Fri 7 Sep 2007
On my commute from Rockford to Dekalb, I noticed the standing water from the recent flooding is starting to go down. On Highway 38, right across the street from Kishwaukee College there is now a temporary mudflat. I noticed a LOT of birds hanging around, from American Crows to Killdeer to Greater Yellowlegs to some very small shorebirds that I could not identify.
Unfortunately, the highway is very busy…ALL times of the day. There is room to pull off, but I was not about to get out with a scope. I am wondering if I parked at the college’s lot, maybe I could walk across and look more closely? It seems a bit dangerous.
They are a bit hard to see, but there are TONS of birds in this photo! This was yesterday — Thursday the 6th. Today (Eddie’s birthday !!!) there were even more birds!
So, if anyone wants to brave the traffic…it might be a LOT better over the weekend and there could be some good stuff there! I am not good at the I.D.s of shorebirds, so who knows what else is there?
Hope to see you all at Sugar River tomorrow!