MAY 2014 SIGHTINGS


Steve Smith on 5/31 reported via e-mail: I heard one or perhaps 2 Bells Vireos at Tri County/Pate Philips park Saturday afternoon (5/31). The Vireos were on the west loop where the path parallels Stearns before turning north. I believe this part of the park is Kane county. The birds were on the south side of the path.


Steve Smith on 5/30 reported via e-mail: At least a dozen Dickcissels were heard and seen from the loop path on the west part of Bowes Creek Woods preserve just west of Elgin on 5/30. I saw one Bobolink. I did not check the area around the parking lot which last year had lots of Bobolinks.

I'm concerned that the Dickcissels' nests will be destroyed when the field is harvested now that the grasses are 2 or 3 feet tall. Last year the fields were harvested 3 times. The county planted about 50 oak trees in the area this spring. Also the old farm house and 2 barns on the preserve have been razed.

I also heard a Grasshopper sparrow. Last week I heard Henslows.


Kurt Frieders on 5/30 reported via e-mail: Our yard (in Aurora township) has been a very busy place for a lot of good birds the past few weeks. Two weeks ago we had a female Baltimore Oriole show up with an immature male Oriole at our Oriole feeders. They stayed around until the beginning of this week when a mature male Baltimore Oriole showed up. He chased them around for a few days until they finally left. He remains a daily sighting at our feeders. For the third year in a row we have had a pair of Cedar Waxwings show up to build a nest in one of our magnolia trees. They showed up last night and we watched them get right to work with nesting material. Our yard has also been blessed with our first ever sightings of a Warbling Vireo, as well as a Philadelphia Vireo. This past weekend also brought our first Ruby-Throated Hummingbird of the year. We believe he was just migrating through as we haven't seen him since, and our regular Hummingbirds never show up until July. We also have had daily sightings of our male Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpeckers, Red-Tailed Hawks, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Goldfinches, House Finches, Chimney Swifts, Barn Swallows, and Catbirds.
 

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing photo courtesy Kurt Frieders


Sue Wagoner on 5/29 reported via e-mail: There are two pairs of Bell's Vireos at Aurora West Forest Preserve. Enter from the end of Indian Trail, turn right at the first grassy path. The first pair is around the first power line pole, in the brush on the right of the path. The second is close to the second power line pole, also on the right. I love their "weird" song, and also their blue legs and feet!

Also there are many Yellow Warblers singing, Common Yellowthroats, Field Sparrows, Meadowlarks in the fields further down the path, Catbirds, and at least one Brown Thrasher (and one Eastern Towhee in the woods).
 

Bell's Vireo

Bell's Vireo photo courtesy Sue Wagoner


Lisa Williams on 5/27 reported via e-mail: First time I've ever seen a Red-headed Woodpecker, and it showed up in our back yard in Aurora today! It landed on the lower rung of our birdfeeder "stand" and then dropped to the ground near the bird bath. It got frightened and flew, but then showed up a few minutes later on the trunk of the ash tree. We're at the corner of Aurora Country Club and Golfview Park. Very cool!
 

Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker photo courtesy Lisa Williams


Marion Miller on 5/26 reported via e-mail: Rich and I had some great birds at Campton Forest Preserve, on Town Hall Rd, this morning. Highlights were Yellow-breasted Chat, Black-billed Cuckoos, Wood Thrushes, Bell’s Vireos and Soras . The Bell’s Vireos, at least 2, and one of the Black-billed Cuckoos were heard and seen by the lower parking lot. The Yellow-breasted Chat was very vocal and near the top of the hill. Beware, of the Gnats, or whatever those tiny bugs are called, they are out in full force. Although they don’t bite, they sure like to land in your eyes, nose and mouth. Ick!
 

Black-billed Cuckoo

Black-billed Cuckoo photo courtesy Marion Miller

Wood Thrush

Wood Thrush photo courtesy Marion Miller


Sue Wagoner on 5/25 reported via e-mail: I finally managed to get a photo of the (for me elusive) Henslow's Sparrow. This one was pretty cooperative, at Fitchie Creek Friday, May 23.
 

Henslow's Sparrow

Henslow's Sparrow photo courtesy Sue Wagoner


Brendon Lake on 5/24 reported via IBET: My mom and I had a nice productive walk to the southern end of Nelson Lake and back in Batavia this afternoon. I first spotted a couple of Black Terns flying over the lake...Other bird highlights were many Common Nighthawks overhead at almost any time during the walk, a single Cliff Swallow sitting in a treetop, and several Ruddy Ducks out on the lake as well.


Al Stokie on 5/24 reported via IBET: Today was "catch-up" day for Bob Erickson who actually has to work on weekdays rather than be a "birding bum" like me & many others. But he will be an "old retired guy" someday, just not for a while.

1st stop was at Jon Duerr F.P. in Kane Co. where Bob's targets were Connecticut Warbler, Alder Flycatcher, Philly Vireo & Black Billed Cuckoo. There were still 3 Connecticut's around but they were not as co-operative as they were on Friday. This was no surprise as many folks were "taping" them on Friday & they had enough of that for today. But Bob, like Andy Sigler & myself has to see the bird before it goes on his year list so it took about 1 hour to get a bad look & another 30 min to finally get a good look. A much more efficient way of doing things was demonstrated by my friend Donnie D who, from the parking lot, heard Alder Flycatcher & Connecticut Warbler & counted both on the spot. But he promised he would try & see them later.

I'm not sure why I make things so difficult for myself but I am a "birdwatcher" & like to see the birds.

Bob also got to see a singing Alder Flycatcher but we failed on the B.B. Cuckoo & the Philly Vireo. Still time for them. The only bird seen today that I did not see Friday was 1 Red Headed Woodpecker.

A quick stop at Bliss Woods got us almost nothing except lots of folks running, bike riding, dog walking & Garlic Mustard pulling. Saw 1 nice male Scarlet Tanager & a Magnolia Warbler. Bob thought he heard a Philly Vireo but we could not find it...


Jeff Welsh on 5/24 reported via e-mail: My wife Suzanne Welsh saw these Sandhill Cranes while we were at school yesterday at Waubonsee CC Sugar Grove Campus. There were 2 of them. Way cool.
 

