From Bgsloan2 at Yahoo

From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Sun Apr 1 11:37:11 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Sun Apr 1 11:37:16 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Collins Pond, 3/31 - eagle, turkey, pileated Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I walked the trail twice at Collins Pond (far south end of Homer Lake park).

There wasn't a lot of activity, but what I saw was pretty nice. Not very often one can take a hike in Champaign County and be able to list Bald Eagle (brief glimpse on a flyover, being harrased by a couple of Crows), Wild Turkey (gobbles heard), and Pileated Woodpecker.

Also saw Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, and Northern Flicker.

There were 6 Red-bellied Woodpeckers more or less on the same large tree. Every once in a while two or three of them would get into some sort of squabble.

There are some nice bluffs along the wooded part of the trail, maybe 60 feet above the Salt Fork bottoms.

Bernie Sloan

------Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels in 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070401/52 a902ad/attachment.htm From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Sun Apr 1 12:01:56 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Sun Apr 1 12:02:01 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Heron Park, 3/31 - Bald Eagles, Mute Swans, lots of Herons Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I spent maybe an hour at Heron Park in Danville.

Highlight was seeing 2-3 Bald Eagles, one very close.

I'd been there about half an hour and was disappointed at a lack of waterfowl. Then I watched an adult Bald Eagle glide low across the pond...excellent view through my small binoculars. The Canada Geese got very noisy, and a good number of ducks flushed from an area of the pond that you can't see from the boardwalk...lots of Northern Shovelers, Blue-winged Teal, American Coots, Mallards, and a few Ring-necked Ducks.

Also saw a lot of Turkey Vultures at the park, at least 20. I bet I saw 60+ while driving through Champaign and Vermillion counties.

Bald Eagle - 2-3 Mute Swan - 2 (lately you haven't been able to see them from the boardwalk...they are a little farther east) Great Blue Heron - ~25, in the rookery, or flying to and from the rookery Turkey Vulture - 20+ Wild Turkey - 4, in a field west of the park on the north side of West Newell Road Eastern Bluebird - 4 (looked like two pairs) Canada Goose - ~35, many nesting Northern Shoveler - ~30 American Coot - ~20 Blue-winged Teal - 15-20 Mallard - 10 Ring-necked Duck (probable) - 5-6 Northern Flicker - 10, in burned prairie north of the road American Robin - 20, in same burned prairie Downy Woodpecker - 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3-4 Red-headed Woodpecker - 1, in dead tree by rookery Tree-Swallow - 20+ Song Sparrow - 1 House Finch - 2 American Crow - 1 Common Grackle - 8, on burned prairie Brown-Headed Cowbird - 10, on burned prairie Red-winged Blackbird - many European Starling - 3

Bernie Sloan

------Need Mail bonding? Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070401/15 d7c6b7/attachment.htm From dktor1977 at yahoo.com Mon Apr 2 09:13:50 2007 From: dktor1977 at yahoo.com (Daniel Toronto) Date: Mon Apr 2 09:13:53 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Great-crested Flycatcher Message-ID: <[email protected]>

On my drive to work, saw what I'm pretty sure was a Great-crested Flycatcher perched in a tree near the corner of Springfield and Goodwin.

Dan Toronto ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070402/db 52f8c8/attachment.htm From LewsaderBud at aol.com Mon Apr 2 20:46:10 2007 From: LewsaderBud at aol.com ([email protected]) Date: Mon Apr 2 20:46:18 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Egret Message-ID:

My first Egret of the season. It was at one of the stripemine ponds on Henning Rd. East side of the road.

Bud Lewsader

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070402/37 e2e0cc/attachment.htm From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Mon Apr 2 21:24:40 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Mon Apr 2 21:24:46 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Urbana turkey article in the News-Gazette Message-ID: <[email protected]>

From today's New-Gazette, for those of you who might be interested in the Urbana wild turkeys:

http://tinyurl.com/35volw

At the very end, the article mentions that I will be giving a presentation on Urbana's turkeys this week.

