Spring Valley Eclipse

Like most people, I wanted to see the eclipse and because the weather was so mild and sunny, I decided to go for a walk and enjoy the event at Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg. I was curious, in part, to see how it affected the wildlife, if at all.

I arrived about an hour before the eclipse really got going. The birds were chirping, the frogs were burping, and there was nothing to indicate that anything spectacular was about to happen. The water in the lake was high, we’ve had quite a bit of rain lately, and it was running fast in the creek.

As I sat by the water’s edge, I spotted a flicker high up in an old tree. It looked like it was checking out nesting sites. It would tap away at the wood, working its way up the trunk. only to dart away and then start all over again.

Walking through the woods towards the farm, I saw a nuthatch hopping about among the trees and as I got closer to the barn, I spotted a red-bellied woodpecker.

By this time, the eclipse was steadily progressing, so I found a bench and got comfortable. I hadn’t been able to find any special eclipse glasses, all the stores had sold out, but my husband kindly found me the lens from a welder’s helmet that was gathering dust in the basement. With this, I was able to safely see the eclipse unfold. I tried to get pictures, but neither my camera or the phone camera would cooperate. I’m embarrassed to admit that taking a shot that requires anything more than an automatic setting on the camera is beyond me. Another couple joined me, and peering through the welder’s lens, we watched as the sun gradually disappeared from view and the shadows darkened.

Walking back by the lake, I observed a chickadee making a nest in an old tree trunk. It went through quite a ritual as it disappeared inside the hole, popped out with a beak full of sawdust, flew up onto a nearby branch and dispersed it into the breeze.

I may not have captured any pictures of the eclipse, but I was quite happy with the day’s shooting and a very pleasant walk.

On Thin Ice

We had some unseasonably mild weather on Thursday and Friday, so I took the opportunity to get some fresh air and visit Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg. Sadly, with an arthritic back and/or hips, walking is not quite such an enjoyable activity for me these days. If you haven’t already done so, you might want to join me at my blog ‘Incidentally’ where I have some Thoughts on Walking. However, I’m not about to give up on one of my favorite pastimes just yet. As long as I can sit down every once in a while, I can still manage to get around places like Spring Valley.

Over by the lake, I was pleased to see that the water levels had risen since my last visit. The ducks and geese were starting to gather, and what ice there was on the water was paper thin.

By Friday, there was even more open water and, as I neared a conveniently placed bench by the water’s edge, I heard something making a hasty exit with a splash. I decided to sit for a while and wait to see if whatever it was would make another appearance. Eventually a turtle poked its head out of the water but sank back down again and I was left with a couple of mallards and a goose that seemed to be giving my presence some careful consideration. Just before I left, a water rat swam up to the bank but it didn’t give me the opportunity to take a shot.

In the wooded area over by the farm. I spotted a deer. I had a hard time getting a clear shot but I knew if it kept going in the same direction it would have to come out in the open so I waited. I was quite close and although it did emerge for just a moment, it soon turned around and headed back into the trees, only giving me time to capture a couple of fleeting images.

They have been clearing away small trees and brush recently in an effort to allow native plants to grow. It will be interesting to see how these areas develop. Part of the nature center used to be a peony farm many years ago, and there is still one patch that remains where the flowers appear every spring.

November In Spring Valley

Considering the fine weather that we’ve had just recently, I thought I’d get some exercise yesterday with a walk around Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg. As I walked towards the lake, I spotted a hawk high up in the top of a tree.

The water levels in the lake and creek are still low and there were no longer any frogs about. I was surprised to see a great blue heron still hanging around. He flew over the lake and landed on the beaver lodge.

Walking up the slight incline towards the farm, I looked back at the shadows marking the path leading out of the woods. At the farm, the pigs appeared to be almost full grown now. One of them had dug himself into a cozy hollow and wasn’t about to budge for anyone. The two cows had been moved to a different field, with a brand new fence to keep them from wandering.

Heading back towards the Merkle Cabin, I spotted what I took to be the same hawk that I had encountered earlier. It was evidently keeping an eye on me to make sure I didn’t get lost. I got a closer view of it this time and determined that it was a red-tailed hawk.

Stopping at the pool by the cabin, I noticed how the leaves from the surrounding trees were just floating gently on the surface of the water. I love Autumn!

If you haven’t done so already, I hope you will visit my other blog ‘Getting The Picture’ where you will find the final part of my three-part series on The House On The Rock. It’s Phantasmagorical!

Summer Walks In Spring Valley

Between processing pictures and a couple of other projects that I’ve been working on recently, I’ve been spending quite a bit of time at my desk, so I was happy to take a break and stretch my legs with some walks around Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg. The weather on the first trip was overcast but the second visit saw clear blue skies. Despite one or two good downpours just lately, the water levels in the pond are quite low.

Despite the rapidly receding waters, there are still plenty of frogs around and I am able to get quite a few mug shots as they smile wryly back at me from the duckweed.

Speaking of ducks, I rarely see anything other than the usual mallards by the pond but, on this occasion, I sight a mother wood duck and her brood. Unfortunately, the more colorful male is nowhere to be seen.

Leaving the pond, I walk through the woods, up to the farm where I stop to talk to one of the docents as we watch another gentleman demonstrating how to carve a wooden spoon. I’m told that, ever since the Covid pandemic, they have had a hard time getting people to come in and take care of the animals which explains why they only have a couple of cows and a few piglets now. The horses have been sent out to a farm in Indiana for now.

Walking back through the prairie area, I always marvel at all the different wildflowers there are and, although I hardly ever see rabbits at Spring Valley, on this occasion I spot two young ones.