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane photo courtesy Suzanne and Jeff Welsh


Al Stokie on 5/23 reported via IBET: When Andy Sigler & I arrived at Jon Duerr F.P. about 6:40 a.m. we found that Matt W was already there & learned he had seen some of the birds we had heard on the way in. Andy & I had about 50 species in our 2 hour visit. Our highlights were:

BLACK BILLED CUCKOO (1), R.T. Hummer (1), OLIVE SIDED FLYCATCHER (1 by the river), Alder Flycatcher (4-5), Cedar Waxwing (lots), Yellow Throated Vireo (1) & 10 species of warblers which were Chestnut Sided (1), Magnolia (1), Bay Breasted (1-M), Redstart (4-5), PROTHONOTRY (1-M singing by the river), CONNECTICUT (2 seen & 3 more heard only),
Common Yellowthroat (2-3), Wilson's (1), Canada (2-3) & YELLOW BREASTED CHAT (1).

The B.B. Cuckoo was where Brendon L reported it & the Chat was seen along the tracks thanks to directions from the Duerr's who we birded with for a while. Also enjoying the Connecticuts were Vince & Pete M & other birders.

Next Andy & I headed to Burlington & checked along Chapman Rd. but did not find the Swainson's Hawk perhaps due to our slightly late arrival time which allowed the hawk to start soaring before we got there.

After lunch we tried Afton F.P. in DeKalb Co. but found almost nothing of interest...

Took a chance on the way home & tried again along Chapman Rd. & finally among 5 Red Tailed Hawks I picked out a different hawk & Andy verified that it was indeed a SWAINSON'S HAWK as I suspected. It was fairly high, more so than the Red Tails.

Bird-Of-The-Day to the 1st Black Billed Cuckoo which we saw very well.
Runners-Up to the Chat, the Swainson's Hawk & the 2 well seen Connecticut Warblers.


Ari Shavit on 5/23 reported via e-mail:  I found a Kentucky Warbler at Lone Grove F.P. 5-22-2014.
 

Kentucky Warbler photo courtesy Ari Shavit


Matt Wistrand on 5/23 reported via IBET: Hi All, Encouraged by Jude Vickery's report, I spent a little over an hour this morning birding Jon J. Duerr FP hoping for a Connecticut Warbler...[H]ighlights include 4 singing CONNECTICUT WARBLERS (Andy Sigler and Al Stokie had one more I missed), a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, 2 MOURNING WARBLERS, and 3 CANADA WARBLERS.


Brendon Lake on 5/22 reported via e-mail: Today, there were lots of birders at Jon Duerr Forest Preserve, and rightfully so. The highlight of the day, at least for me, was three Connecticut Warblers that I saw, and two more that I never saw but did hear. These Connecticut Warblers were spaced throughout the preserve, including one along the bike trail at the far west end of the preserve! Also seen were three Mourning Warblers ( a male and two females), two Canada Warblers, a Blackburnian Warbler, a Black-Billed Cuckoo, a Yellow-Throated Vireo and a Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher.
 

Connecticut Warbler

Connecticut Warbler photo courtesy Brendon Lake


Jeffrey Sanders on 5/22 reported via IBET: Karen Lund and I covered a large area today, plus we found a new winery on rt 38 west of 47 near Meredith rd.

les arends forest preserve
 

red-shld hawk
yellow-billed cuckoo
r t hummer
yellow-bellied flycatcher
least "
Acadian "
crested "
e kingbirds
veeries
swainson's thrushes
wood thrush
gray-chkd thrush
catbirds every where
yellow-throated vireo
red-eyed vires
warbling vireos
Tennessee warblers
parula "
yellow "
chestnut sd "
magnolia '"
blk thrtd blue "
blk thrtd green "
blackburnian "
bay-brstd "
blackpoll "
redstarts mostly yellow
Connecticut warbler---seen and heard
mourning "
yellowthrt
Wilson's warbler
Canada "
summer tanager
scarlet tanagers
Baltimore orioles
r b grosbeaks
kingfisher


Elburn forest preserve

hairy woodpkrs
palm warbler
yellowstarts


Bill Marchetti on 5/22 reported via e-mail: I captured footage of a pair of Baltimore Orioles with my gopro. I also have hummingbirds on my youtube channel as well. Link here.


Colleen O'Neill-Thorne on 5/22 reported via IBET: Very Birdy this AM [at Fabyan FP] warblers seen
 

Golden Winged
Tennessee
Orange Crowned
Nashville
Parula
Yellow
Chestnut Sided
Magnolia
Black Throated Green
Blackburnian
Pine
Bay Breasted
Black & White
Blackpoll
American Redstart
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's
Canada
Ovenbird
Orange Crowned

Most were seen from the parking lot. The others were seen on the bike path near the museum.

I was there from 6:30-8:30am


Ken Schneider on 5/22 reported via e-mail: This morning in the northwest side prairies at Nelson Lake/Dick Young FP there were several singing Grasshopper Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows and many Song Sparrows. We neither heard nor saw any Henslow's Sparrows, Sedge Wrens or Dickcissels, and only a few meadowlarks. Several small flocks of Bobolinks were present.

Yesterday I got photos of all three Mooseheart eaglets the morning after the hail storm.

 

Grasshopper Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow photo courtesy Ken Schneider

Mooseheart Eaglets

Mooseheart Eaglets photo courtesy Ken Schneider


John Heneghan on 5/22 reported via IBET: Birded [Big Rock Forest Preserve] this AM. Birds seen include Chestnut Sided Warbler, Indigo Bunting (both male and female), !st year male Scarlet Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, Yellow Rumped Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Orioles, Red Eyed Vireo, White Eyed Vireo, Louisiana Waterthrush, Spotted Sandpiper, Pair of Wood Ducks, Bluebird, Yellow breasted Chat, Black Billed Cuckoo, House and Winter Wren, Least Flycatcher, Redstart, Hummingbirds (both male and female, watched the female grabbing bugs on the wing).  Red Bellied Woodpecker, Flicker, Phoebes, and Song Sparrows.


