Thu 12 Nov 2009
The west side of Rock Cut State Park (i.e. the Pierce Lake side) will be closed beginning today through Sunday, November 15 for the special deer hunt for disabled persons. The Olson annex will remain open through the weekend. There is a barricade across the road inside the Harlem Road entrance which prevents cars from crossing the bridge over I-90.
Fri 12 Jun 2009
I walked some trails at Rock Cut this morning. From the small gravel
parking lot just east of the Hart Road & Perryville Road intersection
on the west side of the park, I walked north on the equestrian trail
that begins immediately across the road from the parking lot. A
White-eyed Vireo was seen and heard about 200 yards north of the trail
head. Further north, the trail opens on to a field of cool season
grasses with some junipers and other shrubs in the field. There were
3 Willow Flycatchers and 1 Alder Flycatcher here, plus at least 3
Henslow’s Sparrows were calling.
I took the cross trail to the right, into the next open area beyond
the tree line, and had 2 more Willow Flycatchers there.
Further east (approx 3/8 mile) along Hart Road from the small gravel
parking lot, I turned S on the equestrian trail that crosses the road
from N-S. It passes through some thick scrub, then opens on to
another field of cool season grasses. This is where Andy Sigler and
Al Stokie had 2 Alder Flycatchers, some Henslow’s Sparrows, and a
Yellow-breasted Chat on Tuesday. I did not find any Alders or the
Chat here, but I did record at least 4 (probably 5) more Henslow’s
Sparrows and 2 Sedge Wrens calling from the west side of the trail
(the park staff wisely only burned the east side this spring, leaving
the west side for the Henslow’s), another Willow Flycatcher, and
another White-eyed Vireo just where the trail emerges from the shrub
thicket.
2 Hooded Warblers were calling from the woods along the main road
after it enters the forest past the intersection with the east end of
Hart Road (gated off).
On the forest (Rock Cut) trail that runs west from the white pine
stand in the picnic area just south of the dam (and across the road
from the bur oak picnic area with the shelter house) I encountered 5
Cerulean Warblers at the western end of the trail just before and
after it joins with the old paved road at the former scout camp). No
Kentucky Warbler was heard or seen but it was getting late in the
morning. Veeries were calling from the west side of the road at the
scout camp location. 3 Acadian Flycatchers were also heard along the
trail, plus a fair number (I didn’t count) of Scarlet Tanagers.
Wed 10 Jun 2009
I received an email from Al Stokie. He and Andy Sigler were birding at Rock Cut on Tuesday, 6/9. The found 2 Alder Flycatchers and a YB Chat, plus a Henslow’s Sparrow, all calling from the area south of the Equestrian parking lot on Hart Road. They parked at the new parking lot near the Perryville intersection, then walked east to the spot where the equestrian trail crosses Hart Road N-S. The went south, crossed the muddy patch, and heard the flycatchers calling from the dense brush, one on the east and one on the west side of the field. The chat was also calling from that area, and the Henslow’s was in the grass. I thought that the park staff burned a part of that field this spring to control brush, so the presence of the Henslow’s must be related to an area that wasn’t burned.
Sat 18 Apr 2009
At Garden Prairie Slough around 8:00 am today we saw 2 Great Egrets, 1 Sandhill Crane, several Common Snipe, 3 Gray Partridge, and many regulars. We heard a Sora but did not see it. The partridge walked within 15 feet of us. What a treat! The Partridge was actually a first in Illinois for us. At Rock Cut we saw a Pine Warbler and many Yellow-rumped Warblers at the Red Oak picnic area. A Brown Thrasher was singing along the road while exiting the park to the north. There were very few ducks on the lake, too many boats.
Spring is here – HOORAY!!!
Sun 22 Mar 2009
Saturday March 21st field trip results
We had about 15 participants in the 3-21-2009 field trip to Rock Cut State Park. We started out with great success finding several duck species and a pair of Horned Grebes.
Digiscoped at a very long distance
After scanning the lake we headed towards the dam and hiked the bike trail. Birding was a bit slow but we did end up with a fair number of species.
I’m sure I am forgetting some but here is the list I have:
White-breasted Nuthatch
Eastern Phoebe
Mallard
Canada Goose
Northern Cardinal
Turkey Vulture
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bufflehead
American Coot
American Crow
Herring Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Black-capped Chickadee
Horned Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-winged Blackbird
Song Sparrow
Eastern Bluebird
Great Blue Heron
Common Merganser
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
White-throated Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Cooper’s Hawk
Sandhill Crane
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-bellied Woodpecker
34 species
Sat 27 Sep 2008
We hiked at Rock Cut State Park this morning. We got there around seven. I went with my Uncle Eddie, my Grandpa and two birders Jan and Marjorie. The five of us saw quite a few warblers and Dark-eyed Juncos(!).
It was kind of chilly but got warmer near the end of the hike and it was sunny. I had a great time. I posted on my blog too about the trip.
Sun 15 Jun 2008
Jennie, Dakota, and I were at Rock Cut State Park this morning in hopes of finding the possible Little Blue Heron. In between downpours and lightning, we managed to find a Yellow-breasted Chat north of Hart Road on the main park drive as well as a White-eyed Vireo closer to Hart Road.
We also found Cerulean, Blue-winged, and Yellow Warblers plus American Redstarts. There were several Great Blue Herons along the lakeshore along with a female Wood Duck. Near the picnic area on the west side of Pierce Lake we found a Broad-winged Hawk that was being scolded by a Baltimore Oriole and as it flew off, was trailed by a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Fun morning although a bit wet 
Sat 14 Jun 2008
Jeff Donaldson called us today to advise that he had received a voice message from a person whom he did not know, but who said that he (the unknown person) had seen a Little Blue Heron at the east end of Pierce Lake at Rock Cut State Park. As far as I know, this species has never been seen in Rock Cut SP before, and is the first report, if confirmed, in Winnebago County this year. If anyone is out at Rock Cut and sees a Little Blue Heron, please let everyone else know. It is a hotline bird for sure on the Bird Club calling tree.
Sat 29 Mar 2008
There was a large turnout for the NCIOS field trip to Rock Cut State Park! Thanks all for coming and making it such a success. We saw around 40 species, including fly-over Sandhill Cranes, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, and a Brown Creeper.
In the little open water on the east side of Pierce Lake we found Hooded and Common Mergansers, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck, American Black Duck, Mallard, Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Great Blue Heron, and Northern Shoveler.
At Olsen Lake, singing Eastern Meadowlarks and an Eastern Phoebe were wonderful signs of spring. The weather was a bit chilly, but the sun was bright and it was a good time.
Sat 15 Mar 2008
Jennie, Dakota, and I went to Rock Cut to check for ducks. We had started our day off at Deer Run Forest Preserve and there were tons of ducks and geese flying around. We saw a group of Common Mergansers and Wood Ducks plus tons of Mallards and Canada Geese. We figured there would be many more ducks at Rock Cut.
Before heading out we heard an Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Bluebirds, and tons of Red-winged Blackbirds.
At Rock Cut the duck highlights included: Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Redhead, Common Goldeneye, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, and Mallards. Other bird highlights included a lot of Turkey Vultures that were feasting on a deer carcass on the ice.
We also were delighted to see a coyote that first eyed the carcass, then eyed us, and then crossed the frozen lake.
Perhaps the biggest highlight were two TREE SWALLOWS flying over the ice. Seems early for them!!