Emiquon in November

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

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

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

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.