Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Emiquon in September 2009

I have been preparing for our move from Peoria to Fulton County, and I haven't posted anything since the end of August. I'm catching up with some photos from September on several visits to the TNC's Emiquon Preserve in September, 2009.

September 9, 2009

Pelicans were streaming out across Thompson Lake. This panorama was taken from Clark Road:

EmiquonPanorama09092009-2

The estuary that formed between Clark Road and IL State 78 highway was shrouded in clouds:

EmiquonClarkRoad09092009JGWard_MG_9462

September 17, 2009

The light was fantastic on September 17. Here is a panorama showing the trees TNC planted in the field along Clark Road:

EmiquonPanorama09172009

Pelicans were far out on the lake on a strip of land:

Emiquon09192009JGWard_MG_9597

The estuary between Clark Road and IL State 78 was also bathed in a golden light:

ClarkRoadEstuaryEmiquon09172009JGWard_MG_9479

ClarkRoadEmiquon09172009JGWard_MG_9481

September 19, 2009

I drove down to Dickson Mounds Museum on the 19th for an Emiquon Corps of Discovery meeting. In the afternoon, I went on a TNC tour of the property. We had a tour from the boat followed by a drive up on the ridge, which is composed of native American mounds. From the ridge you get a fantastic view of the lake.

This photo shows the north end of Thompson lake and the levee that separates Thompson Lake from the Sister Creeks estuary.

Emiquon09192009JGWard_MG_9598

The afternoon light brought out the gold in the goldenrod growing in the prairie below the ridge and around Thompson Lake.

RidgeViewThompsonLake09192009JGWard_MG_9599

EmiquonPrairie09192009JGWard_MG_9604

September 27, 2009

I didn't get back down until September 27, when I brought down more books and laundry to the new house. Mary came with us and we took her for a drive on Clark Road. We found a flock of Cattle Egrets following the sheep around a farm yard. It is always such fun to see the egrets in action, and I was glad that Mary was along to witness the event!

CattleEgretsSheepClarkRoad09272009JGWard_MG_9619

CattleEgretsSheepClarkRoad09272009JGWard_MG_9625

CattleEgretsSheepClarkRoad09272009_MG_9640

September 29, 2009

On the 29 I drove along IL 78 and stopped at the boat ramp. The lake water was painted in greens and blues from a cyanotbacteria that has been blooming since April and duckweed.

Emiquon09292009JGWard_MG_9648

Waterfowl were pretty far out on the lake, but this Pied-billed Grebe swam close enough to crop out a photo.

Pied-billedGrebeEmiquon09292009JGWard_MG_9649

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