Tag Archives: Blue Grosbeak

Lee County, Ogle County

Nachusa Grassland

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Nachusa Grassland is a huge area of high-quality sand-hill prairie with many desirable breeding and wintering species. Grasshopper Sparrow, Henslow’s Sparrow, Savanna Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Sedge Wren, Bobolink, Horned Lark are all easily found breeding species. Look and listen for Lark Sparrows along the sandy two-track that goes west from the visitor center. Other sandy-scrub loving species such as Orchard Oriole, Bell’s Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Blue Grosbeak and Yellow-breasted Chat can be found along this and other trails with appropriate habitat. Look for Willow Flycatcher in the wet areas.

The woods at the west end of Stone Barn Road have had breeding Hooded Warbler. During migrations, the edges along Stone Barn can be excellent for migrating sparrows, which have included Harris’, Le Conte’s and Eurasian Tree. Wintering raptors include Short-eared Owl, Rough-legged Hawk and Northern Harrier. Golden Eagle and Prairie Falcon have been seen in the area regularly during winter, often located by driving the roads to the north and east of the visitor center. Wild Turkey and Ring-necked Pheasant can usually be found along the back-roads in winter, and pheasant can usually be heard almost anywhere during spring and summer.


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County listers take note that the Lee/Ogle county line runs through the northern third of the property:

nachusa

DeWitt County

Clinton Lake

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CLINTON LAKE BIRDING AREAS:

Salt Creek Bridge on 2545/2550E: Sedge Wren, waterfowl, shorebirds when water levels are lower, raptors, Song Sparrows.

S-3 Parking Lot and the Upper Lake Flats off of 2400E: Phenomenal spot for shorebirds (at least 23 species have been seen here) when levels are lower. Great spot for waterfowl, gulls (Little Gull was seen here), terns, Pelicans, The IDNR lake on the way out often has good waterfowl also. The pines and thickets on the way out can be good for migrants. Rusty Blackbirds can be found here in season.

Salt Creek Wetland Project off of Route 54: Great place for Bell’s Vireo, Alder Flycatcher, Cuckoos, Yellow-breasted Chat during Spring migration. The wetlands have rails, both Bitterns, good waterfowl. When lake levels are full, this is a better place for shorebirds than the Upper Lake Flats. Sparrows can be thick in the prairie plantings on the way down to the wetlands. Wood Duck and Hooded Mergansers like this spot, as do Rusty Blackbirds in season. Red-shouldered Hawk is regular here. This a very good spot for Spring migrants. The area is closed to hunters on Saturdays.

Parnell Bridge and Access off of 2225/2300E: This is the only bridge that is safe to stop on at Clinton. Large congregations of Goldeneye and Mergansers can be found here in migration. Gulls roost on the ice around this bridge in Winter. The Access itself is a very good Spring migrant spot, as well as the best spot on the lake for Purple and House Finch, and Pine Siskin and Redpoll in season. The horse trail that goes east from the road can be very good for frugivores and sparrows. Accipiters seem to frequent here also. The pines in the NW area sometimes harbor Barred Owls.

Weldon Access off of 2100E: This is another good Spring migrant location. The path through the pines has harbored year-round Barred Owls for a couple of years now. During migration, the far shore has thousands of dabbling ducks along with large groups of Mergansers but a scope is required. This is a good spot to watch Bonaparte’s Gulls. Pine Siskins are commonly here using the Black Alders. Belted Kingfisher and Bald Eagles are also often at this spot. Pileated Woodpeckers have been heard in the woods across the lake.

Mascoutin Rec Area and Beach: the drive in can be good for Meadowlarks, Raptors, and Sedge Wren in season. There is a nice nature trail going left at the T where the beach entrance is that is very good in Spring and Fall migration. The beach behind Boondock’s (excellent fish and good food here when it’s open) usually has Gulls and sometimes terns and shorebirds. There are lots of pines and cedars at Mascoutin worth checking for any of the owls (Great-horned, Barred, Long-eared and Saw-whet).

Power Plant Chute just north of Mascoutin: This spot has lots of diverse waterfowl during migration and in winter. Pull-off south of the bridge and scope from the area above the chute.

North of here in De Witt is the Dewitt General Store — one can get food and beverages here.

Power Plant Roads: Several roads behind the Power Plant offer good roadside birding. Everything here is private so stay on the roads. Bluebirds, Mockingbird, Shrikes (rare), Blue Grosbeak, Red-headed Woodpecker (rare), Rough-legged Hawk, raptors, and passerine migrants are all possible back here.

IDNR Office: This is a good spot for waterfowl and gulls. Scope from the lawn of the office, but have identification on you!! They will come out and run your license if they see people scoping the power plant. Goldeneyes like this spot.

