On 4/30 Brendon Lake via IBET,
Diane Hansen via e-mail, and Leslie Yoshitani via IBET: All reported
the female Wilson's Phalarope continues at the Kenyon Farms fluddle
on Kenyon Road in South Elgin.
Margaret Mechtenberg on 4/29 reported via phone: Shortly after noon, Margaret saw a Wilson's Phalarope at the Kenyon Road Farm fluddle. Paul Mayer on 4/28 reported via e-mail: On April 28th [at Les Arends FP] there was a single male Baltimore Oriole and three Chimney Swifts. No sign yet of "masses of warblers". Just the usual yellow-rumps and palms. Jackie Bowman on 4/28
reported via e-mail: Early Thursday morning despite the clouds and
light rain we spent sometime wandering Fabyan FP. We heard the familiar
sound of the Northern Parula, and were quite delighted to find a
female singing away along the tree line south of the Fabyan House. Maybe
we'll have a family nesting here this year?
Bill Ahlgren on 4/27 reported
via e-mail: Had a brief FOY encounter with an Orchard Oriole at
our feeders this morning in Batavia. He was around for about 10 minutes
before moving on.
John Heneghan on 4/27
reported via e-mail: Had a pair of Eurasian Collared Doves in
the yard today in Big Rock. First ever in the yard.
Bob Andrini on 4/27 reported via e-mail: Jane McMillan reports that the Whip-poor-will has returned to Jon Duerr Forest Preserve. Ryan Jones on 4/26 reported via eBird: Indigo Bunting at Arlene Shoemaker Forest Preserve. "Male. All blue songbird. Black wings with blue edges. First heard giving repeated sharp chip calls before getting a visual." Scott Cohrs on 4/26 reported via eBird: Upland Sandpiper at Prairie Green Wetlands. "Larger Sandpiper. Long wings, long tail. Thin, long neck, small rounded head. Brown/tan overall with streaked breast and sides. Yellow legs. Came flying in low from grassy area. Circled the marsh and touched down very briefly. Then flew and circled the area several times. Gave a clear 'pulip pulip' call a few times. Eventually landed in a short grass field SW of the main marsh. " Theresa LeCompte on 4/26 reported via e-mail: Last Friday, I went to Les Arends expecting to find a Northern Waterthrush, but found a Louisiana Waterthrush instead. The picture that I took on 4/21 is that of a Louisiana Waterthrush because of the pink legs, clean throat, white flanks and the white supercilium (eyebrow) that becomes broader behind the eye. The bird was not singing when I was present. Thanks to everyone who evaluated this photo, including staff at the Field Museum. Paul Mayer on 4/26 reported via e-mail: On Wednesday April 26, a male Scarlet Tanager was found in Burnidge Forest Preserve. The bird was found by Tim Balassie. John Heneghan on 4/25 reported via IBET: Birded Les Arends this evening along the Fox River in Kane. A few Blue Gray Gnatcatchers. Of note was a singing Louisiana Waterthrush. Hopefully the south winds will bring more warblers. Bill Ahlgren on 4/24 reported
via e-mail: While looking for Marion's Blue-headed Vireo and the
reported Blackpoll warbler, I found 1? of the Yellow-throated Warblers
probably foraging for insects at the old brown house east of the Villa [at
Fabyan FP]. Thought at first to be the resident E. Phoebe.
