Tag Archives: Nelson’s Sparrow

Park No. 566

Park No. 566
About-
Part of the historic US Steel South Works plant, the land occupied by the present-day park, was cleared in the late 1990’s. The land was acquired in 2004 by McCaffery Interests and, in an agreement with the city, subsequently deeded part of the land as a park. The Chicago Park District currently has a framework plan in place that will greatly alter the current state of the abandoned land but, no timeline has been set. The plan can be found on the CPD website.
Getting there-
Park No. 566 is most easily accessed from Lake Shore Drive, near the entrance to Rainbow Beach Park. You will pull past the intersection of S Farragut Dr & S Lake Shore Dr (for those coming from the north) and parallel park along the side of the road. Coming from the south, you will make a U-turn at that intersection to park on the south side of S Lake Shore Dr, east of Farragut. For those wishing to travel to the park in a low-carbon fashion, there are a variety of bus routes that travel nearby as well as the Cheltenham (79th St.) Metra Electric stop less than a half-mile away. The entrance into the park is off of Farragut. Look for a yellow gate. The path begins there.
How to bird-
The private land adjacent to the park runs along the south edge of the gravel path. As such, you won’t venture much off this path while birding this area. Hiking is an in-and-out endeavor. You’ll simply walk as far as you’d like and turn around. Lake-watchers will walk in until you find a mulch path headed north, there is a berm running along the slag shoreline which creates a good place to set up a scope. Unless you’re planning on lake-watching, avoid days with strong winds as it will keep the birds down in the grass and difficult to find. After rain, the path will likely be very muddy. No bathroom facilities are within walking distance.
park566
Birds found there-
Walking along the path, sparrows and other grassland birds are definitely the prime attraction with individual counts often above 100. In addition to the typical Emberizids, Grasshopper, Clay-colored, Henslow’s, Le Conte’s, and Nelson’s Sparrows have all been found here. Raptors are also common visitors. Northern Harriers and Short-eared Owls can occasionally be found sitting on the side of the path; more so the farther you walk in. The row of trees near the entrance to the park can hold a surprising array of spring and fall warblers and, because of the relatively large tract of land and its position of jutting out into the lake, the numbers of migrants can occasionally be outstanding. During the summer, Killdeer and Spotted Sandpipers are often seen running along the edges of the path. Other shorebirds may occasionally be found but the habitat is suitable only as a temporary stopping place and are definitely not typical. Gulls and waterfowl are regularly seen as at many other lakefront sites. However, when at the “lake-watching spot” be mindful that the Indiana border is a few hundred feet offshore due east. You’re best bet for Illinois viewing is focusing northward, back at the downtown area. Late fall/early winter is an excellent time to walk to the clearing (Slag area) and look for ground foraging birds. Horned Lark, Snow Bunting, and Lapland Longspur can assemble in huge flocks as they scrounge for seed in the open area. Winter residents are limited to White-crowned and American Tree Sparrows along with a few other common sparrow species.
Why this place is special-
There are many great places to bird in Chicago. Even the best feel very urban and surrounded by human activity. When you visit Park No.566, you’ll probably be the only person there. With S Lake Shore Dr not being heavily traveled, there are moments when you forget you’re standing within the boundaries of a large city.

Chicago Botanic Garden

McDonald Woods – The woodland is a good place to view both spring and fall migrants. Anywhere along the wood chipped nature trail will offer opportunities to see many neotropical migrants in the canopy and in the dense herbaceous vegetation in this restored oak woodland. In particular, the long wooden boardwalk across a shrubby wet area along the trail is good for warblers, sparrows and some waterfowl when water collects in this area in spring. In summer, you can find many of the woodland breeding bird here, such as Eastern Wood Pewee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-eyed Vireo, Red-bellied, Downy, and Hairy Woodpeckers The woodland edges along the road are also good places to spot Indigo Buntings.

