Eight-spotted Forester Moth at Emiquon

This butterfly turned out to be a moth. It was wandering around the milkweed along one of the old farm canals on the east side of Thompson Lake, near the now under water Pumphouse Road.
Alypia octomaculata; Owlet Moth Family Noctuidae; Forester Moth Subfamily Agaristinae
From eNature.com (Click title above to link to the article).
"Adults fly in bright daylight and are often mistaken for butterflies. The caterpillars spin thin cocoons of silk and litter or wood chips on the ground or in tunnels cut into wood. There is 1 generation a year."

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Originally uploaded by jward199

BankSwallowsEmiquon_MG_9380

BankSwallowsEmiquon_MG_9380
Originally uploaded by jward199

Thousands of Bank Swallows were swarming over the waters of Thompson Lake, landing briefly in the few trees and shrubs that still exist along the farming canals in the center of Thompson Lake.

Black-necked Stilts at Emiquon

This summer of 2008 a dozen or more Black-necked Stilts have been inhabiting one of the canals left from the farming where Thompson Lake now resides. I was fortunate to catch a ride on a tour given by The Nature Conservancy after a day of volunteer work planting Cardinal Flowers in the wet prairie around Thompson Lake.

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Emiquon Prairie Road

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Originally uploaded by jward199

As the storm passed through the Emiquon valley, a golden light seeped in over the prairie.

Emiquon Valley Views

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Looking towards Canton from the Prairie Road, just after a great thunder and lightning storm passed over Emiquon.

Muskrat at Emiquon, Thompson Lake

Muskrat at Emiquon, Thompson Lake
Originally uploaded by jward199

This muskrat had his/her eye on me as we passed the den in our pontoon boat.

Spotted Sandpiper with Black-necked Stilt at Emiquon

Spotted Sandpiper with Black-necked Stilt at Emiquon
Originally uploaded by jward199

A Spotted Sandpiper was peeping around with the Black-necked Stilts at Thompson Lake, Emiquon Preserve, on July 11, 2008.

Wood Duckling Emiquon

WoodDucklingEmq_MG_9373
Originally uploaded by jward199

This little Wood Duck was kind of late in responding to the take-off call from the mama. But his eyes show his intention to flee, which he presently did!