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Ron Dickenson
on 4/30 reported via e-mail: Ron sent this triptych of a family of
Great Horned Owls on Batavia's southeast side.
Mark Bowman on 4/30 reported via e-mail: At Fabyan this afternoon, made a 10 minute stop and there was WHITE CROWNED SPARROWS, CATBIRD, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS. Did not have my camera with me ! Ginny Widrick on 4/30 reported via e-mail: These first-of-year birds made her list of highlights of the 56 birds seen on today's Nelson Lake walk: Spotted Sandpiper, Black-and-White Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Gray Catbird, and Indigo Bunting. Rich Miller
on 4/30 reported via e-mail: A good monthly walk at Nelson lake this
morning. it started out cool, blustery and gray. the sun soon came out and
it turned out to be a good day. Among the highlights were B/W Warblers,
Yellow Warblers, three owlets, and occasional calls of
Pheasants off in the field. Glad the rain stopped!
John Janunas
on 4/30 reported via e-mail: Here's a picture of an Osprey that has
been hanging around Nelson Lake. He has take-out dinner with him.
Ginny Widrick on 4/29 reported via e-mail: Shortly after I put my hummingbird feeder up today, I had a [Ruby-throated] hummingbird that hung around all afternoon. Yeanette
Johnson on 4/29 reported via IBET: Sue Wagoner and I birded the day
away! Here are some the highlights... Christopher
Cudworth on 4/29 reported via IBET: Last night on a walk at Fabyan
Forest Preserve between Geneva and Batavia, there were huge numbers of
four species of swallows working the Fox River between the Fabyan Bridge
all the way up to the railroad bridge. Through binoculars the birds
appeared in swooping clouds just over the water. Most numerous were
Tree swallows, then Barn, then Cliff and finally a few
lonesome Bank swallows mixed in. Watched the action for more than
10 minutes and studied closely to see if any Rough wing swallows could be
found. Ron Dickenson
on 4/29 reported via e-mail: Mooseheart's Bald Eagles once
again this year are the proud parents of at least two offspring.
Matthew and Jake Cvetas on 4/29 reported via IBET: Jake and I had the day off so we went to Kane County to look for hawks. Near Huntley we found Red-tailed, Broad-winged, and Turkey Vultures. Further SW we found more Red-tailed, Cooper's and Swainson's Hawks. Jack Pomatto
on 4/29 reported via e-mail: Today, 4/29/11, Jon Duerr and I birded
Les Arends F.P. and had the following highlights: Marcia Nye on 4/28 reported via e-mail: There was an Osprey flying around the quarry lake at Big Rock Forest Preserve today. We saw the bird around 11am. Also a Spotted Sandpiper was walking along the creek near the entrance to the quarry circle trail. Bob Meierhans
on 4/27 reported via e-mail: This is the fourth consecutive year that
sandhill cranes have come to raise chicks near us (Rt. 47 just
north of I-88). Last year, the adults and young stayed in the area well
into summer. The adults arrived this year on February 28. They feed in a
grassy 400-foot strip that runs from the highway west to a creek, covering
about 10 acres. As the chicks begin to mature, I'll see the family feeding
on insects, worms, amphibians and other findings in the field. They often
gather in the shade at the back of our lawn, where the hen preens her
young.
Ginny Widrick on 4/26 reported via e-mail: Jack Pomatto and Valerie Blaine led a ramble at Tekakwitha Forest Preserve this morning. The highlight of the 41 birds seen on the outing was a Blackburnian Warbler. Mark Bowman
on 4/25 reported via e-mail: On my way to work today I stopped at
FABYAN PARK, it was not real birdy. There was a few YELLOW RUMPED
WARBLERS, some and a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER.
