Jason Newton & Jay Sturner on 12/31 reported via eBird: Finding an Iceland Gull at the Kimball Street Dam in Elgin.

John Mullins on 12/30 reported via e-mail: 12/29 saw five Bald Eagles in trees on Walton Island in downtown Elgin. Once again its extreme cold that brings them back. First sighting since February.

Eric Secker on 12/30 reported via IBET: Best bird in our area for the Rutland Christmas Bird Count today was an adult CALIFORNIA GULL at Carpentersville Dam - my second ever sighting of this species for Illinois which usually eludes me. Unfortunately the gulls have been turning over a lot and it wasn't seen again after a Bald Eagle flushed the group and only half returned. There were also two "Thayer's" ICELAND GULLS today, an adult and a second-year bird. As many as 17 BALD EAGLES have been hanging around the dam (though generally you'll only see 2-4 close).  Ducks at the dam or below have included Mallards, Am. Black Duck, Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye, and Hooded Merganser. Up to 15 Great Blue Herons have also been hanging out above the dam. Yesterday we watched two Coyotes walking out on the ice and flushing all the herons which was a weird sight in the 5 degree weather.

We had over 30+ participants for the first ever Rutland CBC who were up for braving the challenge of the cold. So far everyone I checked with still had all ten fingers at the end of the day so I'm considering that a success. I drove a lot more than usual and probably the only record I broke was number of clothing layers worn, but I went home with some great sightings, new friends, and overall feeling like it wasn't that bad dealing with the cold, though I definitely look forward to warmer years than this one in the future.

We're still confirming final totals for the count but overall we had a good variety of species represented even though many of the longer cold walks through forest preserves didn't produce many birds. That challenge was countered somewhat by all the birding by car done today, all the birds congregating right on the river and recently plowed country roadsides, and birds coming in at feeders. If you didn't join us this year, but want to be on the list for in the future, feel free to send me an email.

Bob Andrini on 12/28 reported via e-mail: Many Lapland Longspurs, Horned Larks, and a few Snow Buntings out on Seavey Rd this morning .

John Heneghan on 12/26 reported via IBET: This afternoon (12/26/17), a large flock of Longspurs and Larks were seen feeding along Wheeler just east of Dugan at the Northwest corner of the Aurora Airport. A male Harrier was also seen hunting the grassy areas. We did not see any Longspurs or Larks on the CBC, the snow brings them out!!!

Roland and Regina Gilson on 12/25 reported via e-mail: Today (25th) Around 12.30pm over Aurora West FP, heading south east, about 50 sandhill cranes. A big mess first, trying to hit altitude, and once they did, they formed up into a perfect V formation.

Jason Newton on 12/23 reported via eBird: Seeing a Northern Waterthrush at Bliss Woods Forest Preserve along Blackberry Creek. He reported seeing it from the footbridge south of the main parking lot.
 

Northern Waterthrush photo courtesy Jason Newton

Chris Bowman on 12/21 reported via e-mail: Thursday 12/21 at about 2 P.M. : visualized the colorful male Spotted Towhee at Aurora West Forest Preserve, which has been intermittently reported over the past 3 weeks. It was located in the same area as prior, approximately .1 miles north of the small east side neighborhood type parking area; in the thickets west of the trail.

After about 30 minutes of hanging around the area, I heard the scratching of ground leaves somewhere several yards off the trail. Honing in on the sound revealed this beautiful bird foraging on the the preserve floor….. This is my first male Spotted Towhee for the county, as had a female several years ago at Hickory Knolls.

Also in the same area was an easily seen Northern Shrike, moving from tree top to tree top. This bird also has apparently been in the area for a couple weeks.

Lucy De Lap on 12/21 reported via IBET: I have seen blue herons in the area throughout winter for the last several years. I have specific February sightings noted for years 2012, 2013 and 2015, and early March sightings as far back as 1995.

We live near the Fox River so more likely to see along here than away from moving water.

Also, I saw the first goldeneyes (2 pair) Tuesday morning and 1 today near the pedestrian bridge.

On Monday afternoon while walking, we saw 3 bald eagles in 45 minutes, 1 soaring over East Dundee and 2 traveling downriver between the bridge by Otto and the Rt. 72 bridge.

Al Stokie on 12/16 reported via IBET: Hello Bird People,

Today Scott Latimer & I joined Mike Madsen's Area 6 group as part of what used to be called the Batavia/Fermi Count & may still be called that for all I know. Scott & I covered Geneva's Island Park, Fabyan Woods & Gunnar Anderson F.P. by the Kane County government building complex. Basically its the areas along the Fox River from Rt 38 in Geneva to Fabyan Parkway. It's been a long day for me so I'll just mention our highlights but if you want our full lists you can check them on ebird.

