Garden of the Gods....Southern Illinois

We spent Wednesday visiting the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. It basically covers the entire bottom half of the state so we barely got to any of it. We went to 3 popular spots that are about a 70 mile drive away.....Garden of the Gods, the Iron Furnace, and Cave-in-Rock. I will have to split this post into a couple of days. I'll warn you ahead of time that I saw lots of birds and animals, but mostly from the car and with no photos. This was more of a geology lesson then anything else. The road between Mt. Vernon and the Wabash River is lined with Redbud trees that are all in bloom right now. I had to take at least one photo from the car window to try to show how it looks.
Everywhere there are fields covered with purple flowers. I believe they are Henbit, but will not swear to it. It is an astonishing sight to see all that purple everywhere!

A closer look

We went to Garden of the Gods first because we have been there before and wanted to show it to our niece who was along.

There is a 1/4 mile trail winding through the rocks and trees.....this is one of the narrowest points.

The rock formations are amazing and I am trying hard to choose the most interesting ones. This is all sandstone that was formed over the last several million years, worn away by water, wind, weather conditions. I think these rounded towers are fascinating.

It seemed like every surface is covered with swirls or pits or markings of some sort.

Sort of like the rock formations out west but with trees. In the summer and fall this area is gorgeous.

An opening with water seepage.

I'm showing this sign to explain these, since I would never get it right. The rocks in questions are below.

Looks a lot like gnarly tree bark.

Many of the rocks have relatively smooth tops, with impressions like this that catch water.

Lots of lichen covered rocks mixed in.

Laura spotted this lizard. I have no idea what kind....sort of prehistoric looking in my opinion.

Camel Rock....the most famous rock formation in the area and I know that people used to climb out on it and that some have fallen. Better to view the camel from a distance.

I like the twisted roots finding their way between the rocks.

A very dark butterfly that I didn't get a good photo of, but at least it is a "critter".

Who's going to win here...the rock or the tree? Looks like the tree is chomping down on that rock.

One last rock formation.
Most of the birds I saw were the same ones I see at home...cardinals, robins, bluejay, red wing blackbirds. We saw dozens of Turkey Vultures throughout the day, but I gave up on trying to take their photos as they soared overhead. I saw at least 3 hawks on the wires coming over. A grey squirrel or two. Some other tiny white butterflies.

Tomorrow we move on to the Illinois Iron Furnace and Cave-in-Rock.

Watery Wednesday.....

I certainly had a "Watery" Tuesday, so that gives me plenty of photos for Wednesday :-)

It rained all day yesterday. Lots of "April showers" a day early. The Cardinal in front of a puddle reflecting the new spring growth.
Looking across the lake in the rain to the neighbor's lovely daffodils.

Puddles......lots of puddles!

Puddles make nice mirrors for whatever is around, but I didn't want to get outside in the rain to take the photos.

Dove wading through the puddles.

Rain dripping from everything! Can you see the White Throated Sparrow?

A wet Robin posing in the tree.

The Cardinal didn't seem to mind the wet seeds too much.

A Purple Finch showed up.......

......with the Mrs. as well.

Hairy Woodpecker having some soggy suet.

Lots of molting Goldfinches.

And a very unhappy wet squirrel who seemed to be more hungry then usual....I think it is a female. Maybe feeding young? She was hitting every feeding spot she could find.

Today is suppose to be nice and sunny, so we are heading out for the whole day. Will check blogs later if I hope!

For more "Watery Wednesday" click on the icon on the sidebar! Thanks to 2sweetnsaxy for hosting this site!

Checking the Heron Rookery.....

Each of the nests is beginning to have birds sitting in it and there was a lot of activity flying to and from the nests today.
Stacked up

Bringing back sticks

More sticks.

A lot of heron in a small space.

These all have a bird sitting low.....

....these were standing tall.

The eagle is at home, if you look closely and see the white head.

The eagle doesn't seem bothered by all the heron surrounding it.

Down below all this there are a few Canada Geese swimming, flapping, or sitting on nests.

Couldn't believe all the Duckweed already, but liked the squiggles on the blue water.

I just found a good website with information about how they nest and breed. Now I know what to look for when we check the nests. I'm guessing the first chicks will be around the first of May.

http://www.chilliwackblueheron.com/wildlife/herons-nesting.html

Drive by and honk.....

This is a blogger's version of those yard signs that say "Honk, it's Mike's birthday today!"

If you have time, stop by his blog and say Happy Birthday!

http://www.andthingsthatgo.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday, Mike!

What's the weather like today....

...rainy......sunny......hot....cold.....ask me again in 5 minutes because it will change! All weekend the weather changed from one extreme to another. Must be March!The Red-Bellied at a good moment in the weather. He is not eating the corn....there are sunflower seeds behind it.
Why do they all have their tails up?????

Cardinal at a blustery early morning moment....

.....Cardinal in the late afternoon sun, making it blend with the Maple seeds.

Dove....throwing out a wing to chase a House Sparrow away.

Downy....waiting for the suet.

A male Goldfinch almost in full summer color. A little bit more molting to make it really pretty.

Several Goldfinches at various stages of molt......and Mrs. Cardinal.....

.....who was having trouble with the wind here.

Did you send me your Pine Siskins, Betsy???? I had about a dozen this morning.

Mr. Red-Wing doesn't look happy.

Mr. Red-Wing letting me know he isn't happy! Or maybe its that wind again.

Or maybe its the 2 squirrels who are hogging the feeder area out back. I see a Cardinal lurking at the end of the bench hoping they will leave while there is still some food left.