Category Archives: Carroll County

Lost Mound unit: Upper Mississippi NWR

This is a large (very large) area, most of which is off-limits. But the area that is accessible has extensive grassland, scrub and sand-prairie habitat. The habitat is criss-crossed by roads in various state of repair, and birding is primarily done from the car.

The map below gives some suggestions, but many of the target species can be found almost anywhere. Blue Grosbeak and Lark Sparrow are easily found in May and June, as is Northern Mockingbird.

Breeding species found here include Blue Grosbeak, Henslow’s Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Western Meadowlark, Whip-poor-will, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Mockingbird. Other species that have been found here include Summer Tanager, Carolina Wren and, where the entrance road crosses a creek just before entering the property, Prothonotary Warbler.


View Illinois Birding Map in a larger map

For county listers, the Jo Daviess/Carroll county line is in yellow.

Miller’s Hollow Landing / Lazy River Marina

Directly across the road, on the west side of Rte. 84, from the north entrance to Mississippi Palisades State Park. The backwaters and sand flats that are viewable from the boat launch are good to check for migrating shorebirds and other water-birds. Continue reading Miller’s Hollow Landing / Lazy River Marina

Mississippi Palisades State Park

Mississippi Palisades is well known for its concentration of breeding forest birds, especially warblers. At other seasons, almost anywhere in or around the park can be great birding, this entry is concerned with the breeding species that can be found primarily May–August. Continue reading Mississippi Palisades State Park