Chris Madsen on 4/23 reported: Carla and I also visited Nelson Lake. We were on the east side where we located the previously reported Eared Grebe and female Long-tailed Duck at the south end of the lake. Also found in amongst the Bufflehead, Ruddy Ducks, Northern Shovelers, and Coots were an American Wigeon and a Gadwall. We struck out on the Bonaparte's Gulls and Snow Goose. Did spot one overflying Osprey while walking from the observation deck to the parking lot. Traveled south looking for the Snow Goose. Came across about 5 Pied-billed Grebes and four Blue-winged Teal at the Mirador Subdivision main pond. There was a Sandhill Crane (possibly nesting) at Tanner Road marsh. Finally, at Carson Slough, we saw the Green-winged Teal (4) that have been eluding us all season. Marion Miller
on 4/23 reported via e-mail: While checking for monitoring posts in
the fields on the west side of Nelson Lake, Rich and I were surprised to
hear then see a Yellow-headed Blackbird. Also enjoyed views of a
Savannah Sparrow, and 2 Horned Larks forging around the burnt
vegetation. Meadowlarks were abundant and loudly singing. Sad to
say we saw our FOY dandelion. While walking the forest path on the west
side of the lake we saw 2 Great Horned Owls, Great Blue Heron,
2 Turkey Vultures, White-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-rumped
Warbler, American Kestrel as well as many Red-winged Blackbirds
and Robins.
Christopher
Cudworth on 4/23 reported via IBET: At 1:00 two soaring ospreys
parked themselves over our home on the west side of Batavia. Scott Cohrs on 4/22 reported via SMS: Eared Grebe is still present at Nelson L. in far SE Corner of marsh. Andrew
Aldrich on 4/21 reported via IBET: Hello! I birded Nelson Lake this
morning for a couple hours. The female LONG-TAILED DUCK is still
present in the southwest side of the lake. Also in this area was an
EARED GREBE in breeding plumage. There were 2 BONAPARTE'S GULLS
in the southeast end of the lake. Blue phase SNOW GOOSE is still
present as well. Joyce
Schreiber on 4/21 reported via IBET: There were two OSPREY on
the Fox River yesterday afternoon, visible from the parking lot [of Fox
River Shores FP]. Rich Miller
on 4/20 reported via e-mail: Our trip started out at Sauer Farm with
the hopes of seeing a Yellow Headed Blackbird – no luck. We then decided
to head over to Carson Sough to try our luck there. As we traveled south
on Bliss road, I spotted an Osprey perched at the top of a tall Oak
in Bliss woods. Once at the slough we saw MANY RW Blackbirds, Coot,
two Sandhill cranes, Mallards, Shovelers, Canada Geese, Robin, American
Kestrel and one Great Blue Heron. Still hoping for spring!
Kurt Frieders
on 4/19 reported via e-mail: Yesterday I was able to add a life bird
for me in the Northern Saw-Whet Owl. I was almost out of the woods
[at Oakhurst FP] on the way to my car when I saw it in a tree on the other
side of the creek. It stayed in the tree long enough for me to get a
really good look at it. Having only seen three types of owls before (and
them all being large ones) I had never seen an owl so small. It then flew
into another nearby tree farther back where I could not view it anymore,
but it started calling up a storm. It was making a tooting sound for quite
some time. By the time I walked around the creek to where it relocated to
it had since moved on... Jackie Bowman
on 4/18 reported via e-mail: After a great tip from Mark Bowman, my
husband Chris and I took off to Fabyan Island Park in Geneva. There we
found 6 Pine Warblers, 1 Black & White Warbler, 1
Pie-Billed Grebe, and 1 Northern Parula. At one point the Black
& White, Northern Parula, and 1 Pine warbler were all on the same tree. I
didn't know where to point my camera first. Chris insisted I focus on the
Parula - what great advice he gives!
Mark Bowman
on 4/18 reported via e-mail: 4-18 At Fabyan Park it was COLD out
there. There was some pretty good bird activity. Birds of note were
BROWN CREEPER, PINE WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA, HERMIT THRUSH, RUBY CROWNED
KINGLET and PIED-BILLED GREBE. I did get a few pics but the
lighting was not great and my shoulder was hurting.
