Nikki Kaulich on 12/26 reported via e-mail: Swans at Nelson Lake. Spotted 12/26 around 1:30pm! I spotted 3 - a pair and one solo.
 

Wes Sadler on 12/24 reported via eBird: At Oakhurst Forest Preserve, a Gray Catbird.

Paul Richardson on 12/20 reported via e-mail: Merry Christmas, KCA. Downy on the window feeder today in Elgin.
 

Walt Lutz on 12/17 reported via eBird: Four Trumpeter Swans at Fox River Shores Forest Preserve. "All together seen at fairly close range. Head/forehead sloping even with the bills. Adults: absolutely no color near the eyes - bills entirely black."

Jonathan Schuler on 12/8 reported via e-mail: Had a phenomenal 90 minutes of birding today starting at sunrise at Hannaford: Not much on my walk into the woods but on the way out I had a sharpie land right in front of me, give a gorgeous look, and then fly off weaving through the trees. On the other end near the parking lot a Cooper’s hawk was sitting on a low hanging branch over the trail and flew off. And in the middle, a pileated woodpecker was on a tree and flew off into the denser forest with a call that echoed through the trees. The other usual suspects also seen with red bellied and downies, juncos and white breasted nuthatches and about a trillion squirrels. Fantastic way to start a day.

Multiple reports on 12/8 via eBird: The White-winged Scoter continues at Nelson Lake.

Marion Miller on 12/7 reported via eBird: At Nelson Lake/Dick Young Forest Preserve, a White-winged Scoter. "Large black diving duck with white eye patch and white wing patch. Actively diving and feeding in open water."