Kurt Frieders on 5/30 reported via e-mail: Birds have continued to visit our yard (Aurora township) in good numbers. One of the male Indigo Buntings we had under our feeders a week ago returned to one of the lines on our property and sang for us. We have continued to be visited by our male Red-Bellied Woodpecker. Six Chimney Swifts circle us all day long. Great-Blue Herons and Great Egrets are found daily. A pair of Mallards visit our feeders twice daily. We call them our yard ducks. A nesting Robin is about to have chicks any day now. Our Red-Tailed Hawk eyases are starting to get really big. Oakhurst FP has also been really good the past two days. We spotted a lifer Black-Billed Cuckoo. It sang for quite some time then finally gave us a quick look before flying off. We also had good long looks, in bad lighting, at a Great-Crested Flycatcher. We took several photos that were plenty good enough for id purposes, but the lighting was bad. We continue to see Baltimore Orioles and a male Orchard Oriole who was very photogenic until a female showed up. Eastern Kingbirds, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Song Sparrows, Goldfinches, Catbirds, and Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers continue to be plentiful. We have also been treated to a male Ruby-Throated Hummingbird in the same spot the past two days.
 

Orchard Oriole photo courtesy Kurt Frieders

Indigo Bunting photo courtesy Kurt Frieders

Josh Lefever on 5/28 reported via eBird: Seeing a Clay-colored Sparrow at Burnidge Forest Preserve.

Andrew Aldrich on 5/26 reported via e-mail: Most of the trails at Oakhurst are open again, after being under water for most of migration. Some highlights: a pair of Black-billed Cuckoos, a late Blue-headed Vireo, 2 each of Mourning, Magnolia, American Redstart, and Wilson's Warblers, and 1 each of Chestnut-sided, Canada, and Hooded Warbler. The Hooded Warbler was in the same spot I had one 12 days ago, and was singing constantly. Definitely gave the impression of being on territory. Also had a flyover Bald Eagle as I was leaving.
 

Mourning Warbler photo courtesy Andrew Aldrich

Jack Pomatto on 5/26 reported via e-mail: Today at Burnidge F.P. Bobolinks were plentiful near the main campground and south of the primitive campground. Eastern Towhees were singing in many areas.
Other birds of note were:
2 or 3 Wilson's Warblers
3 Blackpoll Warblers
Black-throated Green Warbler
Redstart
Cuckoo ( species ) flyby
Sandhill Cranes
 

Bobolink photo courtesy Jack Pomatto

Walter Lutz on 5/25 reported via e-mail: Notables Friday late afternoon at Burnidge Forest Preserve:

Bobolink - just southwest of the campground (gotta love their song)
Canada Warbler - at the old tent campsites in the mature oaks
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - same area
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - at the edge of the pine stand south of the campground (highlight for me as it was a lifer)

Of course there were others I couldn't get a good enough look at.......

Kurt Frieders on 5/23 reported via e-mail: Our resident pair of Red-Tailed Hawks have hatched two eyases again this year. This is the second year in a row that they have raised two eyases on our property (in Aurora township). They have used the same nest for the past two years. Previous to the past two years, they changed their nest location each year. We have been able to watch the male hunt pretty much all day while the female tends to their young. The past few days the female and the eyases have spent a lot of time preening due to the rain we have had. It is great to see that our resident Red-Taileds have had success yet again this year. We really hope it continues.
 

Red-tailed Hawks photo courtesy Kurt Frieders

Sue Wagoner on 5/21 reported via e-mail: My Black-and-White Lawn Service began a few mornings ago. It included free lawn aeration and grub control. I did not choose the spray option!! By the way, this was shot through the window!
 