For what it's worth, here are the details about my presentation:

Champaign County Audubon Society General Meeting Thursday, April 5, 7 p.m. Urbana Free Library Auditorium Bernie Sloan Of Champaign County Audubon will speak on "The Wild Turkeys of Urbana"

Bernie Sloan

------Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070402/9b 933298/attachment.htm From roper37 at gmail.com Tue Apr 3 01:26:20 2007 From: roper37 at gmail.com (sarah roper) Date: Tue Apr 3 01:26:24 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] solitary sandpiper Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello,

Sorry for being late again with the post (computer died). On Sunday at the South Farms in the flooded area there was one solitary sandpiper. Killdeer were the only other shorebirds present. Two mallards and two canada geese were trying very hard to keep their composure in the wind.

This was roughly 2pm.

Sarah Roper Urbana, IL From dafekt1ve at yahoo.com Tue Apr 3 17:57:10 2007 From: dafekt1ve at yahoo.com (Bryan Guarente) Date: Tue Apr 3 17:57:14 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook Morning: 04/03/07 Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Birdnoters, This morning I went to Meadowbrook at a relatively early hour (not as early as Roger likes to get out there, but still early for me) of 7am. I wasn't expecting much, but came up with a quarry of birds. After that I continued on to the Dairy Cattle Unit. The lists follow with some details for uncommon birds:

HERONS, EGRETS AND BITTERNS Great Blue Heron DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS Mallard HAWKS, EAGLES AND KITES Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk PHEASANTS AND PARTRIDGES Ring-necked Pheasant PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS American Golden-Plover (88 flyby in three separate groups) Killdeer PIGEONS AND DOVES Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove KINGFISHERS Belted Kingfisher WOODPECKERS Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker SWALLOWS Tree Swallow KINGLETS Ruby-crowned Kinglet (dead center in the park on McCullough creek) WAXWINGS Cedar Waxwing WRENS Carolina Wren MOCKINGBIRDS AND THRASHERS Brown Thrasher THRUSHES American Robin GNATCATCHERS Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1 east of house on race st) CROWS AND JAYS Blue Jay American Crow STARLINGS European Starling SPARROWS, TOWHEES, JUNCOS Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (1 just south of "Tango" sculpture) Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow (1 near prairie playground) Dark-eyed Junco SALTATORS, CARDINALS AND ALLIES Northern Cardinal BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, GRACKLES, ETC. Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird FINCHES, SISKINS, CROSSBILLS American Goldfinch OLD WORLD SPARROWS House Sparrow ////---- STATISTICS ----///// Species seen - 36

After that I made my way via the Dairy Cattle Unit where I came upon this list:

DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS Canada Goose Mallard Blue-winged Teal 8 PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS Killdeer SANDPIPERS Wilson's Snipe 1 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Solitary Sandpiper 1 Pectoral Sandpiper 22 PIGEONS AND DOVES Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove STARLINGS European Starling BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, GRACKLES, ETC. Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird OLD WORLD SPARROWS House Sparrow ////---- STATISTICS ----///// Species seen - 15

Bryan Guarente Atmospheric Sciences Research Assistant Champaign, IL

______The fish are biting. Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070403/3c 832d4f/attachment.htm From Frank21 at insightbb.com Tue Apr 3 23:46:33 2007 From: Frank21 at insightbb.com (Frank21) Date: Tue Apr 3 23:46:37 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Bald eagle Message-ID: <003c01c77674$3b2e6a50$6801a8c0@blackdell>

Tuesday at about 4:15 a magnificent Bald Eagle flew directly over me on I-74 heading south-west at St. Joseph. The sun was shining directly on his head and breast. If only I hadn't been driving I could have gotten a picture. Frank Cooper ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070403/39 cb786e/attachment.htm From Frank21 at insightbb.com Wed Apr 4 00:03:36 2007 From: Frank21 at insightbb.com (Frank21) Date: Wed Apr 4 00:03:51 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Bald eagle References: <003c01c77674$3b2e6a50$6801a8c0@blackdell> Message-ID: <005101c77676$9cefd3d0$6801a8c0@blackdell>

That was on Monday! ----- Original Message ----- From: Frank21 To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 11:46 PM Subject: [Birdnotes] Bald eagle Tuesday at about 4:15 a magnificent Bald Eagle flew directly over me on I-74 heading south-west at St. Joseph. The sun was shining directly on his head and breast. If only I hadn't been driving I could have gotten a picture. Frank Cooper

------

______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070404/4c dce6ca/attachment.htm From rkanter at uiuc.edu Wed Apr 4 10:39:09 2007 From: rkanter at uiuc.edu (Rob Kanter) Date: Wed Apr 4 10:39:20 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Fwd: peregine falcon In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> References: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Birdnoters,

Thought you might be interested in this e-mail from Clark Bullard sent yesterday afternoon. Apologies for the delay in forwarding.

