Snow Geese at Emiquon!

Scott and I did our hawk run on Tuesday and then explored Emiquon for a while. It was marvelous, as always. There is something about the winter browns and golds of the wet prairie surrounding Lake Thompson that pleases my eye. I parked at one of the pull-offs and walked down to the lake to get a better look at the waterfowl congregating in an open pool. A small bird flew into tree in front of me. It was a Meadowlark! A sure sign of spring!


I attempted to get closer to the Meadowlark when an eagle flew over with a headless Coot in its talons. It dropped the Coot while I was photographing the scene.



Another eagle circled over the large flock of Greater White-fronted Geese before landing on the ice behind the flock.




Canvasback Ducks flew over and joined a mixed group of ducks in an open pool.


Another eagle flew over, and then another. As I looked around I realized there were about 7 eagles far out on the ice. Altogether there were 20 eagles flying over and around Lake Thompson.




Just as I was about to head back to the car I noticed a flock of white and black birds flying in a huge whirlwind of birds. This was the largest flock of Snow Geese I have ever seen. It looked like a million birds flying in and circling from one side of Thompson Lake to the other. They covered the horizon at one time, then they tightened their circle and dropped down from the sky.






Meanwhile, some American Coots came walking over the ice to the open pool near by.

Eagles along River Beach Drive

Last week Scott and I drove up to Chillicothe along River Beach Drive. We found 6 eagles, including a pair that may be the eagles nesting in Marshall County, at least I like to think so!




We also found some waterfowl, several groups of Goldeneyes and a few Common Mergansers.

Cooper Park On Ice

Cooper Park was under ice after a deep freeze when Scott and I visited on February 7, 2009.