North Central Illinois Ornithological Society

At 12:45 today I saw about 50 Sandhill Cranes flying north over Anna Page Park

The date for the Midwest Crane Count this year is April 17th. If you can participate please call Lynda Johnson at 815-629-2781

This afternoon, I drove down to the Rockford airport quarry on Belt Line Road.  The most southeastern corner of the south quarry pond was open water.  It had a bunch of Mallards, plus a hen Wood Duck, 2 drake N. Shovelers, 4 Am. Wigeon and 14 Gadwall.  3 Bald Eagles were in the dead snag behind the quarry to the SE.  19 Wild Turkeys were in the corn fields to the east, and at least 3 Brewer’s Blackbirds were in a mixed flock of mostly Red-wings with some cowbirds along Belt Line Rd. near the new bridge being constructed over the Kishwaukee River. 

4 Common Goldeneye were in the Rock River at Blackhawk Park in south Rockford.

Dan and Barbara Williams have just (10 am) reported to me that Howard’s farm (see previous post) now has a Ross’s Goose and three Trumpeter Swans.

Donna and Larry Balch, and I, spent a few hours in northwest Winnebago County this morning.  Started at Howard’s farm, which is on IL 70 about half of the way between Rockford and Durand.  Once you cross the Pecatonica River at Trask Bridge, going toward the northwest, the farm is about 1 more mile ahead. 
 
At Howard’s, we estimated that there were 8000+ geese, mostly Canadas.  However, 800+, or about 10%, were White-fronted Geese, only 2 Snow Geese, and maybe 8 Cackling Geese mixed in.  22 Sandhill Cranes flew over, several Bald Eagles were soaring around;  Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbirds, cowbirds, Horned Larks and Lapland Longspurs were flying around and calling.  Actually started to feel like spring!
 
A Rough-legged Hawk (light morph) flushed a flock of approximately 100 Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs from a field on the east side of Leech Road between IL 75 and Fritz Road, east of Durand.  Barred Owls were calling at Pecatonica Forest Preserve and at the bridge where Winslow Road crosses the Sugar River (this bridge was formerly known as “Red Bridge” when the old red bridge was there).  

Before picking me up, Larry and Donna found a Carolina Wren at the intersection of Liberty and Willard in northwest Rockford.  This is N of Auburn Street and west of the Northwest Community Center, near Kent Creek.