North Central Illinois Ornithological Society

This morning, there were 3 Short-billed Dowitchers in the flooded field along Baxter Road just north of the entrance to upper Kilbuck FP. Also in the puddle were Lesser Yellowlegs (10), Solitary Sandpiper (1), Spotted Sandpiper (4), Least Sandpiper (at least 5, but likely more), some Killdeer and 2 Pectoral Sandpipers. The puddle along Kishwaukee Road held 4 Spotted Sandpipers and 8 Least Sandpipers.

Down near Byron, in a flooded field on Kishwaukee Road just N of IL 72, in addition to Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeer and Spotted Sandpipers, there were at least 3 Semipalmated Plovers (they were playing hide and seek in the corn stubble) and 4 or more American Pipits. Well, ok, these aren’t shorebirds, but they hang around the edges of puddles.

Finally, Lake Sule in Rochelle has had an increasing number of Black Terns throughout the day. Aaron Boone texted me at 8:10 a.m. to report that he had 15 of them. When I got there at 10:30, I counted 23. Russ Cline just called me to report that he counted 3x and had between 24-28.

Today I saw and heard my first Willow Flycatchers of the season. Many pewees are now calling, as are Great Crested Flycatchers. A Clay-colored Sparrow that I found at Indian Hill Manor, across from the Forest Preserve, was most likely still migrating, but the 2 Lark Sparrows calling from the ag fields across the road were seemingly on territories.

Had a pair of Cerulean Warblers, Blackpoll Warblers, Connecticut Warbler at Rock-Cut S.P. today about 2:00 P.M. just north of the dam.

We had 13 in attendance at our field trip to the Howard Coleman Hall Creek Preserve on May 11. The 280 acre preserve is a recent acquisition of the Byron Forest Preserve, with easement access located at 12848 Meridian Road. There is also a West entrance and parking lot off of Weldon Rd, but there is not a good way from the West entrance to cross the creek and access the mown paths on the East side of Hall creek other than walking through the creek. The preserve’s northern boundary is the Winnebago-Ogle county line.

It was the first visit to this property for all in attendance (except the leader). We had cooperative weather, and a count of 64 species while at the preserve, plus another seven species at the flooded area on Kishwaukee Rd just North of Rt 72. Highlights were a female summer tanager, 10 warbler species (Common Yellowthroat, Tennessee, Nashville, Cape May, Northern Parula, Ovenbird, Palm, N. Waterthrush, Redstart, Yellow-Rumped), thrushes (wood, gray-cheeked, veery, and Swainson’s), brown creeper, great looks at a singing Lincoln’s sparrow, a pair of scarlet tanagers, red-headed woodpecker, and a flyover peregrine falcon.

The strong southerly winds have been bringing a lot of migrants to the woods around our house in the last 2 days. Yesterday had a squad of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and we had up to 7 at the feeder at one time. Barbara saw a male Indigo Bunting, and new warblers are appearing daily. Today we had spectacular male Chestnut-sided, Cape May, Blackburnian, Black-throated Green and American Redstarts, as well as lots of Palm, Yellow and Yellow-rumped. The male Parula that was here yesterday is still present. A Baltimore Oriole has been here for 2 days. Two Red-headed Woodpeckers have livened up the trees, and White-crowned Sparrows are singing out in the bushes. A Lincoln’s Sparrow furtively hopped through and headed toward the ravine.

We still have 4 Pine Siskins and a Red-breasted Nuthatch (female) plus we are now up to 7 Purple Finches at the sunflower and nyger feeders.

Today I was out in search of warblers, a great morning producing, Black throated Green warblers,Magnolia warblers,Chestnut sided, Pine and Palm warblers were all present. Kilbuck and Hinchcliff forest presrves were loaded. Rose breasted grosbeaks and my first Baltimore orioles showed up yesterday at my feeders.  Lots of eastern meadowlarks at Byron forest preserve. Also saw Mississippi kite last week  a few miles west of Bloom school.

Black Throated Green Warbler

Courtesy of Dan McConoughey, attached are pictures taken at about 6:30pm 4/27 at the Trask Bridge Rd location described in an earlier posting.  Click on picture for full view.

Kevin Kaltenbach, Joyce and I birded around Winnebago County and found some good birds. At Bell Bowl Prairie we flushed a Short Eared Owl. Along Rt. 70 just west of Winnebago Rd/ we saw three species of Teal- Blue-winged, Green winged, and Cinnamon. At Rockcut State Park on Pierce Lake at the handicap pier we observed an Eared Grebe. And, at Kevin’s house on Post Dr. a Worm-eating Warbler was seen and photographed. We also, saw many other species.

An adult male Cinnamon Teal has been at the Tipton farm on IL 70, 1/4 mile W of Winnebago Road, since at least 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 26. Greg Neise posted it to IL Birder’s Forum around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday (today) April 27. Subsequently, word was spread around, somewhat slowly at first, but many birders were able to get out there to see the teal. Barbara and I stopped there this evening around 7:30 p.m. and it was still there.

The bird is with a large group of Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal in a flooded farm field on the north side of the road just past the Tipton barns that are on the north side of the road. Be careful where you park-the shoulder of the road is narrow and this is a busy highway with high speed cars.

If anyone has a good photo, please post it here. Thanks.

Last night, April 26, Brad Grover found a Marbled Godwit in a flooded cornfield on Belt Line Road, south of the Rockford airport. The flooded field was between the sand and gravel quarry and the radar tower. It was still present this morning. Also there were Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Spotted and Pectoral Sandpipers. Larry Balch saw 2 American Golden-plovers there around 7:00 a.m. but they flew away while he was still there and apparently have not returned.

The Wilson’s Phalaropes first reported by Mary Kisamore are still present in the fluddle along Kishwaukee Road across from the entrance to the new warehouse south of the UPS building.

Some Bank Swallows are going in and out of nest cavities in the old sand pile at the Quarry. They are visible from Belt Line Road.

The IOS Spring Birding Weekend will be held May 31 to June 2, 2013. This year we will be based in Mount Sterling and will explore the underbirded region of the state around Siloam Springs State Park where the stars of the show will be the few pairs of Bewick’s Wrens that breed there each year. Breeding season will be in full swing and the field trips will visit a variety of habitats to find warblers, sparrows, wetland birds and night birds.

A wine-tasting is included in with the Saturday night buffet dinner!

Hotel reservations must be made by May 10th.
For full details and registration form see the IOS website at www.illinoisbirds.org
Questions? Contact Bob Montgomery at Rmontey@aol.com or call him at (847) 428-8219.