Striped Skunk photo courtesy Sue Wagoner

Kurt Frieders on 5/20 reported via e-mail: We have continued to see a lot of good birds both in our yard (Aurora township) and at Oakhurst FP. The highlight of the weekend was the first ever pair of Indigo Buntings that we have had in our yard. We were able to spot two brilliant males. We also had a trio of Sandhill Cranes hang out on our property on Sunday afternoon. Both our male Baltimore Oriole and our male Red-Bellied Woodpecker continue to visit our feeding stations daily. Oakhurst has recently been full of a lot of good migrants. We saw the first ever male Black-Throated Blue Warbler that we have ever seen at Oakhurst. We also have spotted male Black-Throated Green, Blackburnian, American Redstart, and Yellow Warblers. A Green Heron continues to persist along the creek. We also spotted our first of the year Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. Brown Thrashers and Eastern Kingbirds have been quite easy to find. Song, White-Crowned, and White-Throated Sparrows have been somewhat plentiful. A Sedge Wren also treated us to good views.
 

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher photo courtesy Kurt Frieders

Andrew Aldrich on 5/19 reported via e-mail: Hello! I birded Big Rock Forest Preserve from 7am-9:30am Sunday, 5/19. Although it seemed quiet overall, I managed to scrounge up 70 species. Species of note: Wild Turkey, Broad-winged Hawk, Olive-sided, Willow, Alder, and Great Crested Flycatchers, 1 each of White-eyed & Philadelphia Vireo, and Tufted Titmouse. Warblers seen were Ovenbird, several Tennessee, Connecticut, Mourning, American Redstart, Blackburnian, Blackpoll, and Black-throated Green. Henslow's Sparrows were heard singing from the field north of the preserve property, and Bobolinks and Orchard Orioles were singing around the west parking area. Also had a flyover Pine Siskin. The highlight was easily the Connecticut Warbler, who sang several times and eventually gave some great views.
 

Wild Turkey photo courtesy Andrew Aldrich

Connecticut Warbler photo courtesy Andrew Aldrich

Teri Galluzi on 5/18 reported via e-mail: Beautiful day at Ferson Creek Fen with many birds, highlights are:

Ruby throated hummingbird
Yellow Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Orchard Oriole

Marion Miller on 5/17 reported via e-mail: Took a nice morning walk through Les Arends. Warblers continue with: Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian, Black-and-white, Magnolia, American Redstart, Bay-breasted, and a “lifer” Canada Warbler. Sightings weren’t easy and “warbler neck” occurred except for the pleasant eye-level Canada Warbler. Other highlights were: Eagle, Baltimore Orioles, Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Sings of nesting Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Yellow Warblers were seen.

Jack Pomatto on 5/17 reported via e-mail: This morning a singing and very cooperative Kentucky Warbler was performing at Norris Woods in St. Charles. He was singing on the upper trail, upslope from the bike path. He spent most of his time between 15 to 20 feet above the ground. He was working separately from the other warblers in the area.
 

Kentucky Warbler photo courtesy Jack Pomatto

Ken Schneider on 5/16 reported via e-mail: At the east side of Nelson Lake this morning I saw 52 species, including Blackpoll, Tennessee, Magnolia, Yellow, Palm Warblers plus Common Yellowthroat and American Redstart. Saw at least two Lincoln's Sparrows along the trail to the south of the observation platform. Heading back to Florida, so this wraps up our spring migration birding.
 

Blackpoll Warbler photo courtesy Ken Schneider

Lincoln's Sparrow photo courtesy Ken Schneider

Chris Mussachio on 5/16 reported via e-mail: I could almost reach out and touch this American Goldfinch at Burnidge Forest Preserve while driving through there. Can't pass it up when it's this close.
 

Julie Long on 5/16 reported via e-mail: Had some nice warblers in my yard and neighborhood this morning. The best was a singing Canada warbler next to Ferson Creek, which runs on the north side of my neighborhood, Wild Rose subdivision in ST Charles. I have Leroy Oakes to the west and Ferson Creek Fen to the east so he could show up in either of those places later.

Taylor Joray on 5/15 reported via e-mail: While out checking kestrel boxes today, I was surprised when I looked in this box. Usually, the kestrel parents will fly out of the box once they hear me approaching, but not this time. The mother was actually quite calm and never exited the box during my entire visit. Perhaps she was in the process of laying an egg.
 

Ken Schneider on 5/15 reported via e-mail: We had 36 species this morning along the north prairie trail at Nelson Lake. The only unusual sighting (for us) was a pair of Common Gallinules with 4 Blue-winged Teal and a single coot in the pothole near the parking lot. While we had a few small flocks (or the same ones) of Bobolinks fly over us, only three landed near enough to observe but too far for photos. We saw an Eastern Kingbird, 3 Grasshopper Sparrows and a couple of Savannahs but no Henslow's Sparrows and no Dickcissels.
 

