Sat 17 Apr 2010
Note the singular. On my crane count there wasn’t much of interest other than a couple of winnowing snipe and an unusual number of Brown Thrashers. Afterwards, I stopped by Sugar River FP, where I walked for 45 minutes. I was wondering if Lark Sparrows were there yet. Nope. Neither were there any Yellow-rumped Warblers, which I could hardly believe. In fact, the only two birds of interest were a gnatcatcher and a Yellow-throated Warbler singing near outhouses 5 & 6.
About a mile after leaving the FP, I had a Broad-winged Hawk gliding north. Continuing on to Moody Road, I could not find any shorebirds or Brewer’s Blackbirds. However, I saw two flocks of Lapland Longspurs flying around in the strong north wind–about 50 in one flock, 200 in the other.
A stop at Nygren about 9:15 yielded 2 cranes, over 75 pelicans, and a lone Pied-billed Grebe. I guess I arrived home last night after 18 days away, to find a migration in which the waterfowl have left and not much else has yet arrived.
April 17th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Lark Sparrow was at Sugar River Alder Forest Preserve. Also American Woodcock. There was a pileated as well. Lots of activity.
April 18th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
On Sunday afternoon (around 1:30 p.m.) Barbara and I did not see or hear the YT Warbler that Larry found yesterday. We did find 2 calling Pine Warblers, a calling Red-shouldered Hawk and a calling Cooper’s Hawk. A Brown Creeper was working the trees in the swampy loop.
April 18th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
We heard the Yellow-throated Warbler yesterday around noon but could not confirm as I only heard the call once. So today Carol and I went back out and located the bird quite easily, took a few pictures, and later showed Lee & Lynda Johnson (who were driving through) the bird as well. Beautiful male…link to picture.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mesquakie8/4533361428/