John Heneghan on 4/24 reported via e-mail: We had a Red Headed Woodpecker at the feeders in Big Rock today. We have had one before, in the spring. Been a few years. Roger Amery on 4/23 reported via e-mail: On the west side of the Fox River at Fabyan Park, I, and other borders observed pine warblers and a yellow throated warbler in the Japanese garden. Barb Vrchota on 4/23 reported via eBird: Seeing a Magnolia Warbler at Oakhurst Forest Preserve. Paul Mayer on 4/23 reported via e-mail: On Friday, April 21st, we had our first Baltimore Oriole come to the feeder. They’re coming! Roger Amery on 4/23 reported via e-mail: At Fabyan park yesterday, I observed pine warblers, eastern phoebes, and eastern bluebirds. These birds were at the picnic area of the park just east of route 25. Oliver Burrus on 4/22 reported via eBird: An Indigo Bunting at his house in Carpentersville. Wally Levernier on 4/21 reported via eBird: Finding a Blackpoll Warbler at Fabyan Forest Preserve "Along the river near the Japanese Garden." Theresa LeCompte on 4/21 reported via e-mail: The Northern Waterthrush that Bill Ahlgren reported yesterday to IBET was still present at Les Arends this afternoon in the marshy area east of the main path. EDITOR'S NOTE: Upon further
review, Theresa amended the ID of this bird to Louisiana Waterthrush.
See her 4/26 post above.
Mike Klancnik on 4/20
reported via e-mail: Here's a comparison of the eagles' nest at
Mooseheart. Using the arrowed branches, note the size difference between
April 2015 and April 2017.
Bob Andrini on 4/20 reported via e-mail: While walking the bike path south from Quarry Park prior to the ramble, we saw several FOY birds for this area: House Wren; Blue-grey Gnatcatcher; Spotted Sandpiper; Palm Warbler. We also spotted an adult and very fluffy young Great Horned Owl high in a tree, but couldn't locate the nest. On the ramble Thursday at Fabyan and Gunnar Anderson forest preserves, we got some special birds: Green Heron, Northern Parula Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, and a singing Pine Warbler. John Heneghan on 4/20 reported via IBET: Had a Rose Breasted Grosbeak at the yard feeders today in Big Rock (Kane) . Karen Lund on 4/19 reported via IBET: I stopped by [the O'Brien/Melms Rd. Fluddle] again late this afternoon. There were 2 soras calling and a very vocal virginia rail. It was kiddick'ing most of the 15 minutes I was there. It finally popped out for a few seconds; the sora weren't as obliging. There was also a redtail with some leucism going on. It had a very pale red tail and big white patches on the wings and back (I'm not referring to the windows normally seen on the wings of an immature bird). It was always flying away from me so I didn't see the front. Shorebirds: both yellowlegs, pectorals, 1 dunlin, 1 solitary and killdeer. Also blue-winged teal and a gadwall. Karen Lund on 4/18 reported via IBET: Some of you may remember this site from 2009. There were a lot of good sightings that year. I've continued to check over the years, but it's been dry. However, there's water here again and birds. Today there were both yellowlegs, shovelers, blue-winged teal, pectorals and dunlin. We also had a flyover osprey and a sora. Since we're supposed to have more rain tomorrow, this spot may stay viable for another week or so. There are 2 fluddles on the east side of O'Brien Rd. The O'Brien/Melms Rd. t-intersection is about a 1/4 mile west of Walker Rd., about 3 miles north of Hwy. 72. It is a gravel road but there is a sign. There's huge sand pile to the east at a gravel operation. It's only 1 mile or so into Kane County. John Heneghan on 4/18 reported via IBET: Birded Big Rock Forest Preserve in Kane Cty this AM. Yellow Rumped warblers were there in numbers. Blue Gray Gnatcatchers and Palm Warblers were seen. Hairy Woodpeckers, Flickers, Downy woodpeckers and Red Bellied were present. A Great Horned owl was seen. Many Towhees, a Brown Thrasher, House wrens, Phoebes, a Kingfisher, Bluebird, Song and Field Sparrows, Cormorants. Overhead, a Bald Eagle was seen as well as Red Tailed hawk and Turkey vultures. Great Blue herons. A Warbling vireo was heard. 3 Northern Rough Winged swallows were seen. A nice morning to be out. Jackie Bowman on 4/16
reported via e-mail: On Sunday, April 16, at about 3:15pm we had a
flock of 12 Rusty Blackbirds singing away at the northwest corner of
the Les Arends Marsh. Their song was very entertaining!
