South Peoria Loop: Spring Lake, Chautauqua, and Emiquon

My friend Ed and I drove down to Emiquon on Saturday. We went down on the east side of the river, stopping by Spring Lake Bottoms to check out the waterfowl and Eurasian Tree Sparrows, then drove down to Chautauqua in hopes of seeing the Cattle Egret, which was not present. We had lunch at the Chuck Wagon Restaurant in Havana, crossed the Illinois River and then stopped at Path 2 at Emiquon, the path that leads to the pumphouse. We photographed the dead Carp (The Nature Conservancy recently drained the newly forming lakes to kill off Eurasion Carp), but the Pelicans I found last week were gone.

 

 

 

Emiquon Preserve: The Nature Conservancy has drained the newly forming lakes to kill off the Asian Carp.

 

 

Chautauqua Wildlife Refuge. Along the 1/2 mile nature walk we encountered wildflowers and warblers. The Palm Warbler was flying around the brush at the edge of the lake.

 

 

 

 

Waterfowl at Spring Lake Bottoms, behind Larry's Restaurant.

 

 

Mute Swans at Spring Lake Bottoms.

 

 

 

 

Eurasian Tree Swallow behind Larry's Restaurant at Spring Lake.

 

Great Blue Heron and Ducks flying over the wetland at Spring Lake Bottoms, behind Larry's Restaurant.

 

 

Palm Warbler at Spring Lake Fish and Wildlife Area. My friend Ed took this photograph.

 

Yellow-rumped Warbler, high in a tree at Spring Lake Fish and Wildlife Area in Tazewell County.

 

 

A Spring Morning at Cooper Park

Scott and I visited Cooper Park last week. The river, which had been up over the boasrdwalk, was back down, allowing us to look for spring birds along the board walk. The beaver den was washed out, but we found a new den south of the pond. The pond was devastated by the flood waters and the beavers have yet to repair the dam. Perhaps they are waiting for the water to receed some more.

 

 

Tree Swallows were all over the place at Cooper Park last Friday morning.

 

 

Mallard Duck and Drake. These are the resident pair of ducks, and they are not terribly concerned when someone stops to take their photographs.

 

 

Tree Swallow Squabbles. They were squabbling all over the place!

 

 

Hermit Thrush at Cooper Park. As Scott and I walked along the boardwalk towards the beaver pond, a Hermit Thrush landed on a branch near me and posed for a half dozen photos before flying off to invisible parts of the woods.

 

 

 

Cattle Egret Near Lake Chautauqua

 

 

 

 

Wednesday morning I did some birding at Emiquon Preserve, which I will report on later, then I had lunch in Havana at the Chuck Wagon restaurant and headed home (Peoria) on the East side of the river, making sure I drove past the Chautauqua area where the Cattle Egret had been reported foraging on the side of the busy rural road. Yes, I did find the Cattle Egret! much farther north than previously reported, but otherwise, just as described, and I have photos!

I had to pull over to the other side of the road to get enough distance for my 100-400mm lens, but man I got some good shots! A car came up and drove past me on the right (the only space I gave him) and the old guy inside gave me some ugly shots with his eyes, but he never spotted the Egret. . . . Later I found him pulling into the Hillaleah Club (a rural bar, just outside of Goofy Ridge). . .my husband said that I lmust have been in his way between him and his beer! ;-)

P.S.
I have a story about how Goofy Ridge got its name. It is posted here:
http://walkwithmepart2.blogspot.com/search?q=goofy+ridge