JANUARY 2013 SIGHTINGS
Diane Hansen
on 1/29 reported via e-mail: Yesterday I was south of the South Elgin
dam when I saw a huge (looked like hundreds) flock of what appeared to be
common goldeneyes. Before I could get out the camera they took off.
I saw one bird still in the water far off and decided to take some
pictures. When I saw the shots blown up it was my first hooded merganser.
I also got an interesting shot of the bird from the back.
Chris
Mussachio on 1/29 reported via e-mail: Found this Sharp-shinned hawk
doing some spring cleaning a little early because of the warm weather in
Carpentersville.
Chris
Mussachio on 1/28 reported via e-mail: These risk-taking American
Coots were spotted in Carpentersville with an adult Bald Eagle looking
down at them not too far away.
Chris
Mussachio on 1/27 reported via e-mail: Found these two pair at Buffalo
Park Forest Preserve in Algonquin this weekend.
Barb Risner on 1/27 reported via e-mail: 1/27 Saw around 14 Eagles along the Fox River Rt. 25 in Montgomery, IL this morning. Richard Wilson on 1/27 reported via e-mail: 1/26/2013 small group of Robins this morning in my yard [on Powers Road in rural Kane County] about 9A.M. South winds and they headed south. Marion Miller on 1/27 reported via IBET: Rich and I did some country road birding, on Saturday, enroute to a family visit . We found a large mixed flock of approximately 250 Lapland Longspurs and Horned Larks. We were fortunate enough to see one Snow Bunting in the group. There were probably more, but the group was very “flighty” and our time schedule prevented us searching longer. They were located in fields around Hintzsche Fertizer Company in Maple Park, on County Line Road, north of Main St. Theresa LeCompte on 1/26 reported via e-mail: The Northern Shrike was still present this morning near the radio tower at Johnson's Mound. Vernon LaVia
on 1/26 reported via IBET: Counted 28 Eagles along the Fox River
while driving south on Rt. 25, starting at Mill St. in Montgomery down to
the Rt. 34 Bridge in Oswego....about a 5 mile stretch of road. Walter Lutz on 1/26 reported via e-mail: This morning, Saturday, hiked the bike trail south from the South Elgin dam to the footbridge and back. I would estimate at least 6 Bald Eagles (saw many more but I'm sure I saw some of the same eagles on the hike back), including at least 2 juveniles. I've hiked this trail for about 10 years and this is the most I've ever seen. Hundreds & hundreds of geese on the river. Barred Owl at Jon Duerr F.P Christopher Cudworth on 1/26 reported via IBET: I was sitting on the couch looking out at the bright morning when a woodpecker whipped into our red maple out front. First year yellow-bellied sapsucker, working its way up the trunk and shedding bits of snow as it goes. Jessica Bryant on 1/25 reported via e-mail: Saw several bald eagles fishing in the Fox River in Saint Charles this morning. Beautiful! Kurt Frieders
on 1/24 reported via e-mail: Today brought a minimum of 20 Bald
Eagles (and at least that many birders) to the Fox River from
Montgomery to Oswego. The mix of adult and immature was close to half and
half. Anywhere there was open water, there seemed to be a Bald Eagle in a
tree. Most were perched, but we were able to observe several of them
hunting for fish. They were successful a good percentage of the time. There
also were a lot of Common Mergansers and Goldeneyes mixed in
with the large flocks of Mallards and Canada Geese.
Christopher
Cudworth on 1/23 reported via IBET: During a run it was pleasing to see
6 male goldeneyes just below the Batavia Dam. Scott Cohrs on 1/22 reported via eBird: A Thayer's Gull at the dam in Geneva this morning. Theresa
LeCompte on 1/21 reported via e-mail: While birding country roads from
the warmth of the car today, Sue Schneider & I found 4 EURASIAN
COLLARED-DOVES along Main St. on the western edge of Kaneville.
Darrell
Shambaugh on 1/21 reported via IBET: The Fox River from Route 38 north
to the Chicago Great Western railroad bridge in St. Charles had a lot of
birds today, although nothing really interesting like what's up north at
Carpentersville. At least 200 gulls were on the ice. Most were HERRING
GULLS, about 85%. The rest were RING-BILLED GULLS. While I was
trying out a new parka out by the river at Riverside Park, two BALD
EAGLES flew over, one adult and one immature, probably a second year.
The adult landed in a tree on the west side of the river, and the 2nd year
went on south. Doug Stotz on 1/21 reported via IBET: I covered the Fox River in Kane Co. north of I-90 this morning. The most productive place by far was the dam at Carpentersville. I managed to spend about 30 minutes there around 10 AM despite being seriously underdressed for the cold. There were several hundred gulls there, about 90% HERRING. At the end of my time there, I found an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL standing on the ice with about 100 gulls just above the dam, and at about the same time, a 1st cycle THAYER'S GULL joined the swirl of gulls feeding on small fish just above and below the dam. Wouldn't surprise me if there were other interesting gulls in the mix here. Other things of interest to me here were 2 MUTE SWANS, 4 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, and 5 BALD EAGLES. I also saw eagles at Buffalo Park (just south of McHenry Co. line) and Voyagers Landing (just north of I-90; there is only a little open water here). Diane Hansen
on 1/21 reported via e-mail: I braved the cold this morning and was
rewarded with this eagle fishing just below the South Elgin dam. One
of a few goldeneyes present is visible.