Eric Secker on 5/22 reported via IBET: I had a really nice volume and great views of some of the late warblers this morning at Judson University in Elgin including 7 Canada Warblers, 6 Wilson Warblers, and 3 Mourning Warblers (all a mix of both males and females). I also heard one of the resident Carolina Wrens for the first time this year. I'm glad to know at least one made it through the harsh winter. In all I had 14 species of warblers but only one or two of some species even after bushwacking through the flooded / seep areas in the woods west of Tyler Creek down the hill from Rt. 31. The rarer warblers were split between the area along the Fox River and that floodplain area. I also had an Orchard Oriole along the river at the end of Jerusha Ave.

Full list is below. Good birding,

Judson University
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 Miles
105 Minutes
 

8 Canada Goose
4 Mallard
1 Great Blue Heron
1 Mourning Dove
4 Chimney Swift
6 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Downy Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker
3 Least Flycatcher
2 Eastern Phoebe
2 Great Crested Flycatcher
3 Warbling Vireo
6 Red-eyed Vireo
3 Blue Jay
1 American Crow
2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow
3 Tree Swallow
1 Barn Swallow
3 Black-capped Chickadee
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
3 House Wren
1 Carolina Wren
2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
2 Veery
1 Swainson's Thrush
X American Robin
X Gray Catbird
4 Cedar Waxwing
1 Northern Waterthrush
1 Black-and-white Warbler
14 Tennessee Warbler
1 Nashville Warbler
3 Mourning Warbler
4 Common Yellowthroat
X American Redstart
2 Bay-breasted Warbler
3 Blackburnian Warbler
2 Yellow Warbler
9 Blackpoll Warbler
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
7 Canada Warbler
6 Wilson's Warbler
1 Chipping Sparrow
3 Song Sparrow
X Northern Cardinal
2 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
5 Indigo Bunting
X Red-winged Blackbird
2 Common Grackle
3 Brown-headed Cowbird
1 Orchard Oriole
5 Baltimore Oriole
1 House Finch
3 American Goldfinch
4 House Sparrow

Christopher Cudworth on 5/22 reported via IBET: Birds of note at Les Arends included Yellow-bellied flycatcher and Connecticut Warbler, both at the south end of the parking lot near the shelter. The Connecticut of course was not too cooperative on the visual side of things, but singing its guts out.

Plenty of Great Crested Flycatcher, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, a lone wood thrush, Otherwise the spring expecteds.


Jude Vickery on 5/22 reported via IBET: Hi All, I just wanted to let you know that right now among the many other singing birds, are two Singing Connecticut Warblers. They're on the right of the main entrance road before you reach the railroad tracks [at Jon Duerr FP].


Chris Mussachio on 5/21 reported via e-mail: Here is our Red-Headed Woodpecker scoping out the nest area in Carpentersville for the 3rd year in a row.
 

Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker photo courtesy Chris Mussachio


Diane Hansen on 5/21 reported via e-mail: I have been out birding most every day and have had some success. Yesterdays highlights include seeing all 5 eagles (2 adults and 3 chicks) in the Mooseheart nest and my first Bobolink. Thanks to the couple who alerted me to their presence in the field at Nelson Lake. Monday as I drove along the river in Dundee I caught a quick shot of this goose family. Seconds before this shot all 6 goslings were sleeping but only 1 was still napping in this shot.
 

Bobolink

Bobolink photo courtesy Diane Hansen

Canada Goose family

Canada Goose family photo courtesy Diane Hansen


Eric Secker on 5/21 reported via IBET: Just finished eating lunch outside at The Squire in West Dundee where I had a Prothonotary Warbler singing across the Fox River.


Steve Smith on 5/20 reported via e-mail: There was an Olive Sided Flycatcher in the Oak Savanna at Corron Farms, Campton township, Kane, Tuesday afternoon.


Brendon Lake on 5/19 reported via IBET: Spent time out birding in Kane Co. this morning, and into the early afternoon. Fabyan Forest Preserve on the west side, was very slow, but I had an Olive-Sided and a Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher, both just northeast of the japanese gardens. At Gunnar-Anderson FP in Geneva, I had a singing Canada Warbler in the tall pine near the turnaround at the end of the parking lot. The pine is back amongst a bunch of brush. Burnidge FP in Elgin was the best time birding today, I had a Wood Thrush (Kane year bird #200) and a male Mourning Warbler (#201). The Mourning Warbler was back along the main paved loop trail, near a marshy area that's near a gate that says "closed" on it. I also had as many as 30 Common Nighthawks flying over different areas of the preserve (an estimate), an unidentified cuckoo that flew over my head and disappeared as I was getting out of my car in the parking lot, and 5 Scarlet Tanagers, 3 males and 2 females.


The 5/18 Burnidge Forest Preserve Prairie Warbler sighting has been amended to a female Cape May Warbler.


Ken Schneider on 5/19 reported via e-mail: On May 17th while visiting Hawk's Bluff Park this female Wild Turkey walked by so close that I could not include its tail in my camera viewfinder (other views show buffy tail tips). This is the first turkey I have seen at this location. On May 1, 2013 I photographed a Wild Turkey at Les Arends, the only one I have seen there.
 

Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey photo courtesy Ken Schneider


Marion Miller on 5/18 reported via e-mail: Rich and I took an evening walk at Fabyan West Forest Preserve on Sunday. Warblers were in low numbers and included: Northern Parula, Black-and-White, Chestnut-sided, American Redstart, Palm, Magnolia and Yellow-rumped. An Olive-sided Flycatcher was busy catching bugs from above the tree tops along the river.
 

Olice-sided Flycatcher

Olive-sided Flycatcher photo courtesy Rich Miller


Patrick Ricketson on 5/18 reported via eBird: A Prairie Warbler at Burnidge Forest Preserve.


Steve Smith on 5/18 reported via e-mail: There is a White Eyed Vireo singing along the railroad tracks at Jon Duerr park this morning.


Brendon Lake on 5/17 reported via eBird: A Horned Grebe in breeding plumage on Nelson Lake.


Bill Koch on 5/16 reported via e-mail: I was walking the dog through our Providence neighborhood in Elgin on Thursday when I heard the unmistakable call of a Bells Vireo. I went back to today to see if it was still around and found it singing in the same location. I waited a while and finally got a picture of the bird. Hope it sticks around for the summer. About a block away I heard a Sora, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut Sided Warbler and Northern Waterthrush singing from a small swamp area.
 

