Sunday, August 15, 2010

Mudflats at Thompson Lake

In August the water began to go down as TNC continued to pump water from the lake. For the first time in a couple of years, mudflats were exposed along the edges of the lake.

I took a walk along the south end of the lake on August 15, 2010. The colors of Emiquon are constantly changing, and on this day, with prairie flowers in bloom and a deep blue sky reflecting off the lake, the colors were glorious.
EmiquonSouthLevee08152010JGWard_MG_8658

EmiquonSouthLevee08152010JGWard_MG_8659

EmiquonSouthLevee08152010JGWard_MG_8663

The deep greens of the cattails contrast with the bright yellow blooms speckled through the prairie and the blue of the sky and lake.
ColorsEmiquon08152010JGWard_MG_8666

I can see Sister Creeks Farm, 7 miles to the north of Emiquon, along Route 24.
EmiquonSouthLeveePelicans08152010JGWard_MG_8773

The receding lake left large expanses of mudflats in its wake.
EmiquonMudflatsSouthLevee08152010JGWard_MG_8972

Teal, Egrets, and Gulls hung out on a flat in the middle of the lake.
EmiquonTealGullsEgretsSouthLevee08152010JGWard_MG_8937

WaterfowlEmiquonSouthLevee08152010JGWard_MG_8850

WaterfowlEmiquonSouthLevee08152010JGWard_MG_8881

Pelicans flew overhead.
PelicansEmiquonSouthLevee08152010JGWard_MG_8672

PelicansEmiquonSouthLevee08152010JGWard_MG_8845

Shorebirds foraged along the edges of the mudflats.
ShorebirdsEmiquonSouthLevee08152010JGWard_MG_8784

Lesser or Greater Yellowlegs were among the shorebirds.
LesserYellowlegsEmiquon08152010JGWard_MG_8751

LesserYellowlegsEmiquonSouthLevee08152010JGWard_MG_8915

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