All posts by Greg Neise

Massac County

Mermet Lake

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Located in the very farthest south portion of Illinois, Mermet Lake is well known for having regular Purple Gallinules. Other rare or difficult-t0-see species that have been found here include Neotropic Cormorant, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Least Tern, Anhinga.

The cattail and lily-pad marshes at the north end of the lake is where the Purple Gallinules have been found. Least Bittern and King Rail have been reported here as well. Other species that can be seen along the levee road surrounding the lake include Barred Owl, Red-shouldered Hawk, Osprey, Carolina Chickadee, White-eyed Vireo, Fish Crow, Snowy Egret and Little Blue Heron.


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Putnam County

Clear Creek / Taylor Roads

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This 8-mile driving loop can be excellent for forest and open-country species. Begin on Clear Creek Rd. (Co. Rd. 275/300N) east of Highway 26. The road follows Clear Creek and goes through some excellent forest habitat. In the first patch of woods breeding species include Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Vireo, Tufted Titmouse and Barred Owl. Driving slowly with windows open listening (“trolling”) is the best way to bird this area.

Further along the habitat opens up a bit and often has Lark Sparrow, American Kestrel, Red-shouldered Hawk, Orchard Oriole, White-eyed Vireo, and Wild Turkey. Where the creek crosses or comes near the road at several points Yellow-throated Warblers can be found in the Sycamores. This area can also be very good during spring migration.

Co. Rd. 275N comes to a “T” intersection with Co. Rd. 1150E near a small bridge. This is a very good spot to listen for Yellow-throated Warbler and Northern Parula. Take 1150E south 1 mile to Taylor Rd. (190N). This road goes through various scrub and agricultural land, and goes through high-quality oak woodland as it nears Highway 26. Where the road starts to bend to the north has been a consistent location for Hooded Warbler. Blue-winged Warbler and Bell’s Vireo have also been seen along this road.


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Fulton County

Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge / Thompson Lake

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Thompson Lake is one of the magical birding spots in Illinois. The number of rarities and unusual species found here in recent years is too big to list here. Breeding or summering species include up to 16 species of ducks and geese, Black-necked Stilt, Black Tern, American White Pelican, Common Gallinule, Cattle Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, American Bittern, Least Bittern, Sora, Virginia Rail, King Rail, Marsh Wren, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle.

Shorebird numbers depend on the water levels. During migrations Thompson Lake is an excellent place to look for unusual shorebirds including American Avocet, Marbled Godwit, Hudsonian Godwit, Willet, Piping Plover, Western Sandpiper, Sanderling (always difficult to find away from Lake Michigan), Red-necked and Wilson’s Phalaropes. Franklin’s Gulls can usually be found here dring spring and fall migration, along with Common, Forster’s and Caspian Terns. White-faced Ibis have been seen here regularly, especially in fall. The scrub and weeds south of the observation tower can be very good for sparrows and other migrants September—November, including LeConte’s Sparrow, Nelson’s Sparrow, Sedge Wren. After breeding, hundreds of Eurasian Tree Sparrows often congregate near the observation platform.

In November and December Hundreds of thousands of waterfowl rest at Thompson, and flocks of 10,000 or more Snow Geese are frequently encountered. Ross’ Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose and Cackling Goose can usually be found here as well.

At the Clark Rd. hunter’s access, many scrub and prairie species can be found, including Henslow’s Sparrow, Yellow-breasted Chat, White-eyed Vireo, Bell’s Vireo, Willow Flycatcher, Red-headed Woodpecker. Walking the half-mile trail to the water’s edge can often be very productive. Note that the access is simply a mowed path in the grass, and may not be accessible to all vehicles.


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Fulton County

Double T State Fish and Wildlife Area

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Double T is a patchwork of prairie, agricultural and old stripmine. The main attraction is Upland Sandpipers that nest in the fields along Cypress Rd. to the east of Co. Rd. 21.

Other breeding or summering species include Bobolink, Henslow’s Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Willow Flycatcher, Horned Lark, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-breasted Chat, Bell’s Vireo, Northern Harrier.

During migration, the wet spots and fields can be very good for shorebirds and ducks, and the patches of foxtail grass (especially on the south side of Cypress) are good places to look for LeConte’s and Nelson’s Sparrows in September and October.


