NCIOS - North Central Illinois Ornithological Society http://ncios.org/blog Rockford's Bird Club Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:45:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 en Snow Geese at Baumann Park http://ncios.org/blog/snow-geese-at-baumann-park/ http://ncios.org/blog/snow-geese-at-baumann-park/#comments Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:45:09 +0000 Jan Lockwood http://ncios.org/blog/?p=439 4 Snow Geese (white) and 1 possible Ross’s Goose were at Baumann Park this morning. The Snow’s flew off in a westerly direction, separately from the large group of Canada’s that were also on the lake. The Ross’s flew with the Canada’s. If they are foraging locally, it’s possible they may spend another night or two “resting” in Cherry Valley.

]]> http://ncios.org/blog/snow-geese-at-baumann-park/feed/ Boone County Cons. areas closed for weekend deer hunting http://ncios.org/blog/boone-county-cons-areas-closed-for-weekend-deer-hunting/ http://ncios.org/blog/boone-county-cons-areas-closed-for-weekend-deer-hunting/#comments Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:32:23 +0000 Dan Williams http://ncios.org/blog/?p=437 Check the Sunday RRStar sports section, or call the Boone County Conservation District, for weekend dates on which Kinnikinnick, Distillery and Anderson Bend Cons. Areas will be closed for deer hunting. Unfortunately, it includes December 13-14, so the Rock Cut CBC won’t be able to access those areas to count birds.

]]> http://ncios.org/blog/boone-county-cons-areas-closed-for-weekend-deer-hunting/feed/ LeConte’s Sparrow at Distillery Cons. Area/Boone Co. http://ncios.org/blog/lecontes-sparrow-at-distillery-cons-areaboone-co/ http://ncios.org/blog/lecontes-sparrow-at-distillery-cons-areaboone-co/#comments Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:46:55 +0000 Dan Williams http://ncios.org/blog/?p=432 I received an email from Andy Sigler that he and Al Stokie birded Distillery this morning and found a LeConte’s Sparrow, as well as a Lincoln’s Sparrow and many of the otherwise usual suspects. They said that it wasn’t particularly birdy, and that most of the birds were in the eastern end of the property.

]]> http://ncios.org/blog/lecontes-sparrow-at-distillery-cons-areaboone-co/feed/ Swarovski 80HD Spotting Scope for Sale http://ncios.org/blog/swarovski-80hd-spotting-scope-for-sale/ http://ncios.org/blog/swarovski-80hd-spotting-scope-for-sale/#comments Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:07:55 +0000 NCIOS Administration http://ncios.org/blog/?p=430 Today I got a message from Brian Leaf of Severson Dells which explained an unfortunate accident that occurred to Mary Kay Rubey, an excellent wildlife photographer from right here in Rockford.

Her message:

“I’m selling my spotting scope to pay some unexpected medical bills. It’s a Swarovski AT 80 HD with 20x-60x zoom angled eye-piece. If you know anyone who is interested, please let me know.”

Not wanting to post her phone number, you can call Brian Leaf at Severson Dells if you are interested and he can relay the information. His number: (815) 335-2915.

The scope with eyepiece retails new for around $2,830. Swarovski is a top-of-the-line optic company and it is terrible for Mary Kay Rubey to have been injured.

- Eddie

]]> http://ncios.org/blog/swarovski-80hd-spotting-scope-for-sale/feed/ Winter Wrens http://ncios.org/blog/winter-wrens/ http://ncios.org/blog/winter-wrens/#comments Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:32:29 +0000 Barbara Williams http://ncios.org/blog/?p=428 The title says it all. Winter Wrens have appeared in our brushpiles. Every fall I decide that they are my very favorite bird.

]]> http://ncios.org/blog/winter-wrens/feed/ Jumpin’ Juncos http://ncios.org/blog/jumpin-juncos/ http://ncios.org/blog/jumpin-juncos/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:03:55 +0000 Barbara Williams http://ncios.org/blog/?p=426 We got our first Juncos of the fall yesterday and today I saw them hop up from the roadside in a couple of places. I bet they are everywhere.