Andrew Aldrich on 4/18 reported via IBET: There was a single male yellow-headed blackbird sticking out like a sore thumb in a sea of red-winged blackbirds, starlings, and brown-headed cowbirds. They are feeding in the fields on lasher rd just east of harter rd at Sauer family fp in sugar grove. I watched with binoculars for about 10 mins from the pull-off on lasher rd. Dennis Walz
on 4/17 reported via e-mail: Saw this Barred Owl at Johnson's
Mound Forest Preserve today.
John Cebula
on 4/17 reported via IBET: Despite the wind, I decided to try my luck
today. I think the wind won... Location: Les Arends Forest Preserve (Kane Co.) John Heneghan on 4/17 reported via IBET: Here in Big Rock, we had purple finches, pine siskins, a titmouse and white breasted nuthatches and the usual goldfinches, downy and red bellied woodpeckers at the feeders this AM. Urs Geiser on
4/16 reported via IBET: After two weeks of non-birding, it was nice to
finally go out again on Saturday morning! I even caught a two-hour dry
window between the rains. Mark Bowman on 4/16 reported via e-mail: At my feeder this morning I had many of my usuals but also had female PURPLE FINCHES and a couple of PINE SISKINS Nolan Lameka on 4/15 reported via IBET: Chris and Mark Bowman alerted me to the Lapland Longspurs in a field north of the Persinger Recreation Center in Geneva Illinois. I went there this morning a found some of the birds, photos of breeding plumaged Laplands has been a goal of mine for a long time. Ron Dickenson
on 4/14 reported via e-mail: Here are some photos of a Great Horned
Owl family found south of Aurora near Route 25.
Bill Koch on 4/14 reported via e-mail: For the last three days there have been Caspian Terns flying around the ponds in the West Elgin subdivision I live in. There are at least 2 around and they fly from pond to pond diving for fish. The ponds are relatively small so watching them has been fairly easy and allowing for some OK camera shots. The Spotted Sandpipers I see every year have also returned to 2 of the ponds. A lone male Bufflehead has been sticking around as well as 5 Blue Winged Teal. Bryan Hix on
4/13 reported via e-mail: I visited a local muddy field in Gilberts
this afternoon and saw a Lesser Yellowlegs and three Pectoral
Sandpipers. I also saw a Broad-winged Hawk fly overhead at 72
and Tyrell.
Darrell
Shambaugh on 4/13 reported via IBET: A short stop at Nelson Lake
around noon today produced a few different species than Tuesday at the
same time. Four BONAPARTE'S GULLS were flying around the lake.
Several WOOD DUCKS were on the lake. There were far fewer ducks
than Tuesday, although still a nice assortment of species: NORTHERN
SHOVELER, LESSER SCAUP, RUDDY DUCK, GADWALL, MALLARD, BUFFLEHEAD, and
female LONG-TAILED DUCK. The numbers of AMERICAN COOTS and
PIED-BILLED GREBES were way down Wednesday too. Jon Duerr on 4/13 reported via phone: The Long-tailed Duck was still present at Nelson Lake this morning. At Oakhurst FP, 12 Pied-billed Grebes are on the lake. Barb Rask on 4/13 reported via e-mail: Yesterday, April 12th on the Fox River Bike Path near South Elgin and just north of Jon Duerr F.P. I observed a Northern Parula in two separate locations but it may have been the same bird. Also seen were many Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, Yellow Rumped Warblers along the path and two Spotted Sandpipers in the river near the Woodcliff home. Andrew
Aldrich on 4/12 reported via IBET: The female Long-tailed Duck
was still present at Nelson Lake as of about 12:30pm today. It was last
seen in the center of the lake diving around a group of roughly 30
Ruddy Ducks. Bryan Hix on
4/12 reported via e-mail: Today I was hoping to see and photograph the
Red-Necked Grebe at Nelson Lake, but only found a friendly group of
birders on the observation deck looking for the same thing. There were
still several small groups of American White Pelicans along with a
Snow Goose in the blue phase, 15+ Ruddy Ducks, a couple of
Northern Shovelers, Song Sparrows, and many Red-Winged
Blackbirds. I left there and headed to Tanner Marsh and only saw some
Coots and Canada Geese. My last stop was at Carson Slough
where I found a group of 37 American White Pelicans and was able to get
some fantastic close looks at them especially when several got up to
stretch their wings and soar around the lake. In addition to the Pelicans,
there were Pied-billed Grebes, 6 Great Egrets, a Great
Blue Heron, 3 Green-Winged Teal, a pair of Blue-Winged Teal,
and several Northern Shovelers at the North end of the Slough.