Island Park, Geneva

Here we saw many Canada Geese (over 400) & Mallards (over 200), 2 Great Blue Herons & 2 young Bald Eagles. Land birds were few & none uncommon.

Fabyan Woods

In the river were more Canada Geese & Mallards pus 1 female GADWALL, 3 male Common Mergansers & 1 male Common Goldeneye. Also 3 more Great Blue Herons very close to each other & 2 young Bald Eagles resting together at the top of a large tree. Best land bird was a WINTER WREN by water in a back area on the west side of the river. Also seen were 4 White Throated Sparrows in 1 group & 2 Pine Siskins.

Gunnar Anderson F.P.

In the river opposite this place was a fine looking male HOODED MERGANSER & 7 more Common Mergansers of which only 1 was a female. And of course more Mallards & Canada Geese. Land birds of interest included 9 CEDAR WAXWINGS & 2 Pine Siskins. This is a regular spot for Winter Wrens & Hermit Thrushes but we found neither species today. I saw what would have been by far the best bird of the day had I seen it for more than 2 seconds but what may have been an Eastern Phoebe was gone so fast I could not be positive & Scott only saw it as it flew away. It did the tail wagging routine 2 times & was gone. It was also with the berry eating Waxwings & berries are what Phoebes eat when bugs are gone. I kept looking for almost 30 min but could not re-find whatever it was. Sad that we could not add it to the count birds!

So for the lack of a Phoebe Bird-Of-The-Day goes to the Winter Wren which we did see very well indeed as it chattered away on a branch while doing those knee bends they do when chattering. Runner-Up to the female Gadwall in the river.

Fancy Pants Birds Of The Day to the male Hooded Merganser & the Cedar Waxwings.

Eric Secker on 12/12 reported via IBET: Highlights from a walk at Raceway Woods this morning included a flyover RED CROSSBILL and nine close EASTERN BLUEBIRDS in some short trees and feeding on seeds down in the snow.

The Fox River this winter so far has only produced one Common Goldeneye and two Common Mergansers. Gulls are still sparse too and still very mixed Herring and Ring-billed for this far into the season.

Only two flyover adult Bald Eagles so far this winter too.

I have also had a Winter Wren at Judson University and a Carolina Wren on multiple occasions at Tyler Creek F.P.

About 35-40 Tundra Swans flew over a little while ago heading east from the Fox River near Fox River Shores F.P.

Distant to call to species, but they appeared to be Tundras based on smaller shape and appearance of size, shorter necks, bill markings plus distant vocalizations.

Bob Andrini on 12/11 reported via e-mail: Goldeneye on river - first of season.

Al Stokie on 12/3 reported via IBET:  ...I went to Aurora West F.P. in Kane Co to look for the recently seen Spotted Towhee. I was the 1st birder there arriving at 7:30 a.m. but soon I was joined by Scott L, Davida, Andrew A, Scott C, Doug S, Brendon L, Pete M & 5 others. We had all split into small groups to cover more areas at the same time. I ended up with Scott Latimer & that proved to be a good choice. At about 10:30 a.m. I had seen a Towhee sized bird fly by but the sun was in my eyes & I could not I.D. that bird. But that's where I stayed hoping for a better look when Scott arrived. We were looking at a Fox Sparrow in a tree when Scott yelled "there it is" & the SPOTTED TOWHEE was right next to the Fox Sparrow having just flown in. Watched it for about a minute & it flew to the ground. Scott called the others while the Towhee flew back up into a red berry tree. Eating berries there were 1 each House Finch & Fox Sparrow but the Towhee did not eat the berries & didn't stay long as it went back to the ground.

The others started to arrive but the Towhee was playing "hard to get" & stayed hidden. I know that Davida & a photographer saw the Towhee after the original sighting but no one else had seen it when I left at about 11 a.m. I hope the others had better luck later on.

Bird-Of-The-Day for me goes to the hard to find Spotted Towhee & Runner-Up to a Northern Shrike. Other birds of interest were Siskins, Fox Sparrows, White Crowned Sparrows & among many groups of flying Canada Geese were 2 very tiny Cackling Geese.

Birder-Of-The-Day goes to Scott L for finding the Towhee while I was right next to him.

Bob Andrini on 12/1 reported via e-mail: Spotted Towhee was sighted at West Aurora FP this morning (Friday 12/1). I saw the bird at about 11:00.
On east side of forest preserve north of Indian Trial road entrance.
 

Spotted Towhee photo courtesy Bob Andrini

Tim Balassie on 12/1 reported via text: Found a Spotted Towhee at Aurora West Forest Preserve.