Barbara Brown Nature Reserve – The Reserve is located on the far southeast end of the Garden. It contains six acres of combined prairie and woodland vegetation surrounding a four-acre lake. The gravel path provides access to the south and east end of the Reserve. This area is good for neotropical migrants in spring and fall in the trees along the path. The prairie provides habitat for sparrows and goldfinches when seedheads are dropping seed. The lake is a good placed to spot Black-crowned Night-Herons, Green Herons, Great Blue Herons, Wood Ducks, Double-crested Cormorants, and gulls and Caspian Terns. During the summer, there are a few nesting birds in the Reserve, like Red-bellied and Downy Woodpecker, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and American Goldfinch.

Mud Flats – At the east end of the Garden, there is an area of silt deposition from the Skokie River in the lake south of the Dixon Prairie. This area provides some of the best opportunities for spotting shorebirds, herons, egrets, Caspian Terns, and waterfowl.

Dixon Prairie – The Dixon prairie on the south end of the Garden is one of the best locations in the Garden to observe many species of sparrows, including; LeConte’s, Nelson’s, Song, Swamp, Savanna, Vesper, and several other sparrow migrants. Careful viewing on the circular boardwalk on Marsh Island in the prairie can result in interesting species such as; Sora, Virginia Rail, and Wilson’s Snipe. During migration, it is not unusual to find Short-eared Owls roosting on Marsh Island or in the fen at the base of the gravel hill prairie. In late fall and winter you may find Lapland Longspurs, American Pipits, and Snow Buntings. The open view of the sky in this location also makes it a good place for observing birds flying over the Garden. The Dixon prairie is a location where you can almost always find nesting Orchard Orioles, either in one of the bur oaks out on the prairie, or in the white poplars bordering the road on the east side of the prairie.

Plant Science Center Woods – The stand of Cottonwood trees on the north side of the Plant Science Center along the east road is a good place to view warblers and other neotropical migrants, especially early in the morning when the sun warms the tops of these tall trees and gets the insects active. It is often possible to spot these birds here first before the sun gets to the trees in the woods and elsewhere at the Garden. During the summer, this is a good location to find nesting Warbling Vireos and Baltimore Orioles.

Waterfall – The Waterfall Garden is a good place for birds both spring and fall. The east-facing slope of the garden gets some of the first sun in the morning making it attractive for insect eating birds. The slope, backed by the Dwarf Conifer Garden, also provides a protected area out of the wind making it attractive to all species.

Lakeside Garden – The abundance of flowering trees along the Lakeside Garden walk is a good place to spot warblers, vireos, thrushes, and many other species during the spring migration.

Sensory Garden – The Sensory Garden is a good location for spring migrants, but is possible better for fall opportunities to see an abundance of hummingbirds attracted to the flowering shrubs on the southeast end of the upper path. It is not unusual to see a dozen hummingbirds in this area. Also, later in fall and winter, the alders and birches in the garden attract numerous winter finches like Pine Siskins and redpolls. Hoary Redpolls have been seen here regularly. This is also another location for searching for nesting Orchard Orioles.

Open Water in Winter – South of the Horticulture building on the extreme south end of the Garden, there is an area in the Skokie River that often remains open in winter that is attractive to winter waterfowl. It is not unusual to spot Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Mergansers, and other duck species. This is one of the few locations at the Garden where scoters have been spotted in the past. Barrow’s Goldeneye has been found in winter in the often open water south of Dundee road, just outside the Garden.

Lakes – Although all of the lakes are connected, they still provide opportunities for viewing different species because of size and depth. The north lake and the lake south of Evening Island are large and open enough that they often attract species like Common Loon. Large rafts of Red-breasted Mergansers are often seen in these same locations as well as north and south of the Japanese Islands. The lake south of Marsh Island often attracts a variety of puddle ducks like; Gadwall, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, and American Wigeon. For whatever reason, one of the spots where Eared Grebes have been seen on occasion is north of the Fruit and Vegetable Island.