Walter Lutz on 4/16 reported via eBird: Finding a Northern Waterthrush at Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin. Rich Miller on 4/16 reported
via e-mail: My birding buddies and I were walking along the Fox River
(Japanese Gardens) on Saturday morning and this handsome fellow popped up
in front of me. This Green
Heron is a first of year for me.
Ann Haverstock on 4/14
reported via e-mail: On Fox R. bike trail between Quarry Park, Batavia
and Les Arends, North Aurora. Carolina Wren and Purple Finches.
C. Beaumont on 4/14 reported via eBird: Seeing and hearing a Warbling Vireo at St. Charles Country Club. Bill Ahlgren on 4/14 reported via e-mail: Quite a gathering of Rusty Blackbirds have been congregating lately in the swampy area at Les Arends as Theresa L. noted yesterday. I observed 40+ over the last two days in this area. Very interesting observation of a formally abundant species in rapid decline. I found this first of year
Northern Parula at Batavia's Quarry Park just south of the big wooden
bridge on 4/11/17 and 4/12/17. Many Ruby Kinglets and FOY
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. This male was quiet, but one of my favorite
warbler spring songs to come!
Henk Jan Oosterhuis on 4/14 reported via eBird: At Tyler Creek Forest Preserve, a Grey-cheeked Thrush. "Uniform grey-brown above and face, very faint eye-ring. Black moustache streaks and streaking on throat and breast. Not shy, on fallen logs along western edge bordering back yards of houses." Chris Madsen on 4/14
reported: A quick trip to Gunnar Anderson and Fabyan forest preserves
produced practically nothing along the lines of waterfowl on the
fast-flowing Fox other than this very co-operative, breeding-plumaged
Horned Grebe.
Corey Lange on 4/14 reported via eBird: Seeing a pair of Swainson's Hawks at their traditional location on Chapman Road near Burlington. Theresa LeCompte on 4/13
reported via e-mail: While at Les Arends this afternoon, Sue Schneider
and I both heard the unmistakable creaky notes of a chorus of Rusty
Blackbirds. We counted over 30 of them in the flooded woods east
of the path.
Bill Ahlgren on 4/11 reported via eBird: Seeing a first-of-year Northern Parula on the Fox River Trail in Batavia. John Heneghan on 4/9 reported via e-mail: Lots of Yellow Rumped Warblers at Les Arends Sunday. Swamp Sparrows at Fabyan. Daryl Coldren on 4/9 reported via eBird: Spotting a Northern Mockingbird at Big Rock Forest Prreserve. "...First seen at 1040 along fence line at back parking lot. Followed it for about 10 minutes as it moved along the trail towards the lake. Last seen flying towards lake." Walt Lutz on 4/8 reported via
e-mail: Nesting time @ Brunner F.P. Stop Longmeadow Parkway
Toll-bridge!
Bob Andrini on 4/7 reported via text: A member reported 18 American White Pelicans on the Peck Farm pond at 10:00 this morning. Marion Miller on 4/6 reported
via e-mail: While visiting Brunner Family Forest Preserve to remove the
Chimney Swift tower caps, Rich and I enjoyed some great looks at a
Ring-necked Pheasant and a pair of Northern Flickers. Spring
colors are so vibrant on our feathered friends.
John Mayer on 4/6 reported
via e-mail: This flock of sixteen American White Pelicans flew
over Judson University yesterday afternoon.
John Heneghan on 4/5 reported via e-mail: Surprised to see an Osprey sitting in the ag field at the corner of Hughes and Fabyan Wed afternoon. John Heneghan on 4/2 reported via e-mail: I saw 24 turkeys at Big Rock Forest Preserve Sunday evening. Have not seen any there in a while. John Heneghan on 4/2 reported via IBET: White Crowned, White Throated and Chipping Sparrows and a Winter Wren in the [Big Rock] yard this AM. Had a Yellow Bellied Sapsucker yesterday at the peanut feeder.
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