Today we had our monthly NCIOS field trip. The trip was to the Pecatonica Wetlands area on Chuck Hillebrand’s property. But the birding actually started right at the parking lot at Farm & Fleet where we met. There we saw two Cooper’s Hawks and heard a Kingfisher and White-throated Sparrow.

At the wetlands area the birding was a bit slow but we saw several Eastern Phoebes and Tree Swallows. We also heard a Sandhill Crane and saw a couple Great Blue Herons fly close.

After birding there, we headed to the farmland on highway 70 and saw a few Snow Geese including a Blue Phase (but no Ross’s). There were also Cackling Geese and we two Bald Eagles including a wonderful adult.

View more details and the whole list here.