Savannah Sparrow photo courtesy Ken Schneider

Chris Mussachio on 5/15 reported via e-mail: Finally some action in Carpentersville this morning since the water has receded a bit. Spotted Mommy Mallard duck with 2 new chicks at Fox River Shores. Had a real nice flyby at the Carpentersville Dam by a Great Egret. Also there were 2 Great Blue Herons, 2 Green Herons, 1 Belted Kingfisher, and a handful of Double-Crested Cormorants, but none of them were in the mood for portraits today and kept their distance.
 

Mallard family photo courtesy Chris Mussachio

Great Egret photo courtesy Chris Mussachio

Jack Pomatto on 5/15 reported via e-mail: On May 14 and 15 I traveled to Tekakwitha, Sauer, Fabyan East Forest Preserves. Many birds were seen among the warblers and a few shorebirds. Here is an image of Short-billed Dowitchers from Sauer Forest Preserve.
 

Short-billed Dowitchers photo courtesy Jack Pomatto

Julie Long on 5/14 reported via IBET: A group of us found two black terns plus ring necked ducks, ruddy ducks, lesser scaup and yellow headed blackbirds in a northen Kane County subdivision called Cambridge Lakes. It is in Pingree Grove and is on each side of Reinking Rd headed north out of the town of Pingree Grove. The yellow headed blackbirds were in marshes on the left side of Reinking Rd headed north (same side as the new police station) and the ducks and terns were in a lake on the opposite side of Reinking Rd. We had to wind our way through the Cambridge Lakes neighborhood down to that lake.

Ken Schneider on 5/14 reported via e-mail: We heard and then found a Yellow-throated Warbler at the Japanese Gardens in Fabyan West. Also photographed an Orchard Oriole and Blackburnian Warbler. The only other warblers we saw were a single Yellow-rump and several Yellow Warblers. Baltimore Orioles and Warbling Vireos abounded.
 

Yellow-throated Warbler photo courtesy Ken Schneider

Orchard Oriole photo courtesy Ken Schneider

Blackburnian Warbler photo courtesy Ken Schneider

Chris Mussachio on 5/14 reported via e-mail: The same nest as last year has a new born Red-Tailed Hawk in Kane County.
 

Red-tailed Hawk photos courtesy Chris Mussachio

Chris Mussachio on 5/13 reported via e-mail: Made it to Otter Creek FP for the first time and it paid off nicely. I found a Yellow Warbler and a Blue-Winged Warbler while there. And, at Bowes Creek FP the Bobolinks have taken over the land there.
 

Yellow Warbler photo courtesy Chris Mussachio

Blue-winged Warbler photo courtesy Chris Mussachio

Ken Schneider on 5/13 reported via e-mail: This morning at Jones Meadow Park in North Aurora there was a Hooded Merganser with two pairs of Blue-winged Teal. Also saw a Swamp and a Lincoln's Sparrow, Least Flycatcher and Great Egret, but no warblers. Stopped briefly at Nelson Lake/Dick Young FP (east side), where I found two Clay-colored Sparrows foraging together in the grass just south of the east observation platform.
 

Clay-colored Sparrow photos courtesy Ken Schneider

Chris Weishaar on 5/13 reported via IBET: Spent about an hour or so around noon today walking around the west side of the Fox River at the Fabyan Forest Preserve/Japanese Gardens in Geneva. For the short time I was there I had a very good day highlighted by a few very cooperative warblers including a bay breasted, pine & yellow throated, and a lone female scarlet tanager. The full list:
 

Walter Lutz on 5/12 reported via e-mail: Blue-headed Vireo at Tyler Creek F.P. Sunday morning just north of the lower pavilion.

Jack Pomatto on 5/11 reported via e-mail: Today, 5/11/13 at Jon J. Duerr F. P. ( Blackhawk ), it was blustery and cool. The swallows and swifts were feeding very low above the water. It was possible to see and photograph the usually high flying swifts at eye level or below. This magnificent flyer was captured in a high speed glide, a study in shades of gray.
 

