This morning, on my way home from one of my BBS routes in Ogle/Carroll
Counties, I stopped at Nieman Pond on Springfield Road on the east
side of Freeport. There were 31 White Pelicans there, plus a female
Ruddy Duck. The pelicans were in a variety of plumages: breeding,
non-breeding, immature, and a few with the dark caps of
“chick-feeding” adults, although no chicks were viewed.

The route produced 63 species, the most notable being a male Harrier
out in the corn and soybean desert. There must have been a field in
CRP on the other side of the ridge.

On Sunday, a BBS route from Durand to Pecatonica to eastern Stephenson
County produced 70 species, the most notable being a White-eyed Vireo.