ECD: Thoughts & Observations: 2013

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Six Glossy/White-faced Ibises at Emiquon in November!

Observed by: Jane Ward
Date: November 24, 2013
Location: Emiquon Wetland Observatory, North of Canoe Launch
Weather: Cold, 32 degrees, sun shine and blue sky

Ibises are rarely seen in Illinois, especially in November. 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

Sunday, November 3, 2013

November 3, 2013 Observation

By: Liz Cheek

Date: November 3, 2013, Sunday

Time: 8:10 am

Location: Visitor Area

Temperature: 37 degrees

Weather: Sunny

What an interesting morning. I'm not sure that I've ever been out here this early. Thank you central time zone change. Yesterday was warm and the temperature drop created a totally enveloping layer of fog. To my back, from the north, is a staggeringly bright, clear sun, but ahead off me, to the south looks like something out of Sleepy Hollow or Brigadoon. Thompson Lake and all the area surrounding it are completely covered. The most surprising thing is, as the layer of fog dissapates, I spy a previously hidden boat of fishermen first, then realize there are many folks out here, taking walks and checking things out.

Friday, October 18, 2013

American Coots at Emiquon

by Jane Ward
Date: Wednesday, Oct 16, 2013

Time: 3:30 pm

Location: Boat Ramp

Temperature: 65 degrees

Weather: Blue Sky with White Clouds and Sunshine

There were over a hundred thousand American Coots at Emiquon this past week near the boat ramp and visitor use area.

Jane Ward
www.walkwithmepart2.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

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 or White-faced 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

Friday, September 13, 2013

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

Saturday, August 17, 2013

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, July 28, 2013

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

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Thompson Lake Oservations

by Liz Cheek

Observation Date: June 15, 2013
Location: Thompson Lake
Weather: Rain

The cormorant, the red wing blackbird, and the indigo bunting were observed on a rainy day at Thompson lake on June 15, 2013.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Nature Trek Observation

by Michelle Quinones
Date: Thursday, May 16, 2013

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Switchback Trail and Ridge

Temperature: 75ish degrees

Weather: Beautiful evening!

Several ECD members showed up with their sack suppers to relax, picnic and chat before the May Nature Trek. Tharran Hobson first talked about endangered and threatened birds of Emiquon and then led the group on a hike up the switchback trail and across a portion of the ridge. It was a spectacular evening. 20-30 folks participated and at least a dozen were ECD members. The weather was outstanding for an evening on the ridge, watching and listening for birds, and just enjoying each others' company. What I particularly noticed were the ongoing pockets of conversations. People twined in and out of conversation groups along the trail, listening here, interjecting there, sharing information and experiences along the way.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Xperience Emiquon: 2013 IAS Spring Gathering

by Jane Garrison Ward

Observation Date: April 27, 2013
Location: Lakeland Park, Canton, Illinois
Weather: Partly cloudy, 45 degrees F

This past weekend I attended the annual Illinois Audubon Society Spring Gathering, hosted here in the Illinois valley by the Emiquon Audubon Society. This event was supposed to include access to The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Nature Preserve. However, historic flooding caused the water from the Illinois and Spoon Rivers to overtop Thompson Levee, which surrounds the Emiquon Preserve. Our Saturday morning activities were moved to drier locations. My group, Group C, explored Lakeland Park in Canton, Illinois. Photos below are from the walk we took in the morning. I didn't complete the walk through Big Creek Park, a heavily wooded area, which I understand was outstanding in the number of bird species they encountered, but here are the photos from the early morning walk at Lakeland.