Jay Sturner on 11/29 reported via eBird: From Fox River Shores Forest Preserve, a Merlin.

Tim Balassie on Janet Levy on 11/23 reported via e-mail: Janet reported seeing this leucistic (Its normally dark feathers don't possess the pigment to make them dark.) Canada Goose feeding along Bilter Road just west of Farnsworth (near the Chicago Premium Outlet Mall) over two days (Nov. 20 and 21). She also saw a bald eagle over the small marshes next to the outlet mall on 11/21.
 

Jay Sturner on 11/22 reported via eBird: On Seavy Road, west of Bliss, a Golden Eagle. "Seen circling over Black Sheep Golf Club as it headed SW toward Sugar Grove. The first thing I noticed about this bird was its large size. Even without a frame of reference I could tell it was an eagle and not a hawk or vulture. This comes from having seen hundreds of Bald Eagles (and a few Golden Eagles) over the years. The second thing I noticed was its overall shape, quite unlike that of Bald Eagles with their large, protruding heads and plank-like wings. This bird's proportions were more buteo-like, the head smaller, the wings "pinched in" at the bases, the secondaries slightly bulging, etc. It did not hold its wings in a flat plane like a soaring Bald, but in a slight dihedral (not to the extent of a Turkey Vulture), and glided rock steady, never teetering as vultures do. The clinching moment came when I clearly saw the golden nape, which at times seemed to shine in the sun. The rest of the bird was dark brown overall (no noticeable white mottling at this distance), except for lighter shades on the upperwing coverts and the two-toned underwings and tail base. Instead of white where white would be on a juvenile's tail, the base of this bird's tail appeared grayish. I was able to study the bird for several intense and exciting minutes as it revealed all aspects of its shape and plumage. At no time was there any doubt that it was anything but a Golden Eagle."

Jay also birded at Nelson Lake where he spotted a Northern Shrike ("Observed on the south side of the preserve about 2000 feet due west of Audubon Bridge. It was perched atop a shrub where the east-west portion of the fenceline meets the north-south portion of the fenceline.") and a Short-eared Owl ("Appeared a little after 4:30 p.m. in the prairie just west of Nelson Lake. I observed it from the southern part of Meadowlark Trail, not far from where I saw the shrike.")

Eric Howe on 11/19 reported via eBird: Two Whooping Cranes over Algonquin Commons at midday Sunday. "Migrating southeasterly with 100s of SACRs. The two WHCRs stood out in good light with white bodies and black primaries. On the closest approach , rusty coloration on neck indicated both were immatures. Wing span a tad wider than the SACRs..."

Cathy Martens on 11/17 reported via e-mail: On Nov. 16th around 2pm, approx. 2000+ sandhill cranes flew over my Campton Hills neighborhood in waves of 3-300 at a time. There could have been many more, but I only stayed outside in the cold to count for 15 minutes. I did not notice any whooping cranes. We have also had anywhere from 40-80 pine siskins at our thistle feeders for a couple of weeks now. There is currently a red breasted nuthatch visiting our sunflower and suet feeders, along with a red bellied woodpecker, which is unusual for our yard.

Jason Newton on 11/16 reported via eBird: At the Mirador Subdivision ponds in North Aurora, 2 Whooping Cranes: "Flyover with a flock of ~65 sandhill cranes. White cranes with black primaries, slightly larger than the sandhills..."

Diane Hansen on 11/15 reported via e-mail: I was sitting in my driveway in Elgin finishing a phone call when I saw something different looking fly into my rain garden.

In a minute it hopped out onto my lawn. I was surprised to see a Yellow-rumped Warbler. I don't think I've ever seen a warbler at my house much less one in mid-November.
 

Yellow-rumped Warbler photo courtesy Diane Hansen

Chris Bowman on 11/10 reported via e-mail: Today (11/10 Friday) I went to Peck Farm in Geneva, hoping to spot some migratory waterfowl. Disappointed to see the lake already frozen over. However, a nice consolation at 1pm, was a Northern Shrike in the small field trees on the west side of the lake, just west of the path that encircles the lake. This bird may very well stay a while, as I had it several days in late February this year, in the very same spot (had it one day on the east side of the lake). Also, Peck has done quite a bit of recent spot field burning, to make spotting voles easy.

Jackie Bowman on 11/8 reported via e-mail: We too are enjoying a few Pine Siskin at our backyard feeders.  Especially nice to see them on a beautiful sunny day like today.
 

Pine Siskin photo courtesy Jackie Bowman