Miscellaneous – Given the proper weather conditions, the Garden is a good place to view fall hawk migration. Any time in fall after the passage of a strong cold front followed by westerly winds, it is possible to observe a variety of migrating raptors. It is not unusual to see a hundred or more raptors if you spend the day here. In late fall, as lakes in the northern parts of the country freeze over, we have had spectacular Sandhill Crane migrations at the Garden. Many thousands of cranes can often be seen in late November and early December. During these crane flights, it is possible to see hundreds of waterfowl along with dozens of late migrating raptor species. Good locations for viewing these flights are in the Green Roof Garden on the Plant Science Center building or the tall hill on the northeast end of Evening Island.

In general, the Garden’s close proximity to the shore of Lake Michigan, abundance of water, diversity of vegetation and corresponding habitat edges, make the Botanic Garden an attractive stop-over location for a great variety of birds. Checkout our bird list on the Garden website for information on season and abundance.

Clinton Lake

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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Northerly Island

Northerly Island, or what used to be Meigs Field, is one of the more recent bird attractions in Chicago. The ex-airport has now been transformed into grassland that is ripe for holding migrants. One should note that when visiting, parking costs a few dollars, but is usually worth it as the birding is usually fantastic.

Nelson’s and LeConte’s Sparrows can be found here with a bit of work, but seem to be a little more common and easy to find than at Montrose. In the winter, Northerly is transformed into a fantastic location for resident winter birds, such as Northern Shrikes, which will sometimes winter on the island. Northerly sits on the lake as well, which means ducks and other water birds can easily be found. Three sides of the “island” are covered in water, so duck numbers are usually high when there is open water. This past winter, Thayer’s, Glaucous, and Iceland Gulls all were found in the harbor, along with a long staying Long-tailed Duck. All three Scoters can also be found here usually near the harbor mouth on the south-west side.

There also usually is a large number of wintering raptors on the island, with a few Rough-legged Hawks in good years, Red-tailed Hawks, and breeding American Kestrels. In migration, Short-eared Owls can be found along with Northern Harriers. Passerine migration is also good here, with good numbers of grassland species. Henslow’s Sparrows can be found, as well as Sedge and Marsh Wrens.

As with Montrose Point, Northerly is a small magnet for rare and uncommon birds. In past years, Sage Thrasher, Brewer’s Sparrow, and Harlequin Duck have been found. Recently, Sam Burckhardt found a Red-throated Loon, a hard bird to see close to shore, across from Northerly Island near the Shedd Aquarium. The bird stayed for at least 2-3 more weeks, and was later found swimming in the harbor. Northerly is a fantastic mix of habitats, as there is a mix of both grasslands and open water.

Also, if visiting Northerly Island, one should consider visiting the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium. They are great attractions, and are great destinations for tourists.


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Montrose Point

To most birders in Chicago, Montrose is a must for any day in spring migration. It is one of the first land masses birds see when they come to shore after a day of migration, and has fantastic habitat for all types of migrants. When one arrives at Montrose early in the morning, the beach is usually the first spot to check. This area is located to the left of the fishhook pier and will usually have a variety of water birds. In migration, one can find Ruddy Turnstone, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Sanderling,  Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel, Willet, and sometimes even the rare Marbled Godwit. There can be Common and Forester’s Terns on the beach with the gulls, and sometimes uncommon gulls mixed in.

Moving into the native grasslands, one can encounter a variety of new species. Nelson’s and LeConte’s Sparrows are usually the high point for some in fall migration, as they are uncommon migrants and with a bit of searching can be found in the grasses. Short-eared Owls are known to be in the grasses and can be found with luck. One can also find Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur, and other sparrow species. Harris’s Sparrows sometimes can be found in the willows that are throughout the grasses, but they are usually only found once or twice in migration.

In the actual sanctuary, there is a vast system of trails that birders like to walk daily to find all the birds present. The Magic Hedge is located in the north part of the sanctuary and is known as on of the best spots in migration for warblers and other birds at Montrose. In one day, there can be over 20 species of warbler, including less common species like Mourning Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Golden and Blue-winged Warbler, and more. There is also a water drip for birds to drink from, which can also hold good migrants since there is a dead tree next to it for birds to perch in. If you come to Montrose in early May, it is almost a guarantee you will run into other local birders at the Magic Hedge, as well as throughout the Sanctuary.

