Snowy Egret at Emiquon!!!

As usual, I drove through the Emiquon valley on route 78/97 to get a good picture of the entire area. On my right I noticed several conspicuous white birds through the openings between foliage and recognized a large number of Great Egrets. I turned at the first chance and headed back. I took the first turn-off and after watching for traffic (which is fierce on this highway!) I crossed the road and walked west to find the openings in foliage. 50 or 60 Great Egrets, and 20 or more Great Blue Herons were in the newly plowed fields (plowed before the planting of natural prairie and wetland plants!). Among them I spotted my very first Snowy Egret!!!!! A life bird for me! :)

 

 

 

 

Silver-spotted Skipper on Clover.

 

The Emiquon Ridge is changing as The Nature Conservancy begins planting trees.

 

 

Twelve-spotted Skimmer Dragonflies.

 

 

Path 2 runs into Thompson Lake, which is growing as water comes back into the Emiquon valley.

 

Dickcissel singing in the newly forming prairies in the Emiquon Valley.

 

A Bobwhite Quail scurried along the path at the base of the Emiquon ridge. A few minutes later I flushed three quail as I walked through some tall grass. They startled me as much as I did them!