Monday, March 07, 2011

Ducks, Pelicans, and Snow Geese

Yesterday morning, thousands of ducks of various kinds covered the water at the flooded Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, Wilder Track, and in the wetland by Bellrose trail, as well as along the edges of Thompson Lake.
03062011JGW-MallardsEmiquonNWR-Wilder_MG_3711

03062011JGW-MallardsFlushingEmiquonNWR-Wilder_MG_3705

03062011JGW-MallardsFlushingEmiquonNWR-Wilder_MG_3611

03032011JGW-MallardsSpringLakeBottomes_MG_3423

On Thompson Lake, a small flock of pelicans was actively fishing, as were gulls swarming around them.

03062011JGW-PelicansGullsFeedingEmiquonWetPrairiePull-off_MG_3738

Across from County 9, a large flock of Snow Geese had been rather inactive for the past 40 minutes.
03062011JGW-SnowGeeseThompsonLakeWetlandPulloff_MG_3744

Just as we approached, they rose from the lake and began dispersing in all directions.
03062011JGW-SnowGeesePumpHouseRoad_MG_3764

03062011JGW-SnowGeesePumpHouseRoad_MG_3777

03062011JGW-SnowGeesePumpHouseRoad_MG_3782