North Central Illinois Ornithological Society

Barbara and I also went to Pecatonica Forest Preserve this morning, but later than Tim and Eddie.  We didn’t leave home until after 0830.  We concentrated on the area along the river and boat launch.  We had 3 species of vireos-Blue-headed, Warbling and Yellow-throated, probably the same Prothonotary Warbler as Tim and Eddie,1 Pileated Woodpecker, 1 Spotted Sandpiper,  2 Tennessee Warblers, 1 Orange-crowned, 1 Nashville, 1 Northern Waterthrush, and probably the same Catbird, and an Orchard Oriole along the road to the boat launch.  There were a couple of Baltimore Orioles there, too.  Our big surprise was  a very early Yellow-billed Cuckoo!  It was on the loop trail that continues along the river after the turn-off for the oxbow bridge.

Going to and from Pec, we counted 14 Solitary Sandpipers.  It appears that the eagles at Howards are feeding chicks. 

There were at least 14 Cliff Swallows flying high above the culvert on Telegraph Road near Theodorff Rd.

Birding the morning with Tim Young. We wanted to start at Pecatonica Wetlands but the gate was locked past 630 so we headed to Pecatonica Forest Preserve where the gate had just been unlocked.

Highlights at Pecatonica: calling Barred Owl, Yellow-throated Warbler (at intersection of road to campground and road to the main parking lot), a couple Blue-winged Warblers (one who was photogenic), singing Prothonotary Warbler along the river, several Wood Ducks, Broad-winged Hawk, Warbling Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Gray Catbird.

Blue-winged Warbler

After a long hike we returned to Pecatonica Wetlands which was thankfully open for business. Highlights there:

Red-headed Woodpecker in the wetland area beyond the creek crossing, a pair of Hooded Mergansers, Bald Eagle (2 separate flyovers which could have been same bird), two Solitary Sandpipers (together), yellowlegs species, and more Wood Ducks.

Red-headed Woodpecker

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.