Chimney Swift photo courtesy Jack Pomatto

Chris Musacchio on 5/11 reported via e-mail: Found this newly fledged Great Horned Owlet in northwest Kane County.
 

Great Horned Owlet photo courtesy Chris Mussachio

Marion Miller on 5/10 reported via-mail: Stopped by Jon Duerr FP after work on Friday evening and did some parking lot birding. The Yellow-throated Vireo was heard and seen while in both the lower and upper parking lot. Warblers present were: Palm, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, American Redstart, Black-and-white and Nashville. Other highlights: Baltimore Oriole, Chimney Swifts and a Cooper's Hawk. Not bad for a parking lot!

Kurt Frieders on 5/10 reported via e-mail: We have continued to enjoy many good birds in our yard (in Aurora township). Our male Baltimore Oriole has been here for a week and a half now, and has become a lot less camera shy than when he arrived. Unfortunately we are yet to see a female. We had a first ever for our yard male Cape May Warbler give us several good looks yesterday. We also have several Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers buzzing around. Our flock of Chimney Swifts is now up to six. Many Yellow-Rumped Warblers continue in our yard.

Oakhurst FP has also had several good birds recently. I walked right under the first Barred Owl I have ever seen at Oakhurst. He repositioned about 75 feet away and let me take a few pictures. A bright male Scarlet Tanager also was willing to pose for photos. There has been a bright male Yellow Warbler hanging around just off of the upper parking lot. Palm Warblers seem to be everywhere. A Green Heron has been hanging around the creek. Last but not least we also saw our first Indigo Bunting (male) of the year at Oakhurst.
 

Scarlet Tanager photo courtesy Kurt Frieders

Barred Owl photo courtesy Kurt Frieders

Tim Balassie on 5/9 reported via IBET: FYI I observed a Swainson's Hawk yesterday (8 May). The bird was in its usual location by Chapman Rd north of Ellithorpe and east of Peplow.

Spent two hours at Sauer Forest Preserve (Lasher Rd) in Sugar Grove as well. Water levels are still high, with no mud flats. Wilson's Phalarope, both Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, Bobolink and Sedge Wrens were birds of note.

Brendon Lake on 5/8 reported via IBET: Hey all, not a terribly birdy afternoon for me, but a couple of highlights. A White-Eyed Vireo was the highlight at Bliss Woods. Parked at the back parking lot, it came from the brush near the pavilion. At Jon Duerr, a pair of Warbling Vireos were very vocal, and a single Swainson's Thrush was hopping from tree to tree along the bike path across the river from Jon Duerr FP, on the left-hand side.

Christopher Cudworth on 5/8 reported via IBET: Okay, we all have these birds we "should have seen by now" on our life lists.

Mine was Summer Tanager.

And this morning I found a gloriously beautiful bird at Bliss Woods in Sugar Grove. The male was singing just over the main parking lot where it has been reported, and I have tried unsuccessfully to find, in the oaks just to the north of the lot.

Whew.

Also had a Stilt Sandpiper, some yellowlegs (lesser) and a male Green-winged teal in full sunlight at the fluddle on the west side of Route 47 just north of Bliss Road.

Marion Miller on 5/7 reported via e-mail: Walked a short distance early this morning on the east side of Nelson Lake. Heard Soras, Virginia Rails and Sandhill Cranes calling. I was rewarded with a Virginia Rail crossing my path as I looked over the reeds for Bitterns. Other highlights: Bobolink, Brown Thrasher, and Lincoln's Sparrows. Warbler numbers were low with only Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Yellow and Palm Warblers seen between the east side observation deck and the creek.
 

Chris Mussachio on 5/6 reported via e-mail: Made the trip to Cville  dam today and trekked through the mud to find that our Red-Headed Woodpeckers are hard at work updating the nest again this year. Also while there the I noticed the Double-Crested Cormorants have taken up residence in all the same trees that the Bald Eagles used to perch on. Stopped at Buffalo Park on my way home and you can finally walk along the path to the south since the water has receded now. While there I found this Killdeer & Solitary Sandpiper getting along very nicely. A Turkey Vulture was looking for anything that did not survive the flood also.
 

