North Central Illinois Ornithological Society

Barbara and I spent 2 hours in our woods adjacent to the Page Park Conservation Forest this morning between 0830-1030. The trees were full of warblers, many in full song, which was very helpful because the leaves were so thick that it was a lot of work to try to see them! We managed 13 species of warblers in that time, with a likely 14th (Black-throated Blue) which called twice, but never showed itself. We took a pass on counting it. Also present were 2 Blue-headed Vireos, several female Scarlet Tanagers, 3 Baltimore Orioles, some Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and a Great-crested Flycatcher.

Heartened by these arrivals, we decided to check a few shorebird spots, like Oliver Road and Telegraph Road. Not much there–the usuals. However, we had a singing Louisiana Waterthrush on the N-S stretch of Oliver Road east of the road across from the beaver lodge. 3 Hooded Mergansers were in the stream below the beaver dam. Warbling Vireos and Yellow Warblers were deafening.

There is a pair of Purple Martins at the martin house at 4 Lakes (they nested there last year), and 2 Green Herons were also there.

The colony of Cliff Swallows is back under the bridge on Telegraph Road just W of Theodorff Road.

The Telegraph Road flooded oxbow just E of town had both species of yellowlegs (+1 flock of 12 Lessers flying), a Solitary Sandpiper, and both regular species of teal. A Yellow-throated Vireo was calling from the hardwood forest across from the spring on Blair Road just after it separates from Best Road.

River Road near Ridott had a Prothonotary Warbler and American Redstart.

Finally, we had 3 Eastern Kingbirds-1 on Saunders Road just S of Telegraph and 2 at Westlake Nature Area. A Shoveler was also at the nature area, and a Common Loon was on Westlake itself. In all, we totalled 19 species of warblers today.

Over the weekend, the following migrant species have turned up at Anna Page Park in northwest Rockford (with date of April arrival noted): Ovenbird (30), Blackpoll Warbler (30), Rose-breasted Grosbeak (27), Indigo Bunting (28), Red-headed Woodpecker (27).

Larry Balch and I heard Warbling Vireos at several locations on Sunday the 29th, plus Grasshopper Sparrow in NW Winnebago Co. on the 29th.

Seven Broad-wings have already passed over our house (west of town near Anna Page Park) already this morning (10:00 a.m.). Long distance migrants are beginning to arrive!

Barbara Williams

Barbara and I took a walk in our woods and into Anna Page Park this morning. We heard and saw our first Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (5), House Wrens (4) and Chimney Swifts (2) of the spring. 3 Pine Warblers were heard (1 seen), and a Cooper’s Hawk was in display flight over the woods. Sapsuckers (at least 4) were pretty noisy and active, and a Sandhill Crane was heard but not seen.

Large white Trillium are blooming in large clumps in several places, and the Skunk Cabbages along Kent Creek have really expanded and are thriving. Red Admirals are numerous, particularly in the openings where there are blooming dandelions, and we saw a Tiger Swallowtail.

This morning, a flock of 16 White-winged Crossbills flew over while I was out along Safford Road getting the newspaper. They came from the direction of Page Park School. There is a stand of hemlocks on the west side of the school driveway, and I suspect that they had been in the hemlocks. I advise that you avoid the school property on weekdays during school hours. School security seems to be on higher alert there.

Barbara and I walked over at 10:45 a.m and found WW Crossbills feeding in the hemlocks. Shortly after we arrived, a staff member came out of the building to ask what we were looking at. We explained about the crossbills (generally) told her that there may be other birders around trying to see them. By the time we got back into our driveway, the flock flew up and circled around several times before heading off toward Page Park. We counted 19 birds.

In the past half hour we have had two flocks of Sandhill Cranes over our house. Each flock had about 60 birds. The second flock contained two Whooping Cranes. We are next to Anna Page Park on the west side of Rockford. The birds were all headed straight south and were quite low.

Barbara and Daniel Williams

A Red-breasted Nuthatch was calling and feeding in our back yard this morning. Not sure how to characterize the species and date-early migrant or breeding bird from May. We had a pair of RB Nuts coming to the feeder throughout May, but haven’t seen or heard one since then until today.

Barbara and I went for a walk in the woods this morning. Although the birds were subdued and not calling a lot, we had an excellent view of male Connecticut and Canada Warblers. There was a flock (5) of Red-eyed Vireos. The most numerous warbler species was Chestnut-sided. A bonus was a Red-breasted Nuthatch calling and then coming to the sunflower feeder.

Today I’ve seen a Turkey Vulture, two small flocks of Sandhill Cranes, three Red-winged Blackbirds and a Purple Finch. Also, I’ve heard Bluebirds and Juncos singing.

Yesterday, Barbara and I shovelled the snow, filled the feeders and bird bath, than hunkered down in the house with a nice fire in the wood stove. As expected, the birds were all at the feeder. I counted 22 species, including a fly-over flock of Rock Pigeons. Oddly, no Cooper’s or Sharp-shinned Hawks came by. Later in the evening, as Barbara was walking the dog, a Great-horned Owl started calling from the pines behind Page Park School, making it #23 for the day. Among the 23 were: 1 N. Flicker, 1 Fox Sparrow, 2 White-throated Sparrows, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, and 1 Purple Finch. No siskins-the pair that visited from time to time hasn’t been here in about a week.