Montrose is also an amazing magnet for uncommon to rare birds. Bob Hughes has recorded over 330 species at Montrose,  and recent uncommon birds have been Burrowing Owl, Western Grebe, Black-legged Kittiwake. Many first state records have been found at Montrose, and that is most likely due to the numbers of birders that travel there. Bob Hughes has a website dedicated to Montrose birding, which can be viewed at here: http://theorniphile.info/montrose_primer.html

montrose

1) Montrose Harbor

2) Golf Course Pond

3) Cricket Hill

4) Wilson Boat Launch

5) The Magic Hedge

6) Montrose Beach

7) The Meadow

8) Montrose Dunes

9) Fishhook Pier

(Courtesy of Bob Hughes and the Montrose Primer (http://theorniphile.info/montrose_primer.html)


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Waukegan Beach

Nestled amongst an archaic industrial backdrop, Waukegan Beach is one of the premier lakefront birding sites in Lake County.  Historically, this site has hosted quite a few state rarities, including Tricolored Heron, Arctic Tern, and Mountain Bluebird.  In the fall and winter months, the northernmost pier has been the most reliable spot in the state to find a Purple Sandpiper.  It almost strictly a migratory bird stopover site, with very few notable breeders.  The summer months are dominated by beach goers, and unless you get there early, a fee to enter the beach.  Birding Waukegan can be broken into several categories: beach, dunes, park, harbor.

The beach proper is best birded by heading north on the shoreline from the northern pier.  The half mile stretch of beach to Greenwood Ave is a great place in the spring and summer to pick up migrating shorebirds.  In April, it is a great spot for Piping Plovers.  Other notable shorebirds seen in fall/spring migration include Baird’s Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Dunlin, Willet, American Avocet, Marbled Godwit, Semipalmated Plover, Black-bellied Plover, American Golden-Plover, and Red Knot.  In spring, terns are easily seen flying over the lake with both Common and Forster’s being numerous.  Also, Bonaparte’s Gulls are readily seen in season while walking the beach, though not in their previous numbers.

As mentioned earlier, the piers are, with luck, a great spot to find Purple Sandpiper.  In migration, Ruddy Turnstones are seen almost annually on the piers, too.  In winter, this has been a historical site to find Harlequin Duck.  Off the piers (northern or “Government” Pier) on a fall day with stiff NE winds, is a great place for lake watching.  All three scoter species have been found alongside Long-tailed Ducks and the other common divers.

The dunes adjacent to the beach are a great place to hike during migration.  Any part of the dunes near water can kick up Nelson’s and Le Conte’s Sparrows.  An early morning hike can include hunting Northern Harriers and flushed Short-eared Owls.  Swarms of swallows course over the marshland, with all the regular occurring species seen in good numbers.  The fall of 2012 included a November sighting of Cave Swallow.  Scrubbier habitat near the beach parking lot can hold large quantities of migrating passerines on any spring/fall day.  Always worth checking this area.

The park just west of the swimming beach, locally known as the “Magic Pines,” can be migrant trap.  Notable species seen during migration include Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Canada Warbler, Mourning Warbler, and Clay-colored Sparrow.  Almost any migratory passerine can be found here on the right day.  Like most lakefront sites, this can also be a great place to see high counts for a species.

The harbor is the place to look for ducks that enjoy sheltered waters.  During migration and winter, look for Horned Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, Gadwall, Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye.  To bird the harbor, it is best to walk along Government Pier, parking in the marina parking lot.  It’s always worth scanning from the end of government pier.  Most recently, a Western/Clark’s Grebe was spotted there.  Snowy Owls have been found on the harbor docks in winter, as well as on the end of the piers in good years.  As the harbor freezes over, gulls congregate in small/medium numbers.  Despite not having the highest individual counts, the seven “regular” species have been seen.


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Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge / Thompson Lake

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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Double T State Fish and Wildlife Area

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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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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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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