Rob Kanter

Friends

A few minutes ago a peregrine falcon landed in one of the baby trees next to Boneyard Creek just west of Mathews.

A nice addition to my species list for last 6 mo:

Breeding -- rabbit, squirrel, muskrat, frog, mallard, Canada goose Transients -- spotted sandpiper, kingfisher, great blue heron, lapland longspur, redtailed hawk Build it and they will come.

Clark Bullard Professor of Mechanical Engineering University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 1206 W Green St Urbana IL 61801 217 333 7734 www.mechse.uiuc.edu/faculty/bullard From threlkster at gmail.com Thu Apr 5 01:16:30 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Thu Apr 5 01:16:35 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Thrush Message-ID: <[email protected]>

HERMIT THRUSH 6:10 p.m. Wed., 4 April 2007 FOY CBT (first-of-year confusing-brown-thrush) in backyard, hopping around the lawn. With this arctic blast freezing the bejesus out of us, and even icing over our birdbath, it's pleasing to see one harbinger of spring. Of course, as we strolled out for an early evening walk, and nearly got blown back in through the front door, it occurred to me that this brutal north wind is likely causing a pretty fair fallout. As for this particular ID, I spotted a fairly clear eyering, and a tail, upper tail coverts, and rump that were distinctly more reddish than the back. There was strong spotting on the throat and breast. The spotting on the sides of the throat was strong enough to look almost like striping. Little or no spotting on belly or sides. Of course, if someone has reason to suggest a better ID, I'm happy to hear it.

CROW 3:30 and 4:20 Wed., 4 April 2007 In Bian park, at 3553 W. Kirby Ave. (a little east of I-74, south side of Kirby). I saw a crow on the lawn that seemed to have a rust-colored back. Anyone seen such a thing of late?

______Brian Threlkeld 107 E Michigan Ave Urbana IL 61801-5027

217-384-5164 [email protected] ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070405/42 cb8ea3/attachment.htm From birder1949 at yahoo.com Thu Apr 5 07:22:47 2007 From: birder1949 at yahoo.com (Roger Digges) Date: Thu Apr 5 07:22:51 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] White-throated sparrow Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Not sure if it's an early migrant or a wintering bird, but this morning heard the first White-throated Sparrow in my backyard in some weeks.

Roger Digges southeast Urbana

______Finding fabulous fares is fun. Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel bargains. http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097 From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Thu Apr 5 15:04:37 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Thu Apr 5 15:05:05 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Urbana turkeys captured Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Looks like I won't be sending any more turkey updates. The remaining two Urbana turkeys were captured Tuesday morning.

News-Gazette story from yesterday's paper for those who might be interested in the details:

http://tinyurl.com/37byr3

Bernie Sloan

------Finding fabulous fares is fun. Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel bargains. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070405/0a 964c56/attachment.htm From j.courson at mchsi.com Thu Apr 5 15:36:02 2007 From: j.courson at mchsi.com (Jeffrey A. Courson) Date: Thu Apr 5 15:37:03 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Purple Martins Have Arrived! Message-ID: <[email protected]>

For those of you that are interested in Martins.Four were on the houses this am.

Jeffrey A. Courson

"There comes a special moment in everyone's life, a moment for which that person was born. That special opportunity, when he seizes it, will fulfill his mission--a mission for which he is uniquely qualified. In that moment, he finds greatness. It is his finest hour." Winston Churchill

------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070405/11 cadd34/attachment.htm From lupewinku at lanscape.net Thu Apr 5 21:00:53 2007 From: lupewinku at lanscape.net (Rhetta Jack) Date: Thu Apr 5 21:03:20 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] South Farms cow poop spot Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello Birdnoters, Was able to check out the spot today for the first time in one week between 5:30p-6pm. Water has gone down some, but some still there. Many Blue winged Teal, several pairs of Mallards, and 4 quarrelling Canada Geese were alternately feeding and sunning in this cold wind. A SOLITARY SANDPIPER landed right next to my car and looked up at me for awhile and flew off. A Greater YELLOWLEGS was frantically feeding later. Saw one Killdeer. Many Robins and Mourning Doves sunning in the grasses. Is this the place others have been calling Dairy Research and flooded south farm area? Just wondering, Rhetta Jack

