Walk with Me

Migrating Snow Geese on New Years Eve at Emiquon

2011-12-31T18:21:00.000-06:00

On the eve of the new year, I took this video of a huge raft of migrating snow geese, on Thompson Lake at the Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Nature Preserve in Fulton County Illinois, as it rises and lowers to form a new raft farther south on the lake. You can hear the wind and the highway noises, but I left in the sound so you can hear the geese. I uploaded this video as is, without editing.

A Short Drive through Lewistown

2011-11-05T13:06:00.000-05:00

Driving around Lewistown one sunny afternoon, I stopped to photograph a few of the historic buildings.

The Fulton County Courthouse was built in 1897 to replace the earlier Courthouse destroyed by fire.

Caboose in Lewistown, Illinois, sitting on a small section of track, right next to the Railway Express Agency.

"On December 16, 1905, Lewistown was notified a $5,000 grant (later increased to $5,400) would be forthcoming from the Carnegie Corporation. The following year a lot site was purchased for $450 from Amelia and Daniel Talbott, a building design by Paul O. Moratz of Bloomington, IL was created, and T. M. Mercer was contracted for the construction of the Lewistown Carnegie Public Library. The library materials were moved once again; but, this move has lasted more than 100 years.

The building’s cornerstone bears the inscription “Carnegie 1906.” It not only serves as a testament to the generosity of Andrew Carnegie but also to the untiring efforts of the Lewistown Public Library and Reading Room Association and the Lewistown community."
Lewistown Carnegie Library's History

Ratcliff Park is located on West Ave E, County 14 Road. Glen Ratcliff donated the park to the park district. There are two quarter mile walking/biking asphalt paths, fitness stations, pavilion, restrooms and picnic areas. These photos were taken from the upper park. In the first photo, if you look closely, you can see two eagles soaring over the hillside.

October Road

2011-10-08T12:48:00.000-05:00

Although I can still see the lake when I look across the newly planted bottomland forest from Clark Road, some day the Oaks, Pecans, and Sycamores will block the view.

Several small snakes didn't make it across the road in their attempt to get up the bluff from the grassland.

Few flowers bloomed.

Dragonflies were still abundant, and slower than they were in the hot months of summer, more likely to land.

Bumble Bees still buzzed about.

Katydids and spiders.

All to be found along Clark Road in October.

The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Wetland Observatory

2011-10-05T11:53:00.000-05:00

The trees north of the entrance road leading to the Wetland Observatory displayed their autumn colors.

Dabbling ducks of various kinds filled the shallow waters of the wetland.

A group of people with some folks from TNC and Dickson Mounds Museum gathered out on the boardwalk overlooking the lake.

From the Lake Observatory boardwalk, I could see the Wetland Observatory, across water alive with plants and algae.

Pelicans and Cormorants lined up on the ridge between Flag and Thompson Lakes.

October Light

2011-10-03T11:22:00.000-05:00

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October."
- Nathaniel Hawthorne

A view of the Emiquon Wetland Observatory from Clark Road shows the changing colors of early October.

In early Autumn, many insects are out sunning themselves, making it easier to get photographs:

Praying Mantis:

Common Green Darner dragonfly, female:

Common Green Darner, male:

Harvester:

A grackle seemed to be eyeing the insects I was photographing!

A female Indigo Bunting came out to see what was going on:

The trees between Clark Road and the lake are growing; one day I won't be able to see the lake from this point.

Sunset over Thompson Lake

2011-09-04T19:10:00.000-05:00

By September 4, the weather had cooled down and it was quite pleasant. I stopped by the Emiquon Nature Preserve visitor access area and took a few photos of the lake in the setting sun.

I walked past the canoe launch on my way to the elevated observation platform.

As I climbed the steps to the overlook at the Wetland Observatory, I turned to look towards the sun setting over the bluffs on the other side of the highway.

The waxing half moon was rising as the sun set behind the nature preserve.

Clark Road Pathway Overgrown

2011-08-31T21:35:00.000-05:00

On the last day of August, I decided to take a walk down the pathway from Clark road to the levee. The pathway was completely overgrown with wetland plants that heavy rains created in June and early July, before the oppressive heat and corresponding drought moved into the area.

Great Blue Lobelia bloomed at the edge of the prairie.

The pond the beavers created under the bridge was dried up, and the plants had taken over.

Plants blocked the pathway leading away from the bridge TNC built to cross the stream that crosses the path.

I fought my way past the plants only to find more plants; no trace of the former pathway could be found. Foxtail grass, Sneeze Weed, Boneset, and Ironweed, sedges and other wetland plants covered the open acres of land between the stream and Thompson Lake.

Duncan Mills

2011-08-23T21:30:00.000-05:00

I took the long way home from Emiquon, taking Route 100 to Lewistown. This route passes the corner of Duncan Mills, an unincorporated community near the Spoon River. I have long admired an old barn near the intersection of US 136 and IL 100.

An automobile garage is the only business left in the area.

Here is a photo from long ago, when there was a mill here:

Short Trip Through the Prairie

2011-08-20T16:37:00.000-05:00

After meeting with the Emiquon Corps of Discovery at Dickson Mounds Museum, I drove through the prairie to see if the Cardinal Flower was still in bloom. I found several of the brilliant red plants blooming at the foot of the bluff along Prairie Road:

I found several Anise Hyssop plants blooming, which is rare in Illinois. Typical habitats include upland areas of prairies, such as the one at the base of the bluff here at Emiquon. It may also be found in scrubby barrens and thickets.

The cup flowers had almost finished blooming by mid-August.

Summer Sunrise at Emiquon

2011-08-07T06:26:00.000-05:00

The summer of 2011 was sweltering here in Fulton County, as in much of the nation, and I didn't venture out very often. Early one day in August, I woke to find the temperature had dropped into the upper 60s. A cool front! So I headed to the Lake Observatory at Emiquon Nature Preserve's newly opened visitor center.

From the boardwalk at the Lake Observatory, I could see across the lake to the Wetland Observatory, which was silhouetted against the morning sky.

Crop Dusting the Valley

2011-07-12T19:05:00.000-05:00

Mid-July a flurry of crop dusting took place, with planes flying directly over our little house on the bluff.

Simmering July 2011

2011-07-05T19:01:00.000-05:00

July was a hot and humid month, with temps around 100 degrees, heat index even higher. I didn't get out much. But I did stop on the way along IL 78 to take some photos of a couple of barns in disrepair. They will not be with us long. I keep telling myself to take a picture while I can, so I finally did!

Later in the month, on a trip to Peoria, I stopped at the sunflower field north of Banner Marsh. I love sunflowers in July!

From the Top -- Emiquon Wetland Observatory

2011-06-25T18:02:00.000-05:00

Black Saddle-bag and Common Green Darner dragonflies patroled the area by the Wetland Observatory. I was able to capture this one dragonfly in flight. The others were mere blurs against the background as they changed course and zoomed out of focus.

I turned back on the steps to the upper level of the observatory and took a photo of IL 78/97 as it heads up the bluff. The Nature Conservancy owns the upper woodlands on both sides of the highway.

Double-crested Cormorants and Cattle Egrets rested on the snags out on the far side of the lake.

Looking back the other way, I captured the boardwalk in the setting sun.

The canoe launch sat empty and unused, yet peaceful against the blue sky.

Emiquon in June on a Not-So-Humid Day

2011-06-15T21:23:00.003-05:00

After a week or so of oppressive humid heat in early June, some cooler air blew in over the Emiquon Wetland Observatory.

As I entered the compound from the highway, I paused and looked south towards Havana. Bright blue sky and billowing clouds filled the sky behind the remaining foundations left over from farming.

Looking North, the trees that once surrounded the farm houses and buildings stood tall on the grass emerging after the year-long construction project.

The Lake Observatory is closest to the boat ramp. The boardwalk reaches out over the edge of Lake Thompson.

Looking north across the lake from here I could see the long boardwalk leading to the Wetland Observatory.

Looking to the west towards the highway and the upland bluffs of Morton Mounds, a semi-truck passes by.

I started out on the boardwalk that crosses the wetland on its way out to the observatory.

Long ropes of algae made patterns in the water.

As the humidity began to rise, clouds formed over the bluffs.

And a Red-winged Blackbird called out to mark his nesting territory.

A female Red-wing also stood watch nearby.

Clark Road in June

2011-06-12T08:06:00.000-05:00

On a walk along Clark Road, I found some Assassin bugs on various types of vegetation.

The apples on the old apple tree that grows along the road, one of the few of an original orchard planted by one of the settlers along Clark road, had a few apples beginning to form.

From the mowed path leading from Clark Road to the wetland, you can see the growing bottomland forest trees planted by TNC back in the spring of 2009. One day, I will not be able to see the lake from this spont for the trees!

Quite a few Blue Dasher dragonflies were cruising along the path, pausing every now and then on a dried stem or blade of grass.

A pair of Red-tailed Hawks worked the area from high above.

Moth Mullein, Purple Vetch, and Wild Parsnips were in bloom.

Grapes were forming in the vines growing along the tree-lined creek that runs beside the path.

Large patches of Prairie Thistle are establishing themselves in the prairie.

An Indigo Bunting sang a brief song before disappearing into the tree line.

Dragonflies flew overhead, underfoot, across the path in front of me, and on both sides. A few were nice enough to land briefly for photographs.

While photographing a bug landing on the leaf of a milkweed plant, I found a green tree frog camouflaged against the leaf.

Duckweed covered the creek that the beavers dammed earlier in the spring.

