Theresa LeCompte on 5/31 reported via eBird: At the fluddle on Seavey Road, a Black-necked Stilt. "Black above, white below. Long pink legs, long thin bill. Possibly female because of brown tones on back..."

Kristine Pecoraro on 5/30 reported via e-mail: Saw some warblers come through my yard in St Charles on Friday morning and got this picture of a chestnut-sided.

Saturday at Les Arends we saw this great crested flycatcher who didn’t seem to mind posing for a picture...

John Heneghan on 5/28 reported via e-mail: A flock of Pelicans was seen in the fuddle on Mighell south of Jericho Tuesday 5/28/19. I have seen Swans and other waterfowl and shorebirds here in the past. First, for me, seeing pelicans here. 
 

Jonathan Schuler on 5/28 reported via e-mail: The warbler species count continues to go up for us in our St. Charles backyard with this black-throated green warbler who visited our tiny pond briefly on Sunday May 26.
 

John Heneghan on 5/26 reported via e-mail: A male Bluebird and a female Indigo Bunting in the yard in Big Rock. 
 

Theresa LeCompte on 5/25 reported via e-mail: Found this Yellow-breasted Chat at Aurora West Forest Preserve on 5/24.
 

Taylor Joray on 5/25 reported via eBird: Four American Bitterns at Pingree Grove Forest Preserve on 5/20. "I'm not sure if this was a small migratory group, if these birds were in close proximity and all decided to flush once one flushed, or what was going on, but while working in the marsh, I observed 4 birds flush at approximately the same time from a similar location when a co-worker of mine walked near where they were sitting in the main marsh. All 4 birds flew northeast and seemed to land in the marsh just north of the Pingree Grove Wastewater Treatment Facility."

Jonathan Schuler on 5/24 reported via e-mail: Beautiful look at a bay-breasted warbler on Thursday in our small pond in the backyard in St. Charles. This has been a great spring for our little backyard after trying to get it to a place where birds like these last few years. So far, we have had yellow-rumped, Nashville, palm, Tennessee, American redstart and now bay-breasted. All with the exception of yellow-rumped and Nashville are new. I am still missing the yellow-throated that hung out all winter at my feeder, though. Add the scarlet tananger, blue-gray gnatcatcher, swainson's thrush, indigo bunting, red-breasted grosbeaks and Baltimore orioles, this has been a magnificent -- yet rainy -- May for us!
 

Brendon Lake on 5/22 reported via eBird: Found a Loggerhead Shrike ("Gray bird, about the size of a Robin. Large white wing patches, black mask fully encompassing the eyes. Stout, hooked black bill.") along Sauber Road in Maple Park, and  a Ruddy Turnstone ("Breeding plumage bird. White and black harlequin patterning on face, reddish brown wings.") in a fluddle near the intersection of Rohrsen and Burlington Roads.
 

Bill Ahlgren on 5/20 reported via eBird: Locating a Kentucky Warbler at Campton Forest Preserve.

Liz Gerity on 5/19 reported via e-mail: In my yard in Campton Hills eating suet and grape jelly.
 

Jackie Bowman on 5/19 reported via e-mail: This was the first year we've seen Orchard Oriole's in our backyard. Over the course of two weeks we had one adult Male, three adult Female and the past three days this beautiful transition first year Male. Feeling very grateful we bought that Oriole Feeder last month!
 

Walt Lutz on 5/18 reported via eBird: An Eastern Whip-poor-will at Jon Duerr Forest Preserve. "Easily heard from the entrance. Possibly two but couldn't tell for sure. The 4th year in a row heard at this location."

Ann Haverstock on 5/18 reported via e-mail: While birding at Les Arends Forest Preserve, spotted a Black-billed Cuckoo and an Olive-sided Flycatcher.
 

