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Jane Ward

Emiquon Horizon

Watching the Emiquon horizon disappear in the mist

of the blustery morning snow, 

I think of the life hidden behind the shroud of winter.

Later I look up and the mist has retreated

revealing the familiar line of

river trees surrounding Sister Creeks,

with clouds from the plant eleven miles away at Havana

billowing out over the lake against a dark gray sky.

 

Jane Ward
www.walkwithmepart2.blogspot.com

Emiquon: Snow Geese by the Tens of Thousands

It turned cold early in December, the fields covered with snow, and the Snow Geese skipped over the central Illinois River valley on their fall migration. Yesterday temps hit 50 and the snow that has covered the fields since fall melted. Along with the melt came the snow birds. Close to half a million geese flying through the air, feeding in the fields, and resting on Thompson Lake at TNC's Emiquon Preserve.

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Jane Ward
www.walkwithmepart2.blogspot.com

Six Glossy Ibises at Emiquon in November!

Glossy Ibises are rarely seen in Illinois. I found a couple last month, was surprised, and assumed they had moved on.  Today, a day starting out quite cold for November (12 degrees, Yikes!) warmed up to 32 by 3:00 in the afternoon, when I took a tour through the visitor complex at TNC's Emiquon Nature Preserve.  As I drove through the turn around, just past the canoe launch, I stopped to watch a small flock of birds flying in. At first I thought they were herons, but they were all turned around and backwards; then I thought of the Black-necked Stilts that nest in the summer, but the bill was too curved, so I realized they were Ibises.  By the time I got my camera out and exited the car, they had landed and began to blend in with the background. Photos are attached. 

 

Jane Ward
www.walkwithmepart2.blogspot.com

Glossy Ibises at Emiquon in October

by Jane Ward

Observation Date: October 16, 2013
Location: Boardwalk at Emiquon Wetland Access
Weather: 50 degrees, sunny and pleasant

On Wednesday, October 16, I took a walk along the boardwalk at the Emiquon Wetland Observatory. I saw two birds out in the wetland that did not look like herons. I zoomed my lens out and found two Glossy Ibises. They let me take a few pictures before relocating to a less visible area.

Jane Ward
www.walkwithmepart2.blogspot.com

Clark Road in October.

Observed by: Jane Ward
Date: October 16, 2013
Location: Clark Road, and Clark Road Pathway to bridge
Weather: 50 degrees, sunny and pleasant

I walked along Clark Road on this beautiful October afternoon and took a few photos to share.  

Jane Ward
www.walkwithmepart2.blogspot.com

Goldenrod in Bloom

On a short walk along the pathway from Clark Road to the wetland bridge, Goldenrod was in full bloom, turning the entire area a brilliant yellow gold.

Jane Ward
www.walkwithmepart2.blogspot.com

Finally, a Monarch!

Observed by: Jane Ward
Date: August 17, 2013
Location: Emiquon Wetland Observatory
Weather: 77 degrees, 50% humidity, winds 6.9 mph, clear sky

On a brief walk around the loop at the end of the path around the Wetland Observatory, on Saturday, August 17, I found a lone Monarch butterfly, as well as a Dickcissel perched on a dried bloom. From the observation deck I could see the cormorant nests across the lake.

Jane Ward
www.walkwithmepart2.blogspot.com

Sunday Morning in July

Observed by: Jane Ward
Date: July 28, 2013
Location: Clark Road, Prairie Road, and County 9
Weather: 60 degrees, sunny, winds 8 mph

On Sunday, July 28, 2013, I took a drive through Emiquon and shot several landscapes with gorgeous billowing clouds in the background. I started out on Clark Road, then drove to Prairie Road, where I took some photos of the scrolling flowers growing up the bluff. I ended the trip by driving back on County 9 and took a photo of the field that is still full of water after the spring floods.

Jane Ward
www.walkwithmepart2.blogspot.com

Another Emiquon Visit

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 a Snowy Egret preening his wing feathers. When I stopped the car to photograph him, the egret 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.


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 Flower




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!