From betuana at hotmail.com Thu Apr 5 22:58:26 2007 From: betuana at hotmail.com (Beth Kennedy) Date: Thu Apr 5 22:58:32 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Quiet Day at Meadowbrook Message-ID:

We went for a walk at meadowbrook today - it was extremely quiet. I've grown accustomed to hearing the red-winged blackbirds everywhere there, and there were none insight, and not a sound for them in the several hours we were there today. All in all the large prairie area south of the play field seemed almost deserted, we didn't see a single animal in that space at all.

Elsewhere we did see a few animals: Phesants - 2 (1 male by garden plots, 1 female at start of rough trail south of the plots) Robins - many, many dozens (in mowed areas) Northern Flickers - couple dozen, mostly in the triangle of grass and scattered trees bordered by 3 rough trails (one along the creek from garden house to prairie, the other curving along the north west side of the prairie right there). The flickers were all over and very active! Turkey Vulture - 1 (fly over_ Crows - 2 fly over (chasing the hawk), 3 in trees east of park Broad-winged Hawk (I think, buteo flight pattern, mostly brownish backside, white underside with brown streaking, too small to be a red-tail)- 1 fly over (being chased by crows) Grackles - 5-6, on trees on west side along Race St. Deer: 1 by the flickers area, 5-6 right next to the rough trail just south of the wildflower walk (very muddy trail!) Heard: Cardinals (mostly south of park)

While driving between there and our house in south Champaign we saw: 1 American Kestrel 1 Rock Pigeon 3 Crows (fly overs) Several Grackles 1 Mallard (in creek) 3 Canada Geese (fly over) several Robins

Our patio area and feeder was pretty active today: 1 Brown Thrasher (first of season in our yard - perched 2 feet from the window!) House Sparrows - numerous Grackles - numerous Song Sparrow -2 Cardinals - 2 (pair) Blue Jays - 3 Robins - several White Throated Sparrow - 1 Starling - 3 Mourning Doves - several Brown Headed Cowbird - 2 (pair) Juncos - 5 Northern Flicker - 1

-Beth Kennedy [email protected]

______Need a break? Find your escape route with Live Search Maps. http://maps.live.com/?icid=hmtag3

From birder1949 at yahoo.com Fri Apr 6 07:22:14 2007 From: birder1949 at yahoo.com (Roger Digges) Date: Fri Apr 6 07:22:21 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Woodcock still present at Meadowbrook Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I'm still hearing the "peent"s of one lone Woodcock on the east side of the park around mile 0.2 at around 5:45 a.m. By the time I get around to the west side of the park near the "rabbit" bridge the Brown Thrasher has awakened; it's fun to hear what new songs he may have for the day.

Roger Digges

______Need Mail bonding? Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396546091 From charleneanchor at msn.com Fri Apr 6 12:32:48 2007 From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor) Date: Fri Apr 6 12:22:29 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Friday AM at Meadowbrook Message-ID:

It was a chilly morning and some of the birds were slow. Was about to pass a ROBIN who was sitting just a few feet off the sidewalk. It didn't move. I stood and looked at it, it looked at me and it didn't do anything. After a short time I walked slowly away and it hopped in the other direction. Later I came upon a SONG SPARROW - similar situation just a couple of feet off the sidewalk. Sparrows never sit quietly! But this one did - I looked at it and it looked at me. This time I stayed and finally it started scratching in the dirt right where it was while I stood watching. Then a second one landed next to it. They foraged together and eventually flew out into the prairie together.

The GRACKLES undaunted by the cold. They were noisy, displaying to each other, and one was carrying nest materials. Four FLICKERS were in a tree, 2 males and 2 females, doing their seasonal territorial displays. Actually the females were doing the displaying and the males were below them watching. The females were waving their bills at each other and going side to side making various noises. Finally one pair flew off east and the second pair flew off west.

Best of all - as I was crossing the prairie going west from the Overlook I saw three large birds and heard a pheasant. Turned out to be a very large, adult RED-TAILED HAWK and two PHEASANTS. It looked like the hawk had been after them. If it had, I did not know that they did that. The pheasants flew away and the hawk landed along the creek. Shortly the hawk took off flying very low over the prairie towards me. I got excited thinking it was going to continue straight towards me (I was hoping I was going to have to duck) but it veered south a bit, went up higher and continued east over the evergreens and back down again.

