photographed them from a mile away in bad light. I just have not been able to capture a quality image of these birds until today. As usual, I heard their unique songs—often a mix of imitations of other birds’ calls—and was on the lookout for their bright yellow chest. It wasn’t easy because several yellow birds were active today, including goldfinches, Yellow Warblers, and Common Yellowthroats. I was basically photographing anything yellow that moved. It wasn’t until I saw a very distinctive flash of yellow from a dark corner of the trail. Thankfully, the sun was hitting this chat perfectly. I saw it peek its head out and then dart back into cover, but not before I was able to capture this sequence of images. Finally, a few keeper images. The funny part is that, as I was leaving the park with my windows down, I heard a chat call. I pulled over onto the grassy shoulder and looked up at a tree just off of the road. There was another chat sitting in the wide open for over 20 minutes, just singing away! I couldn’t believe it! Needless to say, I have many images of a yellow breasted chat now.?Nemesis no more!

Sweet Fawn - I left this morning with the goal of trying to get some fawn images. I know there are several around Morain...
06/19/2026

Sweet Fawn - I left this morning with the goal of trying to get some fawn images. I know there are several around Moraine View State Park, but I just haven’t been able to find them out in the open in good light. Today I was finally rewarded, and I still have many more images to go through. I just couldn’t wait to share this sweet little pose. With those big eyes, oversized ears, and curious expression, this fawn was almost too cute. I can’t get enough of them—they’re absolutely adorable!

Blue Grosbeak on the Attack - I observed this Blue Grosbeak, which I believe is an immature male, darting haphazardly th...
06/18/2026

Blue Grosbeak on the Attack - I observed this Blue Grosbeak, which I believe is an immature male, darting haphazardly through the branches. At first, I assumed it was simply doing everything possible to make my job as a photographer more difficult. As it turned out, it had a much better reason for all the erratic maneuvering—it was in hot pursuit of an insect. To my pleasant surprise, I managed to capture the action on camera. Enjoy this exciting series of a Blue Grosbeak launching an aerial attack on its unsuspecting prey.

Indigo Bunting with Life Advice -Thank you for the life advice, Mr. Indigo Bunting. The way he was looking through my so...
06/18/2026

Indigo Bunting with Life Advice -Thank you for the life advice, Mr. Indigo Bunting. The way he was looking through my soul as I approached this sign was hilarious. Does he know something I don’t? I had to laugh.

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