I did a swing through northwest Winnebago County this morning. Highlight was an adult Northern Shrike on Forest Preserve Road about 1/2 mile west of its intersection with Boswell Road. It was on a wire over the small marsh there.

Scoping from the yellow gate at Lake Summerset, I found Greater and Lesser Scaup, C. Goldeneye, and Hooded (2) and Common (5) Mergansers. Be sure that you don’t park in front of the gate-get off to one side or the other.

A hen N. Pintail was in the stream at Hoople’s farm. There were a few Cackling Geese there with the Canadas.

A few Snow Geese were at Howard’s farm with lots of Canadas. Most of the water there is frozen.

About 100 Brown-headed Cowbirds were in a flock of Starlings and House Sparrows along Winnebago Road about 1/2 mile S of Telegraph Road.

The 5 Whooping Cranes are still at Nygren. There were 118 Sandhill Cranes in the area, too.