Sue Wagoner on 5/18 reported via e-mail: A group of us birders spotted a flying squirrel in Burnidge Forest Preserve, on the south side of the lake on Friday May 17.  Not a good photo as there were many branches in the way, but the little guy would not pose for us, moving around the tree if we tried for a better view.  This was a "lifer" for me.
 

John Heneghan on 5/16 reported via e-mail: Last summer a pair of Flickers raised 7 young in a box I put up in the yard. This Spring a squirrel took over the box and raised either 4 or 5 young. After they left the box, I cleaned it out (this was last weekend) and filled the box with wood chips (the Flickers like to "clean" the chips out as it gives them the sense of excavating). I wrapped the pole (telephone pole) with metal flashing to keep critters out. The Flickers were seen cleaning the box today (5/16). Hopefully they will be laying eggs soon.
 

Tim Balassie on 5/16 reported via e-mail: The Swainson’s Hawks have returned to the Chapman Rd. area. I observed one bird perched at the southern end of the woodland on 14 May.

Walt Lutz on 5/16 reported via e-mail: Wood Duck family today @ Burnidge Forest Preserve.
 

Ann Haverstock on 5/15 reported via e-mail: Male Summer Tanager found walking south from Quarry Park Batavia around the fourth bridge.
 

Vicki Buchwald on 5/15 reported via eBird: At Burnidge Forest Preserve, found a Prairie Warbler.

Brendon Lake on 5/15 reported via eBird: Found a Black-bellied Plover in a fluddle near the intersection of Rohrsen and Burlington Roads.

John Heneghan on 5/14 reported via e-mail: In the yard in Big Rock. Love them.
 

Walt Lutz on 5/14 reported via e-mail: I had an unusual "sighting" this morning at Jon Duerr Forest Preserve. A Bluejay was pulling the old "I have a broken wing trick" much like killdeer will do.

It was laying down, stationary, with its right wing splayed out and looking right at me. I was literally 6-7 feet away and I truly thought it was injured.

Then it just got up and flew off as it was perfectly fine. It was very interesting - never have I seen that from a Bluejay, nor did I see a nest nearby.

Barb Zumpano on 5/13 reported via eBird: Seeing a Kentucky Warbler at Oakhurst Forest Preserve.

Mike Tartaglia on 5/12 reported via e-mail: Sighted Eastern Towhee on  5/4 singing at Fermilab in woods near Lederman Center. Am. Goldfinches at home [on the east side of North Aurora]. Pair of back yard Indigo Buntings on morning of 5/7, first Chimney Swifts on 5/8.

Arrived home yesterday evening 5/11 and observed several Im. or fem. Blackburnian warblers, and my first hummingbird of the season. Had a rewarding Mothers Day 5/12 watching the yard, with returning and new birds: started with female Baltimore Oriole, 2 resident Chipping Sparrows, resident male & female Northern Cardinals, m. & f. House Finch, Robins, House Sparrows, Common Grackles, several House Wrens, male and female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks dominating the feeder, Yellow Warbler, Palm Warbler, Nashville Warbler, female American Redstart, female Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Pine Warbler, White-breasted Nuthatch, 10-12 Chimney Swifts; numerous flyover hawks, cormorants, ducks & geese.

Joni Hollinger on 5/12 reported via e-mail: Saw a Red-headed Woodpecker for the first time ever in Wayne. Also had a first-time Scarlet Tanager with two visits to the feeder on Friday.
 

Susan Potter on 5/12 reported vias e-mail: Seeing a Chestnut-sided Warbler in LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve.

Sue Wagoner on 5/11 reported via e-mail: Friday was an exceptional day for spring migrants. Many Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers but also a variety of others, many seen at a lower level than usual. One highlight was a Wood Thrush singing high above, but visible, on the south path of Les Arends Forest Preserve. At Fabyan Forest Preserve I was able to "shoot" a Cape May male at or below eye level; also seen at eye level were Blackburnian Warblers behind those pesky branches, and too fast to photograph. Interesting that there were three Red-breasted Nuthatches seen still hanging around.