Jack Pomatto
on 4/12 reported via e-mail: Here are our highlights for the 4/12/11
ramble at Tekakwitha Woods F.P. Mike Baum on 4/12 reported via IBET: On my way to Nelson Lake in Kane Co. I stopped at [Fabyan] West off 31 and on the Fox R. for a little song-birding. At the north edge of the Japanese garden I found a singing PINE WARBLER, and a little north of there a singing PARULA and some siskins. At Nelson no luck on the red-necked grebe but the OLDSQUAW [Long-tailed Duck] made the trip well worth it. Pete Moxon on 4/12 reported via SMS: As of 10AM the Long-tailed Duck is still present at Nelson Lake, but the Red-necked Grebe has not been relocated. Kurt Frieders on 4/12 reported via IBET: Yesterday I saw my first ever Eurasian tree sparrow. It was a single bird sitting in one of my maple trees. My wife and I have been seeing a northern flicker and a yellow bellied sapsucker on and off in the yard (Aurora township) for the past week. We have seen each of them 5 of the last 7 days. The northern flicker was pecking at the downspout on the side of my house. It made quite a racket. Scott Cohrs on 4/11 reported via IBET: ...the Red-necked Grebe was still present at Nelson Lake just before sunset. Thanks to Pete Moxon for keeping tabs on it until I arrived. Even in the fading light it was a nice looking bird. 25 Pelicans flew in at sunset and both Sora and Virginia Rail were calling as we stood on the observation platform. Pete Moxon on 4/11 reported via SMS: Relocated the Red-necked Grebe at Nelson Lake at 5:40. It's currently sleeping at the south end of the lake - hard to spot. Diane Hansen
on 4/11 reported via e-mail: I saw lots of birds Sunday but this is
one that I know the name of. I saw this Great Horned Owl Sunday
morning on the west side of the lake.
Jon Duerr on 4/11 reported via e-mail: A beautiful breeding plumage Red-necked Grebe is at Nelson Lake as of 1:30 Monday. Roger ? saw 2 birds around 12:00. No Long-tailed Duck nor Pelicans. Karen Land on 4/11 reported via IBET: Yesterday we saw about 50 White American pelicans in the Carson Slough off Norris Road in Sugar Grove. They were at the west end of the slough and visible from Norris. There is a paved path along the south to the west but we didn't go down it. Ed Vedral on 4/10 reported via e-mail: This afternoon, we saw our first Purple Martin of the year. He was perched on top of the martin house in our yard [in Campton Hills]. We hope that he returns with his friends. Marion Miller
on 4/10 reported via e-mail: Rich and I went out to Prairie Green
Wetlands in Geneva on Sunday. The highlights were Vesper Sparrows,
Savannah Sparrows and an Eastern Towhee.
Ann Haverstock on 4/10 reported via IBET: Long-tailed Duck still being seen at nelson lake. Dick Young f. P. Kane co. 2:30 pm Linda Padera
on 4/10 reported via IBET: Great birding this morning at Nelson
Lake/Dick Young Forest Preserve in Kane County on DuPage Birding Club's
field trip. The biggest highlights were a female Long-tailed Duck,
a "blue form" Snow Goose, a Sandhill Crane,
a Pine Warbler and two Vesper Sparrows. The full report
below includes additional significant birds. Andrew Aldrich on 4/10 reported via IBET: The Long-tailed Duck was still present around noon today. She was between the Ruddy Ducks & Shovelers on the far southwest side of the lake. Had nice binocular views from the south side of the trail. Bryan Hix on
4/10 reported via e-mail: I spent some time this morning walking
around Burnidge FP and then drove through a couple of nearby subdivisions.
