Pelicans in Illinois?

We were down at Detweiller Park in Peoria, IL this weekend to watch a huge high school cross country meet. As we were standing around after watching our team race, we noticed a huge flock of birds up in the clear blue sky.

First thoughts that were tossed out by people were Sandhill Cranes, Canadian Geese, ducks? Just didn’t look right for any of those. They were flying too low and quietly for Sandhill Cranes and size and flight pattern didn’t fit with geese or ducks. Luckily, I had my binoculars with me and I was able to take a good look. I could have sworn they were pelicans, but we’re in IL and we don’t have White Pelicans here. Looked some more to get a good look at identifying marks. Quickly got out my iPhone iBird Plus App (Mitch Waite Group) and they were definitely White Pelicans. Still puzzled though, since according to the range maps on this app and the Audubon Bird App they were not supposed to be found in this part of IL, even when migrating. But, there was no mistaking the identification.

After some investigating, it turns out that over the last 10 years or so, a few of these pelicans began migrating up and down the Illinois River. Until then, the furthest east they were known to migrate was via a Mississippi River route. Over the years, it’s become a regular event and their numbers have grown. Why their migration route, back and forth from fresh water lakes in Canada and the North Central US to the southern US, Mexico and Central America, has shifted east to the Illinois River is unknown. One theory is that a storm threw them off track. Since migration is a learned event, they learned the wrong route one year and then kept following it. Whatever the cause, it sure was exciting to see these huge, magnificent birds flying overhead on their way south for the winter. I’ll be writing this sighting on my lifetime list.

Photos by Steve

Now for a little fun. If you’re still reading, we’ve discovered the best “off the beaten trail” places to grab a bite to eat on our way back home. Heading about 15 minutes north on Rt 29 from the park, Castaways Bar and Grill in Chillicothe, IL is my recomendation for grabbing a delicious bite to eat. Looks can be deceiving, but it is a family friendly place with an extensive menu and friendly staff. We’ve enjoyed their burgers, green bean french fries and an assortment of sandwiches. We’ve not tried one of their famous “O” burgers, maybe next time. And maybe we’ll see you there after the next XC meet in Peoria.

rip pretty little ovenbird

The other morning, right after the kids left for school, I heard an odd, unexpected thud against the front door. I went to investigate, thinking one of the kids had heaved the newspaper up on the porch and hit the door by accident. But, much to my surprise laying on the front step was the most beautiful ovenbird.

What was so confusing at first when I saw him, is that we don’t get ovenbirds around here in the neighborhood, let alone have one fly into the house. A house finch, house sparrow or even a cardinal maybe, but not an ovenbird. He must have hit terribly hard since he was already dead by the time I opened the door. I asked my mom what she thought, and she suggested maybe it was migrating since all her birds have been leaving northern MI the last week or so in preparation for winter. I don’t know for sure what brought him here or confused him so much, but that was a very sad way to start the day. We decided a little burial was appropriate, so he now resides in my garden.

A Little Civic Duty

While being called for jury duty has nothing to do with gardening, it does call for a little planning ahead since everything will be a bit more hectic around the house. We are settling into one of the hottest weeks of the summer, following a pretty rain-free few weeks. So this weekend, I spent some time being sure everything was ready to be a little less attended to, and even possibly somewhat ignored, depending on how the jury duty went.

Things on my check list included:

Being sure my pots where all watered and the plants in them dead-headed.
Check the vegetable plants for ripe vegetables and fruit. Make note of what might need picking in the next couple of days.
Noticed rhubarb was sprouting seed pods, so got those cut off. Also checked to be sure nothing else was in dire need of dead-heading
Be sure in ground sprinkler was set to run.
Watered the first year shrubs in the garden
I recently did a thorough watering of the larger trees and shrubs, so I felt comfortable not soaking them this weekend.

This felt a bit like getting ready for vacation. The garden always needs to be prepped before you head out of town. Otherwise, you never know what you’ll come back too. Even with that prepping, Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate and “things happen”. Just part of the fun. What is part of your garden vacation planning?

As I wait at the judicial center, I am very impressed with the jury pool waiting area. While sitting and waiting to be potentially called for a case, we can look out over the county government complex’s drainage area that doubles as a well-planned wetlands area. I’ve been able to watch Barn Swallows flying gracefully about, as well as a Great Blue Heron hunting for food, a Great Egret fly right past the window, a pair of Mute Swans (unfortunately no babies right now) and Red-Winged Blackbirds sitting in the cattails. If I had binoculars, I might be able to see more, but that might require some unnecessary explaining as to why I had binoculars at the courthouse 🙂

Sunday Feature: Wildlife on the Golf Course

One of the best places I’ve found to observe nature has been on the golf course. I’m not really a very good golfer (been known to just pick up my ball on occasion), but I love being out on the courses with friends and family. Right from the beginning, I’ve always had a little bag with me with binoculars, a camera and in the old days, my old trusty bird book. I am always careful though, not to slow anyone else down. That’s a good way to irritate the other golfers on the course.

Nowadays, I’m more apt to have just my iPhone, which has a great deal of memory taken up with the Audubon series of nature guides. It can also substitute for a camera, if I need to cut back on something. I’ve seen the mundane, as well as the very exciting, once in a lifetime types of sightings. It was on golf courses on Kiawah Island and in MI where I’ve seen the only Pileated Woodpeckers I’ve ever seen. I’ve also seen many interesting herons, storks, hawks, ospreys, Bald Eagles, ducks, as well as songbirds like Baltimore Orioles, hummingbirds, goldfinches, wrens, swallows, killdeer, and bluebirds. I’ve even seen one of my partners attacked mercilessly by an overprotective, nesting red-winged blackbird, and twice seen killdeer putting on their broken wing act to distract us away from its nest.

Then there’s the mammals, insects and reptiles. Many different types of squirrels, which I swear sometimes steal the balls for fun, deer, turtles, snakes, dragonflies, butterflies, and of course, alligators. You learn quickly to just leave those balls behind that roll near the ponds or into the swampy grass. That low, grumbling noise of a mother alligator calling her babies is not something to mess with.

Enjoy some of my more recent photos.

Snowy Egrets

Wood Stork

Black-Crowned Night Heron

Great Blue Heron

Tri-color Heron

Osprey

Anhinga

Pileated Woodpecker

IMG_2408 (1)

White-tailedDeer

Fox Squirrel

Squirrel

Dragonfly

Alligator

BIG alligator

Baby Alligator

baby alligator

Have you seen anything interesting on the golf course? Next time, be sure to keep your eyes open to see what you can find around you.

Purchase the new edition of this field guide from Barnes and Noble

Sunday Feature: My Michigan

A Sunday photo collage of things that remind me of many summers spent in Northern and Upper Peninsula Michigan. One sighting can throw me back to being 10 years old.

Sandy two tracks that are everywhere, taking you on an adventure.

Sandy trails heading off into pine woods.

Roadside pullouts that allow easy access to streams, lakes, and any beautiful spot you may want to visit

Sand Dunes and beautiful views of Lake Michigan

Pixie cups (found usually with British Soldiers but couldn't find them this year) — Pixie cups (found usually with British Soldiers but couldn’t find them this year)

Milkweed, but absent the monarchs this year — Milkweed, but absent the Monarchs this year

Abundant raspberries grown in gardens and in the wild

Wild Blueberries collected for blueberry pancakes while camping

Category: Nature

Pelicans in Illinois?

rip pretty little ovenbird

A Little Civic Duty

Sunday Feature: Wildlife on the Golf Course

Sunday Feature: My Michigan

stephigardens