Three Eaglets in Marshall County

Last Sunday we visited the blind across the highway from the Eagle nest. Other birders were present and they told us there were three eaglets. I was only able to see two, but when we got home I found that little third head in several photos.

For more pholtos or to watch a slideshow, check out my Picasa Web Album:

Eagles and Eaglets

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.