Larry Balch and I recorded 83 species in 5.5 hours yesterday in the northwest portion of Winnebago County. We started at the Nygren Wetlands overlook. There were a lot of ducks of a variety of species, the most numerous being Green-winged Teal. 14 Am. White Pelicans flew in while we were there, and we later found 3 more in the flooded field at the east end of Moody Road. Many Pied-billed Grebes were spread around (25).

3 species of swallows were at Nygren, including the first Barn and Rough-winged Swallow arrivals of the season. We had a large flock of blackbirds on Blodgett Road along the old RR right of way. They were mostly Rusty Blackbirds (12) with Red-wings and Brown-headed Cowbirds mixed in, but we also saw 4 Brewer’s Blackbirds. There were probably more.

The flooded wetland mitigation area at the Winter’s farm in Shirland had many more ducks, including Greater Scaup (we recorded 17 species of waterfowl for the day), an d another 20 Pied-billed Grebes. 2 Northern Harriers were flying around over the wetland.

A stop at Lake Summerset (viewing from the yellow gate marked “emergency vehicles only” on Best Road gave nice views of the length of the lake. We found Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 flocks of Ruddy Ducks on the water, and a Purple Martin!

We ended at Pecatonica Wetlands, where the swamp along Blair Road had a large number of Wood Ducks and N. Shovelers, plus a lot of Tree Swallows. The Great Blue Heron rookery visible from Blair road near Pecatonica Road had a bird standing on virtually every nest, but no Great Egrets were present yet.