Bell's Vireo

Bell's Vireo photo courtesy Bill Koch


Chris Madsen on 5/16 reported: To continue with our theme of unusual Kane County sightings, I submit this rare "squnk," photographed in my St. Charles neighborhood.
 

Squnk

"Squnk" photo courtesy Chris Madsen


Mark Bowman on 5/16 reported via e-mail: I watched a beautiful male BALTIMORE ORIOLE this morning at my feeders, the only odd thing was that it was during a little snow shower with huge flakes this morning, what a sight. Also, my male RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRD has returned for the summer. The 5 WHITE CROWNED SPARROWS I had this past week have moved on.


Bob Meierhans on 5/15 reported via e-mail: I've seen our resident pair of Sandhill Cranes this week walking their babies (no more than 5" or 6" tall) around the field behind us. This makes the 6th year in a row that the adults have produced young in our [Elburn/Sugar Grove] area.


Becky DeSilva on 5/15 reported via e-mail: I found a flock of Cedar Waxwings eating berries in the juniper bushes around the South/Main Street parking lot of Batavia High School today. I counted 26 in one ginkgo tree as they took a rest and there were many more flitting around. They didn't seem to mind my presence as long as I stayed in my car to view them.
 

Cedar Waxwings

Cedar Waxwings photo courtesy Beck DeSilva


Kim Kingston on 5/15 reported via e-mail: I spied a Brown Thrasher in my yard [in West Dundee] yesterday morning and again last night around dusk.


Eric Secker on 5/14 reported via e-mail: Couldn't complain when I spotted a Northern Mockingbird from our car at the parking lot at Nelson Lake this afternoon. The bird was hanging around on the tree stakes out in the field while trying to avoid being dive bombed by some swallows. It was also hanging out right in the parking lot and around the picnic shelter. Jon Duerr was also able to relocate it about an hour later. He had it fly right past him when he went to throw away some garbage from his car.

On our way out, we also had a Sandhill Crane in the field just east of Nelson Lake Rd and south of Main St. I pulled over quickly so my wife, Sally, could grab a quick photo.

I was just thinking about mockingbirds today when we were at Les Arends F.P. I went there for warblers but also to look through the Eastern Kingbirds along the river to the south at a spot where I had a mockingbird show up a couple years ago. I thought it was worth a look just in case the Fork-tailed Flycatcher worked his way all the way down there or something else like a mockingbird was around. We had about 12 kingbirds hawking insects over the water, a couple of Cliff Swallows, a Broad-winged Hawk, and other expected birds. There was also a singing Orange-crowned Warbler near the parking lot that we got short looks at and a Kentucky Warbler down the trail that goes to the river's edge from the parking lot.
 

Northern Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird photo courtesy Eric Secker

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Crane photo courtesy Sally Secker


Brendon Lake on 5/14 reported via IBET: Hey everybody, hit up Jon Duerr Forest Preserve, Gunnar-Anderson Forest Preserve and Fabyan Forest Preserve today in hopes of adding another warbler or two and some odds and ends. Jon Duerr was not as active as it has been, most likely due to the minute extent of migration that occurred last night. Highlights were Magnolia, Chestnut-Sided, Bay-Breasted and Wilson's Warblers, and a Red-Headed Woodpecker hanging around in the oaks by the picnic shelter. Gunnar-Anderson was fantastic, no Fork-Tailed Flycatcher (didn't really expect to see it) but two Philadelphia Vireos, two Gray-Cheeked Thrushes and my lifer Canada Warbler were still pretty great. Blackpoll and Bay-Breasted Warblers were especially numerous here. Fabyan on the west side, had a male Scarlet Tanager hanging around the Japanese Garden, and on the east side, near an inlet off of the river on the pathway headed north, there was a Golden-Winged Warbler singing to his heart's content. An Eastern Wood-Pewee was my little end that needed to be tied up, and was on the west side just south of the Japanese Garden.

That's it for my sightings, but Eric Secker texted me to let me know of a Northern Mockingbird he had found at Nelson Lake/Dick Young FP. He had told me it was just south of the parking lot (I am presuming on the east side, or Nelson Lake Road access) and was visible from his car.


Marion Miller on 5/13 reported via e-mail: Common Nighthawks have returned to the Batavia Riverwalk. As soon as I pulled up into the parking lot north of the Police station I could hear their "peent" call. I was able to observe 2 performing lots of aerial acrobatics as they chased each other and dived for bugs.


Doug Stotz on 5/13 reported via IBET: I went to Geneva to look for the Fork-tailed Flycatcher, and like everybody else today, I didn't see it. There were plenty of other things to look at including hundreds of swallows over the river of all of the regular species. I had 18 species of warblers there including the previously mentioned CONNECTICUT and my first CANADA of the spring.

I then went out to Elburn Forest Preserve, because in the winter it has always looked like a spot that might be good for migrants. It turned out to be today. There was relatively little until I got onto the roadway that runs right down the center of the wooded area. I had 17 species of warblers, best being MOURNING, GOLDEN-WINGED, and NORTHERN PARULA. CHESTNUT-SIDED and TENNESSEE were the most common species. Besides warblers, highlights here were a WHIP-POOR-WILL that flushed from the ground in the woods, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, and a PHILADELPHIA VIREO.


Eric Secker on 5/13 reported via IBET: I had my first Mourning Warbler of the season (and a new species, #188 for the site) at Judson University this evening during about an hour and a half of working through all the warblers there. Some areas were very quiet but there was a very nice mix of warblers in the woods right by the Fox River. There were lots of bugs flying around there and the warblers seemed quite active after today's cold and rain. I never get tired of the warblers that come close in at eye level. This evening that including a Golden-winged Warbler, Cape May, Chestnut-sided, and Wilson's (all males) that all came within 4-6 feet at eye level. I also had nice looks at Blackpoll Warblers working low in the bushes and a female Cape May that found the lone 8 foot tall evergreen tree in one section of woods and was feeding in the upper part of it.

It didn't seem like there was a lot of diversity but I was surprised to have 20 species of warblers when I tallied everything up. There were a lot of Blackpoll Warblers and American Redstarts in particular. A lot more female warblers are also starting to come through now. It's been predominantly males of most species up to this point. Only 2 Tennessee's this evening although I've had lots of them coming through elsewhere today.

