Simmering July 2011

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!

January Raptor Survey: Eagle Migration Day

We did the Raptor Survey on the last day of January. Scott and I had done a survey earlier in the month, but my notebook with the data disappeared. We took the opportunity of beautiful sunny day on the last day of the month to repeat the survey. We must have hit the road on Eagle Migration Day, because we spotted 24 Bald Eagles, some juveniles, some adults, flying along the bluffs of the river just north of Banner Marsh. They were in groups of 3, 4, 4, and 8. All were too far for decent photographs, but we enjoyed watching them soar over the bluffs, some interacting with each other in the air before flying on their way.






Between Bartonville and where IL 78 splits from IL 24 and turns south towards Emiquon we only spotted 4 Red-tailed hawks. They apparently were all hiding down at Emiquon, where we found 10 Red-tailed hawks along with a couple of Northern Harriers, and three Rough-legged Hawks. Six of the Red-tailed and the three Rough-legged hawks were all along Clark road. Some were hunting out in the fields, some cruising along the bluff that runs along the west side of Clark Road. Two of the Rough-legged hawks were hovering in the strong breeze out over the prairie.

Prairie Lane and Baker's Hollow in Banner Township

Well, it looks like citizen alerts to threatened and endangered species are not welcome by the owners of the land near Banner Marsh and Rice Lake Conservation Areas. They have erected a fence with a gate across the road.


It looks like something to keep trespassers out. The fence runs along Rt. 24, stopping at the creeks on both ends. However, still no visible No Trespassing sign.

It runs down to Baker Hollow Creek where it ends.

Here is a look at the creek from the Rt. 24 bridge.

A closer look:

Here is a view of the bridge showing the other side of the highway.



I then tried to drive down Banner Dike Road on the other side of the site, but it was closed for work on a pipeline, unrelated to the coal mine activities. So I went to the adjacent state conservation area, Bell's Landing at Banner Marsh SFWA where I found many swans and some other waterfowl too far out to identify. Hunters were probably in the blinds near by, but I didn't hear any shots.



Two Horned Larks flew in front of my car as I drove towards the levee.


The beaver lodge was quiet on this overcast early December morning.



Then I spotted a Northern Harrier, a marsh hawk, flying low over the grassy areas. Harriers are an endangered species, so finding it close to the mine site is important.


The area where it was flying was approximately 1/2 mile from the proposed mine site. Harriers and Short-eared Owls could very well be hunting that area as well.

On the way out, I spotted a Red-tailed Hawk flying out to a tree in the grasslands of the protected Waterfowl Preserve.



On Sunday I will drive out (no pipeline workers!) and see if I can find any harriers on the mine site!

Banner Marsh-East Access

Once more, Scott and I drove down to Banner Marsh, stopping at the northeastern most access area. We found many butterflies and bees around the youth pond, as well as a large assortment of frogs! Birds were rather scarce. We found Mute Swans, Mallard Ducks, Canada Geese, Killdeer, Catbird, Blue Jay, Starlings, and a Green Heron.

Mute Swan

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Monarch

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Mallard

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Sulphur Butterfly

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Viceroy

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Bumblebee on Pink Knotweed

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Gladiator Katydid

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Canada Geese Flying Over

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Painted Lady Butterfly in Bushy Asters

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Honeybee in Bushy Asters

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Frogs at the Youth Pond

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Click Here for Posts about the Banner Marsh/Rice Lake Area

Click on the title or click here to go to search results about the Banner Marsh/Rice Lake area on my website. Then click the Previous link at the bottom of each page to keep going back in time.

If you scroll through all the pages in this collection, you will see that I have been watching the Banner Marsh/Copperas Creek/Rice Lake area for a very long time. This part of the Illinois River migratory bird flyway is very dear to my heart. My advocacy to prevent mining on the proposed site between Banner Marsh and Rice Lake comes from my love for the natural wonder called a river system. Illinois citizens have so few natural areas to enjoy. Why destroy one of the most beautiful areas along the Illinois River? Coal mining will disrupt much of the beauty of this unique area and frighten away some of the most rare and precious forms of life living in the area. Reclamation of the proposed mine site will never remake it into what it is right now, and it will take 30 years and millions of dollars to get it to a state similar to the state Banner Marsh is in now, and Banner Marsh, as beautiful as it is, has a long way to go; it is an ongoing project.






Click here for additional posts about the Banner Marsh/Rice Lake Area