But CARDINALS and RED-WINGS were singing, ROBINS were calling and 2 BROWN THRASHERS were sitting quietly. Didn't see a single TREE SWALLOW. Hope they have found a warmer location until this cold is finished.

Charlene Anchor ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070406/6d 5a4b64/attachment.htm From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Fri Apr 6 20:09:14 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Fri Apr 6 20:09:21 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Urbana Ring-billed Gull Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I spotted a Ring-billed Gull circling over the Urbana Wal-Mart parking lot today at about 1:30PM.

And yesterday I saw a pair of Turkey Vultures at Lincoln and Windsor at about 2:30PM.

Bernie Sloan

------8:00? 8:25? 8:40? Find a flick in no time with theYahoo! Search movie showtime shortcut. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070406/c7 86d20f/attachment.htm From jwhoyt at prairienet.org Sat Apr 7 00:51:33 2007 From: jwhoyt at prairienet.org (James Hoyt) Date: Sat Apr 7 00:51:41 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] More Urban bird sightings In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID:

Birders,

Saw 4 Wood Ducks fly out of the trees above the West Pond in Busey Woods about 6PM.

Later...

I saw a lone Turkey Vulture over Perkin's Road on Friday at about 6:30 PM just West of the Dog Walk in Urbana.

Thanks to Bernie Sloan for his terrific talk about urban turkeys this Thursday at the Champaign County Audubon Society meeting. :)

Good birding,

Jim :)

On Fri, 6 Apr 2007, B.G. Sloan wrote: > > I spotted a Ring-billed Gull circling over the Urbana Wal-Mart parking lot today at about 1:30PM. > > And yesterday I saw a pair of Turkey Vultures at Lincoln and Windsor at about 2:30PM. > > Bernie Sloan > > > ------> 8:00? 8:25? 8:40? Find a flick in no time > with theYahoo! Search movie showtime shortcut.

-- James Hoyt "The Prairie Ant" Champaign Co. Audubon Illinois Audubon Society Co-steward Parkland College Prairies. Volunteer Monitor; Urbana Park District Natural Areas. Champaign County Master Gardener East Central Illinois Master Naturalist Grand Prairie Friends - Prairie Grove Volunteers Allerton Allies Prairie Rivers Network The Xerces Society The Illinois Chapter of the Nature Conservancy

======"The way to keep a trail alive is to walk on it". Author unknown ======

*********************************************************************** ******** *********************************************************************** ******** "The human culture is considered to be a 'geologic force' and with good reason. But if we are at a stage where our actions are to decide the world's future, then surely we have reached a level where we can be held acountable for the world's future." Durward L. Allen "Our Wildlife Legacy" *********************************************************************** ******** *********************************************************************** ********

From charleneanchor at msn.com Sat Apr 7 10:55:59 2007 From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor) Date: Sat Apr 7 10:45:40 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Cardinal Courtship at Meadowbrook Message-ID: Forgot to mention something else I saw Friday morning until I looked it up last night...... I saw a male Cardinal perched on a low branch in a small tree. He was leaning strongly to his left with his tail slightly fanned. At first I thought something was wrong and that he was going to fall off his perch. So I continued to watch. He then righted himself and sang, not the usual loud song, but quieter and shorter with a slightly raised crest. I still wasn't sure if he had a problem or not as he looked rather peculiar. He repeated this behavior several times and finally I decided to look where he was looking and there sat a female nearby in a shrub. I moved to get a better look at the female and they both flew off together. In one of Stokes behavior volumes I found out I was observing the third, not commonly seen stage of their courtship, the first being counter-singing, the second being mate-feeding and the third described by Stokes as the "Lop-sided pose". Frequently the male will lean from side to side (this one was just going in one direction) and sometimes the female will do it at the same time. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to observe what the female was doing. I have observed the first two stages and so it was nice to learn about the third. Anyway, if you ever see a cardinal acting in this fashion you'll know they are a pair of COURTING CARDINALS.