Warblers included 1 Mourning, 2 Wilson's, 1 Canada, 2 Golden-winged, 11 Blackpoll, 3 Blackburnian, 1 Bay-breasted, 3 Cape May, 2 Northern Parulas, 12 American Redstarts, 1 Northern Waterthrush, 3 Magnolia, 9 Chestnut-sided, 6 Black-and-white, 2 Tennessee, 1 Nashville, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 4 Yellow, and decent numbers of Palms and Yellow-rumps.

I had 71 species this evening. The full list is below.

Someone had asked for more details about access to this site. Feel free now to come down and check around in the woods off of Jerusha Ave. in the next couple of weeks. Please send me a list of what you see if you do visit. Other than that, if you're looking to see more of the campus, send me an email. I can look into it more or if I'm available, I can show you around. That's probably the safest bet for someone wandering around with binoculars. Otherwise, if you're just curious what the campus looks like, taking a walk through shouldn't be an issue, or just check out the virtual campus tour that I helped put together (I serve as the school's webmaster and campus photographer for those who didn't know).

At this link you can see a 360 degree view of the Fox River where I've had rarities like Snowy Egret, American Avocet, and lots of good ducks and gulls show up. Tyler Creek empties into the Fox River here so there is often a nice area of mudflat.
------------------------------------------
2014-05-13 17:40
Judson University
Protocol: Traveling
1.6 Miles
80 Minutes
Observers: 1
All birds reported? Yes
 

6 Canada Goose
2 Wood Duck
7 Mallard
2 Turkey Vulture
1 Killdeer
3 Spotted Sandpiper
1 Solitary Sandpiper
1 Least Sandpiper
1 Mourning Dove
X Chimney Swift
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 Downy Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker
3 Northern Flicker
1 Eastern Wood-Pewee
3 Least Flycatcher
3 Empidonax sp.
2 Eastern Phoebe
1 Great Crested Flycatcher
3 Eastern Kingbird
1 Warbling Vireo
2 Red-eyed Vireo
5 Blue Jay
1 American Crow
X Northern Rough-winged Swallow
X Tree Swallow
X Bank Swallow
X Barn Swallow
X Cliff Swallow
4 Black-capped Chickadee
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
2 House Wren
4 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
1 Veery
1 Gray-cheeked Thrush
4 Swainson's Thrush
X American Robin6 Gray Catbird
2 European Starling
3 Cedar Waxwing
1 Northern Waterthrush
2 Golden-winged Warbler
6 Black-and-white Warbler
2 Tennessee Warbler
1 Nashville Warbler
1 Mourning Warbler
1 Common Yellowthroat
12 American Redstart
3 Cape May Warbler
2 Northern Parula
3 Magnolia Warbler
1 Bay-breasted Warbler
3 Blackburnian Warbler
4 Yellow Warbler
9 Chestnut-sided Warbler
11 Blackpoll Warbler
X Palm Warbler
X Yellow-rumped Warbler
1 Canada Warbler
2 Wilson's Warbler
2 Chipping Sparrow
2 Song Sparrow
5 White-throated Sparrow
7 Northern Cardinal
1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
3 Indigo Bunting
X Red-winged Blackbird
4 Common Grackle
3 Baltimore Oriole
4 American Goldfinch
X House Sparrow

Sue Wagoner on 5/13 reported via e-mail: Among some of our good finds during Spring Count on Saturday, May 10 were 7 American Pelicans flying overhead (seen while at Fabyan Forest Preserve), a Common Nighthawk sleeping in plain sight on an Oak branch, and this immature Scarlet Tanager male (both seen between Quarry Park and Les Arends Forest Preserve).
 

Common Nighthawk

Common Nighthawk photo courtesy Sue Wagoner

Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager photo courtesy Sue Wagoner


Kim Kingston on 5/13 reported via e-mail: I currently have 2 pairs of Rose Breasted Grosbeaks and Baltimore Orioles feeding in my back yard in West Dundee. They have been here for almost a week. I’m so excited because I have NEVER managed to get them to stay for this long!
 

Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole photo courtesy Kim Kingston

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks photo courtesy Kim Kingston


Jackie Bowman on 5/13 reported via e-mail: Unfortunately I was unable to get out with my "real" camera to photograph yesterday's Fork-tailed Flycatcher, and he apparently "flew the coop" overnight as there were no sightings this morning, despite numerous birders on the prowl. In exchange, I was fortunate to photograph a male, Connecticut Warbler, who very briefly posed for me along the river's edge. I'll take two Kane County "lifers" in two days anytime, even if I can only get one photo!
 

Connecticut Warbler

Connecticut Warbler photo courtesy Jackie Bowman


Chris Mussachio on 5/13 reported via e-mail: Looks like our Great Blue Herons are back at Buffalo Park and have quite the appetite. Spotted this Savannah Sparrow on its usual sign at Jelke Creek Bird Sanctuary just singing away.
 

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron photo courtesy Chris Mussachio

Savannah Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow photo courtesy Chris Mussachio


Lynn Hill on 5/12 reported via e-mail: This morning just east of the Fox River in Geneva at the edge of Fabyan Forest Preserve I observed a male Scarlet Tanager perched in my Linden Tree. Sorry, I only have a blurry picture taken with my phone.


Mark Bowman on 5/12 reported via e-mail: This morning about 11:40, the “Digger”, formerly known as Chris Bowman, spotted a FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER on the Fox River at Gunnar-Anderson park in Geneva. The bird did stay around all day and was there into the early evening for at least 50 people to enjoy thru the day. He could stay there for a few days if the bugs are plentiful. This is a tropical South American species probably blown in by a storm as he was wondering up north more or less lost. I happened to be with the Chris when it was found, so excited was he about the find, he could not come up with the birds name. Therefore, since I came up with the name first, technically it is my bird and I am taking all the credit for the find !!
 

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Fork-tailed Flycatcher photo courtesy Mark Bowman. Bird courtesy Chris Bowman.


