Springdale Cemetery in January

Saturday the air was cool but the light was bright and the shadows were striking at Springdale Cemetery. I walked up and down the bluffs for several hours with my camera and found many interesting things to photograph. The light and shadows fascinated me as I continuted to search for birds and other creatures that live in the cemetery.

The first thing I saw when I walked along the creekside road was an adult Bald Eagle soaring over the bluffs. Seconds later I spotted an Eastern Red-tailed Hawk. Later on my walk an owl flew over, being chased by jays and crows. He landed in a tree on a distant bluff and then was hounded away. Later, as I headed down the bluff, I spotted another Red-tailed Hawk flying into a tree. When I got close enough to attempt a photo he flew to another tree. Then a second hawk flew to the tree and the first hawk flew away. In addition, I found deer in the pine trees behind the little hillside savanna. All in all it was an excellent day!

 

Deer at Springdale
While walking under the pine trees behind the little hillside savanna, I found three deer grazing. They slowly walked down the bluff and left me to mind my own affairs.

 

 

Springdale Creek
Springdale Creek runs through the cemetery. It is a dry creek most of the time, but on Saturday it was running strong.

 

 

 

Abandoned Park Building
This building has only desintegrated over the 20 years that we'ver lived in Peoria. It looks like part of the park district and is fenced off from the cemetery. It is sometimes covered with huge tarps that must cost a fortune, but after the first storm they start to fall apart and no one does anything. Lately they seem to have given up trying to cover it. I think at this point they should recover any materials (the tile roof!) and tear it down. What is the point of preserving it like this?

 

View from the Cemetery
In the winter when the leaves are off the trees you can see the river and the McCluggage Bridge from the high river bluffs.

 

 

 

Shadows and Light
The light on the monuments and hillsides was outstanding.

 

 

 

Springdale savanna
The Cole monument stands in the center of the savanna under a huge sassafras tree.