Early Morning in June at the Wetland Observatory

2011-06-09T06:22:00.001-05:00

Early one overcast morning, I went down to the lake. The water in the lake was deep, corresponding to the deep water in the Illinois River. Wading birds, like the Great Egret and Great Blue Heron, were not to be found. However, the ubiquitous Red-winged blackbird and Killdeer calls filled the air.

The dark brooding and oppressive clouds began thundering nearby, and I headed to my car before the storm hit the lake.

Snow Geese in June

2011-06-05T18:41:00.000-05:00

Four Snow Geese camped out at the edge of the lake at the Pump House Road access for about 2 weeks at the end of May, first week in June. This seems very late in the season for migrating geese.

A pair of Black-necked Stilts foraged along the edge of the lake near by.

Summer at Emiquon Began with the Lake Festival!

2011-06-04T18:37:00.000-05:00

Summer has been speeding along here in the Emiquon valley. I haven't posted much, so my next few posts will be about the summer.

The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Lake Festival

After about a year of construction, the Emiquon Preserve hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new visitor use area off Route 78 and Route 97. Visitors to the preserve are now able to enjoy almost two miles of hiking trails, an area for launching boats and a floating canoe launch. The Lakeside Observatory extends out over the lake, with a pavilion and boardwalk. In addition, a long boardwalk stretches across the wetlands leading to the two-story Wetlands Observatory, complete with spotting scopes for watching wildlife.

TNC and its partners greeted their guests from the second level.

TNC and its partners manned booths that provided the public with additional information about the area and their activities.

Partners include: Dickson Mounds Museum, University of Illinois Springfield, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Emiquon Corp of Discovery, Illinois Natural History Survey, Havana Nature Center, The City of Lewistown, Emiquon Audubon, Mackinaw Valley Longriffle Association, Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway, The River Crossroads Restaurant, Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and The Nature Conservancy’s Central Illinois Council.

Activities included canoeing in IDNR Voyageur canoes, hay rack rides and hands-on activities for the entire family.

A trolley carried visitors from the lake to other activities at Dickson Mounds Museum, UIS Therkildsen Field Station, and the village of Lewistown.

The visitor use areas is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Come for a visit, and experience the Emiquon wetland restoration for yourselves!

Prairie, Wetlands, and Beaver Ponds at Emiquon

2011-05-12T15:15:00.057-05:00

One of the privileges of being a member of the Emiquon Corps of Discovery is to be able to walk along paths that are not usually open to the public. In May, the path from Clark Road to the North Levee was interrupted by a large pond. In addition, beavers are damming the little creek that flows through the wetland, right along the bridge. If it keeps going up the bridge will be under water. Hopefully the water levels will start to go down before long.

From Clark Road, looking south, I could just barely see the new observatories near the boat ramp. The observatories blend in with the surrounding landscape.

Walking down the path between the wood line and the prairie, I could see Thompson Lake peeking from between the trees.

As I turned around to photograph the bottomland trees planted back in 2007, a yellow school bus headed up the bluff on IL 78 Hwy.

The beavers have been busy building a dam across the stream that runs through the wetland.

I found a Peal Crescent butterfly resting on a twig near the stream.

I walked on along the mowed path that leads to the hunting areas until I encountered the new wetland, spreading out across the path.

I wanted to walk out to the hunting signs and turn north on the path to the levee. However the wetland over the path had water approximately 6 inches deep in spots on the twelfth of May.

Since I couldn't walk through it without disturbing it greatly, I turned back and watched a pair of Mallard ducks flying over.

Mid-May at Emiquon

2011-05-12T14:57:00.012-05:00

Black-necked Stilts foraged in the shallow water at the edge of Thompson Lake.

Northern Shovelers and other waterfowl hung out at the Rare Fish Propagation pond by County 9 Road.

American Coots:

Redhead Ducks:

Sunrise at Emiquon

2011-05-10T16:06:00.012-05:00

Early one morning in May, I headed down to Emiquon. The prairie was shrouded in fog.

Over the lake, the sun rose over the clouds.

The wetland observatory stood out against the sunrise.

May Flowers

2011-05-04T11:24:00.001-05:00

In early May, on a walk through a wooded valley at Emiquon, I found some of the usual woodland wildflowers and three morel mushrooms.

Virginia Bluebells:

Purple Trillium:

Spring Beauty:

Slender Cordalis:

Morel Mushroom:

Horsetail Rushes:

Emiquon in April

2011-04-11T18:50:00.001-05:00

I frequently photograph the estuary that has formed at the junction of IL 78 Highway and Clark Road. Some day soon, I will not be able to see the estuary for the trees. 70 percent of the bottomland forest trees planted by TNC in 2007 have survived and are thriving!

At the other end of the lake, one utility pole remains. The rest came down with the incredible movement of the frozen lake water in the winter of 2009-2010.

From the south levee, you can see all the way to the stacks of the Duck Creek power plant, 10 miles to the north.

The grass at the wetland pull-off turned green seemingly over night.

Looking North, you can see the bluffs in the distance. What a wide river valley!

Cormorants hung out in the remaining trees sticking out of the water on the far side of the lake.

Heading along County 9 Road, the bluffs have a different appearance.

The Nature Conservancy burned the prairie next to TNC headquarters this spring. I arrived a couple of days after the burn, when all was black.

The caretaker's cottage really stands out against the brilliant blue sky, white clouds, and bright green grass on this April afternoon.

Prairie Road winds around between the bluffs and the prairie.

My favorite Hackberry tree also stands out against the blue sky filled with billowing clouds.

Looking back at the sun, which is beginning to set over the bluffs.

One last stop, at the Prairie Road wetland, before I head back up the bluff towards home.

Pelicans, Cormorants, and Coots at Emiquon

2011-03-29T15:20:00.005-05:00

Yesterday there were a few dozen pelicans out by the Pump House Road pull-off. Surrounding the pelicans were many hundreds of Double-crested Cormorants, dozens of diving ducks, including Hooded Mergansers, and a couple dozen Ring-billed Gulls frolicking in the water.

A group of American Coots foraged for food in the mud and grass at the edge of the lake.

Ducks, Pelicans, and Snow Geese

2011-03-07T11:25:00.000-06:00

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.

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

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

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

2011-03-04T12:11:00.001-06:00

Illinois River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

Snow Geese Migration

2011-02-28T18:01:00.002-06:00

It seemed like there were a million Snow Geese spread out over Thompson Lake at TNC's Emiquon Preserve on the last weekend in February.

On Saturday Feb 26, we found thousands of birds on Thompson Lake. We stopped at the only shoulder on IL 78 Hwy, across from Dickson Mounds (County 9) Road. It was overcast and foggy in the distance, but we couldn't miss this large flock of geese.

All of a sudden, they rose from the water, circled around, and then settled down again.

On Monday, Feb 28, I went back and the geese put on an even more spectacular show.

I made this video of the geese rising en masse:

Every time I checked back last week, there were geese on the water and/or flying overhead.

Snow Geese and Eagles on Thompson Lake

2011-02-18T13:23:00.025-06:00

Last week, as the ice started melting on Thompson Lake, Canada Geese gathered out on the edge of the water as a Northern Harrier flew over.

Snow Geese came flying over the bluff on the West side of Clark Road and just kept going.

Juvenile eagles flew over the lake and prairie at the junction of Rt. 78 and County 9 Road.

Bald eagles hung out on the melting ice covering Thompson Lake.

Eagles on the Illinois River

2011-02-13T10:27:00.014-06:00

On the Sunday after the blizzard of 2011, we stopped by the riverfront at Havana. Eagles were everywhere, and a high percentage of them were young. They were gathered along the edge of the river, near the mouth of the Spoon River, eating fish which had been frozen in the sub-zero temperatures of the week before.

We left the riverfront and headed to Quiver Lake where we found more adult and juvenile eagles.

Out on Quiver Lake, where the water was open, an eagle snatched a fish only to drop it the next second.

Snowy Emiquon

2011-02-04T20:28:00.002-06:00

After viewing eagles in Havana, I drove back home through Emiquon, taking a detour through Prairie Road, which had been cleared of snow. Before turning onto County 9 from IL 78, I stopped on the only spot of shoulder along the stretch of highway that bisects the Emiquon Preserve. I took a photo of the frozen lake. The gray area on the lake is the last open area and the first that will open up if the temperatures get up above freezing.

I stopped on County 9 and took a photo of the bluffs far across the snowy cornfield.

From Prairie Road, I had a different perspective using my wide angle lens.

Dickson Creek was picturesque in the snow.

A Pinto horse stood at the fence near the road as I passed one of the farm houses on Prairie Road.

A Red-tailed Hawk took off from the prairie and flew along the bluff before disappearing to the other side.

An American Kestrel landed in a tree in front of me and stayed put for a few moments before relocating farther away.

Little winter birds, mostly America Sparrows, darted into the prairie for shelter as I drove by. The snow covered bluff in the background stood out against the bright blue February sky.

I stopped at the Prairie Road Wetland and looked back at the bluffs. I could still see the scrolls of Prairie flowers that had bloomed in golden colors all summer.

I turned back towards the wetland and the juxtaposition of blue sky, white snow and dark trees, with the Havana cloud maker pumping away in the background.

Eagles at Havana's River Front

2011-02-03T19:09:00.003-06:00

The Illinois River at Havana is a great place to view eagles. I stopped by on January 30 and found 8 - 10 eagles in the trees on the west side of the river. However, one beauty posed for me on the sign for Tall Timbers Marina on the east side.