Bird of the Week – Coopers Hawk

With hundreds of pictures of birds in the photo files, Bird of the Week was a challenge, from I. J. Khanewala, that I couldn’t pass up. This Cooper’s Hawk was spotted in February of this year at Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. Luckily, it allowed me to get quite close so the 200 zoom lens was able to get a fairly clear shot.

Sightings At Spring Valley

Last week, the weather warmed up sufficiently to give us a brief reprieve from winter, so I thought I’d make the most of it and take another walk around Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg. The lake was still frozen over.

Because of all the damage done by the beaver, the staff at the Center have started putting wire cages around some of the trees. Unfortunately it comes too late for some.

Walking through the woods, I saw quite a few birds including nuthatches, woodpeckers and, enjoying a bath in some open water, a group of robins.

Still not much action over at the farm, but as I was walking back down the track I spotted a hawk sitting on a low branch of a tree. Usually, when presented with this kind of opportunity, I take a picture right away, just in case I’m not able to get any closer, but this time it obliged me by staying put, and allowed me to creep up quite close until I was almost underneath it. Great!

In fact, at one point, I thought I’d let myself in for more than I’d bargained for, but it eventually settled down and I continue to take dozens of shots.

Eventually it moved off to a tree further down the trail but it waited for me to catch up and I was able to keep on shooting. It really seemed to be enjoying having its picture taken and even turned around to give me a different angle.

All the time this was going on, the ducks in the nearby creek were kicking up quite a racket. I think they must have been aware that the hawk was nearby and you could almost see the hawk thinking to itself, “Hello. Grub’s up!”

Finally, after quite some time, it flew off, and as I turned to look back up the track, three female deer stepped out of the trees. The perfect end to a successful afternoon.

Warmer Days In Spring Valley

Although you couldn’t exactly run out there in your bathing suit, the weather was certainly warmer yesterday than it has been for quite some time. This prompted me to take a trip to Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg and, although it was still rather icy underfoot, it was quite a pleasant walk.

There was no sign of activity over by the beaver lodge but there was clear evidence that it had been quite busy since the last time I was here. It had made short work of some of the smaller trees and I was surprised to see that even the larger ones had come in for some attention.

Because the pathways were still slippery, I didn’t take my usual route but stayed down near the cabin area. There was just enough snow left to make the wintry scene appealing.

Midway through the walk, I came upon two deer, one with an impressive set of antlers, the other with only one. We were both wary of each other but they didn’t run off and we followed each other along the path almost all the way back to the parking lot where we said our farewells.

Walking in Spring Valley

As I mentioned in my previous post, Monday was my first visit this year to Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg. So far, we have had a reasonably mild winter and it was nice to be able to get out and walk around the Center instead of the usual, boring trek around the track at the local gym. They had cleared quite a lot of the growth on the prairie near the entrance and things had a much different look from the last time I was there.

Over by the lake, I noticed that they had replaced the viewing platform. It is much steadier now, which certainly helps when photographing the surrounding scenery.

Further along the path there was evidence of some freshly cut trees, no doubt victims of the high winds that we experienced just before Christmas. It’s somehow comforting to come upon the remains of an old tree that is no longer growing. I’m glad they left it there. It makes a good nesting place for the woodpeckers.

Walking up towards the farm, I was surprised to see this area open. It is usually closed off during the winter months. There weren’t any animals about, but the red barns always make a good shot.

On the path back to the cabin, there was another area that had been cleared of densely growing shrubs and undergrowth. It looked like they had installed a nesting box high in a tree. I’m not sure what they expect to entice there, something fairly big I imagine. Maybe a woodpecker or flicker.

At the little pond by the cabin, our three mallard ducks from the previous post were swimming around and generally enjoying the sunny weather.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Feathers

The theme for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this week is Feathers and, as luck would have it, I managed to capture a few shots on Monday that I thought would fit the bill (no pun intended.) The weather was chilly but sunny and dry when I paid my first visit of the year to Spring Valley Nature Center and I found myself spending some quality time with three mallard ducks that, unlike the poor bird in the previous post, were very much alive.

They appeared to be in the middle of a quick wash and brush up, with much flapping of wings, vigorous splashing and acrobatic contortions that were evidently required in order to get those feathers in tip top condition.

They did not seem to mind me gawping in on their ablutions. In fact, with their quacking laughter they seemed to be saying, “If you liked that one, get a load of this!”

Summer In The Valley – The Pond

It’s still summer at Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg and the pond is like a gently simmering soup. At first glance it would seem that all the wildlife is hiding but the longer you look, the more you see.

We haven’t had much rain lately, although that could change tomorrow but, for now, the water levels are quite low and the frogs must be wondering how long they can hold out against the sharp eyes of the great blue heron that is standing on a partially submerged branch in the water.

On the far side of the pond is a convenient bench underneath a shady tree and I sit looking at some kind of heron that is perched on a branch at the water’s edge, staring right at me. It doesn’t seem to be bothered by our close proximity and continues to eye me as I click away with the camera. Those of you who have been reading my posts for any amount of time will know that I have a terrible bird phobia. I’ve had this fear of birds, which is a distinct problem for someone who enjoys doing wildlife photography, ever since childhood, but for some reason, larger birds don’t scare me quite so badly. That much becomes evident when a mallard duck creeps up behind me and proceeds to practically walk across my feet, while I merely let out a stifled “Arrg!” I’m not saying I wouldn’t have uttered a piercing scream if it had started flapping its wings, but I am quite proud of myself when two more show up and I do no more than make a slight movement with my foot to ensure they don’t get too familiar.

Autumn is fast approaching but, for now, the summer soup of Spring Valley pond continues to stir and bubble with activity.