Canada Geese - Illinois Road Trip day #4

Canada Geese - '

Illinois Road Trip day #4

May15th

Volo Bog Nature Center - Volo, Illinois

I am heading into the bog on the floating dock

Muskrat House

These muskrat houses make great platforms for nesting mute swans and canada geese

We wrapped up the birding part of our vacation with a two hour, three mile hike on the Tamarack Trail at Volo Bog, which is just a few miles from My folks place at Fish lake Beach.  Had to get this done early as we had a wedding to attend later, which was the true purpose of our trip to Illinois.  The weather was still on the cool side, but the threat of rain had passed. This was also my second visit to Volo Bog as I had been here last year. 

   The trail passes through woodland, marshes, old fields and prairie. Had hoped for another shot at a variety of migrants. Did had a good variety of birds, but no get numbers and no lifers. Lots of Canada Geese with goslings. They were using muskrat lodges for nest sites were a couple of Mute Swans. We saw several muskrat lodges, but no muskrats.  Understand that beavers also are at home here, but did not notice any either. Several Sandhill Cranes were on hand. We saw a pair of wood ducks and several Blue-winged Teal. A Sora was heard, but not seen. Found several Yellow Warblers, a sole Palm Warbler, a couple of Yellow-Rumped Warblers, a single Northern Waterthrush, and several Common Yellowthroats. Several Song and Field Sparrows were  found around the shrubby areas. Spooked a Coopers Hawk. Only found a few American Goldfinches and no chickadees. Found a beautiful, male Baltimore Oriole, I suppose they are now called Northern Orioles. Had also found a female Baltimore Oriole earlier.

MY 2010 List (29) - Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Wood Duck, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, Sora, Sandhill Crane, Chimney Swift, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Tree Swallow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole

My 2090 List (29) - Mute Swan, Mallard, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Turkey Vulture, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, Blue-winged Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch

My total count from both visits are 42 species

Katie and I flew home on the 17th, but I would like another stab next spring at some of these sites.  A place we did not get this year, but had success on last years visit was Starve Rock State Park at Utica, Illinois., and nearby Matthiessen State Park.

My 2009 List at Starve Rock State Park - (17) Canada Goose, American White Pelican (found on the Illinois River), Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Phoebe, White-eyed Vireo, Bank Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, House Wren, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Baltimore Oriole

My 2009 List at Matthiessen State Park - (11) Mallard, Red-tailed Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Alder Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Swainson's Thrush, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting



Trail through Illinois Canyon at Starved Rock were bank swallows were found on these cliffs.
 
 

Stairs are frequent on the trails at both state parks

Leaving Chicago