ECD: Thoughts & Observations: Snowy Emiquon

On Monday afternoon, after receiving eight inches of snow overnight, the snow was already melting from the landscape. 

ECD: Thoughts & Observations: Snowy Emiquon: 

by Jane Garrison Ward 

Date: March 25, 2013 

Location: Emiquon, Clark Road  

Weather: Overcast, 34 degrees, Snow-covered 

ECD: Thoughts & Observations: A Drive Through Emiquon

ECD: Thoughts & Observations: A Drive Through Emiquon: by Jane Garrison Ward Observation Date: March 20, 2013 Location: Emiquon NWR, Globe Tract, Co. 9 Road Weather: Partly cloudy, Northwe...

"I drove through the valley this afternoon and did not see any snow geese. Several eagles were hanging around the edge of Thompson Lake, as well as a couple of hawks and two Northern Harriers. There were many different species of waterfowl, both diving and dabbling ducks, many Canada geese, a dozen or so American White Pelicans, and a more than a dozen swans, either tundra or trumpeter were grazing in the flooded fields of the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge.

"Snow Geese may still be around the area, but I didn't see them yesterday or today. This is an exciting time at Emiquon.  The water in the lake is rising along with the water in the Illinois river, and with the cold up north, the Snow Geese may show up again before heading on to breeding grounds."

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Snow Geese have returned by the thousands to Thompson Lake at The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Nature Preserve in Fulton County, Illinois.

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Birds and Dragonflies at Emiquon Wetland Observatory

I'm really enjoying the Cattle Egrets at Emiquon right now. They aren't as skittish as the other egrets. There have been many Great Egrets farther out on the newly forming mudflats, but the Cattle Egrets will come up close to the drive that runs through the visitor center.

In addition to the egrets, there were many Killdeer crying as they flew around, and plenty of Red-winged Blackbirds throughout the wetland area. As I walked along the boardwalk that runs through the wetland, I spotted what I think is a Grasshopper Sparrow and a male Dickcissel singing.

There were many dragonflies everywhere on the wetland: Black Saddlebags, Common Green Darners, Common Whitetails, all flying around too fast to photograph. However, I also found a Carolina Saddlebags dragonfly who posed for several photographs before taking off on the hunt.

A Bluet Damselfly let me take a few photos, as did a Common Buckeye butterfly. The Cabbage White was not quite as helpful as it moved quickly through the Mustard flowers.

Besides the Mustard flowers, I also found Great Blue Lobelia and Common Mullein in bloom near the boardwalk.

Emiquon Dragonflies

On a short walk along Clark Road, which runs along the north end of Emiquon Nature Preserve, I spotted several dragonflies: male Blue Dasher, female Common Pondhawk, Common Green Darner, and several others that flew away before I could identify them.

Emiquon Wetland Wildlife

In May, I stopped at several pull-offs at Emiquon. At the Wetland pull-off, I found Blue Flag Iris and Rough-fruited Cinqfoil in bloom.

Farther north, across from County 9 Road that leads to Dickson Mounds Museum, a pair of Black-necked Stilts were foraging for food, along with a Red-winged Blackbird, Blue-winged Teal, Mallards, and many, many American Coots.

Hiking Along Coal Creek

In April, the Emiquon Corps of Discovery took a hike along Coal Creek looking for spring woodland flowers and butterflies.

I found a Red Admiral butterfly sunning his wings.


A Pearl Crescent butterfly displayed his upper wings nicely.


A Delaware Skipper sat out in the sun.


A Question Mark Butterfly rested on a fallen log.




We have had an early spring, and many flowers had already bloomed. However we did find a few flowers in the woods along the bluffs of Coal Creek, including this Purple Trillium.






On the way back I found a Silver-spotted Skipper.

Migrating Snow Geese on New Years Eve at Emiquon

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

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.