Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve in Grayslake, Illinois

 Tuesday, July 20th

Trumpeter Swans at Rollins Savanna

On my recent visit with family in Illinois, I spent some of my time birding and doing some nature photography. Always enjoy spending time at Rollins Savanna which is a considered to be an outstanding  birding location.

The popular trails circle the oak savannas and wetlands at this preserve. Lots of joggers, walkers, bicycle riders, dog walkers and nature lovers. lots of birds and wildflowers too.

Great Blue Heron

Canada Geese

Meadow Anemone

BIRD LIST - Canada Geese, Tundra Swans, Blue-winged Teal, Mallards, Hooded Mergansers, Mourning Dove, Virginia Rail, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, Double-Crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, Tree Swallows, European Starlings, American Robins, House Sparrow, American Goldfinches, Song Sparrow, Bobolinks, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Common Grackles, Common Yellowthroat and Dickcissel.

Foxglove Beardtongue

Dickcissel

Brown-headed Cowbird

Hoary Vervain

Wild Quinine

American Robin in the Dogwoods

Compass Plant

Honeysuckle

Pale Cone Flower

Baby Mallard

Wild Bergamot

Prairie Coreopsis

Spring Migration at Sanibel Lighthouse

Monday April 23rd

The past two days the spring migration birding along the Florida Gulf Coast has been awesome. All the migrant traps along the coast have hosted many of the warblers, tanagers, orioles, grosbeaks etc. that have usually just fly past us.  But weather conditions brought them in on Saturday night and the projected winds for tomorrow should carry them away.

Sunday I had some time to bird and was not sure if we want any fall-out from the weather. I had already a had a couple of unsatisfying attempts on Sanibel Island in the past week, which can get expensive to make extensive visits, with all of the tolls and parking fees. So I first tried Bunche Beach for any interesting pelagics that may have blown in. Found a very high tide and heavy surf and few birds. My best find was an FOS Semipalmated Sandpiper and a Marbled Godwit. Next tryed Six-mile Cypress Slough Preserve which was also very quite save for a Scarlet tanager that showed up just as I was leaving.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak at Sanibel Lighthouse. Photo by Dr Jose Padilla-Lopez

Called Dr Jose to report my find, but he and about every other local birder were at the Sanibel Lighthouse and at Ding Darling Refuge. He reported an awesome assortment of birds were on-hand. I was there in about 20 minutes. To bad my camera was out-of-order as there several photo opportunities such as a male Summer Tanager posing right off the trail.  Would have been a great shot. Indigo Buntings were everywhere and lots of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Baltimore Orioles, Orchard Orioles, Scarlet Tanagers and FOS Eastern Kingbirds. Other sights included a Gray-cheeked Thrush, Swainsen's Thrush, Northern Waterthrushs, Black-and-White Warblers, American Redstart, a Blue Grosbeak, Tennessee Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Dickcissel, a Black-throated Green Warbler, a female Painted Bunting ( the males have already left), Barn Swallows and Chimney Swifts.

Additional species witnessed by other birders on Sunday and Monday included  a scissor-tailed flycatcher, verry, wood thrush, yellow-billed cuckoos, bank swallows, northern rough-winged swallows, ruby-throated hummingbirds, cedar waxwings, blue-winged warblers, ovenbird, magnolia warbler, yellow warbler, black-throated blue warbler, hooded warbler and Lincoln sparrow.

Dickcissels - Illinois Trip, Day Two

Wednesday, June 15th

Dickcissel at Midewin National Grasslands

Made a quick run down to Midewin National Grasslands near Joliet.  Grassland species are the noted birds including upland plover, henslows sparrow, boblinks, dickcissels, grasshopper sparrows and such.

Because of time constraints and mosquitoes, there was very little trail walking, with most of the birding done road side and from parking lots.  This did work out very well.  I was to dip on the upland plover and henslows sparrow, I get lots of Dickcissels and Bobolinks.  I also got Chipping, Field and Grasshopper Sparrows.  Was able to add Baltimore Orioles, a Turkey Vulture, Coopers Hawk, American Goldfinch, Indigo Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, Eastern Meadowlarks, Red-wing Blackbird, Eastern Wood-pewee, American Crow, Eastern Kingbird, Blue Jay, Red-eyed Vireo, House Finch, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows, American Robins, Gray Catbird, Cardinals, Cedar Waxwings, Starlings, Common Yellowthroat, Great Egret, Cormorant and Killdeer.

A singing Dickcissel



Tree Swallow directing traffic



Found Baltimore Orioles in these trees

Tryed to get out of the trip into the city to continue birding Midewin, but that was a no go. So headed back to my sister's house and then we were off to the lake front in downtown Chicago. Because today the Shedd Aquarium was offering free admissions. The price was right. the lines were long but it was worth it. I also did not stop birding. Had lots of Ring-billed Gulls along Lake Shore Drive and the harbors. Also had Caspian Terns fishing the Montrose Harbor. It seems that these terns are roof top nesting in the area this year. Around Grant Park and the museums were the usual urban birds, Robins, House Sparrow, lots of Red-winged Blackbirds, Rock Pigeons, Common Grackles, Mallards grazing on the lawn and Canada Geese in the nearby harbor.

