We received a trace ( T ) of rain in the past week, 0.04" of rain in the past 2 weeks. Normally that would be a concern, but we are still reaping the benefits of the heavy August rains. Soil moisture is fine, corn crop and pastures are doing very well. Garden, flowers, and lawn have not needed supplemental watering since the August rains began. Ranch lake level is steady at 98% of capacity. Last week I reported that we had seen and photographed unidentified game birds and submitted the pictures to the Illinois DNR for identification. We are excited to report that the IDNR has identified them as wild Hungarian Partridges ( AKA Grey Partridges ). They are considered "extremely rare in wild populations across Illinois”, and in the absence of our photographs it would have been thought "highly unlikely to encounter wild coveys in Mercer County, Illinois". I have attached 2 of the 9 pictures that were taken on 08/12/26 by my sister and I.