Al Stokie on 7/31 reported via IBET: Hello Bird People,

I am never overly confident when I go by myself to search a large area like a sod farm but I thought maybe someone else would already be there looking a Buffie. However, I arrived at the small street south of Main at 7:55 a.m. to find no one else there. So I had to get to work on my own. Looking east the sun was right in my eyes so I went south so I could look N.E. instead of east. Worked pretty well. There were 250-300 Killdeer, over 150 Starlings & a few Red Wings, Cowbirds & Horned Larks on the sod. About 25 Barn Swallows were also hunting the area from the air.

Scanned the farther birds as that's where Buffie's usually are but found none. Then I noticed that there was a good sized group of Killdeer & Starlings way to the north near an irrigation pipe. I figured that was way too close to the road for a Buffie but I figured wrong as there was Buffie #1 & it was about as close a look as I've ever had. Good lighting too as I was looking mostly north. Then I went back to scanning to the east & about 100 yards out was Buffie #2. Not as close but still a good look. A photographer then arrived & I re-found Buffie #1 so she could get photo's & she got a lot of them. It was time to do a Killdeer count & look for more Buffie's but as I
started every single bird flushed & flew away. The reason for this was an incoming (a very fast incoming) Cooper's Hawk which left us not only with no Buffie's but no birds at all. This happened at 8:25 & the party was over for now. Waited a few minutes but less than 10 Killdeer returned so I went elsewhere.

Came back this way later but at 10:30 a.m. only about 50 Killdeer were back & they were all very far out to the east & I decided not to fight the sunlight as I had already seen the Buffie's very well. I see that Joan C did see one Buffie later so at least 1 returned.

Bird-Of-The-Day to both Buff Breasted Sandpipers & Runner-Up to an Eurasian Collared Dove who flew by at the sod farm. Trouble Maker Of The Day to the Cooper's Hawk but it's got to find food too. And I owe the Hawk a thank you for not flushing all the birds before I got there. At least it gave me 15-20 min of good looks before the panic attack.

Joan Campbell on 7/31 reported via IBET: Found one Buff-breasted Sandpiper at same location at Dunteman Turf Farm in Kaneville at 11:05 am today (Monday) on south side of Main St. across (E) from grain elevator. Arrived at 10:27. Very difficult viewing (thru scope) due to heat waves and sprinklers. The sprinklers were turned off for awhile at 11:24. I would never have found the sandpiper if I had not seen it fly briefly so that I could see the wing pattern. Tried to relocate it again after the sprinklers were off but couldn't find it. But that doesn't mean it left-- just hard to sort thru all the Killdeer and fight those heat waves!

Bob Fisher on 7/30 reported via IBET: Karen and I, and a couple other birders...headed to the Kaneville sod farm complex and spotted 2 Buffies at the same location as described by Dan W in his Sunday AM post, south of Main St and E of the old grain elevator complex. We were able to park in the shade of an old oak tree, and found them after a short scope search at approx. 11:45 AM.

There may have been a 3rd more distant Buffie, but the heat waves made it impossible to be certain...

Jeff Chapman on 7/30 reported via eBird: Added the White-winged Dove to the species seen at Dunteman's sod farm.

Dan Williams on 7/30 reported via IBET: Buff-breasted Sandpiper still at Dunteman Turf Farm in Kaneville at 7:45 am today (Sunday) on south side of Main St. across (E) from grain elevator. 

Matthew Igleski on 7/29 reported via IBET: Steve Huggins and I have been driving around looking for shorebirds. Highlights so far:

Buff-breasted Sandpiper at the Dunteman turf farm. This is across the street from the Kaneville cemetery where the White-winged dove has been (no luck on that)...

Charles Shields on 7/29 reported via eBird: A Blue Grosbeak on the Kane County side of Fermilab: "Continuing, observed in same location described by Jay Sturner on June 30. 15 minutes after arrival heard the grosbeak singing from a tree down the road west of the Prairie parking lot. It then flew to the oak at the prairie trailhead, and after that flew south across the road to another oak where it continued to sing. Finally it flew east to the edge of the woods and was singing from that spot."

Jim Shotsberger and Walter Lutz on 7/29 reported via eBird: Finding a Least Flycatcher at Nelson Lake/Dick Young Forest Preserve.

Sue Wagoner on 7/27 reported via e-mail: I am used to having Downy Woodpeckers in my backyard so when this bird flew onto my dead Mugo Pine tree for the insects I didn't pay any attention until it flew to the feeder, and a second bird flew in... the Hairy Woodpecker (on the right) was a first for my backyard. The Downy Woodpecker (on the left) really gave me a chance to compare the sizes, and wow, what a difference.
 

Hairy/Downy woodpecker comparison photo courtesy Sue Wagoner

Jay Sturner on 7/27 reported via eBird: At the Dunteman sod farm in Kaneville, a Sharp-shinned Hawk: "Tiny accipiter. Short, rounded wings, squared-off tail, small head, wings projecting beyond head in flight (prominent bend at shoulders of wings; the leading and trailing edges were not straight like Cooper's)."