Chicago seen from the steps of the Shedd Aquarium

Lines at the aqurium, Field Museum in the background

Mallard

The Water Tower, One of the few structures to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871

Coyotes - Illinois Road Trip day #2

Coyotes -

Illinois Road Trip day #2
May12th


Our plans for day two involved Katie going to Brookfield Zoo with the family and my birding Midewan. Both plans were threatened by chilly, rainy weather, yet I took off at day break for my drive over to Midewan regardless of conditions and the zoo trip was also went on as planned.


Midewan National Tallgrass Prairie- Wilmington, Illinois

Got to Midewan, which is operated by the U.S. Forest Service, around 8am.  I was anxious to return here for another attempt at finding my target bird.  The Upland Plover. This plover is on Illinois's endangered species list and it can be found that Midewan. The renovation of this former ammunition production site, known as the Joliet Armory site into a tallgrass prairie has been a positive influence on this species, which actually needs 100 acres short grass per pair of plovers. The short grass environment is provided by a herd of cattle. I understand that bison may be used in the future.

   I had been here last year and had a very good birding day, even though I struck out on the plover and Henslow's Sparrow, another uncommon species. That visit had much better weather and was very birdy. Hit on several warblers and thrushes.  Got lifers than with bobolink and dickcissels.

   Today I repeated my hikes on the Iron Bridge Trail and The Prairie Creek Trail. The weather remained chilly and some light rain did occur.  But not enough to slow me down.


THE IRON BRIDGE TRAIL -  The oak grove located prior to the Iron Bridge Trail head parking lot was a great stop.  I immediately got my second ever Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, plus starlings, flickers, sparrows etc. The budding Osage orange trees at the trail head likewise was very birdy  with Indigo Buntings, Cedar Waxwings, American Goldfinches and White-Crowned Sparrows.  As I entered the prairie area I had lots of red-winged blackbirds, dickcissels, bobolinks, Eastern Kingbirds, Brown Thrashers, Song Sparrows, Field Sparrows, Yellow Warblers and even seven coyotes. 
   As I watched the coyotes move across the grass I could see several bobolinks flush.  They kept their distance when they noticed me. My sister tells me that coyotes are a problem in her neighborhood, were pets have been attached. A couple of years ago we also has a problem in my neighborhood. Several small dogs had been grabbed by a coyote while the dogs were being walked, on lease, in the evening in the Three Oaks area. Trappers did eliminate the culprits, but they are still around in small numbers. But at Midewan to see several coyotes at work kind of made up for dipping again on the upland plover.
WHAT IS MIDEWAN ? - Please check-out the this link to learn more about Midewan

Boblink along the Iron Bridge Trail

White-Crowned Sparrow hiding in the brush along the Iron Bridge Trail

Song Sparrow along the Iron Bridge Trail

Iron Bridge Trail

PRAIRIE CREEK TRAIL - Next I drove over to the other end of the property to walk the Prairie Creek Trail which is much different than Iron Bridge.  It is wetter and forested. Had success last year with warblers, flycatchers and thrushes.  Not so much this time. Did get a Yellow-throated Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeck, Indigo Buntings, Goldfinches, Scarlet Tanger, Baltimore Orioles, Yellow Warbler ( most commonly sited warbler on my trip),and beautiful Mytle (yellow-rumped) Warblers.

   Headed back from here.  was a bit disappointed on my misses, but I did get some good birds.

Prairie Creek Trail

Prairie Creek Trail

My 2009 List (41) - Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Red-headed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Kingbird, Blue Jay, American Crow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Veery, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Tennessee Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Dickcissel, Bobolink, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Orchard Oriole, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch

My 2010 List for the Iron Bridge Trail (31) - Canada Goose, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Northern Flicker, Eastern Kingbird, American Crow, Barn Swallow, House Wren, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Dickcissel, Bobolink, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Boat-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch

My 2010 List for the Prairie Creek Trail (19) - Great Egret, Green Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue Jay, House Wren, American Robin, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole

McGinnis Slough - Orland Park

  BARN SWALLOWS 

Mallard

I returned to McGinnis Slough, briefly on my way to Midewan hoping for a better look at the swans and was interested in finding a virginia rail, which would have been a lifer bird, as well as an umber of other possible migrants.  Did find the same pair of swans but much closer.

MY List -  Mute Swan, Trumpeter Swan, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebe, Chimney Swift, Eastern Phoebe, Barn Swallow

BROOKFIELD ZOO

Some of Katie's pictures from the zoo

Free-roving Peafowl

Amur Tiger

Camels

Sleepy

Timber Wolf

Penquin

Emu

Green-Winged Macaws

Chipmunk