I finally saw my first Yellow-Rumped warblers of the year and there
were dozens actively feeding. In addition, I saw one Palm Warbler
and one Common Yellowthroat. I also saw the following:
Eric Secker on 4/10 reported via IBET: Yesterday evening, we took a walk at Fox River Shores F.P. near East Dundee. South of the parking lot where you can view the river, there were about 11 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS standing on one of the mudflats out in the river. There were also three N. Rough-winged Swallows perched in a tree by the bike path. Karen Fisher on 4/10 reported via IBET: Karen Lund just called to report a female Long-tailed duck at the west end of Nelson Lake Marsh in Batavia. It is actively diving. It's Sunday morning, 4/10 at 10:00am. Paul Mayer on
4/8 reported via e-mail: This morning at 10:00AM approximately 25-30
White Pelicans were still at Nelson Lake. In addition the following
were also present: Matt Lorenz on 4/7 reported via IBET: This afternoon about 2 p.m. on my way home from Walmart I saw a single Trumpeter Swan in Hampshire at the retention pond at the intersection of Rt72 and Runge Rd. The retention pond is on the Northeast corner of the intersection. The swan was hanging out with a pair of Canada Geese, one of which was on the nest. Bob Andrini on 4/7 reported via e-mail: We had two 'easterners' in our yard [in St. Charles] today - an Eastern Phoebe and Eastern Towhee. The Phoebe was a first sighting for our yard. Spring migration is beginning for the 'songbirds'. Kurt Frieders on 4/7 reported via e-mail: Yesterday afternoon my wife and I did a birdwalk at Oakhurst FP. The highlight of our walk was that we saw both yellow-rumped warblers and palm warblers. Those were the first that we have seen this year of both of those species... Margaret
Myers on 4/6 reported via e-mail: Pelicans still remain at
Nelson Lake.
Darrell Shambaugh on 4/6 reported via IBET: I went for a walk around Lone Grove Forest Preserve, a few miles northwest of Kaneville, about noon today. I was hoping for hawk, owl, or crow nests, but I found none. The highlights were my first of the year BROWN THRASHER and 12 FOX SPARROWS. I saw at least 5 RED-TAILED HAWKS fly over. Three were really high and the other two were at tree top level. Two others flew around the tree tops; I think they were the same two I saw earlier. There was also a BROWN CREEPER at Lone Grove. Larry Bohlin on 4/6 reported via e-mail: Spotted an Osprey soaring fairly low over Nelson Lake (south east area) on 4/2/11. Sandra Lucas on 4/6 reported via e-mail: My Eastern Wood Peewee has returned as of yesterday, we see it on the wooded property just west of Garfield Farm in Rural Elburn yearly. Ron Dickenson
on 4/6 reported via e-mail: The American White Pelicans
departed the Fox River at Batavia yesterday.
Ginny Widrick on 4/6 reported via e-mail: On yesterday's "ramble" to Prairie Green Wetlands in Geneva, the group saw a Short-eared Owl that was unintentionally flushed and 2 Wilson's Snipe. "Jean" on 4/6 reported via e-mail: Our property backs up to a wonderful marsh. There are six pelicans there this morning. We are in Campton Hills/St. Charles west of Denker Rd and north of Bolcum Rd. What a delight. Jack Pomatto on 4/5 reported via e-mail: Warblers are starting to return. A Yellow-rumped Warbler was seen this afternoon, 4/5/11 at Tekakwitha F. P. Kurt Frieders on 4/5 reported via e-mail: Today at my feeders (in Aurora township) we saw our first white-crowned sparrow of the year. It was just a single bird. I'm sure there are many more to come as we had a lot of them last year. Also this morning we had our first two northern flickers ever. They were quite vocal, and hung around for five minutes on two different occasions. We were able to get some really good looks at them as the were exploring a tower structure in my yard. Walter Lutz on 4/4 reported via e-mail: Spent a blustery hour at Jelke Monday afternoon: Fairly quiet but did see a beautiful pair of bluebirds, a pair of blue-winged teal, a pair of green-winged teal, a group of barn swallows but the most interesting was a very large, dark-all-over, raptor flying very high in extremely difficult, windy conditions. It wasn't soaring because of the conditions but it wasn't flying toward a destination either. It seemed to be hunting in a general W/NW direction. Definitely not a vulture. I can only assume it was a juvenile bald eagle but it was possibly, I repeat possibly, a golden eagle. Rhonda Nelson
on 4/4 reported via phone: Pelicans are still on the river in
Batavia north of downtown.