Oliver Burrus on 7/27 reported via IBET: I saw at least one Stilt Sandpiper plus about ten unidentified sandpipers in a fluddle off of Randall RD next to Platt Hill Nursery in [Carpentersville]. Also may be of interest to some, 2 Sandhill Cranes were in a fluddle behind the sandpiper fluddle.

Diane Hansen on 7/16 reported via e-mail: John and I took a drive out to Kaneville this morning later than planned but it all worked out well. At first there was one other birder looking for the White-winged Dove. 2 others came later making their second visit to the feeders near the cemetery. After some time everyone left but I waited a bit longer and finally saw the dove on the ground near the feeders, but it flew off shortly with another dove. As we drove the loop to leave for home we passed the feeders and to my surprise the dove had returned and was on the copper feeder that has been mentioned in other posts.

I was able to get out using the car as a blind and get some close pictures. We also saw Eurasian Collared Doves.
 

White-winged Dove photo courtesy Diane Hansen

Roger Amery on 7/16 reported via e-mail: Yesterday, morning, July 15, thanks to a birder named Craig, I was able to see the neotropic cormorant located north of the North Aurora dam on route 56. That cormorant is still there.

Al Stokie on 7/16 reported via IBET: Hello Bird People,

This has been reported on ebird but I'll do the same here for those interested & those who may not look at ebird. I have put off this Dove search for a few days but today Bob Erickson & I went to Kaneland to look for the White Winged Dove. Arrived at the west end of the cemetery & saw that Leo M & Walt were already there. Leo said that the person who fills the feeders had seen the Dove earlier but it was not present at 7:15 a.m. when Bob & I got there. Mourning Doves & other birds were either at or under the feeders while more Mourning Doves were on the wires along Main. Then Jim T arrived having already checked the grain storage area but did not see the Dove there either.

Bob then took a walk toward the grain area & soon thereafter the WHITE WINGED DOVE came in to the feeder area & landed on one of the feeders which was interesting as none of the Mourning Doves ate from the actual feeders but looked for seeds on the ground. Leo called Bob & he hurried back in time to see the W.W. Dove which was present at the feeders & the tree by the feeders from 7:45 until about 7:55 a.m. after which we could no longer find it. It may have flown out the "back door" where we could not see it leave or was hidden in a nearby tree?

Thanks to Leo & another birder who saw the Dove fly in & called the rest of us over to see it from where we had been checking elsewhere. Also, thanks to Bob for leaving which made the Dove fly in although Leo's quick call got Bob back in plenty of time.

Bird-Of-The-Day to the White Winged Dove which was a new Illinois "lifer" for Bob & so a big deal. Runner-Up to the Collared Dove seen along Main just west of the feeders by the cemetery. It was a 4 Dove species day (also saw Rock Pigeons) which I doubt has ever happened to me before in Illinois.

Six people on 7/14 reported via eBird: The White-winged Dove continues to be seen at feeders to the west of the Kaneville cemetary.

Ken Schneider on 7/13 reported via e-mail: This morning (July 13) Mary Lou and I found two Lark Sparrows, an adult and a juvenile at the North Aurora sparrow patch. On July 10 we made a brief stop just after heavy rain ended, to check on the Lark Sparrows. Immediately I saw a flock of 4 which flew to northeast corner, and then encountered same or another flock of at least 4 while walking back to the car at south end of Breton Avenue. Found two different juveniles and possibly a third older juvenile, along with at least two adults. Allowing for the possible duplication of counts, I can be sure of at least 5 individuals (3 adult and two juveniles). Got photo of juvenile being fed.
 

Lark Sparrow photos, feeding and juvenile only courtesy Ken Schneider

Ken Schneider on 7/11 reported via eBird: The Neotropic Cormorant on the Fox River above the dam in North Aurora. "Among all the cormorants, this one stood out as being smaller, more slender and with a proportionately longer tail. The bare flesh on its throat did not extend above the bill or in front of eyes as in [Double-crested Cormorant]. The throat patch was not as bright as that of the DCCO and instead of ending in a vertical edge below the gape, it was triangular with the point of the triangle behind the gape..At this distance (about 300 yards to NNW) I could determine the presence of a white margin around the throat patch, though photos were poor."

John Longhenry on 7/11 reported via IBET: I want to thank everyone who continued to provide updates on the White-winged Dove currently being observed in Kaneville, Illinois.  This morning at 9:15 am Ron from Orland Park, Steve Gent, and I had good but brief looks at this bird as it came to a feeder just west of the cemetery in Kaneville.