Red-headed Woodpeckers photo courtesy Chris Mussachio

Killdeer and Solitary Sandpiper photo courtesy Chris Mussachio

Jack Pomatto on 5/6 reported via e-mail: Today, Jon J. Duerr F.P. (Blackhawk) had many of the usual migrants. One bird that may have stayed since Saturday was a very cooperative and not all shy Cape May Warbler who sat for a long photo shoot. He had been feeding at the South end of the bridge on the Bike Trail at the edge of Tekakwitha Woods.
 

Cape May Warbler photo courtesy Jack Pomatto

Roger Hotham on 5/5 reported via IBET: A yellow throated warbler was seen yesterday & today in the Jon Duerr FP near the parking lot. A hooded warbler was in Trout Park (Elgin) yesterday.

Chris Wieshaar on 5/5 reported via IBET: Spent a few hours on the west side of the Fox River late this morning. Had all of the usual plus a couple of surprises and the foy oriole. Highlight was a pair of Blackburnians. Yellow-rumped continue in large numbers.
 

John Heneghan on 5/5 reported via IBET: Birded [Big Rock Forest Preserve] this AM. Saw 2 red headed woodpeckers, a white eyed vireo (had not seen one there before), a few towhees, a pair of male rose breasted grosbeaks., bluebirds, yellow warblers, common yellowthroats, house wren, phoebes, a kingbird, yellow rumped warblers, palm warblers, turkey.

Walter Lutz on 5/5 reported via e-mail: Saw a mature Bald Eagle come in from the west and start "fishing" the Fox Fiver at the Gail Borden library in Elgin at 10 a.m. Sunday morning. Have never seen an eagle there this late in the year.

Julie Long on 5/4 reported via IBET: We had two lark sparrows hanging out with a horned lark about 5 pm today in ST Charles. They were in an area being developed which is just a short distance west of the intersection of Randall and Rt 64 called the Corporate Reserve. They were in a dirt, gravel area behind the ST Charles bowling alley. The area can either be accessed by turning north from rt 64 just before the bowling alley or by passing the bowling alley and turning north at the stoplight next to the Aldi's. This area was on the south side of the road and just before the road block.

One of the birds was singing from a very small tree when we first spotted it fairly close to the bowling alley, so we had walked a short distance into the "field" to see what it was. It flew down to the ground to join the other lark sparrow and the horned lark. They seemed to be hanging out together.

I believe that I had spotted one of the sparrows the afternoon before but the weather was so gloomy and dark that I did not get a good look at it and only had a poor quality picture of it. At that time it had been in the road and flew into a small tree on the north side of the road.

It was a great way to end the long day counting birds today.

Andrew Aldrich on 5/4 reported via eBird: An Eared Grebe at Nelson Lake, seen both morning and evening.

Liz Gerity on 5/3 reported via e-mail: Many hungry birds have been visiting our suet feeder in Campton Hills for several days now. Fantastic!
 

Scarlet Tanagers and Rose-breasted Grosbeak photo courtesy Liz Gerity

Julie Long on 5/2 reported via e-mail: Today there were rose breasted grosbeaks and a scarlet tanager in my yard. And a few houses down the street was a first spring male summer tanager. There were only a few yellow rumped warblers for warbler species. I live in the Wild Rose neighborhood of St Charles which is north of Dean St, south of Crane Rd and between Randall Rd and rt 31. I am just east of Leroy Oakes forest preserve.

Ed Vedral on 5/2 reported via e-mail: This morning we had our foy Baltimore Oriole at a juice orange (Campton Hills).