Chris Weishaar on 1/20 reported via IBET: Lots of eagles this morning along the Fox River from Oswego north into Aurora. Chris Madsen on 1/20 reported: Carla and I beat the cold weather by walking miles yesterday, but our best bird came at our last stop, Johnson's Mound Forest Preserve. It was there that we saw a Northern Shrike attack and kill a vole, then fly away with its meal. The bird was sighted about 50 yards into the prairie, just beyond the radio tower. Ken Schneider
on 1/20 reported via e-mail: This is my 8 year old granddaughter's
comment on this photo when I posted it on FLICKR (She only got help from
her mom to spell "surprisingly.") :
Ken Schneider
on 1/19 reported via e-mail: I made a brief visit to Jones Meadow Park,
where I ran into a mixed flock of sparrows and juncos. One of
the juncos appeared to be typical of the Oregon race. This is the first
time I have visited Illinois in the winter so I don't know how often this
subspecies is seen here.
Mark Bowman on
1/18 reported via e-mail: Was in my office this morning and turned
around to glimpse outside at the feeders and had this COMMON REDPOLL
there, the first I have seen this year at the feeders. There are always 5-6
GOLDFINCHES and 5-6 PINE SISKINS around. My Pine Siskins have
been looking very healthy and I have not found any dead ones so far.
Theresa LeCompte on 1/16 reported via e-mail: I was a bit surprised to find a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at Hannaford Woods yesterday. Ann Hejna on
1/15 reported via e-mail: A group of about 8-10 Common Mergansers
floating around on the Fox, just North of the dam and bridge in North
Aurora, can see from both paths along the shoreline.
John Janunas
on 1/14 reported via e-mail: Found this immature Bald Eagle at
Les Arends Forest Preserve this afternoon.
Jim Gomez on 1/14 reported via e-mail: Sighted a male [Bald Eagle], he followed a flock of mallards that landed in the fox river just south of the rt. 64 bridge in St. Charles. It was about 1:30. He came in from the south, made a wide turn over the river and then flew south again. Eric Secker on 1/13 reported via IBET: A lot of gulls are along the Fox River in northern Kane Co. right now including a first-year THAYER'S GULL. He was hanging out along the river between West Dundee and Carpentersville. When we left he could still be seen from the small parking lot on the west side of the river. Deb Zimmerman on 1/13 reported via e-mail: During an early morning walk along the Fox River in St. Charles on Saturday morning, we saw at least 15 Common Goldeneyes (in several different groups). Paricia Tomaso on 1/11 reported via e-mail: Went to the Carpentersville Dam today and saw three eagles roosting in the trees just south of the dam. Appeared to be a family..... mom, dad, and a juvenile. Linda Padera on 1/11 reported via IBET: Marcia Nye and I observed an orange-crowned warbler this morning at Quarry Park in Batavia (Kane County). The bird was with a flock of juncos (20), house finches (2), white-crowned sparrows (2) and yellow-rumped warblers (2) along the black fence which surrounds the water treatment plant... Chris
Mussachio on 1/11 reported via e-mail: Lots of Common Goldeneye
in Dundee/Carpentersville these days.
Diane Kispert
on 1/11 reported via e-mail: We had no birds at the feeder this morning
due to a great horned owl that decided to preen a little in a tree
that divides our backyard with the Mill Creek golf course. Finally got him
to look 180 degrees my way. This is the third time we have seen him this
winter.
Tim Balassie
on 1/11 reported via IBET: Just an FYI post - saw 19 Great Blue
Herons congregated along the Fox River yesterday, looking south from
the landing at the Sec. of State's offices in Elgin. They appeared to be no
more than a few feet apart, although my scope view was surely warped to
some extent. Can't recall seeing that many at one time. Heidi Hohman on 1/11 reported via e-mail: Had 5 Bald Eagles this morning on the way to work. 3 on the west side of Fox River between walking bridge and Otto [in Carpentersville], one on west side of river near Haeger Pottery, and one on west side of river near I-90 at approx. 8:00am. Bob Andrini on 1/10 reported via e-mail: Today (Thurs) we saw a Winter Wren on the bike path south of Quarry Park in Batavia.. Marion Miller on 1/8 reported via e-mail: Stopped along the Fox River at a few spots this afternoon. One of the notable spots was down Beck St off LaFox (Route 31) in South Elgin which leads to Chipstone Park. From here I could view 2 Mute Swans, 39 Common Goldeneyes, 10 Common Mergansers, one Redhead Duck, and numerous gulls, mostly Herring. One Bald Eagle was seen at Jon Duerr FP, John Janunas
on 1/8 reported via e-mail: Sometimes scanning those flocks of geese
can pay off. This from Les Arends Forest Preserve.
Chris
Mussachio on 1/7 reported via e-mail: What a day in Dundee today.
