Jay Sturner on 2/28 reported via eBird: A Trumpeter Swan in a fluddle on Perry Road near Maple Park.

Eric Secker on 2/28 reported via eBird: At Fox River Shores - West, a Sora. "Calling from the marsh. Two part rising then falling notes then descending series. Beeeoooo boo boo boo boo."

Jason Newton on 2/28 reported via eBird: Spotting a Horned Grebe at Nelson Lake. "Small grebe with high contrast black cap and white cheek..."

Karrie Stewart on 2/27 reported via eBird: Two Whooping Cranes fly over Elgin. "Mixed in with flock of Sandhill Cranes"

Jay Sturner on 2/27 reported via eBird: A California Gull at Nelson Lake/Dick Young Forest Preserve. "I apologize for reporting this a day late. The bird was originally believed to be a "pale"-mantled Lesser Black-backed Gull. I was not content with that ID, and am now calling it a California Gull. I will do a full write-up later today (with pics), but wanted to get the word out so that others could go look for it in case it's still around."

Kathy and Bob Andrini on 2/27 reported via phone: From Nelson Lake, 210 Greater White-fronted Geese, some Snow Geese, and Ruddy Ducks.

Oliver Burrus on 2/27 reported via IBET: Had the first Tree Swallows of the year with a group I was leading at Brunner Family FP! It is truly a great spot, we also found a Great Horned Owl, Horned Larks, Eastern Meadowlarks, Northern Harrier, and Northern Shrike! Also, just had about 50 Sandhill Cranes flyover my yard...

John Heneghan on 2/27 reported via e-mail: The Swans from the Dugan and Wheeler fuddle were gone at noon. There is a fuddle on Mighell south of Jericho on the east side that had 12 Trumpeter Swans, 20 or so Pintails, both Greater White Fronted and Candians. This was a little after noon. 

Theresa LeCompte on 2/27 reported via e-mail: On the morning of Feb. 26th, there were 4 lucky people on the observation deck at Nelson Lake. Conditions must have been favorable for migration because this group witnessed 600 + Greater White-fronted Geese pass over the still partially frozen lake within a 2 hour period. One flock contained 2 Ross's Geese (significantly smaller than the white-fronted) and another contained 3 Snow Geese. There was also one flock of 40 Snow Geese that just seemed to sparkle like flakes of glitter dancing in the sunlight.

Ben Haberthur on 2/26 reported via e-mail: Waterfowl diversity is cranking up on Nelson Lake Marsh.  Amongst the regular inhabitants, 20 White-fronted Geese flew over while I was scoping from the eastside overlook.  A Snow Goose flew by mixed with a flock of Canadas.  About 30 redheads were on the southend of the marsh with a few scaup (too far to ID) mixed in.  About 6 hooded mergansers were showing off their nuptial plumage as well.  Gulls everywhere, but that’s as far as I get with that ID.

Tim Klimowski on 2/26 reported via eBird: Seeing fifteen American White Pelicans at Island Park in Geneva. "positive I.D. flying over Fox River going north...large white birds with black trailing edges of wings, large yellow bill"

Bob Andrini on 2/26 reported via phone: Rusty Balckbirds at Fabyan Forest Preserve and 90 flyover Greater White-fronted Geese at the Mirador Subdivision ponds in North Aurora.

John Heneghan on 2/26 reported via IBET: On Dugan north of Wheeler on the west side of Dugan past the abandonded farm, there are 12 Swans (I think Tundra, did not have time to stop) in a fuddle. [The swans were later IDed as Trumpeter Swans by many observers.]

Theresa LeCompte on 2/24 reported via e-mail: There were three Canvasbacks at the Tanner Rd. pond this cloudy morning.
 

Canvasbacks photo courtesy Theresa LeCompte

Lesa Andree on 2/24 reported via eBird: A Horned Grebe at Fabyan Forest Preserve. "With scope from causeway. White rear. Elongated head. Some white present behind ear. Hugging shoreline north of causeway."

Ella Mae Goshen on 2/22 reported via e-mail: Redwinged  black birds  Aurora at Ohio and Jungles.

John Heneghan on 2/22 reportd via IBET: 17 Sandhills were seen flying north over Big Rock this afternoon. 

Liz Gerity on 2/22 reported via e-mail: Several large flocks of Sandhill Cranes going over Campton Hills Road between La Fox and Townhall Roads this afternoon.

Chris Cudworth on 2/22 reported via IBET: Nice to hear the calls of sandhill cranes this morning next to the wetland behind our house off White Oak and Jones Meadow Park [in North Aurora].

Jason Newton and Bill Ahlgren on 2/21 reported via eBIrd: A Greater Scaup at Fabyan Forest Preserve. Per Jason: "Presumably continuing from a few days ago. Seen north of the peninsula connecting the two sides of the preserve. Closely studied its head shape while relaxed and not actively diving. Its head peaked above the eye, rather than behind the eye. Its bill was slightly larger and nail more broad than lesser scaup."