Valley-Mill Access off of 1400E: Decent migrant spot for passerines. Good place to scope from the fishing deck to the north for loons, grebes, waterfowl, gulls, and eagles.

West Side Access: Good Spring/Fall migrant spot driving in and hiking a small loop that goes from the SE corner of the parking lot down to the actual boat access. The basin here often has loons, gulls (once a Black-legged Kittiwake), terns, and Coots. Horned Grebe concentrations can be large here in season. Pileated Woodpeckers have been seen and heard in the woods across the lake from here.

The Dead Marshes (Yellow Rail Wetland): This is a brutal place. Park and hike down the teasel infested slope into the marshes. If there is water in them, prepare for ankle deep dipping. Sora, Virginia Rail, Yellow Rail (in season and rare), Swamp, Nelson’s and Le Conte’s (very good spot) Sparrows, Northern Harriers, Short-eared Owl in Winter, and Wilson’s Snipe all can be found down here with effort.

Peninsula Day Use Area off of 1500E: Either road — the one that goes back to the old day use area, or the one that goes straight to the lake, are very good for birds year round. Purple finch and Black-billed Cuckoo like the road back to the day-use area. Going down the other old road gets one to a good scoping spot. Look for loons, grebes, waterfowl rafts (both Pacific Loon and Surf Scoter have been seen from this location).  Get to the lake softly as here the birds are sometimes pretty close and in good south light.

The Overlook: I recently flagged the parking spot and the path back to the Overlook, yet it can still be hard to find. Park on the north greenway shoulder as FAR off the road as possible. Hike back looking for migrants in season. Scope the entire basin from the Overlook slowly and repeatedly. This is the best spot for Red-throated Loon. Scan for loons, grebes, waterfowl, gulls, and terns.

The Marina: The muddy flats just before the marina entrance can be good for waders and shorebirds. Redpolls have been sen around the marina in season, This is also a good Wild Turkey spot. Scope the docks off of the marina for gulls and terns. Also scope the water for loons, grebe, waterfowl, and gulls.

Below is an aerial with these spots pinpointed.

Clinton Lake Map


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Mason County

Sand Ridge State Forest

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Sand Ridge is a large expanse (over 7,000 acres) of mixed oak woods, savanna and planted pines.  The habitats offer exceptional birding year-round.

Breeding species include Pileated Woodpecker, Broad-winged Hawk, Barred Owl, Whip-poor-will, Wood Thrush, Orchard Oriole, White-eyed Vireo, Northern Mockingbird, Blue Grosbeak. Pine warbler has bred in the pines near the parking lot west of Cactus Drive and south of Co Rd 2500N (teal-blue marker, below). Along Co Rd 2500N west of the Fish Hatchery entrance, listen for Prairie Warbler. For many years, Sand Ridge had been reliable for Chuck-will’s-widow, but none have been found in recent years. Still, it is worth listening for if you are there on a spring or summer evening.

The Virginia pines near the intersection of Co Rd 2300N (Goofy Ridge Rd) and Co Rd 2300E often has Red Crossbills and White-winged Crossbills during migrations and winter. Evening Grosbeak, Common Redpoll, Pine Siskin and Red-breasted Nuthatch have been found here also.

The Jake Wolf Fish Hatchery, north of Co Rd 2500N east of Cactus Drive (2600E) is a good place to check for herons and egrets.

At the intersection of Cactus Drive and 2300N is the campground. From here, Cactus Drive continues south and becomes Forest City Rd. Staying to the right takes you onto Bishop Road, which is a quiet, sandy road through woodland and savanna. Red-headed Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Kentucky Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Summer Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, and all of the expected species breed here. In winter, huge flocks of American Robins can be found here. Other wintering species include Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Hermit Thrush and Fox Sparrow.


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Monroe County

Kidd Lake

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Kidd Lake is a series of flooded agricultural fields and private land that can be viewed from Bluff Rd. (Hwy 3) and Kidd Lake Rd. Depending on exactly which fields are flooded, birds can be viewed from a number of places. This area can be a magnet for vagrants. Some of the species seen here include Wood Stork, Mottled Duck, Brown Pelican. This is the furthest north that Black Vulture regularly occurs in Illinois, and they can be seen almost anywhere. However, there is a mine entrance on the east side of Bluff Rd. a few miles to the south of Kidd Lake Rd. Black Vultures like to roost on a tall, ancient structure by the roadside here.

When water conditions are good, shorebirding here can be excellent. Other species in the general area include Black-necked Stilt, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Fish Crow, Blue Grosbeak.


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Lake County

IBSP North Unit- Sand Pond and Sand Pond Rd.

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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.


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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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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

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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Carroll County, Jo Daviess County

Lost Mound unit: Upper Mississippi NWR

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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.


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