Roger Amery on 5/12 reported via e-mail: I responded to an email regarding a sighting of fork tailed flycatcher at Gunnar Anderson forest preserve in back of the Kane County Government center. I was greeted by other birders upon arrival. I saw this bird three times while I was there. It is like an eastern kingbird with a long forked tail. However, it was browner in color, probably a juvenile.


Margaret Myers on 5/10 reported via e-mail: Got a nice surprise today at the Batavia Eagle Nest. Looks like we have 3 Eaglets. 2 eggs are most common, 79% of the time.
 

Mooseheart Eaglets

Mooseheart Eaglets photo courtesy Steve Myers


Sue Wagoner on 5/10 reported via e-mail: Friday, May 9 a small group of us saw this Yellow-Throated Warbler in a Sycamore Tree at Fabyan Forest Preserve... first spotted by Debbie Wisser. On our bird count today however we were unable to relocate it. Also seen was a Golden-Winged Warbler.

Thursday at Les Arends Forest Preserve there were about 6 Cape May Warblers feeding for about 10 minutes in the white-flowered bushes along the trail just south of the stairs. Other warblers were: Chestnut-sided, Bay-Breasted, Magnolia, Redstart, Blackburnian, Blue-Winged, Golden-Winged, Black and White, Common Yellowthroat. Also a "confiding" Grey-Cheeked Thrush sang for us.
 

Yellow-throated Warbler

Yellow-throated Warbler photo courtesy Sue Wagoner

Cape May Warbler

Cape May Warbler photo courtesy Sue Wagoner


Ken Schneider on 5/10 reported via e-mail: Saw two male Wilson's Warblers next to the creek in Bliss Woods this morning. One was still there when I checked again almost two hours later. Also heard but did not see a Clay-colored Sparrow, singing in the brush patch in the field on the left side of the path just past the bridge.
 

Wilson's Warbler

Wilson's Warbler photo courtesy Ken Schneider


Theresa LeCompte on 5/9 reported via e-mail: Another new bird, an Indigo Bunting, for my Aurora yard this morning. (Picture taken through the back door screen.)
 

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting photo courtesy Theresa LeCompte


Laura Werner on 5/9 reported via IBET: No big surprises, but even at 9:30 in the morning and towing two noisy kids in a stroller, I still managed to see some migrants, mostly on the bike path portion of Bliss Woods. Highlight for me were the Golden-winged Warblers, which seemed particularly abundant. Other migrants included:

Scarlet Tanager
Indigo Bunting
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Great-crested Flycatcher
Red-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Northern Parula
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Ovenbird


Ann Haverstock on 5/9 reported via text message: Hooded warbler, Singing. Westside Fabyan FP in woods west of bear cage.


Sue Wagoner on 5/8 reported via e-mail: Here is a photo of a Solitary Sandpiper we saw at Les Arends Tuesday. We also saw many of the warblers already reported for Les Arends.

I saw this pretty "frumpy" White-Crowned Sparrow outside my window [in Aurora] yesterday (...ok, how do YOU look after a shower??) He was one of three in may yard all day Wednesday.
 

Solitary Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper photo courtesy Sue Wagoner

White-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow photo courtesy Sue Wagoner


Eric Secker on 5/7 reported via IBET: Today had a couple of personal birding firsts for me at Judson University in Elgin (Kane Co.). One was a migrating BELL'S VIREO that I found in some shrubs at the end of the gravel road south of Jerusha Ave. I don't think I've personally had one before outside of an area where they breed. The other was watching a Great Blue Heron eat a mammal. It stabbed and grabbed a Meadow Vole from the bank along Tyler Creek and proceeded to shake it and dip it in the water then down it. On the non-bird side, I also enjoyed watching what I think was a mouse peak out of a hole in a small tree along the sidewalk by Tyler Creek. I first heard it from the pieces of wood that were falling out or being pushed out of the hole onto the dry leaves.

The clouds hampered evening birding a bit, but there was still a great mix of warblers and we ended up with 71 species for the evening. I'll put my official estimate at 34 for NASHVILLE WARBLERS. At one point this evening as the sun was getting low we had a single short tree with 15 of them all feeding in it. We also had at least 14 BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS during our short time of birding. That matches with some of my best totals on the Spring Bird Count from all morning at Elsen's Hill.

New birds for me today included WILSON'S WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER. Also 5 LEAST FLYCATCHERS and two EASTERN KINGBIRDS. Other notables included a flyover adult BALD EAGLE, LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, and a GREEN HERON and BLUE-WINGED TEAL in the small marsh. Down by the river there were three SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, two LEAST SANDPIPERS, and two SOLITARY SANDPIPERS. Although common here, I still had to appreciate the BALTIMORE ORIOLES putting on a nice show.

No Black-throated Gray Warbler this evening, but although there were more birds, they were actually moving more slowly and lighting made some harder to see which meant it could have easily been missed and there were also more birds to sift through and more distractions. We'll see what the morning holds, but the bird may have moved on by now. The Bell's Vireo which was briefly on the Judson side of the road was my species #184 for that 90 acre site.


John Heneghan on 5/7 reported via e-mail: Highlights of todays birding at [Big Rock Forest Preserve] in Kane Cty include: Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Yellow Rumped Warbler, Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, White Eyed Vireo, Least and Great Crested Flycatchers, Catbird, Song, Field, Swamp, White Crowned and White Throated Sparrows, Nashville and Palm Warblers, Redstart, Rose breasted Grosbeak, Towhee, both Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Wood and Grey Cheeked Thrushes, Warbling Vireo, Bluebird, Egrets (flying over), Pheasant (heard), Phoebe, Kingbird, Tree and Rough Winged Swallows, Black and White Warbler, Titmouse, White Breasted Nuthatch, Northern Parula.


Eric Secker on 5/7 reported via IBET: During my lunch break we had a nice mix a birds right from the car while we ate lunch including a LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH that sat on a branch for ten minutes preening.

Others included two Black-and-whites, Magnolia, Black-throated Green, Nashville, Palm, and Yellow-rumped.

I had to go into work early so didn't get to see if the Black-throated Gray is still around at Judson. From today onward visitors are free to park in the Creekside lot at Judson off of Jerusha Ave. and can arrive any time they want. I'll look for it again this afternoon / evening.


