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.
Category Archives: Lake County
Bowen Park
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.
Illinois Beach State Park- South Unit
The South Unit of IBSP has native oak savanna, beach, and some scrubby riparian and wetland areas that host many migrants and winter waterfowl on the lake. Shorebirds, such as Piping Plover, Marbled Godwit, Sanderling, or Buff-breasted Sandpiper can be found on the beach during migration and the oak woodlands often host numerous warblers. The Dead River trail runs along the creek which empties into Lake Michigan. In addition to a host of migrants, summering birds include Brewer’s Blackbird, Sedge Wren, Henslow’s Sparrow, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, and both Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Lark Sparrow has also been found here in June. It’s also the best spot in the county for Grasshopper Sparrow along the Dune Trail and Northern Mockingbird has been fairly regular the last couple of years.
Independence Grove
This forest preserve is one of the most popular in the county, and the main focus for both birders and the general public is the 115 acre lake. During migration, this is a great place to check for waterfowl. Common Loon are expected in spring, as well as the common diving ducks, including occasional Greater Scaup. Red-necked Grebe has been spotted here during fall migration.
The trail around the lake has restored prairie vegetation and secondary growth/edge habitat. Purple Martins can be seen every breeding season in the conspicuous housing made for them. The trail usually holds the common edge habitat breeders. The north side of the preserve has a parking lot where you can connect to the Des Plaines River Trail. On a good day during spring/fall migration, these trees can be loaded with passerine migrants.
The swimming beach should be checked for gulls. Lesser Black-backed Gulls have been found here frequently in winter.
In the winter, Rough-legged Hawks have been seen on the western edge of the preserve, as well as Northern Shrike. Closer to the visitor center are some native plantings that have hosted Common Redpoll in season.
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Almond Marsh
Located in Northern Lake County, Almond Marsh is an active heron colony and is a part of the Lake County Forest Preserve District. In spring and summer, roosting birds include Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, and the only reliable spot to find Black-crowned Night Heron in Lake County throughout the summer months. Post-breeding wanderers are also a highlight and something to look for at Almond Marsh in season. Records have included Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron and Neotropic Cormorant.
Besides the rookery, the main attraction is the open water. During migration, one can find Horned Grebe, American Black Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead and Ruddy Duck. Breeding waterfowl seen here include Pied-billed Grebe, Wood Duck, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal and Hooded Merganser. Other marsh breeders include Green Heron, Sora, and Virginia Rail. By the entrance gate there can be Woodcocks “peenting” in early spring. In past years, this has been a reliable spot for Yellow-headed Blackbird and Red-headed Woodpecker. Common Gallinule is also a sporadic breeder. Both Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper’s Hawk have bred on the preserve, as well as Great Horned Owls.
The oaks surrounding the marsh are a good place to look for spring migrants as they begin to bud, and most regular migrants have been seen.
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Lake County Fairgrounds
Though discovered years before, 2012 has seen a rise in interest in the Lake County Fairgrounds as a birding destination. With close proximity to a dump, it is easy to see what makes this spot stand out in the winter months.
The fairgrounds main parking lot is becoming a good destination for winter gulling in Lake County and one of the only reliable Lake County spots outside of Winthrop Harbor that hosts a wide range of species in the winter. As per usual, the dominant species in the parking lot are Herring Gull and Ring-billed Gull. Scattered amongst these species, there have been records of Lesser Black-backed Gull, Thayer’s Gull, Iceland (Kumlien’s) Gull, and California Gull.
Just north of the parking lot is a small ponds that many of the gulls travel to for preening and water. This pond in April had a beautiful pair of juvenile Bonaparte’s Gulls that spent the better part of a week feeding there. Besides the gulls, this pond can hold significant amounts of waterfowl. Recorded so far have been, Canada Goose, Cackling Goose, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, and American Wigeon.
In summer, the pond dried significantly, revealing decent mud flats. Large numbers of Great Egret and Great Blue Heron congregated in late summer and shorebirds seen during fall migration included Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, and Spotted Sandpiper. Sora’s have been heard and seen in the cattails.
The gravel parking lot to the west of the pond had summering Horned Larks. In winter, flocks of American Tree Sparrow are common, and on rare occasions, Snow Bunting have been seen and heard. The fairgrounds is also an easy spot to pick up American Kestrel, as a resident pair has been seen here for more than a year.
NOTE: It’s important to know that gull congregations are only great when the water at the pond adjacent to the parking lot is OPEN. If it is frozen, the gulls WON’T congregate in any significant number. The gulls need open water for bathing and preening. This most likely designates this as a great gulling spot early and late in the season.
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Rollins Savanna
The marshy sloughs can be accessed from either the Washington St. parking area on the south, or the Drury Lane parking lot on the west (shorter walk from Drury Ln.) Birds breeding here include Yellow-headed Blackbird, American and Least Bittern, Sandhill Crane, Henslow’s, Savannah and Grasshopper Sparrows, Bobolink and other expected prairie species. In the fall, the wet areas around the slough edges can be excellent for sparrows, especially Nelson’s and Le Conte’s. Short-eared Owls can be seen here in most years from October to December and sometimes through the winter. American Kestrel and Northern Harrier are regulars during winter and during spring and fall, the ponds at Rollins are loaded with all manner of dabbling ducks. It’s the best spot in the area for Northern Pintail. In winter it is not unusual to get Lapland longspur, Horned Lark, and Snow Bunting here as well.
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Middlefork Savanna
The marshy slough to the west of the visitor’s parking lot is the most reliable place to find King Rail in northern Illinois. Other breeding birds found here include Boblink, Henslow’s and Grasshopper Sparrows.
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Lyon’s Woods
The pine grove north of the parking lot is a reliable place to look for Red and White-winged Crossbills in season. Red-breasted Nuthatch has bred here as well.
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IBSP Hawkwatch
The Illinois Beach State Park Hawkwatch has someone station at the picnic shelter (blue point on map) almost every day of the fall. Moderate-to-strong west winds are best, and depending on the date, many species of migrating raptors can be seen including: Sharp-shinned and Coopers Hawks, Northern Goshawk, Osprey, Bald and Golden Eagle, Rough-legged, Red-shouldered, Broad-winged Hawks, Merlin and Peregrine Falcon. Interestingly, Mississippi Kites have been seen here regularly in August and September, with as many as 3 individuals seen at one time.
The prairie grasses around the shelter are a reliable place in September and early October for Nelson’s and Le Conte’s Sparrows.
Rarities seen here include Ferruginous Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, Swallow-tailed Kite, Gyrfalcon, Common Raven, Fork-tailed Flycatcher and Say’s Phoebe.
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