Charlene Anchor

------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070407/c5 612ae6/attachment.htm From birder1949 at yahoo.com Sat Apr 7 12:45:10 2007 From: birder1949 at yahoo.com (Roger Digges) Date: Sat Apr 7 12:45:19 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Harrier at Meadowbrook Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Observed a female Northern Harrier coursing low over the eastern side of Meadowbrook from south to north at around 10:30 this morning. Before I even saw her, I observed a number of pheasants bursting out of cover from underneath her flight path. She was uninterested, and continuing heading north over Yankee Ridge.

Roger Digges

______Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html From smithsje at egix.net Sat Apr 7 15:46:18 2007 From: smithsje at egix.net (Jim & Eleanor Smith) Date: Sat Apr 7 14:47:19 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Heron Park Birds Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello, Bird,

The following birds were found at Heron Park and Lake Vermilion this morning during CCAS's VERY cold, windy field trip. Ice was on the shallower water areas.

Blue-winged teal Mallard Wood duck Gadwall Shoveler Ring-necked duck Canada goose Coot Double-ceasted cormorant (100+/-) Bonapart's gull Ring-billed gull Common loon Great-blue heron Northen Harrier Turkey Vulture Tree swallow Red-bellied woodpecker Pileated woodpecker Flicker White-breasted nuthatch Tuffed timouse Mourning dove Robin Blue Jay Starling Meadow Lark Song sparrow Swamp sparrow Cowbird Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird Goldfinch House finch House sparrow

Best regards.

Jim & Eleanor Smith [email protected] 2007-04-07

From threlkster at gmail.com Sat Apr 7 16:29:46 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Sat Apr 7 16:29:50 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Creeped out Message-ID: <[email protected]>

BROWN CREEPERs 4:20 p.m. Sat., 7 Apr. 2007 Pair of 'em, doing their thing up and down the old ash out back.

I'm still seeing juncos out back on a daily basis, but I expect they'll all leave for the great North before long.

217-384-5164 [email protected] ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070407/ce b390ea/attachment.htm From betuana at hotmail.com Sat Apr 7 23:43:41 2007 From: betuana at hotmail.com (Beth Kennedy) Date: Sat Apr 7 23:43:48 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook, Sat PM (COLD!) Message-ID:

Still very cold and windy this evening at meadowbrook, but we saw more than we did Thursday. Red Winged Blackbirds - several, mostly in the trees. Robins - numerous in the mowed areas Northern Flickers - 3 in trees northwest of main prairie Crows - 3 flying over east trees Grackles - several (fly overs) Canada Geese - 2 (fly over) Song Sparrow - 1 singing in mowed grass right next to observation tower Yellow Rumped Warbler (female) - in tree north of creek by rabbit statue. Had to look this one up, new one for me - but it matched the picture exactly! Pheasants - many heard, 3-4 males seen (one jumped up about 5-10 feet from us!) Heard: Cardinals and Mourning Doves Also heard at around 7:45pm a soft, but clear, lower pitched hoo-hoo, in the trees near where the bridge starts the rough trail from the garden plots. Sounded like a subdued great-horned owl call perhaps? Definitely sounded owl-like - and it was getting late enough. Didn't spot anything though, and it didn't repeat. Also saw a bird I couldn't ID (partially from not knowing what it could be, partially from distance). We were by the fence separating the playfield and prarie area, and saw it flying against the trees to the south (then into the sky). It was a good sized white bird - only visible against the dark of the trees, completely lost it in the clouds.We estimated it to be about grackle sized or slightly larger, though its hard to tell, and it moved fairly swiftly. No idea what it might have been...

Other people there reported hearing woodcocks in the west area of the prairie...

Saw some deer too, and a coyote crossed the trail 30 feet in front of us and stopped and stared before loping into the main prairie area - that made the pheasants start calling much more frequently!

In our yard we got a variety of birds again today: Brown Creeper - 1 Brown Thrasher - 1 House Finch (First of Year) - 1 House Sparrows - dozens Robins - 2 Starlings - 3 Grackles - 5 Eastern Towhee - pair (first sighting of the female) Song Sparrow - 2 Brown Headed Cowbird - pair Chirping Sparrow (I think) - 1 Blue Jays -3 Juncos - 5-6 Mourning Doves 6-7

If anyone knows what that white bird may have been, or has any sightings (or hearings) of the possible owl at meadowbrook I'd love to hear!

Happy birding (stay warm!!)