Eagles fishing, Belted Kingfisher fishing, and a fly-bye from a
Cooper's Hawk, all in 2 hours time.
Chris Madsen
on 1/7 reported: Carla and I stopped by the Carpentersville dam Sunday
morning. Amongst the numerous Mallards and Canada Geese were three of the
ubiquitous Bald Eagles on the Fox. Less common species included Northern
Pintail, American Black Duck, a photo-phobic American Wigeon,
and a group of Common Goldeneye that spooked when we got to within
50 feet of the river.
Bob Andrini on 1/7 reported via e-mail: We drove up river today and saw 3 Bald Eagles just south of the Prairie St. bridge in St. Charles, 4 at Jon Duerr FP, and another 5 up by the Carpentersville dam for a total of 12 eagles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jana Young on 1/7 reported via e-mail: I saw an eagle at Mount Saint Mary's Park in St. Charles perched in a tree by the river. My husband also saw one on 1/6/2013 flying in the same area. Andy Spicer on 1/7 reported via e-mail: At our backyard heated birdbath’s in west St. Charles, on both Saturday January 5th & Sunday the 6th, we have had 6 bluebirds, robins, cardinals, nuthatches, rose breasted nuthatches, black capped chickadees, red bellied woodpeckers, gold finches, downey’s. The bluebirds were at the same time both days, just after 3pm. Bob Andrini on
1/6 reported via e-mail: While driving the western roads of Kane
county, we were lucky to see a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk. In the
photo, note the dark leading edge of the underwings and the white trailing
edge.
John Janunas
on 1/6 reported via e-mail: I have seen as many as 8 Eagles at
one time along the quarry bike path. This is one of them.
Becky DeSilva on 1/5 reported via e-mail: I also saw the Common Goldeneye on the Fox River near the Quarry today. It was a flock of over 60 during this afternoon's snow squall. Also, there were two Common Mergansers. I have photos, but they are for identification only--it was snowing hard! Ron Dickenson on 1/5 reported via e-mail: Bald Eagles continue at quarry in Batavia. Count was up to five this morning. Ron Dickenson
on 1/4 reported via e-mail: Two Bald Eagles and these Common
Goldeneye hanging out by the quarry in Batavia today.
Brendon Lake
on 1/4 reported via IBET: I was out around the Fox River Valley birding
all day today and was able to add 10 birds to my year list, some of which I
feel are notable or strange for this time of year. Julie Long on 1/4 reported via e-mail: There was an adult bald eagle circling the Fox River and slowly heading north at Ferson Creek Fen in ST Charles this morning. I do wonder how many there really are along the river in Kane Co. Maybe with the river freezing over they will all be congregated in just a few spots. Sounds like at least seven from the reports in the Carpentersville area. Taylor Joray
on 1/3 reported via e-mail: While out cleaning Kestrel nest-boxes,
David Barnes and I spotted a Northern Harrier cruising the
fields near the Southwest part of Nelson Lake. The bird appeared to be a
sub-adult male, with a silver/gray color above and black wingtips, and an
overall light colored underbody with russet hints still present. The bird
stayed in the area, sweeping lowly over the fields for approximately 15
minutes before taking off towards the Northeast side of the lake. Kathleen Wagner on 1/3 reported via e-mail: 1/3/13 Found ten bald eagles; in the area from the Carpentersville dam then North as far as the binoculars could see. Decided to drive North along the river and had three more sitings. At one time there were 7 together, in possibly the same tree that Jim N. spotted them on 1/1/13. Kathy Benedetto on 1/3 reported via e-mail: Jan 3rd at 8:15am. My daughter and I saw a bald eagle flying over the fox river just north of the the Higgins bridge in Dundee today. It landed in a tree above the path we were standing on and we watched it for a bit then flew down the fox river. Gorgeous site to see! Chris
Mussachio on 1/2 reported via e-mail: Finding these carnivorous(?)
Mallards apparently feeding on fish near the dam in Carpentersville.
Bob Andrini on 1/2 reported via phone: Finding a Common Loon on the Fox River in Elgin behind the Secretary of State's driver license facility. Kurt Frieders
on 1/2 reported via e-mail: On New Years Day we figured something was
up when we didn't see a single songbird in our trees or at our feeders (in
Aurora township). That usually means that our resident Cooper's Hawk
is around, and yet again that was the case. He sat on the bushes next to
the bird bath then on the ground under the bath. Eventually after the
Cooper's Hawk left, a female Downy Woodpecker was brave enough to
return to our yard. Soon thereafter we also had our male Red-Bellied
Woodpecker along with many Juncos. Eventually our pair of
Cardinals also showed up, along with our usual flock of Goldfinches.
We have seen a pair of Belted Kingfishers on our creek pretty much
daily. On New Years Day it was the male that allowed himself to be
photographed.
Jim Narovec on
1/2 reported via e-mail: Spotted 6 Bald Eagles (3) Adults and
(3) juveniles perched in a tree north of the Carpentersville Dam on 1/1/13.
Also spotted an adult and juvenile together a little earlier south of Otto
in Old Carpentersville.
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