In the parking lot, a flock of Ring-billed Gulls hung out, waiting for someone to throw out some bread, or a fish to land, not sure which:

Yesterday, after digging out from the blizzard that passed through on Tuesday, I drove back over to the riverfront. The light was much better, but no eagles posed on the east side. The temperature was in the lower teens, and steam billowed out of the power plant south of the bridge.

Two eagles were out on the ice. As I attempted to focus on one, it lifted off and flew upstream.

I focused on the other eagle, thinking what a strange looking eagle. Once my lens focused I could see that it was a Red-tailed Hawk sitting out on the ice.

Fifteen or more eagles were perched in the trees on the west side of the river and the west side of Tall Timber Marina.

As I returned to my car, I took one parting shot of the Red-tail, who continued his icy vigil.

I stopped by the grocery store before heading back across the river, and found an American Crow on the icy parking lot. I took one shot before it took off to move farther away.

Briney's Bird Farm -- Schuyler County

2011-01-30T18:57:00.003-06:00

While driving south on IL 100 last Sunday, Scott and I encountered Briney's Bird Farm, a huge game farm. Thousands of Chukars and Pheasant in fenced enclosures covered the bluff. All for Euro style hunts, with the birds released just in time to be shot. Hardly seems fair. Yet there was something eerily beautiful about the place.

On the other side of the river, in a field beside the long road from IL 78 to the Sanganois Conservation Area, we spotted a group of 12-15 wild pheasants. By the time I stopped the car and hopped out, only 4 remained, and they headed into the brush.

Early October Light

2010-10-04T15:33:00.038-05:00

Early in October I found a small flock of Cattle Egrets foraging with the sheep at the farm on Clark Road.

I headed on out to the path leading to the levee. The light was fantastic, with blue sky and billowing clouds. The wet prairie awaited. I took a photo of the prairie from the road, where I parked my car. I could see all the way to the northern levee. The palette of colors changing with the variuos habitats was subtle and vibrant in the morning light.

As I walked down the path, I looked back towards the bluff through a sea of Foxtail grass with the young trees planted by TNC poking their branches up through it. This is an affect of foreshortening caused by the 100mm lens, but it is a neat affect. The highway in front of the tree covered bluff rises behind the trees.

As I reach the small wetland that is forming along a former fence-row ditch, the dominant plant becomes smart weed, now past its prime. Trees left along the fence row provide a break in the prairie and wetland plants.

A pond is forming from the seemingly continuously flowing stream.

On the higher ground west of the newly forming wetland, Foxtail is the dominant grass, providing a wonderful expanse of golden grain.

Amid the golden sea of grain, a lone Goldenrod stood proud and tall, a brave move of the Goldenrod into Foxtail habitat in the continuous game of plant succession.

After leaving the path on Clark Road, I drove along the highway and stopped at the Wetland pull-off, one of several pull-offs that lead to former agricultural roads before TNC restored the land.

I also stopped at the Pump House Road pull-off, which was temporarily being used as a launch for fishing boats during construction of the new visitor center at the previous launch location.

I stopped at the pull-off leading to the former boat launch, which is now a construction zone, and turned to the north to take a photo of the trees that are being saved during the construction. These trees were part of the farm house and buildings during the hundred years the area was drained and farmed.

Looking south I could see all the way to Havana, and its giant cloud maker (the power plant).

Looking east I could see the transformation taking place at the former boat launch.

Emiquon's Northern Prairie

2010-09-14T14:40:00.027-05:00

The prairie on the north side of Thompson Lake has not been restored like the prairie on the west side of the highway. It is a bit ragged, but interesting, with huge areas of Goldenrod juxtaposed against large areas of Foxtail grass. The plant communities change as the land becomes higher and drier or lower and wetter. At one time there would have been a bottom land forest covering the area. TNC has planted a lot of trees on the higher ground, but hasn't done much but some mowing on the land closer to the lake.

TNC property begins with the prairie. The farmland next to it is privately owned.

As I look across the prairie from the levee, I can see the farmhouse on Clark Road and the trees along the bluff on the west side of the road. In between is a huge expanse of prairie undergoing plant succession, the continuous and fairly predictable change of plant species and communities over time. It is interesting to compare this area with the manipulated prairie west of the highway.

From the levee, I can see the prairie as it grows up the bluff and one of the TNC outbuildings on the west side of the highway, four or five miles a way. What a wonderful unobstructed view! On this day in September, the humidity was very low, providing an excellent view.

Butterflies and grasshoppers were still abundant in September.

Common Buckeye Butterfly:

Eastern Tailed-blue Butterfly:

Black Swallowtail Butterfly:

These are just a few of the many things one can see at Emiquon's northern prairie.

Monarch Migration

2010-09-12T16:38:00.000-05:00

Monarchs were migrating through the Emiquon Valley in mid-September.

Dragonfly Migration

2010-09-12T10:01:00.012-05:00

In mid-September, the dragonflies, mostly Green Darners, came through the Illinois River Valley in force. Everywhere I looked there were dragonflies all along the bluff. They moved like a river down the bluffs to the valley. I have never seen so many dragonflies in my life. It was impossible to capture the phenomenon, but I tried!

Rice Lake -- Let Nature Do It

2010-09-02T17:00:00.001-05:00

The Army Corps of Engineers is proposing a more than $11 million project at the Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area along the Illinois River. I really hope they don't go through with the project.

Cover photo from US Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District document: "Rice Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area Habitat Rehabilitation & Enhancement Project"

The project plan includes new river pumps, levees, and water transmission ditches, as well as the planting of 400 acres in trees. In my opinion, planting trees in an area on Duck Island that is currently being farmed is a fine thing to do. However, removing large numbers of trees that eagles use in the winter to roost and in the spring and summer to nest, in order to build levees and drainage ditches and to install large pumps is way too damaging to the environment. The construction would do nearly as much damage, if not more, to parts of this internationally listed migrating bird habitat as it would help.

Illustration from US Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District document: "Rice Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area Habitat Rehabilitation & Enhancement Project"

The corps plans to build 2,500 foot spillway that requires them to remove two feet of soil each foot of the length of the spillway, reducing the height to 10.5 feet. Water levels along this part of the Illinois River regularly top that. The plan requires the corps to remove more than 20 acres of mature trees for the levee and channel construction, which will impact bald eagle roosts as well as osprey nesting sites.

Many of the site's existing problems are due to lack of state funds to maintain current equipment and poor management. How will IDNR provide adequate funds for the additional costs of operating four new pumps, ditch and channel maintenance and levee maintenance, estimated at a cost of almost $50,000 annually? This number far exceeds the funds available over the past years for such maintenance.

The goal for this project is to enhance wetland and aquatic habitats. However, the best estimate by the Corps is a success rate of only 30 % for moist-soil plants production over a 10-year period! This isn't success! And it comes at a steep cost to the existing environment.

Construction disturbance for this project is expected to last at least three years, causing disruption to species and habitat loss.

Write IDNR Director Miller and Illinois Governor Quinn and ask them to stop this project before $11 million is spent for a 30% success rate and acres of trees lost in the process.

Rice Lake on the Rebound Two Weeks Later

2010-08-31T17:59:00.075-05:00

Two weeks after the tour with Bill Douglas and Bill Kapitko, I returned to Rice Lake to see how it was doing without flood waters saturating the land.

Someone has marked trees along the road leading to Copperas Landing, presumably to be removed.

Green carpeted the floors where just 2 weeks ago water was standing. Farther out where mudflats were exposed, a flock of pelicans rested.

At the Voorhees Unit, green carpeted the bottomland forest floor. You can see by the high water line on the trees just how deep the water had been in this area for the past several years.

I wanted to take a photo of the field where Decurrent False Aster grew several years ago before the high water inundated the area. I parked at the entrance of the Copperas Creek Walk-in Unit. However, as soon as I rounded the bend, I saw an IDNR truck and realized I was blocking their way. As I walked back to my car, a black contractor's truck stopped. The driver told me I needed to move my car, which I was on my way to do. He said he and his team were surveying the area for the Army Corps of Engineers proposed project to revamp the area. I was intrigued. I parked my car well out of the way, and decided to walk out to the Narrows Dam, which I had visited by boat with Bill Douglas and Bill Kapitko just two weeks ago.

As I walked down the path from the road, I spotted a stray Decurrent False Aster. It is a state threatened species, and I am glad to find even a small sample of it after the years of high water the area has endured.

The water marks on the trees along the path to the Narrows Dam showed how high the water had been before it was released two weeks ago.

The surveyors had parked their vehicles out on the levee leading to Slim Lake, where the Corps of Engineers plan to build a canal from a pumping station that they want to build to replace the existing pumps in returning water to the area in the fall.

I continued walking out to the dam. The canal that I traveled by boat two weeks ago is just as beautiful from the levee road I was walking to the Narrows Dam.

You can clearly see how high the water had been for so long by the lack of leaves on the lower half of the Button Bushes growing between the canal and the levee path.

A Monarch butterfly posed for me on some blooming Smartweed.

A Common Buckeye butterfly spread open his wings on the path.

Large numbers of Great Blue Herons flew along the edge of Hoaxie Ridge. There were 12-15 herons in all.

The path ends at the Narrows Dam. From there I could see former Peoria Mayor Bud Grieves's windmill and the chimney belching water vapor at Duck Creek power plant.

A family of Wood Ducks swam in the canal near the opening to Rice Lake.

A flock of American White Pelicans were gathered far out on the lake.

