Jay and Kelly Sturner on 9/29 reported via eBird: Found a Horned Grebe at Nelson Lake. "Nonbreeding plumage. Bright white cheek, dark upperparts, whitish underparts."

Paul Mayer on 9/28 reported via e-mail: What appeared to be two snow geese were seen in a field with a flock of Canada Geese. The birds were located north and west of the intersection of Rt. 38 and Peck just a bit west of the agricultural building located on the same corner. If that’s where the birds are feeding they may well be there again tomorrow afternoon.

Saw our first Dark-eyed Juncos of the season today on Farview Rd in Campton Hills.

Ben Haberthur, Director of Natural Resources for the Kane County Forest Preserves, on 9/24 reported via e-mail: Got a phone call from a Batavia resident who was excited to see a pileated woodpecker in their yard today. The fella didn’t want his address shared, but saw it in the vicinity of Lincoln Inn.

Rich and Marion Miller on 9/24 reported via eBird: Came across two Ross's Geese along Seavey Road near the fluddle site. "Smaller white geese than Snow Goose also present. Small triangular bill. Blue at base."
 

Ross's Goose photo courtesy Marion Miller

Jim Shotsberger and Walt Lutz on 9/23 reported via eBird: Found a Yellow-throated Warbler at Rutland Forest Preserve. "Prominent yellow throat lightly streaked white breast black mark on face"

Theresa LeCompte on 9/21 reported via eBird: On West Galena Boulevard in Aurora, an early Pine Siskin. "Seen twice today at sunflower seed feeder. Small finch (smaller than house finch), brown with heavy streaking, sharp, pointed bill. Allowed me to get quite close."

Walt Lutz on 9/20 reported via e-mail: Snowy Egret still present at the Elgin dam.
 

Snowy Egret photo courtesy Walt Lutz

Andrew Aldrich on 9/15 reported via eBird: At the Dunteman Sod Farm in Kaneville, 4 Buff-breasted Sandpipers. "Buffy sandpipers on sod farm with small heads and scaly backs..."

Jay Sturner on 9/12 reported via eBird: Found a Ruddy Turnstone at the Seavey Road fluddle.

Paul Mayer on 9/10 reported via e-mail: First Red-breasted Nuthatch of the year at the feeder [in Elburn].

On 9/10 the Snowy Egret was still reported via eBird at the Kimball Street bridge/Elgin Library location.
 

Snowy Egret photo courtesy Bob Andrini

Marion Miller on 9/9 reported via e-mail: Sunday afternoon refound the Buff-breasted Sandpiper and American Golden-Plovers on the south side of Main Street at Dunteman Sod Farm.  Nice close looks of the sandpipers that where only about 10 yards from the road.
 

Buff-breasted Sandpiper photo courtesy Marion Miller

Jay Sturner on 9/9 reported via eBird: Spotting a Snowy Egret at the Kimball Street dam in Elgin.

Many people on 9/1 reported via eBird: Seeing a Black Tern on the monthly KCA walk at Nelson Lake.