Jay Sturner on 7/10 reported via e-mail: Though far less interesting than finding a White-winged Dove in Kaneville, on the same day (July 9th) I saw a few shorebirds that were already on their "fall" migration. The pond at Tanner Trails Park in North Aurora had a Solitary Sandpiper, 21 Least Sandpipers, and five Lesser Yellowlegs. Two more Solitary Sandpipers were at the Mirador Subdivision Ponds just a few blocks away. Also of note was a flock of over 300 migrating Tree Swallows on a large, bare patch of earth at the Dunteman Sod Farm in Kaneville. End it all with a rare Neotropic Cormorant at the North Aurora Dam and I'd call that a day to remember!

Jason Newton on 7/10 reported via IBET: Denny Jones refound the White-winged dove visiting some feeders on the west side of the Kaneville Cemetery on Main St. I watched it with him for a few minutes before it flew to a tree in the cemetery, sang a couple times, and then flew southwest over town. That was at around 5:30 PM. I'm currently watching the feeders but it hasn't returned yet.

Ryan Jones on 7/10 reported via IBET: The North Aurora Neotropic Cormorant flew in from the north around 2:00pm today and landed in a dead tree on the west side of the river about 300 yds north of the dam.  Poor quality and distant photos obtained.  Only had time to view for about 10-15 min but it was still there when I left.  There were 4 Double-crested Cormorants sitting on a log up by the first island and one fishing in the river nearby.
 

A comparison of the Neotropic Cormorant, on the right, with the Double-crested Cormorant. Photo courtesy Bob Anrini.

Jay Sturner on 7/9 reported via eBird: A Neotropic Cormorant in North Aurora. "Found by Steve Bayer. North of bridge and dam, with three Double-crested Cormorants on dead tree overhanging the river. West side of the river, but best visibility was from the gazebo on the east side. Unfortunately, two paddle boarders scared the birds and they flew upriver going north. Overall smaller than DC's, with white V on face."

Once again, several reports followed, all from the same area.

Jay Sturner on 7/9 reported via eBird: Finding a White-winged Dove in Kaneville: "Perched on wire directly in front of Kaneville Grain & Supply Company on Merril Road! Flew, but immediately landed somewhere behind the white silos."

Several eBird reports followed, all from the same area.

Marion Miller on 7/8 reported via eBird: Seeing a Blue Grosbeak at Dunteman Sod Farm.

Mike Bily on 7/8 reported via IBET: The glorious weather Saturday morning was exhilarating to both humans and birds. Humans were out in droves, walking, jogging and biking on the Fox River Trail. Birds everywhere were loudly singing.

At Fabyan Woods Japanese Garden, the resident Yellow Throated Warbler could be seen and heard singing from the top of the tallest pine all morning. In the thicket west of the Bear Cage (yes, there is a Bear Cage), I consistently heard what I took to be a Black Throated Blue Warbler.

At Les Arends Forest Preserve, the two adult Red Headed Woodpeckers continue to defend their nest from the lurking starlings and Red Bellied Woodpeckers. Heard singing nearby were a Wood Thrush and a Yellow Throated Vireo.

Glenn Perricone on 7/5 reported via eBird: Finding a Chestnut-sided Warbler in the Kane County section of Fermilab.

Eric Secker on 7/4 reported via IBET: This summer I have had nine AMERICAN REDSTARTS along the river including five between Jack Hill Park near South St. and the OTTO factory plus four more along stretches of Carpentersville Dam F.P.

There have also been at least six more birds at Raceway Woods F.P.

In past years I have also had up to 5 or 6 at Fox River Shores F.P.

This is one of the biggest concentrations of these birds I've seen in N.E. Illinois. If the birds from last year are still present all told there may be up to 20+ singing males in this relatively small area near the Fox River.

Other good breeders have included Red-headed Woodpeckers along the river by OTTO Park and Broad-winged Hawks which return every year to breed in Fox River Shores F.P.

Common Nighthawks also have returned to their usual areas by Springhill Mall (at least two pairs) and a third pair west of Rt. 31 just north of I-90 in an industrial area as well as one or two potential additional pairs in downtown Dundee though I haven't confirmed for sure those ones aren't wandering from the mall.

Jay Sturner on 7/2 reported via e-mail: Birded Big Rock Forest Preserve in Kane County on the morning of July 1st and came away with 71 species. Highlights include the presence of a Western Meadowlark (as opposed to the more common Eastern), the jet-like pursuit of a Mourning Dove by a determined Cooper's Hawk, a Great Horned Owl's expression as it was being harassed by a Red-winged Blackbird (you had to be there), stopping to rest at a picnic table near a sweetly singing Vesper Sparrow, and both species of cuckoo: two Black-billed and one Yellow-billed. Something else happened that I wasn't expecting: I fell in love with the tiny song of the Henslow's Sparrow. Maybe it was the combination of song and rising sun. Maybe they just seemed more passionate than usual. Whatever the case, I truly heard it this time, and the heart felt it. So happy these birds are making a comeback!