A few of them flew over my head, but it was hard to get a decent photo since I was using the mono-pod. It kind of went flying up in the air as I attempted to track the birds. It's a good thing no one was around to get wacked!

Spring Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area

2010-08-31T09:39:00.008-05:00

I drove the east side of the river on my way back from Pekin. I wanted to see the swans at Spring Lake. The lake was covered with American Lotus and Water Lily pads.

Northern Perspective at Emiquon

2010-08-18T09:49:00.039-05:00

Emiquon is a myriad of habitats with diverse populations of flora and fauna as shown in landscapes taken on a walk along the North Levee.

A Northern Harrier flew low over the prairie, far out near the lake. The tell-tale white rump shows even at that distance.

Monarchs were some of many butterflies I encountered on the walk, most of which would flutter away, far out of reach of my camera lens.

Many little birds disappeared in the prairie as I approached, but this Song Sparrow stopped briefly before disappearing with the others.

Sometime during the summer, TNC mowed rows in one section of the prairie. It is filling in now, but you can still see the rows.

Since TNC began pumping water out of Thompson Lake, mudflats have been exposed around the edges of the water. On this side of the lake they are quite extensive. Many shore birds, wading birds, and waterfowl were taking advantage of the shallow water and mudflats. The birds were way too far away to photograph, but the colors of the exposed mud against the water and the green of the wet prairie are striking.

Rice Lake: Letting the Water Out

2010-08-17T11:59:00.092-05:00

As one of many people who have enjoyed the Rice Lake State Conservation Area for many years, I have watched the high water remain in the area for the past three years. My friend, Joyce, and I have been concerned about the water's effect on the trees, as well as the lack of habitat for wading and shore birds. On August 17, Bill Douglass, the site manager, and Bill Kapitko, his associate, took us out for a tour of the area to see the water being released into the river.

They took us out on the lake and showed us the Narrows Dam, which was open. Water from Rice Lake flowed into Big Lake through the openings. At this time, Rice Lake was almost level with Big Lake.

Asian Carp flew up out of the water and into the boat as we crossed the lake.

We rode down the channel that leads from Rice Lake to the pump house.

The valves on the gatewell structure keeping water in the channel had been opened. One valve would only partially open, but the other valve was completely open, allowing water to flow into the creek from the Rice Lake.

After the ride on the lake, we followed them to Copperas Landing to go out on the river. We stopped by the pump house on our way to the landing.

Bill Douglass stopped on the bridge over Copperas Creek that leads to the pump house. He explained how under normal river levels, the IDNR lets water out of the compound in the early summer, when the river goes down. Then they pump water back into the area in the fall in preparation for waterfowl hunting.

The large tubes under the bridge bring water into the channel when the pumps are working.

The pumps bring water from this channel, which is privately owned and which has many siltation problems.

The valves of the gatewell structure were open, and the water from the channel flowed into the creek. This is the first time in several years that water has been released from the compound.

Looking down Copperas Creek from the bridge, we could see the water bubbling up as it flowed through the structure.

We stopped at the Voorhees Unit, where water was flowing through the water control structure into a channel leading to the river.

Bill took us out on the river to view the water leaving the area through other outlets. We hadn't gone far from the landing before we spotted an antennae sticking out of the water; it was attached to a submerged pickup truck. Bill called the local rescue team. They were still working on getting the truck from the river when we returned from our river ride. I never did find out what the story was with the truck.

We passed the West River, the small stream separating Senate Island, which is privately owned, from the land surrounding Big Lake.

Bill stopped by the Stoplog structure, from which water flowed freely into the river.

We ended the tour at the Woodyard Slough, were water flowed over the Hate Levee (so called because of the many fights between area gun clubs over water rights).

Mudflats at Thompson Lake

2010-08-15T14:55:00.037-05:00

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.

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

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

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

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

Pelicans flew overhead.

Shorebirds foraged along the edges of the mudflats.

Lesser or Greater Yellowlegs were among the shorebirds.

Mud Flats at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge

2010-07-25T20:18:00.001-05:00

I had heard that some nice shorebird habitat has recently appeared on the Wilder Tract at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge along the Spoon River, so Scott and I drove down to check it out.

As we approached the parking area, a group of 15-20 Turkey Vultures were feeding on dead fish trapped when the waters receded after recent flooding.

They flew off before I could get my camera attached to the mono-pod.

Whirligig beetles, black, flattened and streamlined for aquatic life have eyes that allow them to see both above and below the water surface. Several groups of the erratically moving beetles swam on the surface of the water in the canal running from the Spoon River Overflow.

The Wilder Track has great habitat right now; gulls and shorebirds foraged actively far out on the mud flats.

American White Pelicans congregated in large flocks on the north side of the area.

Dickson Mounds Museum emerges from the bluff behind the pelicans, several miles away.

Herons and egrets hunted the mudflats and shallow pools of water.

They also hunted in the canal running between the levee and the road.

Clark Road Prairie

2010-07-25T10:01:00.031-05:00

The trees that TNC planted near Clark Road will one day make this area a bottom land forest.

A female Indigo Bunting grabbed a bug, and then watched me warily before disappearing in the Horsetail weeds.

Gnats (not the dreaded Buffalo Gnats, which are gone) swarmed above the seed heads of a wild parsnip plant.

A tree hanging over one of the ponds had more than a dozen Blue Dasher's waiting for prey on its branches.

Pearl Crescent butterflies are small butterflies, and this one seemed smaller than most, about an inch across. Adults live from early spring through three or more generations into fall. The species overwinters in the larval stage.

An immature Hummingbird flew out of the brush and landed in a tree overlooking the mowed path.

An immature Eastern Wood Pewee also peaked out of the leaves.

Then I found a pair of Black Saddlebags mating.

On the way back to the car an Estern Amberwing and a male Widow Skimmer posed for the camera.

Sunrise at Emiquon

2010-07-24T08:33:00.002-05:00

I woke early last weekend and drove down to the boat launch area to watch the sun rise over the lake.

Several Bull Frogs were croaking near the shore.

The prairie near the Rare Fish pond was in bloom.

Yellow Coneflowers dominate the landscape.

Several deer were out in the prairie. This one near TNC headquarters watched me for a few minutes before continuing on its way.

Prairie flowers decorate the bluff in rolling scrolls.

An apple tree along Clark Road was hanging full of ripe fruit and butterflies.

Many Red-spotted Purple butterflies:

Question Mark Butterflies:

Heavy dew and fog hung low over the corn growing along Clark Road on the north side of the preserve.

Walking Thompson Levee

2010-07-12T16:13:00.003-05:00

Thompson Lake is still pretty deep and spreads out across most of the Emiquon Preserve. On most days I haven't seen many water birds from the front side of the lake, so on Monday I took a walk along the south levee to see what I would see.

Before the power poles came down last winter, a long line of power poles lined the eastern edge of the preserve. Now there is only one pole remaining. The above ground electric line was replaced with an underground line to the pump house, allowing TNC to pump some of the water from the lake that accumulated over the past two years of high water on the river system.

Dragonflies were everywhere, a couple even showed up in this landscape as two black specks near the top of the photo.

I didn't find many waterfowl on the south end of the levee.

As I turned the bend heading north, I found some ducks far out on the lake.

A female Eastern Pondhawk dragonfly rested on a dry patch of dirt on top of the levee.

A Conehead Katydid hid in the grass growing on the side of the levee.

A Slender Spreadwing damselfly rested on a blade of grass with its wings open.

A male Widow Skimmer dragonfly posed briefly for a photo.

Halloween Pennant dragonflies were everywhere, seemingly on every grass seed spike or leaf on both sides of the levee.

A Stillwater Clubtail dragonfly sunned himself on the gravel and shells brought in the fill used to cover the ruts left by the electric and gas line repairs.

As I walked north on the levee, I heard loud cries from several birds rising out of the cattails south of the lake. Black-necked Stilts flew over and around me. There must have been eight of them at one time. Three persisted and followed me crying their warnings as I continued my walk.

On one of the high spots along one of the former agricultural canals I spotted an egret with some gulls. Farther out were a line of gulls, and more farther out were a group of pelicans.

A female Wood Duck flushed as I approached.

Far away in Fulton County, smoke rose over the bluffs as I walked back to my car.

Clark Road Study Continues

2010-06-30T17:29:00.033-05:00

The area east of Clark Road has always interested me. Since I found the Black-necked Stilt nest, I have become fascinated with a series of ponds, the young trees that will one day make up a hardwood bottom-land forest, and the prairie that is developing closer to the road.

Down by the ponds, cattails were in bloom, with the male parts dispersing pollen over everything in the area.

Wood Sage grows in the woody area that is forming along the former drainage ditch.

Algae has formed on the surface and under the surface of the ponds, as water flows through the ponds into the larger Emiquon wetland.

I found Horse Nettle in bloom along the path to the ponds.

Of course, the area was teaming with dragonfly activity. I could only catch photos of those who landed briefly. The large Common Green Darners and Black Saddle Bags flew everywhere but would not land, and the light was to harsh too focus on a flying dragonfly.

This Widow Skimmer posed briefly for my camera:

A Damselfly posed on the edge of a milkweed leaf.

A Blue Dasher dragonfly posed on a twig off one of the bushes.

Another damselfly paused on the leaf of a Wood Sage in the shadows of the trees.

The wetland spreads out from the fence row at the last of the ponds.

Many frogs jumped into the water and disappeared as I approached the ponds, but on the way out I spotted this little fellow in the grass:

I found a few Summer Azure Butterflies on the way out, always deep in the leaves of the trees along the drainage canal.