]]> http://ncios.org/blog/jumpin-juncos/feed/ Beaver construction at Westlake http://ncios.org/blog/beaver-construction-at-westlake/ http://ncios.org/blog/beaver-construction-at-westlake/#comments Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:06:24 +0000 Dan Williams http://ncios.org/blog/?p=423 Larry Balch and I went out to Westlake Nature area this morning to see if we could find any Nelson’s Sharp-tailed or LeConte’s Sparrows. Upon arrival, we discovered that we were unable to cross the limestone dam in the center of the ponds because beavers have adopted it and improved it. The stones are now buried under mud and sticks of the beaver dam, and the water level upstream is quite a bit higher by at least a foot than previously. It wasn’t possible to cross the dam with the new dam there. The dam, if not disturbed, is going to keep the water level higher and probably make quite a change in vegetation and birdlife around the upstream ponds.

We walked to the back pond via Smith Road. Flushed an American Bittern and several Soras. Warblers weren’t much, but we had 4 Cape Mays. Also around was a Marsh Wren and several Sedge Wrens.

]]> http://ncios.org/blog/beaver-construction-at-westlake/feed/ Rock Cut State Park Birding http://ncios.org/blog/rock-cut-state-park-birding-2/ http://ncios.org/blog/rock-cut-state-park-birding-2/#comments Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:15:55 +0000 Dakota http://ncios.org/blog/?p=419 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.

Bird List

  1. Blackburnian Warbler
  2. Black-and-white Warbler
  3. American Redstart
  4. Black-throated Green Warbler
  5. Tennessee Warbler
  6. Nashville Warbler
  7. Common Yellowthroat
  8. Magnolia Warbler
  9. Blue-headed Vireo
  10. Red-eyed Vireo
  11. Dark-eyed Junco
  12. Northern Cardinal
  13. White-throated Sparrow
  14. Field Sparrow
  15. Song Sparrow
  16. Chipping Sparrow
  17. American Goldfinch
  18. American Robin
  19. Swainson’s Thrush
  20. Eastern Bluebird
  21. Turkey Vulture
  22. Great Blue Heron
  23. Mallard
  24. Canada Goose
  25. Double-crested Cormorant
  26. Belted Kingfisher
  27. Pied-billed Grebe
  28. Eastern Phoebe
  29. Eastern Towhee
  30. Ring-necked Pheasant
  31. Black-capped Chickadee
  32. House Wren
  33. European Starling
  34. Mourning Dove
  35. Downy Woodpecker
  36. Red-bellied Woodpecker</liL
  37. American Crow
  38. Blue Jay
  39. Common Grackle
  40. Cedar Waxwing
]]> http://ncios.org/blog/rock-cut-state-park-birding-2/feed/ Rock Cut Field Trip This Saturday http://ncios.org/blog/rock-cut-field-trip-this-saturday/ http://ncios.org/blog/rock-cut-field-trip-this-saturday/#comments Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:49:32 +0000 Eddie Callaway http://ncios.org/blog/?p=417 To make up for the missed field trip to Illinois Beach, I am having an impromptu field trip to Rock Cut State Park on Saturday, Sept 27th. If you wish to attend, show up at the small parking lot near the north entrance (highway 173 stop light) - it is the first parking lot you come to by some coniferous trees. Please meet at 7:00 AM and we will hike for as long as we like.

The north area of the park has a lot of interesting habitat and is definitely under-birded.

If you have any questions, email me - birdfreak@birdfreak.com.

- Eddie

]]> http://ncios.org/blog/rock-cut-field-trip-this-saturday/feed/ Sunday with Kites @ Bloom http://ncios.org/blog/sunday-with-kites-bloom/ http://ncios.org/blog/sunday-with-kites-bloom/#comments Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:57:08 +0000 Dan Williams http://ncios.org/blog/?p=415 Barbara and I drove over to Bloom School around 9:15 on Sunday morning. John Longhenry and Mary Kay Rubey were there with their cameras already set up. Vic and Ann Berardi, from the IL Beach SP hawkwatch, were there, too.

The juvenile kite was perched in the dead branches at the top of a Siberian Elm, where he sat for almost the entire hour that we were there. After nearly 25 minutes, the adult male Kite came in with food about 3-4 times to feed it. Mary Kay reported that 3 kites were seen by her husband on Saturday morning, so the female must have still been around, although we did not see her in the hour that we were there today.

About 9:30, a lot of raptor activity started. Migrating Broad-winged Hawks started to fly up from the north, so they must have been leaving their overnight migration roosts. I counted 24, but there could have been a few more or less. Also seen was an Osprey and a Peregrine Falcon. The Osprey circled in a kettle of Broad-wings, but the falcon zoomed through at high speed, flapping all the way. One of the neighborhood Cooper’s Hawks made a brief appearance around 10:15.

Given all of the migrating raptors seen from this site, it seems to be a good hawk watch location.

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