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.
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).
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!
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!
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.
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.
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: Ari Shavit on 5/23 reported
via e-mail: I found a Kentucky Warbler at Lone Grove F.P.
5-22-2014.
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.
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.
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
Most were seen from the parking
lot. The others were seen on the bike path near the museum. 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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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).
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!
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!
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.
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 !!
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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: 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.
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. 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. 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). 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.
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. 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. 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.
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.
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.... Margaret Myers on 5/3
reported via e-mail: Lots of action at the [Mooseheart] nest today.
Getting better views of the Eaglets.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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!
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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.JPG)