The War Prayer

2010-06-29T19:55:00.000-05:00

You can purchase "The War Prayer" at Amazon.com.

"The War Prayer" was dictated by Mark Twain [Samuel Clemens] in 1904 in advance of his death in 1910.

During his writing career, he had criticized perhaps every type of person or institution either living or dead. But this piece was just a little too hot for his family to tolerate. Since they believed the short narrative would be regarded as sacrilege, they urged him not to publish it. However, Sam was to have the last word, and even the word after that. Having directed it to be published after his death, he said,

"I have told the truth in that... and only dead men can tell the truth in this world."

- William H. Huff

The War Prayer
by Mark Twain

It was a time of great and
exalting excitement.

The country was up in arms,
the war was on,
in every breast
burned the holy fire of patriotism;
the drums were beating,
the bands playing,
the toy pistols popping,
the bunched firecrackers
hissing and spluttering;
on every hand and far down
the receding and fading spread
of roofs and balconies
a fluttering wilderness of flags
flashed in the sun;
daily the young volunteers marched
down the wide avenue
gay and fine in their new uniforms,
the proud fathers and mothers
and sisters and sweethearts
cheering them with voices
choked with happy emotion
as they swung by;
nightly the packed mass meetings
listened, panting, to patriot oratory
which stirred the deepest deeps
of their hearts,
and which they interrupted
at briefest intervals
with cyclones of applause,
the tears running down their cheeks
the while;
in the churches the pastors preached
devotion to flag and country,
and invoked the God of Battles
beseeching His aid in our good cause
in outpourings of fervid eloquence
which moved every listener.
It was indeed a glad and gracious time,
and the half dozen rash spirits
that ventured to disapprove of the war
and cast a doubt upon its righteousness
straightway got such a stern
and angry warning
that for their personal safety's sake
they quickly shrank out of sight
and offended no more in that way.

Sunday morning came --
next day the battalions would leave
for the front;
the church was filled;
the volunteers were there,
their young faces
alight with martial dreams --
visions of the stern advance,
the gathering momentum,
the rushing charge, the flashing sabers,
the flight of the foe, the tumult,
the enveloping smoke, the fierce pursuit,
the surrender!
Then home from the war,
bronzed heroes, welcomed, adored,
submerged in golden seas of glory!
With the volunteers sat their dear ones,
proud, happy, and envied
by the neighbors and friends
who had no sons and brothers
to send forth to the field of honor,
there to win for the flag, or, failing,
die the noblest of noble deaths.
The service proceeded; a war chapter
from the Old Testament was read;
the first prayer was said;
it was followed by an organ burst
that shook the building,
and with one impulse the house rose,
with glowing eyes and beating hearts,
and poured out
that tremendous invocation --

*God the all-terrible!
Thou who ordainest!
Thunder thy clarion
and lightning thy sword!*

Then came the "long" prayer.
None could remember the like of it
for passionate pleading
and moving and beautiful language.
The burden of its supplication was,
that an ever-merciful and benignant
Father of us all would watch over
our noble young soldiers,
and aid, comfort, and encourage them
in their patriotic work;
bless them, shield them in the day
of battle and the hour of peril,
bear them in His mighty hand,
make them strong and confident,
invincible in the bloody onset;
help them to crush the foe,
grant to them
and to their flag and country
imperishable honor and glory --

An aged stranger entered and moved
with slow and noiseless step
up the main aisle,
his eyes fixed upon the minister,
his long body clothed in a robe
that reached to his feet, his head bare,
his white hair descending
in a frothy cataract to his shoulders,
his seamy face unnaturally pale,
pale even to ghastliness.
With all eyes following him
and wondering,
he made his silent way;
without pausing, he ascended
to the preacher's side
and stood there waiting.
With shut lids the preacher,
unconscious of his presence,
continued with his moving prayer,
and at last finished it with the words,
uttered in fervent appeal,
"Bless our arms,
grant us the victory,
O Lord our God,
Father and Protector
of our land and flag!"

The stranger touched his arm,
motioned him to step aside --
which the startled minister did --
and took his place.
During some moments
he surveyed the spellbound audience w
ith solemn eyes, in which burned
an uncanny light;
then in a deep voice he said:

"I come from the Throne --
bearing a message from Almighty God!"
The words smote the house with a shock;
if the stranger perceived it
he gave no attention.
"He has heard the prayer
of His servant your shepherd,
and will grant it
if such shall be your desire
after I, His messenger,
shall have explained to you its import --
that is to say, its full import.
For it is like unto
many of the prayers of men,
in that it asks for more
than he who utters it is aware of --
except he pause and think.

"God's servant and yours
has prayed his prayer.
Has he paused and taken thought?
Is it one prayer?
No, it is two --
one uttered, the other not.
Both have reached the ear
of Him Who heareth all supplications,
the spoken and the unspoken.
Ponder this -- keep it in mind.
If you would beseech
a blessing upon yourself, beware!
lest without intent
you invoke a curse upon a neighbor
at the same time.
If you pray for the blessing of rain
upon your crop which needs it,
by that act you are possibly praying
for a curse upon some neighbor's crop
which may not need rain and can be injured by it.

"You have heard your servant's prayer --
the uttered part of it.
I am commissioned of God
to put into words the other part of it --
that part which the pastor --
and also you in your hearts --
fervently prayed silently.
And ignorantly and unthinkingly?
God grant that it was so!
You heard these words:
'Grant us the victory,
O Lord our God!' That is sufficient.
The *whole* of the uttered prayer
is compact into those pregnant words.
Elaborations were not necessary.
When you have prayed for victory
you have prayed for
many unmentioned results
which follow victory--*must* follow it,
cannot help but follow it.
Upon the listening spirit
of God the Father fell also
the unspoken part of the prayer.
He commandeth me
to put it into words.

Listen!

"O Lord our Father,
our young patriots,
idols of our hearts,
go forth to battle --
be Thou near them!
With them, in spirit,
we also go forth
from the sweet peace
of our beloved firesides
to smite the foe.

O Lord our God,
help us
to tear their soldiers
to bloody shreds
with our shells;
help us
to cover their smiling fields
with the pale forms
of their patriot dead;
help us
to drown the thunder
of the guns
with the shrieks of their wounded,
writhing in pain; help us
to lay waste
their humble homes
with a hurricane of fire;
help us
to wring the hearts
of their unoffending widows
with unavailing grief;
help us
to turn them out roofless
with little children
to wander unfriended
the wastes
of their desolated land
in rags and hunger
and thirst,
sports of the sun flames
of summer
and the icy winds
of winter,
broken in spirit,
worn with travail,
imploring Thee
for the refuge of the grave
and denied it --
for our sakes
who adore Thee, Lord,
blast their hopes,
blight their lives,
protract their bitter pilgrimage,
make heavy their steps,
water their way with their tears,
stain the white snow
with the blood
of their wounded feet!
We ask it,
in the spirit of love,
of Him Who is the Source of Love,
and Who is the ever-faithful
refuge and friend
of all that are sore beset
and seek His aid
with humble and contrite hearts.

Amen.

(*After a pause.*)

"Ye have prayed it;
if ye still desire it,
speak!
The messenger of the
Most High waits!"

It was believed afterward
that the man was a lunatic,
because there was no sense
in what he said.

A Walk on the North Side

2010-06-27T18:44:00.005-05:00

Thompson Lake reaches all the way to the levee on the north end of the Emiquon Preserve, but a large area is filled with prairie. When you walk on the north side you never know what you will see.

From Mud Road you can see the wheat growing along the bluffs on the other side of IL 24.

Big Sister and Little Sister Creeks join together and run between two levees on the north side as it heads out to the Illinois River. These creeks likely joined in with what was once described as "the tortuous course of Thompson’s Slough" connecting the lakes, marshes, and bayous to the river.

TNC works to control invasive species like the Musk Thistle, but still some manage to survive. A Spice Bush Swallowtail butterfly found the bushy purple flower to its liking.

Flannel Mullein grows abundantly, with its spikes of yellow flowers providing silhouettes not unlike some cactus out west.

This spike posed a question, unanswerable by a mere human walking along.

I found a Painted Lady butterfly, an Amberwing dragonfly, and a Widow Skimmer dragonfly resting on the dew covered grass.

A Lady Bug Beetle was prominently on display.

I found a patch of Common Daylilies near Sister Creek, with flowers glowing in the morning sunlight.

As I was photographing an Elderberry bush in bloom, what I think is a juvenile Dickcissel popped up on one of the Elder flowers.

I encountered several deer on my walk on the north side. This stag has an emerging rack covered in velvet.

This stag has a much smaller rack developing, as it peeked at me from its grassy hiding spot.

This doe galloped away when she spotted me.

Looking south, I could see the power plant at Havana sending forth its cloud forming steam.

Looking southwest, I could see the TNC Headquarters and the UIS Emiquon Field Station.

The water near the levee was full of life.

Immature American White Pelicans congregated far out on the lake, near the levee.

A Wood Duck mother herded her ducklings away from me as I walked the north levee.

I found some Harvestmen on a milkweed plant, with a large cluster of the spindly legged creatures covering one of the flowers.

Two other mother Wood Ducks with ducklings were swimming in the pools of water in the estuary between the levee and Sister Creeks.

After my walk on the north side, I drove along Clark Road to IL 78/97 highway and encountered a pair of Northern Bob White Quails scurrying along before my slowly advancing car.

Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass Watercolor Journal Page

2010-06-23T16:28:00.002-05:00

I've been learning to add watercolors and drawings to my Sketch Journal for the Emiquon Corps of Discovery Communicating Nature class. I also want to learn more about the fish in Thompson Lake. Since I can't see the fish to photograph them, I decided to draw and paint some fish in my journal.

Prairie Road in Bloom

2010-06-09T13:22:00.000-05:00

In June, the prairie starts showing the colors of the summer flowers and is filled with butterflies and dragonflies.

A Monarch Butterfly feeding on a Common Milkweed bloom.

Showy Tick Trefoil in bloom.

A Great Spangled Fritillary preferred the milkweed blossoms.

Cup Plants, Coneflowers, Spiderwort, Butterfly Milkweed, Deptford Pinks and Black-eyed Susans were starting to bloom.

A Painted Lady Butterfly seemed to prefer the Cup Plant flowers.

June is a Lovely Month at Emiquon

2010-06-07T13:06:00.003-05:00

I've had several nice outings to check out the many places and things to see at Emiquon this month. Here are some photos taken early in June along Clark Road.

Dragonflies and Butterflies are plentiful around the lake and in the prairie. One of my favorite places for these elegant creatures is along Clark Road. Blue Dasher Dragonflies are plentiful, flying all around, but also pausing briefly from time to time, usually from the same stick or grass seed spike.

I found many Banded Hairstreak Butterflies in the leaves of the bushes along the mowed path.

With every step I stirred up dozens of tiny damselflies. These two were copulating in the wheel position.

Here is an explanation of the mating position from Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.:

Wild Parsnips make a great place for all kinds of insects to hang out.

A Black-necked Stilt surprised us when it called out and then circled around us. Shortly after that, Scott found a nest with 4 eggs. The stilt must have been protecting the nest when we startled it. We left quickly without disturbing anything.

When I checked back the next week, the nest was intact but the eggs were gone, without a trace. Birds of North America Online says shells are removed by parents immediately after hatching, and often sunk in nearby water. I hope that is what happened, that the stilts hatched and the parents removed any traces of the shell. The nest looked undisturbed.

The nest was near a series of ponds making up a wetland habitat where a fence row once stood.

I looked up and saw a beaver swimming toward me. He saw me and disappeared with a slap of the tail.

A Yellow Warbler entertained me with his song while hiding in the trees. He finally came out for a brief look at me before disappearing behind the leaves of the Cottonwood tree.

On the way back to the car, a Halloween Pennant Dragonfly stopped to display his luminescent wings.

Clark Road at Emiquon

2010-05-31T10:46:00.003-05:00

The view of Emiquon from Clark Road changes every time I drive by. The palette changes from season to season, and even week to week. The yellows of early early spring are giving way to the greens of summer on this final weekend of May.

High up in the trees on the bluff side of Clark Road, a Baltimore Oriole sang his quirky little songs with many short whistles, teasing me as he remained hidden in the foliage. I got one quick shot of him before he totally disappeared from sight but not sound.

Dozens of Indigo Buntings, both male and female, flew back and forth across the road. Most stayed hidden after their quick flight, but this one in the distance let me take a few photos.

Every where I looked, I found dragonflies; they flew along the road and throughout the prairie. Common Green Darners were prevalent. They patrolled the area relentlessly, chasing others from their territory before returning to patrol. I took this photograph of one on the wing last summer.

Widow Skimmers were hard to photograph, as they did not stay in one place for long.

Blue Dashers, both male and female, were everywhere. They frequently stopped on a grass leaf or seed head.

Damselflies were as abundant as dragonflies. I took this photo at the pull-off at the south end of Thompson Levee.

I flushed an American Bittern as I approached the pond.

A Bold Jumper spider hunted in the tall grass next to the road before dropping out of sight.

Many Cabbage White butterflies flitted around the road.

A Hackberry Emperor butterfly checked out a coyote foot left on the road by the vultures.

A Question Mark butterfly hung out on the road near the Hackberry.

Three fishermen were fishing the estuary on this hot humid day.

When I left Emiquon, I drove County 9 to Lewistown. As I came around the turn by the Waterford Church and Apple Barn, a turkey walked across the field of emerging soybeans. I enjoyed the opportunity until a truck approached from behind and honked to hurry me along, flushing the bird. The people in the truck didn't seem to see the turkey. They passed me as soon as the road straighted a bit.

More Emiquon Photographs

2010-05-20T15:21:00.002-05:00

The boat ramp at Thompson Lake doesn't have much room for parking, though more than it had a few weeks ago when the lake was even higher.

A small group of Apple trees grow where the old homestead used to be.

The power lines remain standing at the south end of the lake, but are completely down closer to the boat ramp.

A turkey ran up the bluff ahead of me as Scott and I climbed it one morning.

Domestic ducks and hybrids hang out at the corner of County Road 9 and Dickson Mounds Road.

An American Painted Lady warmed itself on the rocks near the shore of the lake.

Philadelphia Fleabane bloomed along the sides of the road and in the prairie.

A Great Egret hunted the estuary between IL 78 and Prairie Road.

A Snowy Egret hung out with a small group of Great Egrets.

I flushed a Green Heron and an American Bittern as I approached the wetland. It happened so fast that I barely had time to snap a couple of shots.

Another Common Yellowthroat appeared and then vanished, as well as dozens of Indigo Buntings, Song Sparrows, and American Goldfinches, most of which disappeared in the brush before I could focus on them with my lens.

Black Flies were present and buzzing around my face, but not biting. The Buggins spray was working that day. Here are some flies in the mud near the wetland. They may or may not be the biting black flies.

As we drove Prairie Road on our way home, a Turkey Vulture was feeding on a carcass in the field. After being harassed by an aggressive Red-winged Blackbird, he took off. His slow rise from the field with the sun shining on his wings allowed for a couple of fairly close shots of this huge bird.

Miscellaneous Photographs of the Emiquon Valley

2010-05-14T13:23:00.001-05:00

Just past Sister Creeks Farm, off Grain Bin Road, there is a barn I like to photograph.

Here it is through my telephoto lens from the North side of Emiquon near Mud Road.

A couple of Turkey Vultures were dining on an unlucky raccoon on Clark Road, near the Emiquon Preserve.

Smalls Ragwort is in bloom along Clark Road and in the prairie at the north end of the preserve.

We found several pairs of Bobolinks in the north prairie.

Construction of the new observation/boat launch area was temporarily stopped due to high waters.

Several Spotted Sandpipers were combing the narrow edge exposed as the lake slowly recedes from its highest waters.

One hunted on top of a muskrat den.

A Common Yellowthroat peeked out from the brush before vanishing in front of my eyes.

A Song Sparrow sang near where the Yellowthroat disappeared.

Buffalo Gnats at Emiquon

2010-04-28T09:04:00.004-05:00

Buffalo Gnats are back! They are very aggressive and come in large clouds of bugs intent on dining on my mucous membranes. Scott and I took a walk along Morton Ridge at Emiquon, and the gnats were thick. We didn't stay long.

These aren't buffalo gnats, but some other species swarming above my head.

I haven't been able to actually photograph a buffalo gnat, they are always diving at me and making me flee before I can take a photograph. Buggins Natural Insect Repellent worked a little, but after about 10 minutes, the gnats were diving at me again, biting me on my neck, leaving large welts.

From the ridge you can see Thompson Lake running from horizon to horizon.

View to the North:

View of Prairie Road:

View to the South (you can see Havana!):

In the estuary that used to be Mud Lake, Pelicans and Egrets were gathering.

On the way back to the car, a Bluebird flew to one of the Bluebird boxes along the ridge.

Woodland Wildflowers at Emiquon

2010-04-17T15:45:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday, the Emiquon Corps of Discovery went on a wildflower field trip. We found several species along Coal Creek, which runs behind TNC headquarters.

Spring Beauty was still growing along the creek and hillside.

Dutchman's Breeches were mostly past bloom, but I did find a few samples with blossoms.

Buttercups grew along the banks of the creek.

Wild Mustard was blooming along the path.

We encountered a couple of small patches of Virginia Bluebells.

Rosebud trees were in bloom.

Sweet William was scattered up the hillside.

Cutleaf Toothwort hadn't bloomed yet, but appeared ready to bloom.

We found several Jack-in-the-Pulpit plants.

And several Purple Trillium, one of which was blooming!

Pelicans in April

2010-04-12T13:48:00.001-05:00

March brought Snow Geese to Emiquon, and April brought Pelicans! Thousands of pelicans were all over Thompson Lake. You never knew where you would find them. One day they were all out on the North end of the lake, the next they were out along the front of the lake where construction is going on. Other times they were far out at the South end of the lake. Then on Monday, they were flying all around and landing in the fields West of IL 78, flying directly over my head. A fantastic show for all!

At the South end of the lake:

At the North end:

Across from Prairie Road along Il 78:

Flying directly overhead:

Out in the fields at Emiquon West:

Flying over County Road 9:

Flying over Prairie Road:

Among the debris at the construction site North of the boat launch:

They're Back! More Snow Geese

2010-03-11T15:06:00.001-06:00

On Thursday, with 68 degree weather and beautiful billowing clouds blowing across a blue sky, Thompson Lake was wide open. Ducks and Coots were not as plentiful as they were just a few days ago, and we weren't seeing many geese flying over. However, as we approached the far southern end of the lake, we could see a long line of white about a mile out on the water. We turned around at the National Wildlife Refuge and stopped at the pull-off directly across from the line of white. Before I could get out of the car, the Snow Geese making up this long line started rising from the water. Scott and I estimate about 50,000 geese in this flock. It was fun to watch them rise and fall, rearranging themselves in the water, but not leaving.

