East Loon Lake is the easiest viewing location for Black Tern in Lake County. From Rte. 83 go north on Lake shore Dr. to the far western edge of the lake. It’s technically a private lake but nobody minds as long as you don’t overstay your welcome and block up the roads. There are no parking spaces, but you can pull up along the side of the road and view the birds about 50 yds away from you.
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Grant Woods is an extensive forested area with some shrubland in western lake county. In winter it is a good place to check for winter finches in the extensive pine stands of the North Unit. There is also a nesting Cooper’s Hawk in this area most summers. Northern Shrikes also like the tall shrubs bordering the grassy areas. I have had Purple Finches and Brewer’s Blackbirds here during fall migration and the South Unit is one of the better places for Fox Sparrows during the winter. The North Unit is especially good for warblers in the spring as the blossoming crabapples attract a multitude of insects for them to feast on. I had 20 warbler species here in May in 2011 on a nice sunny morning following the passage of a warm front. These included Black-throated Blue (2), Golden-winged, and Connecticut. It can be an electric place during spring migration. In the summer I have had breeding Blue-winged Warbler, Pine Warbler, Ovenbird, Wood Thrush, and Broad-winged Hawk. It is also my favorite spot for migrating Common Nighthawk. The open area south of the small lake has had summering Clay-colored Sparrow.
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Lakewood Forest Preserve is a fairly large preserve and has a wide variety of habitats as well. Extensive grassland areas, which require walking off trail, are home to breeding Eastern Bluebird, Grasshopper Sparrow, Henslow’s Sparrow, Sedge Wren, Savannah Sparrow, and Orchard Oriole. During migration a Lark Sparrow is also possible, and Least Bitterns can sometimes be heard calling from the cattail marshes. During the winter, the extensive Pine plantings and wooded areas along Ivanhoe Rd. can house Red Crossbills, Yellow-rumped warblers, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Barred Owls, as well as Pine Siskins, and Brown Creepers. Lakewood is also the only known breeding location for Clay-colored Sparrows in Lake County, at the far SE end of the Millenium trail in the extensive shrubland.
Bangs Lake is just a bit further down 176 to the west and is an excellent spot in the spring and fall for migrating waterfowl. An Eared Grebe was found here in April of 2011.
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These two forest preserves make up the largest tract of mature lowland forest in Lake County and are major birding locations along the Des Plaines River corridor. As such they are two of the best locations for Barred Owl, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Broad-winged Hawk in the area. This area is also a great location for Worm-eating, Mourning, Connecticut, Black-throated Blue, Hooded, and Canada Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush, Summer Tanager, and both species of cuckoo during migration. They are great spots to visit during the breeding season and spring migration especially.
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Macdonald Woods has a variety of habitats and is especially good for migrant warblers and wintering sparrows and shrikes. The extensive conifer stands have Pine Warblers and Red-breasted Nuthatches. Northern Shrikes can be found in both the north and south shrublands. Migrant warblers are especially good along the wood chip trail, and the feeders along the wood chip trail near the western pond have White-throated and Fox Sparrows during the winter, as well as the occasional Cooper’s Hawk and Northern Flicker. In the summer, Field Sparrow and Brown Thrasher can be found.
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COLSP is truly a birding haven. It’s best time is spring migration, but it is also a great spot for uncommon breeding birds, and in the winter is one of the best places to see Rough-legged Hawks in Lake County. It sports a wide range of habitats including riparian edge, open lake, mudflats, oak woodlands, marsh, and conifer stands. Warblers and other passerines love the extensive woodlands and riparian edges, but I enjoy it most for the breeding birds. Sedge Wrens, Cerulean Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Orchard Oriole, Henslow’s Sparrow, Osprey, American Redstart, and Red-headed Woodpecker are just a few of the breeding gems at this park. It is also the best spot in Lake County for both Wild Turkey and Ring-necked Pheasant. A trip on a boat onto Grass Lake will probably get you American White Pelican, Forster’s Tern, and Black Tern as well.
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Van Patten Woods lies along the Des Plaines River corridor and is thus a very active spot during migration, especially in the spring. 20+ species of warblers can be found here on an ideal day in May and this area is a favorite roosting spot for Greater White-fronted Goose in the spring, a very difficult species to find in Lake County. Sterling Lake is especially good in the fall when many geese roost on the lake. Greater White-fronteds have been seen here as well along with Ross’ and Snow Geese. In addition, a Northern Shrike is sometimes seen along the trail bordering the lake and a Red-shouldered Hawk was here in Jan. 2011. I also had 2 Wild Turkey here last year in 2012. There is also a stand of pines near the back picnic area where Red Crossbills have been found along with Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins.
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If you park in the fisherman’s parking lot just to the right of the stop sign at the entrance rd. to The harbor, you will see a path exiting the lot and heading south. This path will meander left along a creek and then head west and south between a woodlot along the creek and some open shrubland/marsh/grassland areas. This is an excellent spot during migration for warblers and other passerines. It is especially good for Connecticut, Mourning, and Canada warblers, all of which I had here this spring. A Prairie Warbler was seen here this spring as well. Black-billed Cuckoos were seen here multiple times, and this is also a good spot further west along the trail for Yellow-breasted Chat and Olive-sided Flycatcher. I had 11 Alder Flycatchers here in 2012 as well. Virginia Rail and Whippoorwill can be heard in the evening from the more southern section of the trail at times.
Sand Pond is right at the west entrance to the North Unit and just south of the Hawkwatch. The pond itself is surrounded by wetland areas and some shrubland. The gated road can be walked to the lake or one can walk the trail around the pond. This area can be excellent both for migrants and for uncommon breeders. This is probably the most reliable spot in Lake County for Yellow-breasted Chat, sometimes more than one pair. Other birds recorded here include Blue Grosbeak, Summer Tanager, Carolina Wren, Cerulean Warbler, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-throated Loon (end of Sand Pond Rd), Prairie Warbler, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Phoebe, Alder Flycatcher. This is also the best spot in Lake County for Orchard Oriole. I often see upwards of 5-8 different birds here. Also a good spot for Eastern Bluebird.
Bowen Park is a spring migrant hot spot and probably the best spot in Lake County for Eastern Screech Owl. Carolina Wren has been found here on numerous occasions, as well. In spring warblers, vireos, and tanagers can be found here in numbers. Louisiana Waterthrush bred here in 2011 and can sometimes be found during migration.