Jack Pomatto on 5/2 reported via e-mail: Today Jon J. Duerr F.P. (Blackhawk) was alive with hundreds and hundreds of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Palm Warblers in about half those numbers, and more Yellow Warblers than I have seen at one preserve. This made pulling out the other warblers much more challenging even if they were calling.
The species ranged from the aforementioned to:
Orange-crowned Warbler 2
Parula Warbler 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 2
Blackpoll Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Redstart
Yellow-throated Vireo
Broad-winged Hawk
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Solitary Sandpiper
Baltimore Oriole
 

Baltimore Oriole photo courtesy Jack Pomatto

Solitary Sandpiper photo courtesy Jack Pomatto

Debbie Wisser on 5/2 reported via e-mail: Jon J. Duerr FP and the Fox River Trail in South Elgin were full of birds this morning. The majority of the Warblers were Yellow-rumped and Palm, but I also saw Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Blackpoll, Blue-winged, Cape May, Chestnut-sided, Nashville, Tennessee, Yellow, Northern Parula, American Redstart, and Common Yellowthroat. Other spring arrivals included Eastern Kingbird, Warbling Vireo, Yellow-throated vireo, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, and Gray Catbird. White-throated, White-crowned, and Song Sparrows were seen. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were buzzing overhead, and so were some Cedar Waxwings near the boat launch. Over the river there were Chimney Swifts, Barn Swallows, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows. Great Blue Heron, Wood Ducks, Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk also flew over the river.

These were just the highlights of the day. It was a great morning to be out birding!
 

Blackburnian Warbler photo courtesy Debbie Wisser

John Heneghan on 5/2 reported via IBET: I birded Les Arends and Fabyan Forest Preserves along the Fox River this AM. I birded by myself for a while at Les Arends and ran into a small group from Kane County Audubon. I hooked up with them and had an enjoyable time looking for new arrivals. We saw FOY Black and White Warbler and American Redstart, Chimney Swift. Among others seen were Yellow Warblers, Yellow Rumped in numbers, FOY Magnolia, Blue Gray Gnatcatchers, Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, both Orchard and Baltimore Orioles. I am not sure what the folks from KCA saw before my joining them. Made a quick stop at Fabyan to see the Great Horned Owl. There were quite a few people there taking pictures, so I watched from afar.

When I arrived home [in Big Rock], there was a Baltimore Oriole on the oranges. I went inside and looked out the window to see Orchard Orioles on the oranges in front and back of the house. 2 male Baltimores and a female chased the Orchard Orioles away and an Indigo Bunting showed up. While I was taking pictures of the above, a Yellow Rumped Warbler landed on the railing to get a drink from the bird bath. It was sensory overload and I could not decide what to take pictures of. There was a White Crowned Sparrow on the ground also. Never had Orchard Orioles at the house before. We also have a Chickadee building a nest in the box used by wrens last year. Tricia put out nesting material in hopes the chickadees would set up housekeeping.

Kurt Frieders on 5/2 reported via e-mail: The past two days have brought a lot of good birds to our yard (in Aurora township). Each of the past two days have brought a male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak who seems to love having his picture taken. Yesterday also brought a male Baltimore Oriole who was much more camera shy. We also saw the first Eastern Towhee that we have ever had in our yard (a bright male). Currently there is the best collection of sparrows we have ever had in our yard as we now have White-Crowned, Chipping, Field, and White-Throated (along with our ever present House Sparrows). Also visiting daily are our usual pair of Cardinals and Downy Woodpeckers. A pair of Chimney Shifts showed up yesterday afternoon, and we still have our single Red-Bellied Woodpecker male. Our thistle feeders are being visited very frequently by both Goldfinches and House Finches. Our Red-Tailed Hawks have hatched their eyases in the past week. We have observed them feeding the eyases many times. Several Killdeer and Doves round out what we have been seeing in our yard the last two days.
 

Rose-breasted Grosbeak photo courtesy Kurt Frieders

Liz Copeland on 5/1 reported via IBET: We started [birding yesterday at Big Rock FP] at around 3:30 and went for two hours. I took a novice birder with me and it was a nice variety:

Ruby -throated hummingbird FOY
turkey vulture
Am robin
Black capped chickadee
white-breasted nuthatch
Red- bellied woodpecker
Eastern Towhee FOY
Eastern Bluebird FOY
tree swallow
grackle
Red winged Blackbird
White-throated sparrow
yellow- rumped warbler
downy
cardinal

Happy Birding

Steve Smith on 5/1 reported via IBET: There were 3 BOBOLINKS at Bowes Creek Woods preserve west of Elgin this morning.