A few lines of geese flew off from the flock.

A few Coots came in for a landing near the edge of the lake.

Looking North from Pumphouse Road pull-off towards the boat ramp, you can see the down power lines.

The power poles along the former Pump House Road that had been held up by the ice have fallen under water.

Along Prairie Road, new power poles bring power to The Nature Conservancy.

Snow Geese Today, Gone Tomorrow

2010-03-10T16:38:00.006-06:00

Yesterday the air in Fulton County was full of geese, mostly Snow Geese, long lines of geese in all directions joined up into one huge mass of geese circling around over Thompson Lake, which was beginning to open up in the center of the lake. They came in lower and lower, and I was sure they were going to land, but at the last moment they changed their mind and flew off to the west. When they circled back over the lake they were sky high again.

A storm blew through over night, leaving clear blue skies today, and not a goose to be seen. I'm glad I went out yesterday and didn't wait for the sunny weather!

Large trucks are a constant on IL Route 78, the levee highway bisecting the Emiquon Preserve. They create a sudden wind when they pass while I'm on the side of the highway photographing waterfowl, and one caused my hat to fly off my head before I could grab it. I thought it landed in the creek/channel that runs beside the highway, but I found it on the other side of the car. It is my favorite hat, too!

The flooded fields near Prairie Road on the West side of IL 78 were covered with waterfowl, mostly Greater White-fronted Geese and Mallards, 10s of thousands of them, far out in the field.

A lone coyote roamed the frozen fields with the geese and ducks.

At Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, south of the Emiquon Preserve, we found a pair of Hooded Mergansers.

We also found two Bald Eagles flying over the refuge, high in the sky.

Snow Geese in March!

2010-03-04T09:21:00.017-06:00

Snow Geese are starting to show up in large numbers. I started seeing them circling the skies last week. Waters were mostly frozen over. The Snow Geese, along with smaller numbers of Canada and Greater White-Fronted Geese, were everywhere we looked in the sky at several points as they circled around looking for open water. Some were so high you could barely see them. Others flew lower, allowing for better shots of the flying fowl.

Mallards were also showing up in open fields.

Early in the week, I drove across the river to check on the water conditions at Chautauqua. The lake was frozen on both sides of the cross dike except right around the edges. It seemed pretty desolate. No birds could be seen from the car.

Looking south:

Looking North:

I returned home, driving along Thompson Lake, which currently stretches from levee to levee at the Emiquon Preserve. It was frozen and covered with snow except for a few small areas. I found some Goldeneyes swimming far out on the open area.

The ice had big cracks running across it where it has been moving. Along the shore the ice has been forced up from the shifting, bringing dirt with it all along the edge of the lake.

Looking south from the former Pump House Road pull-off, you can see that the ice and wind have knocked down the power lines that bring power to The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Office. They were without power for weeks.

The boat Ramp was mostly under ice:

Looking south from Clark Road:

Looking north from Clark Road:

Looking west through the trees along the bluff west of Clark Road:

Snow Again in February

2010-02-28T14:07:00.000-06:00

This has been a very snowy winter. We've had snow on the ground all month long.

A pair of mallards and a hybrid followed the domestic ducks around the yard at the corner of Dickson Mounds Road and County 9, across from the Rare Fish Pond at Emiquon.

An opossum hunted in the corn field along Prairie Road.

Looking back at Emiquon from Clark Road, you can see how Hwy 78 turns as it winds down the bluff.

A deer posed briefly before bounding across Prairie Road and on up the bluff.

A small herd of deer headed out across frozen Thompson Lake on the other side of the trees growing along a creek feeding the lake.

I frequently find hawks along Clark Road. Not as many this winter as last year, perhaps because of the snow cover for most of January and February.

More Snow in January

2010-01-05T12:26:00.025-06:00

We have had a lot of snow this winter. In January the trend continued. Dickson Creek was covered in the tracks of the animals using the frozen creek for a highway up and down the bluff.

Near Coal Creek a couple of deer were grazing in the snow.

A cardinal singing made me think of spring, in spite of the blanket of snow.

I stopped to take a photo of the tree on Prairie Road, just before the final turn to IL 78.

Emiquon and Fulton County in December

2009-12-27T10:22:00.029-06:00

I haven't been posting as often since we moved to Fulton County. My wireless connection is variable, especially on uploads. I hope to rectify that soon!

December started off nice enough, but it sure became cold with snow covering the ground from mid month on. Thompson Lake froze solid, from bank to bank. The eagles left following the waterfowl as they headed for warmer territory in Arkansas (my assumption).

A Red-tailed Hawk flew overhead.

One lonely immature Bald Eagle flew over.

A horse stood out in the snow covered pasture along Prairie Road.

A Northern Harrier hunted the fields and prairies along Prairie Road.

The Nature Conservancy office and surrounding buildings were covered in snow.

A flock of geese flew across the setting sun as I look west from Prairie Road.

As I came around the turn looking towards the bluff, I spotted some people watching something I couldn't see in the snow. The snow was pretty deep and hadn't been traveled much on that stretch of the road, so I backed into the driveway of TNC outbuilding and turned around.

I stopped to take a photo of the Rare Fish Pond on the Butt track of TNC's property:

Along Clark Road, another Northern Harrier flew over.

And I spotted the Dark-morph Western Red-tailed Hawk that I first saw on December 5.

Here is a better photo taken on the 5th, when the sun was shining.

Sunny Emiquon Days

2009-11-23T12:12:00.030-06:00

We had some lovely sunshine in November, which disappeared in December. I drove down the bluff to the Emiquon Preserve. I walked out the south end of the levee. Coots and Grebes were swimming in the channel heading towards the levee.

The black dots on the lake are mostly Coots. There were nearly one hundred thousand Coots at one time on Thompson Lake at the Emiquon Preserve. Several eagles flew far out over the water surveying the coots and other waterfall.

A Northern Harrier flew acrobatically across the fields along Emiquon Prairie Road.

As the sun set behind the bluffs, it turned the sky bright orange.

In the other direction, a tree that I regularly photograph stood vigil over the prairie.

Clark Road

2009-11-17T11:38:00.009-06:00

I love walking along Clark Road, which runs between the bluff and the Emiquon Preserve north of Thompson Lake. There is always something interesting to see. One of my favorite spots is an rock outcropping that reminds me of southern Illinois.

Looking south from Clark Road, you can see the smoke stack of the Havana power plant, which is at least 8 miles away.

On some days, the steam bellows out, forming clouds over the valley.

This was taken in 2007.

The area is now filled with water; it is what I call the Clark Road Estuary, between IL SR 78 and Clark Road.

We frequently find hawks and eagles flying along the edge between the bluffs and the valley. One day we found a dark morph red-tailed hawk rested in a tree along Clark Road.

Bluebirds and other small birds reside in the brush along both sides of the road.

Scenes from Little America

2009-11-09T11:15:00.001-06:00

Prichard Road, not far from our house, leads down to Little Sister Creek.

The dog jerked the leash just as I snapped this photo of cows on the horizon.

From our back yard we can see all the way across the Emiquon valley to Havana.

Emiquon in November

2009-11-08T20:10:00.000-06:00

November 8, 2009

November had some good days in the beginning of the month. Sunday, November 8, was an exceptionally warm and sunny day this year. I drove to the south end of the levee and walked to the first bend, about a mile, before turning back to the car. It gave me a great opportunity to observe the wetland forming around the channel that would lead to the Spoon River system if it weren't for the levee upon which I stood.

On the other side of the levee lies the bottom forest that surrounds the Spoon River on the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, providing a great contrast.

The day was so clear that I could see the two towers on the bluff at Little America from the levee.

A small group of American White Pelicans sat on a finger of higher ground like whipped cream on a sliver of pumpkin pie.

I found Horned Grebes, the first time I've identified this species. They were swimming with American Coots and Pied-billed Grebes in the channel of water threading its way through the wet prairie.

A Monarch butterfly landed briefly before flying off over the trees at the refuge.

A female Northern Harrier hunted the wet prairie as I walked back to the car.

Emiquon in Autumn -- October 2009

2009-10-18T10:42:00.078-05:00

October 7, 2009

Pelicans were swimming and fishing in Thompson Lake right up front, along Route 78 on Tuesday morning. Usually they are swimming so far out that they look like white blobs in my photographs, a part of the landscape. On this morning they became the subject of the photographs.

Thompson Lake along Clark Road sparkled in the morning sunlight.

October 10, 2009

On Saturday, the 10th of October, the pelicans were farther out on the water again. However, Ed and I noticed they seemed to be flying across the river, so we headed to Chautauqua. sure enough, the large birds were out on the water at the end of the levee separating the pools of water.

Several pelicans flew directly overhead, allowing for some decent flight shots.

We went back to Havana for lunch and then headed back to Emiquon. It was overcast that day, with a very flat gray light. Regardless of the light, I made a few panoramas, two from Thompson Levee and one from one of the pull-offs at the south end of the lake.

October 18, 2009

American White Pelicans were still around on Sunday, October 18. Far out on the lake this time, like little white dots.

The sky was a nice shade of blue, so I took some more panoramas from the levee south of the lake.

At one of the pull-offs, we found pelicans closer to the shore.

Emiquon in September 2009

2009-09-29T12:00:00.068-05:00

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:

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

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:

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

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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

Quick Trip through the Emiquon Valley

2009-08-31T22:37:00.004-05:00

Scott and I d stopped at a few places at Emiquon on Monday, August 31, 2009. Walking North from the boat launch, I found a Snowy Egret hunting near the edge of the water.