Theresa LeCompte on 2/20 reported via e-mail: Checked a few fluddles this morning and found this lone male BUFFLEHEAD at the Mirador subdivision in the flooded park (Bennet) there. Also saw two American Black Ducks amongst the Mallards and Canada Geese.
 

Bufflehead photo courtesy Theresa LeCompte

Eric Secker on 2/20 reported via IBET: Nothing unusual, but lots of birds taking advantage of the warm day between the clumps of rain.

At Jelke Creek, two Killdeer were calling from the marsh. There were also about 25 Red-winged Blackbirds in with a large flock of starlings. Also more flying over headed north at a couple other spots.

Along the Fox River, more American Coots today, a female scaup, and the expected goldeneye and Common Mergansers. There were also a couple groups of Golden-crowned Kinglets and a flyover Common Grackle.

The local cardinals and House Finches are also all singing and very happy today.

Kevin Meyers on 2/19 reported via e-mail: While driving and crossing over fox river on rt.38 and saw two adult bald eagles swoop down over the bridge towards the dam.

Chuck Peterson on 2/15 reported via e-mail: [These] were taken at the Carpentersville Dam last Tuesday, 2/13. About 150 Golden Eyes above and below the dam. Must have been good fishing because they got pretty close in the area just below the dam. A few Eagles flying around also, but they didn’t get close.
 

Common Goldeneye photos courtesy Chuck Peterson

Marion Miller on 2/17 reported via e-mail: Rich and I stopped at Bennett Park (Geneva) to check out the open water on the Fox.  We were pretty surprised and excited to see an immature Glaucous Gull standing on the ice near the river's edge.  We enjoyed observing him for quite some time as he ate a fish.
 

Glaucous Gull photo courtesy Marion Miller

Bob Andrini on 2/16 reported via e-mail: 15 Horned Larks on Seavey Road.

Wes Sadler on 2/17 reported via eBird: Two Red-headed Woodpeckers at Hannaford Woods Forest Preserve.

Bill Ahlgren on 2/14 reported via eBird: Finding 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers at Bliss Woods Forest Preserve,

Lucy DeLap on 2/13 reported via IBET: I truly did not expect to see the female/immature yellow-rumped warbler that was flitting from one to another suet feeder in my back yard this morning, vying with a junco for tidbits. I'd seen them as early as April in the past but never in the height of the snow season. This year we've had quite a few visits by a carolina wren as well which is unusual.

I also happened by 2 great blue herons standing on the ice floe in the Fox River, just north of the pedestrian bridge in East Dundee. They did not stay long as - I went back 5 minutes later and they were no where in sight.

On Sunday afternoon while walking along the Fox, over the course of a half hour or so we observed a string of 5 bald eagles fly north in the late afternoon. First a smaller adult, the one by one three immatures, and then a larger adult.

Just another day along the Fox in East Dundee! Gotta love it.

Walt Lutz on 2/13 reported via eBird: Seeing a Wlson's Snipe at Freeman Kame Forest Preserve.

Jonathan Schuler on 2/11 reported via e-mail: Have about 20-25 cedar waxwings in our front tree. Not too common around here in our development in Foxchase [in St. Charles], although they do show up occasionally in spring/summer. Went outside to walk the dog and they were making quite the racket in the tree about 1:45 pm. 

Bob Andrini on 2/10 reported via e-mail: Here are the 'crazy birders' that met on Saturday to open the snow packed trails at Bliss Woods. Good birds were Barred Owl, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Red-headed Woodpecker.
 

Bliss Woods Forest Preserve birders photo courtesy Bob Andrini

Josh Suliman on 2/8 reported via eBird: From Nelson Lake/Dick Young Forest Preserve, a Virginia Rail: "Spotted with Dennis Kania crossing trail into cattails on north side of lake."

Kane County Audubon on 2/8 reported via eBird: Finding two Trumpeter Swans at the Carpentersville dam.

Walt Lutz on 2/6 reported via eBird: At Freeman Kame Forest Preserve, found a Wilson's Snipe: "Flushed from an open water, slow-flowing drainage ditch. Had a really good look. Very fast, twisty flight, did a u-turn and flew by me - stocky, short-tail, very long bill."

Bob Andrini on 2/4 reported via e-mail: Yesterday at the Nelson's Lake walk, we all got to see an Eastern Towhee (Diane took picture). The first bird seen (from observation platform) was a Rough-legged Hawk. also seen were Pheasant, Northern Shrike, Horned Lark - 26 species in all) 15 people made the walk.
 

Eastern Towhee photo courtesy Diane Hansen