North Central Illinois Ornithological Society

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.

Yesterday, 2/23, Barbara spotted a Northern Goshawk flyacross Safford Road and  into Lockwood Park.  If anyone is out birding in this area, please post if you relocate it.

On Sunday, 2/7, Northern Shrike was sitting in the top of a scrubby tree in the dog training area on the west side of Harrison Road, about 1/2 mile N of its intersection with Auburn Road, and just before the bridge which crosses Kent Creek.  There has been a bird off and on here all winter (we found one here on the Rockford CBC) but I haven’t seen it in about 3 weeks until yesterday.

The Prairie Falcon was relocated this morning at Nachusa Grasslands.  It was along Lowden Road about 3/4 mile south of the main headquarters and near the Yellow house.

I finally found some Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs in Winnebago County. There was a flock of approximately 250 birds on Kendall Road between Cunningham and Kelley Roads. Near the Cunningham (north) end of Kendall, a farmer has spread manure in a field along the east side of Kendall, and that is where i found the flock.

Approximately 200 Snow Buntings and 50 Lapland Longspurs.

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.

I haven’t seen anything posted here yet, so I thought that some readers who don’t follow IBET might be interested to know that a Varied Thrush has been coming to a feeder (well, backyard-she is putting out fruit) at Anne Straight’s house in Forreston. She lives on 5th street (?), on the SW edge of town. It is a two story white frame house with an old cement farm silo in the back. You can park in her driveway and walk around the front of the house to the area along the back deck (follow the footprint trail). The thrush is mostly under the conifer furthest to the right as you look west, but sometimes it is in other bushes in the yard. Dress warmly! You might have to stand there for a while.

Yesterday, Jan. 8, Barbara saw a male Merlin fly out of Anna Page Park and cross Safford Road toward the Berean Baptist Church. It circled around and returned toward the SE area of the park, where the tall pines and spruces are located. This is the same area where she found one on the Rockford CBC in 2008. If you are out in this direction, please report any Merlin sightings.

Stopped by Bill Hoople’s pasture ( NE corner of Stephens & Harrison Roads, Winnebago Co) just at duck this afternoon to see what might be in, or entering, the spring-fed creek. Found 1 Great Blue Heron, 3 Killdeer, 5 Wilson’s Snipe, and the usual gang of Mallards and Canada Geese. Last weekend there was a hen Pintail there. I didn’t see it this eveing, but it could have been hiding behind one of the banks in the stream. Both Swamp and Song Sparrows were poking around the edges, too. Mourning Doves were coming in at dusk to drink and bathe.

Still a lot of open water at the Rockford Airport quarry. A flock of Canada Geese with Mallards and Black Ducks was feeding in the bean field immediately west of the quarry. I counted 9 Black Ducks in the field and quarry pond. Bald Eagles of several ages were flying around.

I did a swing through northwest Winnebago County this morning. Highlight was an adult Northern Shrike on Forest Preserve Road about 1/2 mile west of its intersection with Boswell Road. It was on a wire over the small marsh there.

Scoping from the yellow gate at Lake Summerset, I found Greater and Lesser Scaup, C. Goldeneye, and Hooded (2) and Common (5) Mergansers. Be sure that you don’t park in front of the gate-get off to one side or the other.

A hen N. Pintail was in the stream at Hoople’s farm. There were a few Cackling Geese there with the Canadas.

A few Snow Geese were at Howard’s farm with lots of Canadas. Most of the water there is frozen.

About 100 Brown-headed Cowbirds were in a flock of Starlings and House Sparrows along Winnebago Road about 1/2 mile S of Telegraph Road.

The 5 Whooping Cranes are still at Nygren. There were 118 Sandhill Cranes in the area, too.