Of course, it flew away as I approached.

I also flushed a few Blue-winged Teal that I would not have seen if they hadn't flushed.

Here is a panorama taken from the boat launch:

A Great Blue Heron stayed close to the water's edge.

A Great Egret landed on a former muskrat den.

A female Blue Dasher Dragonfly landed and posed for me in the former farm building area.

Where the farm homes were located, a small orchard exists.

Butterflies were flying around the mud road leading north from the boat launch parking lot. This Painted Lady rested briefly:

A beautiful Tiger Swallowtail butterfly flew along the muddy road, looking for the right place to land. The shadows at mid-day added to the pleasure this encounter.

Lake Festival at Emiquon Preserve

2009-08-29T15:56:00.050-05:00

On Saturday, August 29, 2009, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) hosted a Lake Festival at TNC’s Emiquon Preserve located off Routes 78/97 north of Dickson Mounds Road. A wide variety of family activities were held. Visitors had the opportunity to learn about water quality, macro invertebrates, bird identification, invasive species and Emiquon through displays and hands-on activities. During the morning, The Nature Conservancy allowed bank fishing for those 15 years old and younger who are accompanied by an adult, a one-day only event. Fishing poles and tackle were provided.

Visitors were invited to experience the lake in a Voyageur Canoe. The short tour included stops on the lake to view two different science demonstrations.

Satellite activities included a hayrack ride to the UIS Field Station for facility tours and science demonstrations at the UIS Emiquon Field Station, bird identification with Maurie Brucker using his spotting scope, and an exhibit at Dickson Mounds Museum on bird migration.

Partners for this event included: Dickson Mounds Museum, Emiquon Audubon Society, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Natural History Survey, The Nature Conservancy, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the University of Illinois at Emiquon Field Station, and the University of Illinois at Springfield. The Emiquon Corps of Discovery, which works with the partners to document the transformation at Emiquon, also had a display.

[More photos to come]

After the event, Ed and I drove to Havana for lunch at the Chuck Wagon. Then we went back to Emiquon to look for particular habitats: mudflats (not much of that this year!), bottom-land forest (on the edges, but replanted in other places for the future), wet prairies, and wetlands. No problem with the last two categories, but the first two were challenging.

I found these mudflats off Forgotten Road, on private property bordering the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge. No birds at either site, and vegetation encroaching rapidly.

Butterflies were hanging out on the mud. Here's a Comma Butterfly hiding behind some grass:

Painted Lady:

Cabbage White Butterflies:

I found bottom-land forests off of the Frank C. Bellrose Nature Trail at the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge.

Wetland photos were easy to find. I pulled off at the first pull off north of the levee for these photos.

Much of the area where wet-prairie plants were planted last year are under water this year. Unplanted areas remain and are very wet!

More Emiquon in August

2009-08-21T14:20:00.002-05:00

Some of the Emiquon Corps members got together on Friday, August 21, to make final selections for a display to be shown at the Emiquon Fest on the following Saturday. As I left Dickson Mounds Museum, a storm was blowing through. I pulled off at the South gate to Thompson Levee and watched it pass. As the rain stopped over the lake, I could still see it raining in Havana, on the other side of the river.

Dappled light shown into the bottom land forest south of the levee.

I drove north on 78 and pulled off at one of the chained entrances to watch some egrets and herons, with pelicans shining in the sun way out in the distance.

Pump House Road is under water.

Egrets and Herons at Emiquon

2009-08-15T07:59:00.002-05:00

On Saturday August 15, after the Emiquon Corps of Discovery meeting, Ed and I drove the levee around Thompson Lake. The sky was so hazy that you could barely see the bluff in the background. The haze over the lake created a surreal beauty.

I photographed a Black-crowned Night-heron and found a Green Heron lurking in the shadows when I processed the photo:

Egrets like to hang out on the pumping structure on the River side of the preserve.

Three juvenile Little Blue Herons (one on either end and one on the lower level), two Cattle Egrets (one behind the Little Blue on the left) and a Great Egret. What a difference in size!

Here is a link to the large size to make it easier to see the LB Herons.
farm4.static.flickr.com/3444/3829869253_a833e 618d5_b.jpg

Cattle egrets like to hunt bugs on the levee.

As we drove past, they calmly moved down to the waters edge. After we passed, they moved back up the levee.

Pelicans were congregating far out on the lake on the ridge between Thompson and Flag Lakes.

Most of the egrets flew away as we approached, but this one Great Egret stood his ground at the base of the levee.

The eagle nest is difficult to spot through the foliage.

After driving the levee we drove Clark Road. The cows were in the pasture along side the road, and the Cattle Egrets were there feasting on flies!

Another Emiquon Visit

2009-08-05T16:00:00.005-05:00

I drove down to Emiquon on Thursday. The weather is supposed to turn hot again, and I wanted to get down their while it was still mild. I'd been looking at Google maps of the area and was curious about Forgotten Road. I drove part way down that road before parking and walking. As I walked along the road I flushed 10 or 20 herons and egrets from mud puddles left after the flood. I didn't see any shore birds with the herons. The road ends at a parking area for hunting. I walked into the wooded area on the former road.

An Eastern Kingbird flew from his perch on a wire.

Honey Bees were busy in the milkweed.

Wood Sage was blooming on the side of the road.

As I drove along Dickson Mounds road, I spotted what I thought was a Snowy Egret preening his wing feathers. It turns out it is a juvenile Little Blue Heron. When I stopped the car to photograph him, the heron froze absolutely still with his wing in the position it had been in when preening, his eye staring straight into my camera lens.

I stopped at a pull-off by the levee surrounding the National Wildlife Refuge Wilder tract. I knew if I walked the five miles around the tract I might see some remarkable shore birds, but that seemed entirely too far to me, so I contented myself with walking along the levee that runs parallel with the road.

A Common Buckeye butterfly spread his wings on the mud.

What looks to me like Arrowleaf Plantain was growing in the shallow water, which seems like a good sign for a wetland.

While hundreds of egrets and herons flew around far out in the field, a half dozen Great Egrets and one Snowy Egret were feeding in the waters near the levee. I was able to take a few photos before they flushed.

One Black-necked Stilt flushed as I walked past.

Three juvenile Gadwalls were swimming near the levee.

As I walked back to the car, I noticed some really bright yellow Flannel Mullein. When I got closer I saw that a pair of male Goldfinches were sitting atop two mulleins, like tree-top ornaments.

Numerous dragonflies were patrolling the area. Not many stopped for photos though. I did get photos of a male Common Whitetail and female Widow Skimmer.

My next stop was at the south levee around Thompson Lake. I parked and walked a ways. Many egrets were far out on the southern end of the lake. A small flock of Pelicans flew over.

A pair of goldfinches were feeding near the gate. I photographed the female. The male kept hiding behind leaves.

Several Double-crested Cormorants flew over.

I next drove Prairie Road to get a look at the prairie flowers now in bloom.

Yellow Cone Flower

Small White Asters

Tickseed Sunflower

Possibly Porcupine Grass

Blue Vervain

Strange Insect on Cup Flower

Cup Plant

Queen Anne's Lace

On my way home, I drove along Clark Road, where I found the biggest treat of all, a dozen Cattle Egrets were following a small herd of cattle in a narrow pasture at the base of the bluff on the west side of the road!

Driving the Levee at Emiquon

2009-07-31T15:48:00.006-05:00

When you drive the levee at Emiquon (which requires special use permit and permission from TNC) you can see things you can only imagine from the other side of Lake Thompson.

The Eagle nest is barely visible through the foliage. It is unoccupied this year. Maybe next year a pair of eagles will use it. It is in a perfect spot, near the river and the lake, and well hidden from view.

We found a nice variety of herons: Hundreds of Great Blue Heron and Great Egrets, of course, but also a couple of dozen Cattle Egrets, 8 or 9 Snowy Egrets, 4 Black-crowned Night-herons, 3 Green Herons, and one juvenile Little Blue Heron!

Snowy Egret:

Cattle Egrets:

Juvenile Little Blue Heron:

Black-crowned Night Heron:

Juvenile Black-crowned Night-heron (they breed at Emiquon!):

Green Heron:

Great Egret with Snowy Egret (shows the size difference):

Great Blue Heron:

Cattle Egrets and Snowy Egrets congregated on the pump structure:

A Black-necked Stilt flew past the Snowy Egrets:

A Painted Turtle hid in the grass:

A mother Wood Duck hurried her babies away.

Dragonflies and damselflies were everywhere. Along pumphouse road (what is left of it) we found more than 20 Common Green Darners, which are almost impossible to photograph, they are so fast and erratic in their flight, and hundreds of Halloween Pennants, as well as several dragonflies I'm still trying to identify.

Turkey Vultures were circling low over the river and levee.

We had a great view of the Illinois River from the levee:

A Caspian Tern was hunting near the boat launch:

Eagle Nature Foundation 2010 Calendar

2009-07-28T19:05:00.006-05:00

The Eagle Nature Foundation develops and implements habitat preservation strategies for endangered species, conducts nature education and awareness programs, conducts bald eagle research, preserves endangered species' habitats, and provides funds for monitoring efforts.

http://www.lulu.com/content/7460506

The Eagle Nature Foundation 2010 Calendar is available for purchase, a bargain at $18.00; profits benefit the foundation in their important work for Bald Eagle preservation.

http://www.eaglenature.com/

Nesting Osprey

2009-07-19T12:53:00.000-05:00