Further proof of a banner year was that I had 13 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in my yard Thursday, along with 5 Baltimore Orioles, 8 American Redstarts and one Scarlet Tanager who looked exhausted on the ground.
 

Marion Miller on 5/10 reported via e-mail: Black-throated Blue Warblers seem to be more abundant this spring migration. We spotted our second one on Friday when we walked Lone Grove FP. We were surprised out of the 13 species of warblers we saw, not one Yellow-rumped Warbler was found! Trails have lots of mud and standing water. High boots needed.
 

Scott McBride on 5/9 reported via e-mail: This evening in Hampshire we had several Indigo Buntings on our feeders. We have never had a visit from them before.

Debbie Wisser on 5/9 reported via e-mail: There was a notable difference in the number of birds in my neighborhood [in Elgin] this morning, so I decided to have a cup of coffee outside to check things out. In an hour, I was able to see 24 species from my back yard. Highlights were an Ovenbird and a Black-throated Blue Warbler that were seen briefly before they moved on. Two male Indigo Buntings were first of the year birds for me, while a Rose-breasted Grosbeak pair was also nice to see.

After getting a few things accomplished around the house, I headed to Burnidge for some afternoon birding. My highlight there was a male Hooded Warbler, and another male Black-throated Blue. In general the warblers were fairly quiet, and keeping low to the ground. It was a bit of a treasure hunt to find some of them. All in all it was a good day of birding for a cool, gloomy day.
 

Paul Richardson on 5/9 reported via e-mail: Had this female Summer Tanager in his yard in Elgin. "Really enjoying the suet at my window feeder this pm like it hadn’t eaten in a while."
 

Bob Andrini on 5/9 reported via e-mail: Here's a photo of a Summer Tanager that stopped by our yard in St. Charles, but didn't stick around.
 

Barb Zumpano and Wes Sadler on 5/9 reported via eBird: Found a Kentucky Warbler at Oakhurst Forest Preserve. "Bright unmarked greenish olive above, yellow below, yellow spectacles."

Eric Secker on 5/8 reported via IBET: ...I found a WESTERN TANAGER at Buffalo Park F.P. in northern Kane Co. around 5pm this evening. The bird was in the woods west of the farthest back parking lot. I was able to refind it once but not again after efforts of myself and others. It is a narrow corridor of woods so it could hang around though I'm not counting on it.

The bird is not a full bright adult breeding male but maybe an immature male? and still colorful with lots of yellow and some nice red in the face (just not as much red and slightly grayer in the wings, notable wingbars still and streaking and darker colors to the back). Ebird/Macaulay Library has some much better comparisons than Sibley's but the "nonbreeding male" isn't too far off.

Also tons of warblers and great photo ops of them in the bushes along the river.

The preserve is on Rt. 31 north of Carpentersville and just south of McHenry Co.

Gregory Jerzyk on 5/8 reported via eBird: Seeing 2 Lark Sparrows at Breton Avenue on North Aurora. "Seen close to the cross street, I believe Fair Meadow St., as I was driving out slowly, they flew, I stopped, got my bins on them, and then I wished I had not. I have recently seen this species here at this location, is known to live here. The distinctive head pattern was evident on both birds after they disengaged. No doubt, these were Lark's"

John Heneghan on 5/8 reported via IBET: I saw 3 lesser Yellowlegs in a fuddle on Mighell south of Jericho in Kane Cty today 5/8/19

Lucy De Lap on 5/8 reported via IBET: Hi all -

I have had great difficulty doing anything but look out the windows for the last week.

Baltimore Orioles showed up last Thursday and have been visiting our feeder in greater numbers by the day. Yesterday we had many periods when 5 or 6 (mostly but not all males) were taking turns at one time. We also had a visit from a male Orchard Oriole for 2 days and then the female yesterday.

We've had a pair of Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks for several days now.