Brendon Lake on 5/7 reported via IBET: Hey everybody, spent nearly every minute of 4 hours at Jon Duerr Forest Preserve this morning in South Elgin, and it paid off big! I had a total of 61 species, with 14 species of warbler, and 10 new year birds. My favorite bird of my time out there was my beautiful lifer Blue-Winged Warbler (long overdue), but not to be outdone were Golden-Winged, Magnolia, Wilson's, Black-Throated Green, Orange-Crowned, Yellow-Rumped, Palm, Yellow, Nashville and Black-and-White Warblers, plus Northern Parula, Northern Waterthrush, and an Ovenbird. Highlights that were not warblers included Clay-Colored Sparrow (one singing in grassy area across the trolley tracks from the parking lot), Indigo Bunting (1 pair), Red-Eyed Vireo, Veery, Swainson's Thrush and the second best bird of the day in my opinion, a Black-Billed Cuckoo! To get to the Cuckoo spot, walk the trolley tracks back from the parking area, and you will see a yellow switch box on the right. From the yellow switch box, count out 3 utility poles down past there, and it was between the 3rd and 4th utility pole, left-hand side, in the trees and brush right next to the tracks. It was hard to spot, but such great views!!


Steve Smith on 5/7 reported via e-mail: Along the Fox River this morning south of SEBA Park highlights: Blue Winged Warbler, Blackburnian, and Scarlet Tanager (at Duerr).
Also:
N Parulas
Yellow
Dozens of Yellow Rumps and Palms
Chestnut Sided
Nashville
Black and White
Rose Breasted Grosbeak
Orioles


Marion Miller on 5/6 reported via e-mail: Enjoyed the many warbler species at Judson University grounds on Monday. The best warbler I got to see was this Blue-winged Warbler. I did see the Black-throated Gray Warbler as a silhouette flying away from me. Now that was a near miss that hurt.
 

Blue-winged Warbler

Blue-winged Warbler photo courtesy Marion Miller


Eric Secker on 5/6 reported via IBET: The Black-throated Gray is still present this morning in the same general area it has been seen.


Jay Withgott on 5/5 reported via email: A first-spring male Summer Tanager was at Fabyan F.P. this morning, just south of the Japanese Garden. It was in its trademark patchwork red & green plumage. Hiking the full circuit of both sides of the park yielded 9 warbler spp. including a Blackburnian, BH & Warbling Vireos, 1 Veery, 1 Lincoln's Sparrow, 2 RB Grosbeaks, & 1 Orchard Oriole. A Lesser Yellowlegs was in the river briefly, along with a Solitary Sandpiper and a Spotty. Compete list is here.

I then went to Les Arends F.P., where I ran into Bill Ahlgren. We birded together a bit and saw or heard 11 warbler spp., with highlights being a Blue-winged Warbler and a Blackburnian Warbler. Complete list is here.

I then went to look for Swainson's Hawks on Chapman Road and struck out. Here is a list of what you might see there on a windy day if you fail to find the Swainson's.

In the afternoon, went with my aunt and uncle to Fermilab and we found a Stilt Sandpiper, 3 Bobolinks, and ... oh wait -- wrong county ... never mind. : ) Good birding, everyone.


Eric Secker on 5/5 reported via IBET: I had great close up looks at a female Black-throated Gray Warbler this morning at Judson University in Elgin.

Later he posted this followup:

I have arranged for access for birders on Tuesday beginning at 8 a.m. with certain restrictions due to other big events on campus and potential parking issues. Details are on IBF below. To avoid issues, if you pass this information around to others, please direct them to the link here rather than giving directions via word of mouth.

I first spotted the BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER this morning (Monday, at Judson University in Elgin) around 9 a.m. when I got very brief but diagnostic looks at it at eye level.

It was relocated around mid-day by Pete and Vince Moxon, Scott Cohrs, and Brendon Lake. My dad, my wife, and I had the bird again when we returned around 4 p.m. and it was still present at 5:15 before I left. Andy Sigler and Nathan Goldberg had it sometime after 7 p.m. I believe. It takes some time to locate the bird, but it is staying in the same small area and should hopefully remain in that general area until it continues migrating - based on my past experience with the warblers there. The bird appears to be either a female or young male (no all dark throat, but a decent black line going across the throat, I haven't had time to look much in the field guides).

In addition to the Black-throated Gray, a number of us had beautiful looks at a lot of other species including a single short tree that was lit up in the evening sun and had a Northern Parula, Blue-winged Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Nashville, Black-throated Green, and Black-and-White using it at times often all close to one another. This morning I also had a couple Ovenbirds and Northern Waterthrush. Both Baltimore Orioles and an Orchard Oriole were also seen. In all about 15 species of warblers today.

I'll post again about access after Tuesday which should be a bit less restricted.


Julie Long on 5/5 reported via e-mail: I found two clay colored sparrows this afternoon, Monday, with a flock of chipping sparrows at Leroy Oakes Forest Preserve. They were on the trail/burn break path between the burned prairie and the row of evergreens on the east of the park, north of Dean St.. They were on the north downslope from the crest of the hill. They have been seen in this area in past summers, possibly nesting there.


Tim Balassie on 5/5 reported via e-mail: Thought I'd mention that several STC Park Dist. people saw a Red-headed Woodpecker at Delnor Woods early last week.  The bird was near the RT25 entrance. 


John Heneghan on 5/5 reported via e-mail: I was at Muirhead Springs Forest Preserve this morning to check the Kestrel box for occupants (none). I noticed shorebirds hunkering down in the wetland area. I scoped the birds. 8 Willets


Jim Narovec on 5/5 reported via e-mail: On 5/4/14 I observed a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak drinking out of a pond on our property, first time I've seen that species in our yard. Later in the afternoon, my wife spotted a Baltimore Oriole in our backyard.


Mary Elliott on 5/5 reported via e-mail: The pair of great horned owls at Nelson Lake were so kind, posing for me Sunday, May 4 at Nelson Lake.
 

Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl photo courtesy Mary Elliott


Jay Withgott on 5/4 reported via email: I had a fun couple of hours at Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve this morning, with 57 species including 10 warbler spp. A Yellow-breasted Chat was along the trolley tracks about 100 m up from the parking lot. A singing Prothonotary Warbler was at the far NE-most end of the park along the river and trail just south of the highway bridge; this was where the most bird activity was. In total, 2 Ovenbirds, 3 Nashville, 2 Yellow, 3 BT Green, 4 B&W, 9 Palm, 3 Pine, & 65 Myrtle. Also 1 Scarlet Tanager, 4 RB Grosbeaks, 1 Great-crested Flycatcher, 1 Least Flycatcher, 2 Blue-headed Vireos, 2 Warbling Vireos, and a big flock of over 200 Chimney Swifts. Complete list here.


Roger Amery on 5/4 reported via e-mail: Hello fellow birders and happy May migration season. At 4 to 6 pm May 4 today I was at Fabyans east of route 25 in Geneva. Just across the street from the wind mill, I observed many myrtle warblers, palm warblers, and one pine warbler. In addition, there were blue gray gnatcatchers, a brown headed cowbird, a pair bond of eastern bluebirds, and one male scarlet tanager. A wonderful day of blue sky and budding green trees.


Jackie Bowman on 5/4 reported via e-mail: In addition to the Wilson's Phalarope, reported by Scott Cohrs and Josh Little yesterday, this afternoon (Sunday, May 4) Chris and I observed 6 Willets in the pond at Prairie Green. Also seen in the pond were a 4 Blue Winged Teal.


Sue Wagoner on 5/4 reported via e-mail: Birds of note seen at the Aurora West Forest Preserve were: Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Towhees, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Eastern Meadowlarks, Brown Thrasher and many Yellow Warblers.
 

Great Crested Flycatcher

Great Crested Flycatcher photo courtesy Sue Wagoner


Jay Withgott on 5/3 reported via e-mail: I'm from Portland, Oregon, and am in the area for a few days visiting family (and getting out for some eastern spring migrants when I can!). I had a pleasant morning (3 May) and happened to run into Julie Long, who was extremely helpful and suggested that I post to your sightings page. So....

At Norris Woods Park I had a female Cerulean Warbler plus 2 Palm, 2 BT Green, 1 Black & white, as well as 2 Purple Finches and a Least Flycatcher. Complete list here.

Delnor Woods Park was hopping: 3 Orange-crowns, 1 Chestnut-sided, 4 Black & whites, 4 BT Greens (plus Yellow, Yellowthroat & Myrtles, and possible barely-heard-only Nashville & N Waterthrush); 2 RB Grosbeak; 1 Blue-headed Vireo; and Wood, Swainson's and Hermit Thrushes. And once when I looked up at the sky 2 Sandhill Cranes were flying over! Complete list here.

Also, tonight at 10:30 pm at least 3 Woodcocks were actively displaying near the pulloff just east of Leroy Oakes Park.

I love the way you folks arrange your sightings here on this webpage -- a very nice way to do it. Thanks to Julie for pointing me here. Good birding, everyone, and enjoy spring migration.


Margaret Myers on 5/3 reported via e-mail: Lots of action at the [Mooseheart] nest today. Getting better views of the Eaglets.
 

Bald Eagles

Mooseheart Eagles photo courtesy Steve Myers


Theresa LeCompte on 5/3 reported via e-mail: I was surprised to observe a pair of red-tailed hawks actually eating the seeds of this cottonwood tree in Aurora.
 

Red-tailed Hawks

Red-tailed Hawks photo courtesy Theresa LeCompte


Chris Madsen on 5/2 reported: Like John Heneghan, I visited Fabyan Forest Preserve today also. Although I missed his tanager, b&w warbler, and wood thrush, I did add Blue-winged Warbler, Swainson's Thrush, and Warbling Vireo to his sightings.
 

Swainson's Thrush

Swainson's Thrush photo courtesy Chris Madsen

Warbling Vireo

Warbling Vireo photo courtesy Chris Madsen


Jon Heneghan on 5/2 reported via IBET: We birded Fabyan Forest Preserve and Les Arends in Kane County along the Fox River.

Fabyan birds: Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Catbird, Yellow Rumped Warblers, Palm Warblers, Pine Warblers, Black and White Warblers, Northern Parula, Wood thrush, Blue Gray Gnatcatchers, and Ruby Crowned Kinglets.

Les Arends birds: Blackburnian Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Black and White Warblers, Palm Warblers, Yellow Rumped Warblers, Northern Parula, Catbirds, immature and adult bald eagles, Wood thrush, Blue Gray Gnatcatchers, Brown Creeper, Phoebes, Ruby Crowned Kinglets.

Surprised at the lack of Golden Crowned Kinglets.


Theresa LeCompte on 5/2 reported via e-mail: Baltimore Oriole at my sister's hummingbird feeder this morning on the west side of Aurora.
 

Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole photo courtesy Theresa LeCompte


Jon Duerr on 5/2 reported via eBird: Finding a Winter Wren at Oakhurst Forest Preserve this morning.


John Heneghan on 5/2 reported via e-mail: Went to Les Arends yesterday. The Yellow Rumped Warblers have arrived. Grey Catbird, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler and Baltimore Oriole were the highlights. Hard to ID some birds because of the low light. Cold, rainy day.


Joy Duerr on 5/2 reported via e-mail: A male ruby-throated hummingbird has been at my feeder since April 30. Karen Fisher had posted that she had a hummer at her feeder. So I put my feeder up on the night of April 29. By mid-morning on the 30th, it came, and has been here each day both morning and evening.


Marion Miller on 5/1 reported via e-mail: It was a good Sparrow day.....in my backyard! I had 7 species: House (of course), Song, Chipping, White-throated, White-crowned, Dark-eyed Junco and a new yard bird-Lincoln Sparrow!
 

White-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow photo courtesy Marion Miller

Lincoln's Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow photo courtesy Marion Miller


Julie Long on 5/1 reported via e-mail: Sorry for the late post but I stopped in Pingree Grove on Monday en route to Wisconsin. At the Cambridge Lakes subdivision on Reinking Rd the yellow headed blackbirds were visible, even in the rain. In that same pond was a pair of redheads. Across Reinking Rd in the other section of the subdivision were northern shovelers, ruddy ducks, and ring necked ducks. They are building even more houses around those ponds. Lets hope the habitat there is not totally ruined for the pond birds


 

 

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