Sat 9 Jan 2010
Barbara and I took a drive around SW Winnebago County (Kelley and Cunningham Roads between Pecatonica Road and Meridian Road. We were looking for Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs. We found zero, and only a few (15) Horned Larks.
Figuring that these birds might be hanging around fields where farmers have spread manure, we went to Eddie and Telegraph Roads, where the farmer often has fresh manure in the field on the NE corner. No manure, no birds.
Undaunted, we headed for Fish Hatchery Road and drove it back toward Winnebago Road. Nada, except a lot of ice fishermen at 4 Lakes and a lot of starlings at the NE corner with Winnebago Rd.
Finally, we drove to Bill Hoople’s to see what was in the creek. Mostly Mallards and Canada Geese (plus a domestic goose and 2 Mute Swans) but we were finally rewarded with a Wilson’s Snipe.
Is anyone seeing any Snow Buntings or Lapland Longspurs in Winnebago County? If so, please post. Thanks.
January 10th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Carol and I went on a drive around the northern part of Winnebago County this morning and were able to locate about 30 Lapland Longspurs on the south leg of Oliver Road. They were on the road eating plenty of corn that was laying on the road. Also saw Horned Larks on Gummow Road and Halley Road though we did not find any Snow Buntings in this area either.
January 11th, 2010 at 12:22 am
Steve Gent and I took a drive around SW Winnebago County (Kelley and Cunningham Roads between Pecatonica Road and Meridian Road). But it was between 10 and 1, which explains why we didn’t run into you. We found about a dozen Snow Buntings on Kelly east of Conger, and another half-dozen at Cemetery and Wempleton. We found no Longspurs. Raptor-wise, our best was a Basic III Bald Eagle. We saw 2 Great Blue Herons in ditches.
January 14th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
AHA! Finally! Took another drive on Wednesday at lunch time to the Kelley Road area. This time I was rewarded. Found a flock of about 250 birds on Kendall Road between Cunningham and Kelley Road. A farmer is spreading manure in the field on the east side of the road near the Cunningham end. There were 200 Snow Buntings and about 50 Lapland Longspurs.