We had a Red-Headed Woodpecker all day on Sunday. This is only the 2nd time in 30 years I've seen one in the yard.

I'm watching a Myrtle Warbler as I write this. We've had many of them everyday for the last few days. I've also caught glimpses of a number of other warblers including Tennessee, Yellow, Black -Throated Green, and Blackburnian.

We started getting Hummingbirds yesterday and have been seeing them 3 at a time since then - all females.

A House Wren has been investigating our bird houses.

White Throated Sparrows are here in numbers as well as Chippers. A flock of Cedar Waxwings graced the cherry tree this morning.

It's a beautiful time of year!

 

Eric Secker on 5/8 reported via IBET: Thick with warblers this morning in northern Kane Co. Almost fallout conditions here with dozens of birds on the ground. Sadly the variety stillisn't here yet so mostly Yellow-rumped and Palm dominating. Pishing anywhere in a good area is causing 20-40 birds to pop up at times. I had over 470 yellow-rumps at Jon Duerr F.P. Carpentersville Dam is also full of birds towards the south end. You do have to seek them out in the sheltered areas though.

Jonathan Schuler on 5/7 reported via e-mail: A beautiful scarlet tanager showed up on my feeder today (same one the yellow throated warbler frequented over the winter) in my typical suburban St. Charles backyard...This is a first for my backyard AND me. The scarlet tananger has been here all day. Just a really striking red, and great look. Hard to get any work done since I'm always looking out the window. The tanager follows an excellent weekend with 5 Baltimore Orioles (3 male, 2 female) and rose breasted grosbeak (3 males, 1 female) at the feeders as well. Have had one yellow rumped warbler and several blue gray gnatcatchers, too. For the heck of it I had a red-breasted nuthatch as well this morning. Looking forward to some more warblers and hopefully another couple looks at the tanager as migration makes its way through the area! Exciting times!
 

Marion Miller on 5/7 reported via e-mail: Les Arends FP was very birdy Monday evening. Twenty warbler species had been reported during the day! The highlights on my walk were Golden-winged, Blue-winged and Prothonotary Warblers.
 

Marion Miller on 5/6 reported via e-mail: Rich and I did a pre-SBC check at Bliss FP on Friday and we had what I would fondly call a “mini” hotspot. By the lower parking lot there was a flooded area about 20 yards by 10 yards and next to this area was a small brush pile. Between these two areas we had 12 species of birds at the same time with most of them at or below eye level. Some were singing and most were actively foraging. They were: 3 White-throated Sparrows, 2 Prothonotary Warblers, 2 Black-and-white Warblers, 2 Northern Waterthrush, 2 Wood Ducks, 1 Veery, 1 Yellow Warbler, 1 Common Yellowthroat, 1 Swainson’s Thrush, 1 Least Flycatcher, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and 1 Belted Kingfisher fly by in the woods behind the fluddle. When we returned on Saturday for the SBC, it was quiet and only the Swainson’s Thrush and Veery were present.
 

Ann Haverstock on 5/6 reported via e-mail: Found this Least Flycatcher at Campton Forest Preserve during Spring Bird Count.
 

Steve Conro on 5/5 reported via e-mail: I'm not a bird expert but am lucky enough to live on Seavey Rd across from the "Fluddle" as you call it with Nelson Lake as a backyard so I've become more aware of the bird population. A group of Great Egrets have taken up residence in the pond next to the fluddle. I've counted as many as 15 birds.

Sue Wagoner on 5/4 reported via e-mail: Grateful for the beautiful day for the Spring Bird Count we (Rhonda Nelson, Pat Prieditis, and Debbie Wisser, and me) had some very nice sightings-- some of the highlights were: several Pine Warblers, many Yellow-rumped Warblers, Palm Warblers, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a lagging Common Goldeneye on the river, one Hooded Warbler (seen between the Batavia Quarry and Les Arends Forest Preserve and one gorgeous Scarlet Tanager at Fabyan Forest Preserve.
 

