If I Were Going...: Looking for Fall: More Midwest

This is what we were looking for

Now, it was on to Illinois to visit my sister in Peoria. The weather was a bit drippy while we were there, so we didn't have any spectacular adventures. But, we did a bit of exploring.

The Peoria River

We started by driving up beautiful Grand Avenue in Peoria ...

Peoria Fall

... then, we traveled on to Starved Rock State Park, which is in Oglesby, Illinois, a little over an hour north of Linda’s house.

Scott dressed for the weather

Starved Rock State Park

It was lovely, but didn’t live up to its over-the-top reviews.

Starved Rock landscape

The Park derives its name from a Native American legend that says that in the 1760s, Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa tribe, was stabbed while attending a tribal council meeting of the Illinois and the Pottawatomie tribes. Seeking revenge, Pontiac's followers attacked the Illinois, who took refuge on a great rock, where they eventually starved to death. Hence, Starved Rock. Signs at the Park refute this account, but the name sticks.

The view from the Rock

Starved Rock became Illinois' first recreational Park in 1911.

Eastern Chipmunk at Starved Rock

It has a Lodge and some nice features built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Some nice foliage

Singing Woods

Then, we visited Singing Woods Nature Preserve, a very different environment than the rocky, tree-covered Starved Rock.

Prairie

I took a walk through the tall, dried prairie grass and flowers …

Amazing variety

… and spent some time photographing the birds flitting through the tall grasses …

Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow

… and feeding in the trees on the edge of the prairie ...

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

It was pretty, even on a cold, gray and windy afternoon.

Interesting feeding behavior

Ironically, the most glorious tree we saw (on the whole trip) was in front of a small residential garage in Peru, Illinois.

Just on a residential street

It was magnificent!

At my sister’s, I was hoping to see some of the Cooper’s Hawks and Barred and Great Horned Owls that frequent her backyard.

No such luck! Photos: Linda Rowe

But we had some good company (alas! I took no people photos, which is a bad habit of mine) and delicious food, including a marvelous kale quiche, tabouleh and, then, some delicious Chicken Piccata.

We didn’t stay too long because Linda and Robert were leaving shortly for a trip to South Korea. But, it was a nice time.

Killing Time in the Midwest

The next two days before going back for the Saw-Whet banding were spent just wandering around Illinois, Wisconsin and a smidge of Iowa.

On the road (back roads when possible)

We had no agenda, but managed to find some fall color.

We don't get these reds much in Colorado

We visited the lovely Klehm Arboretum in Rockford, Illinois.

I am not sure what this was about

While there, I saw a Red-tailed Hawk carry a squirrel from a creek bed to a field (that’s a heavy load!).

The squirrel is to the left

Unfortunately, I scared him while taking his photo and he flew off without the squirrel.

Taking off

And, watched me from a tree ...

Sorry, Mr. Hawk!

I assume he came back for it later.

Maybe this juvenile Bald Eagle got it

We ventured into Wisconsin, where we saw some more fall …

So-so trees

… and a lot of Wisconsin character …

As my sister said, all this need is ingredients for an Old Fashioned

We ate at an old-school A&W in Boscobel (on the Wisconsin River) where, if you were eating in, you didn’t order at the counter. Instead you sat down and placed your order via a phone installed at the booth ...

I expected the Fonz to arrive at any moment

We admired the Mississippi River from both sides …

Bellevue, Iowa

And, we saw more farms …

Dane County, Wisconsin

... and corn …

They let feed corn throughly dry before harvesting

… than I ever imagined possible …

Miles and miles of corn

On this little meandering, we had two very different hotel experiences.

Meh

The first night, we stayed at a Bally’s Quad Cities in Rock Island, Illinois. I am not a gambler, but casino hotels are usually pretty nice and inexpensive with decent restaurants. And, Scott does like to gamble a little. The hotel room was OK, despite the bathroom having frosted glass between the shower and the room (kinda creepy).

But, the good restaurants were closed and there was a general air of “better times have passed” about the place.

It didn't look like this on the website!

So, we searched and searched for a nearby place to eat. Scott wanted a steak and I found a “steakhouse” that looked good. But, when we arrived, it turned out to be a real dive in a sketchy neighborhood.

Maybe the food would be good.

Not so much!

Oh, and when we pulled up to the hotel, there was a guy (maybe early 40s), outside the casino doors crying. I mean, full-on sobbing. Probably not the best advertisement for a casino, but appropriate. So, even though there wasn’t anything really wrong with the place, it made me generally uncomfortable.

The next night, Scott said he wanted to stay on Lake Michigan, if possible. I found the Illinois Beach Hotel in Illinois Beach State Park for a great rate. It was just north of Chicago, so the low rate scared me. But, it was quite nice.

Illinois Beach Hotel

We had a delicious dinner in the restaurant and explored the beautiful Park and lakeshore.

Lake Michigan

It was almost completely deserted but, again, I assume it’s crazy busy in the summer. This was a win!

The Prettiest Potato

The next day, we were heading back to Indiana Dunes for the Owl banding, exploring along the way. When we got near the Park, we decided to explore the “Michiana” area – the border between Michigan and Indiana. First, we stopped at a cemetery ...

Such a pretty setting ... to be buried

We spent a little while there ...

Scott exploring

... before moving on from Michigan back into Indiana ...

We were in a rural area near South Bend; Photo: Scott Stevens

And, we chanced upon Potato Creek State Park.

The Park comprises Worster Lake, fields, mature woodlands, prairies and wetlands

Finally, we found fall!

Yes!

The trees were gorgeous!

I found a cool Paper Wasp nest in a brilliant tree

The lakes were gorgeous!

Worster lake

The trees along the lake were gorgeous!

Pretty reflections

There were even a couple of birds (not lifers, but birds)!

More Yellow-rumped warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets

It was, like everywhere else, virtually deserted, which allowed us to explore at our leisure. So, finally, we were able to enjoy and photograph some pretty fall foliage ...