North Central Illinois Ornithological Society

This afternoon, I drove down to the Rockford airport quarry on Belt Line Road.  The most southeastern corner of the south quarry pond was open water.  It had a bunch of Mallards, plus a hen Wood Duck, 2 drake N. Shovelers, 4 Am. Wigeon and 14 Gadwall.  3 Bald Eagles were in the dead snag behind the quarry to the SE.  19 Wild Turkeys were in the corn fields to the east, and at least 3 Brewer’s Blackbirds were in a mixed flock of mostly Red-wings with some cowbirds along Belt Line Rd. near the new bridge being constructed over the Kishwaukee River. 

4 Common Goldeneye were in the Rock River at Blackhawk Park in south Rockford.

I happened upon a very large flock of approximately 1000 Snow Buntings in
the far SE corner of Boone County this afternoon during a lunch hour cruise
through the open farmlands there. I also managed to spy 3 Lapland Longspurs
among the boiling buntings on both sides of the road. The flock was along
Hill Road between Davis School Road and Pinegar Road (DeLorme spells it
Pineger but the road sign spells it Pinegar). DeLorme 19, C-5.

I have received reports of Merlin and Peregrine in Rockford. Both were seen within the last week. Thought that I would post them so others could be looking at these spots.

Jack and Joyce Armstrong saw a Merlin on Saturday, January 23, at Blackhawk Park.  It was in a tree in the area of the parking lot by the old quarry face along the river. 

A Peregrine has been seen periodically in the area of the Faust Landmark high rise residences.  It was on a communications tower nearby.   Peregrines show up in that area from time to time.   They have also been seen flying in the direction of downtown Rockford in late afternoon.  Any tall building or tower could have one perched on it. 

There was another report of the Prairie Falcon along Lowden Road, about 2 miles N of Nachusa Grasslands, on Tuesday of this past week.  No reports since.