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Adams County, Brown County

Siloam Springs State Park

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Siloam Springs State Park is home to three highly sought-after species in Illinois: Worm-eating Warbler, Bewick’s Wren, and Chuck-will’s-widow, though Bewick’s Wren has not been present since 2014. Worm-eating Warbler can be found in almost any of the ravines found throughout the park, but can be very easily found at the parking lot indicated (Red Oak Trail) on the map. Also note that the county line goes north-south right through that parking lot, and walking east on the trail takes you immediately into Brown County.

Bewick’s Wrens once nested for several years in the vicinity of the Headquarters building, specifically around the equipment storage area, as indicated on the map. Being familiar with it’s song will greatly help locating it.

Other species found in the park include Barred Owl, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Hooded Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Ovenbird, Northern Parula, Summer Tanager, Wood Thrush, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Hawk.

Bewick’s Wren has also been found at the Benville Cemetery about 3 miles east of the park boundary, at the intersection of Co. Rd. 255E and Co. Rd. 175N. (also marked on the map).


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Chuck-will’s-widow can be found near the Buckhorn Unit parking lot, off County Rd 400 North.

Alexander County

Mill Creek/County Line Road

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Slowly driving this road in the early morning in late May or June can result in a bonanza of southern Illinois specialty warblers, especially Worm-eating Warbler. The north-facing slopes in the area indicated by the pin on the map is very reliable for this species.

Other species found along the 5-mile wooded stretch include Pine Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Northern Parula, Louisiana Waterthrush, Acadian Flycatcher, Summer Tanager, Orchard Oriole, Blue Grosbeak, Pileated Woodpecker, Barred Owl, Red-shouldered Hawk and Loggerhead Shrike in appropriate habitat.


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Johnson County

Wildcat Bluff – Little Black Slough

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From the Wildcat Bluff parking area, you can access the same network of trails that leads to Boss Island and Heron Pond from Michael Wolf Memorial Wetland. The trail to the west goes steeply down the bluff to the Cache River, where there is a ford consisting of concrete stepping stones that lead across to Boss Island. The woods here are home to most of the southern Illinois breeding specialties, including Hooded Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Red-shouldered Hawk, Barred Owl, Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Parula, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush. The cane breaks along the Cache River have traditionally been breeding grounds for Swainson’s Warbler.  Though this species has been confirmed here in recent years, there is a lot of habitat to deal with. The terrain is very rough and wet, the mosquitos, ticks and chiggers overwhelming, and Cottonmouth is a common and dangerous snake in the wet areas. Timber Rattlesnake is found up on the wooded bluffs. Use common sense if hiking the trail across the river.

The trail to the east goes a short distance to an overlook from near the top of the bluff. This can be an excellent spot to watch for soaring birds of prey, including Red-shouldered Hawk, Black Vulture and especially Mississippi Kite. The kites often fly at or below the observer’s eye-level and sometimes quite close, offering unprecedented views of this aerialist in Illinois. Soaring Anhinga have been seen from here also.


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Johnson County

Michael Wolf Memorial Wetland – Little Black Slough

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Continue to the parking area at the end of Sunflower Lane (“Gate Across Road”). The three small ponds to the west of the parking lot are the best place to look for Anhinga in Illinois, especially the west-most pond. Anhingas have bred in an inaccessible portion of  Little Black Slough for several years, but seem to like to feed in these ponds. When feeding among the dead timber they can be very difficult to see. Other species found breeding in the scrubby habitat around the ponds include Black Vulture, Mississippi Kite, Summer Tanager, Orchard Oriole, Prairie Warbler, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat, Blue Grosbeak and Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

The long trail that goes north from the parking lot will take you all the way to Heron Pond, or Little Black Slough … or for the adventurous, Boss Island. Getting to Boss Island required crossing a shallow ford. Birds that can be found along the trails Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Yellow-crowned night Heron Red-shouldered Hawk, Barred Owl, Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Parula, Kentucky Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush. The cane breaks along the Cache River have traditionally been breeding grounds for Swainson’s Warbler.  Though this species has been confirmed here in recent years, there is a lot of habitat to deal with.


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