Pine Warbler photo courtesy Sue Wagoner

Yellow-rumped Warbler courtesy Sue Wagoner

Scarlet Tanager photo courtesy Sue Wagoner

Bill Ahlgren on 5/4 reported via eBird: At Bliss Woods Forest Preserve, a Mourning Warbler. "In the brushy area where trail from main parking lot intersects Virgil Gilman trail. About 1 week from my previous sightings of this species at Les Arends F.P. Distinct olive back, gray hood and black patch on chest. Understand this is one of the last warblers during migration so I was quite surprised."

Bruce Rowland on 5/4 reported via eBird: At Big Rock Forest Preserve, 2 Eastern Whip-poor-wills. "two birds heard between 4:50 and 5:00 AM, one to the east of parking lot, one to the northwest. calling lasted more than a minute each"

Sue Wagoner on 5/4 reported via e-mail: Joining the group of birders seeing the Cerulean-Parula hybrid (I like to call it the Parulean Warbler) at Fabyan Forest Preserve. Not the best photo but the necklace can be seen, along with the broken eye-ring and lack of prominent flank streaks. Seen during the Spring Bird Count today.
 

Jackie Bowman on 5/4 reported via e-mail: Coincidentally we had a record "Big Day" in our backyard today on the Global Big Day -2019. Inspiration to stay home and count was a yard lifer Orchard Oriole at our oriole feeder around 9:00am. Hoping to snag a good photo op, we set up shop. Unfortunately he did not return, but the two Baltimore Orioles were regular visitors at the grape jelly!
 

Rich and Marion Miller on 5/3 reported via eBird: A Philadelphia Vireo at Bliss Woods Forest Preserve. "Vireo with yellow underparts more widely dispersed than a Warbling Vireo."

Wes Sadler on 5/3 reported via eBird: A Rusty Blackbird at Oakhurst Forest Preserve. "In wetland area of preserve bird shows slight rust on back, yellow eye with dark center."

Gregory Jerzyk on 5/3 reported via eBird: Refinding the Lark Sparrow in North Aurora. "Was reported in April 2019 here by Bill A., and also reported here in this location the three previous years. I saw it in May 2018 within 50 ft of where I first saw it today. Today the Lark Sparrow was singing and perching. Bold head pattern of brick red, sand, black, and white in a Harlequin like shape. Very distinctive. Strong black dot on whitish chest. Tried to determine if there were two birds, never saw two. Amazing survivability amongst human mess and only soil that has had the topsoil scraped off and piled up."

Jason Newton on 5/2 was the first of many to report via eBird: In the vicinity of the Seavey Road fluddle and Nelson Lake, a Common Tern.

Ann Haverstock on 5/2 reported via e-mail: At Fabyan F.P. Japanese Garden area on May 1, 2019. Two Hybrid Males (Cerulean Warbler x Northern Parula: Bird ONE singing mostly Parula Warbler song. He had Cerulean neck band on white but only a few flank streaks. He had a broken white eye ring. Bird TWO was singing Cerulean song. He had neck band on white, but few flank streaks. I never had a perfect view of his eye except I did notice a bit of white possibly under eye. Both birds singing at same time. I was so confused, I put a call out for photographers. Marion Miller and Scott Cohrs arrived. Check their postings. The one we saw best was the Parula singer. Old and confused. All my photos are point and shoot and highly cropped.
I put this in eBird, but put it under Cerulean Warbler. I am not sure how to put it in eBird as an Hybrid.
I am pretty sure Bob Andrini’s photo was of what I am calling Hybrid Male 1.
 

Jay Sturner on 5/1 reported via eBird: Seeing 3 Forester's and one Black Tern at Nelson Lake. "Black body with gray wings. SW area of lake. Sometimes flying, sometimes perched on a snag. When I left, all four terns were on a very tiny "island" in the middle of the SW area of the lake..."