Kurt Frieders on 4/4 reported via e-mail: Today was the first time I've had yellow-bellied sapsuckers at my feeders (in Aurora township). There was an adult male, and a female. They hung around and pecked at the tree for about five minutes, then they came back ten minutes later and stayed for about ten minutes. The male ate some of the suet. Luckily I was able to snap some pictures. Last Thursday I reported three broad-winged hawks at Oakhurst FP. Today while playing in the yard with my dog one of the broad-winged hawks flew over my property. It turns out I had my binoculars on me, and was able to get some really good looks at him. He hung around for quite some time before diving after something in my creek. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera on me or I could have taken some pictures. Hopefully this hawk and his friends will visit again, as I am only a mile from Oakhurst FP. It ended up being a great birding day without leaving my property. Chris
Weishaar on 4/4 reported via IBET: Good morning all. Was out at Nelson
Lake in Batavia yesterday, laet afternoon. Nothing unusal to report,
though we did see our first bluebirds of the year. Ginny Widrick on 4/3 reported via e-mail: Eastern Towhees have returned to LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve today. Two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers came back to my feeders [next to LeRoy Oakes] today. Bob Anrini on 4/3 reported via e-mail: This afternoon there were about 98 White Pelicans out at Nelson's Lake. Denny Walz on
4/3 reported via e-mail: This Horned Grebe has been hanging
around the depot pond in Batavia for at least the last week.
Rhonda Nelson on 4/3 reported via phone: There are 40 - 50 American White Pelicans north of the dam in Batavia. Beau Schaefer on 4/3 reported via IBET: I headed out to Sauer this morning to check for longspurs. I was there from 6:30-7:45 and walked the perimeter of the property around the ponds and next to the ag fields. I didn't see or hear any longspurs. The only highlights were a hunting NORTHERN HARRIER female and good looks at a WESTERN MEADOWLARK singing while perched on a wire. Bryan Hix on 4/3 reported via e-mail: I visited a local fuddle north of Gilberts and was happy to see about two dozen Least Sandpipers. There were another dozen Kildeer in the mud with them as well. Hopefully some more shorebirds will move in this week. Joan Norek on 4/2 reported via IBET:
In case no one else has posted (don't see one but I am behind in reading),
American White Pelicans were at Nelson Lake (in/by Batavia) in
major numbers this morning (4/2/11).
Tamara Brenner on 4/2 reported via eBird: Two White-winged Scoters were seen by some of the participants at Scope Day this morning at Nelson Lake. Scott Cohrs
on 4/1 reported via IBET: I had the day off today and spent some of my
time slogging through the rain at Sauer Family Prairie Kame FP in Kane
County. Really wasn't much of note until I noticed quite a few
longspurs foraging in the ag field south of the main pond. I stood on
the berm and tried to sort through them, hoping for a Smith's which have
occurred here a few times in the past. I got on one bird that was slightly
paler than the Laplands. I
Chris Madsen on 4/1 reported: No joke, 31 pelicans at Nelson at 6:15 PM. Bob Andrini on 4/1 reported via phone: At 10 AM there were 10 American White Pelicans on Nelson Lake. |
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