Emiquon Panoramas: Lake Thompson

These were taken from Morton Ridge, looking out over the recently burned prairie and Lake Thompson on the other side of the highway.



This was taken from another part of the ridge, looking through the trees.


This was taken from one of the levees off Prairie Road, looking north towards Morton Ridge.


This was taken from Clark Road, looking over the wet prairie on the north end of Lake Thompson.

Emiquon on a Cloudy Day

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Hundreds of thousands of Coots, with a few Northern Shovelers and Blue-winged Teal mixed in, are spread across the huge expanse of water that makes up Lake Thompson. A couple of dozen Great Egrets and a few Great Blue Herons were foraging at the waters edge.

I don't see many mammals at Emiquon. Deer are the most common. I've also seen beaver, a muskrat, rabbits, a young raccoon, and a few coyotes.

Hundreds of muskrat dens are scattered around the edge of Lake Thompson.


This coyote was hunting up on the ridge as we drove towards the gate on our way out.

Spring Ephermerals at Allerton Park

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Originally uploaded by jward199

Before my Allerton Corps of Discovery meeting last Thursday, I took a walk near the bridge by the Buck Schroth Interpretive Trail, and found the forest floor carpeted in wildflowers like Spring Beauty, Blood Root, Dutchmen's Britches, Purple Trillium, and Trout Lily (Dog's Tooth Violet).