______Can’t afford to quit your job? – Earn your AS, BS, or MS degree online in 1 year. http://www.classesusa.com/clickcount.cfm?id=866145&goto=http%3A%2F %2Fwww.classesusa.com%2Ffeaturedschools%2Fonlinedegreesmp%2Fform- dyn1.html%3Fsplovr%3D866143

From brockprice at sbcglobal.net Sun Apr 8 21:49:53 2007 From: brockprice at sbcglobal.net (Brock Price) Date: Sun Apr 8 21:49:58 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Loons Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Visiting Mattoon today - took a quick drive around Lake Mattoon and Lake Paradise.

Highlights:

Common Loon - 3 at Lake Mattoon and 4 at Lake Paradise ( probably more, but no safe place to pull over at Lake Mattoon.

Purple Martins Tree Swallows Bonaparte's Gulls ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070408/6d b41008/attachment.htm From lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu Sun Apr 8 21:57:19 2007 From: lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu (Gregory S Lambeth) Date: Sun Apr 8 21:57:23 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Busey Woods Bird Walk (4/08) References: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

The record cold temperatures and Northerly winds have brought spring migration to a virtual standstill. Nevertheless, a group of about 12 birders showed up for the morning's walk and turned up a surprising number of species -- 37 in total. There were a lot of the usual suspects and nothing unusual. We did turn up a Winter Wren. The only warblers were a few hardy Yellow-rumps. The Cooper's Hawks continue their nest building activities. There were 10-12 Sapsuckers. We had several Hermit Thrushes and an Eastern Bluebird. It's safe to say that birders and birds alike are hoping for warmer conditions for next week's walk.

Greg Lambeth

From birder1949 at yahoo.com Mon Apr 9 07:25:04 2007 From: birder1949 at yahoo.com (Roger Digges) Date: Mon Apr 9 07:25:16 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook Woodcock, Screech Owl and Red-shouldered Hawk (?) Message-ID: <[email protected]>

On this morning's pre-dawn walk at Meadowbrook, My wife and I heard an Eastern Screech Owl along McCollough Creek at the south end of the statuary path. It called several times before falling silent as we went past. We also heard (but never could see) the American Woodcock displaying between mile 0.2 and 0.3 above eastern prairie. Our third unusual bird is a bit of mystery. We heard a bird calling loudly from along McCollough, either in Meadowbrook or the Forestry. From my birding CD's and my experience it sounded very much like a Red-Shouldered Hawk. But I did not see it in the twilight. I've heard juvenile Red-taileds that have had similar calls, but it seems like the wrong time of year for juvenile Red-tails to be calling.

Roger Digges

______Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels in 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit. http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097 From brockprice at sbcglobal.net Mon Apr 9 11:50:44 2007 From: brockprice at sbcglobal.net (Brock Price) Date: Mon Apr 9 11:58:04 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Loon Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Took another drive before work today:

Homer Lake still has or has another Common Loon. Wilson's Snipe

Collin's Pond:

2 Red-breasted Nuthatches ( one initially got my attention while it was sitting on a wire much as a Chipping Sparrow would - I had not observed a Nuthatch sitting on a wire before. ) ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070409/fa ed4f99/attachment.htm From derekliebert at yahoo.com Mon Apr 9 13:18:19 2007 From: derekliebert at yahoo.com (Derek Liebert) Date: Mon Apr 9 13:18:24 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] No sightings--Meadowbrook Brush Mulching Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Please pardon the use of this list serve for a status report, but given the CCAS's association with Meadowbrook Park, it seems a brief report might be in order.

Beginning today, the Urbana Park District has contracted some brush mulching along sections of Douglas Creek and Walkers Grove at Meadowbrook Park. This is a project that has been reviewed and is supported by our volunteer Natural Areas Committee and site stewards. The targeted species for mulching is bush honeysuckle, an invasive species that provides limited habitat and excludes the diversity of native flora typical of higher quality stream side habitats.

Once mulched, these areas will receive significant follow up management that will include treating the cut stumps of honeysuckle to limit re-infestation, seeding of appropriate grasses and wildflowers, and staged plantings of native shrubs for improved overall habitat.

Please feel free to email me directly and/or to call myself or Lori Kae Schwab, Natural Areas Coordinator, at the District?s Planning and Operations office (344-9583) if you have further questions.

Thank you for your continued interest and support of Meadowbrook Park.

Derek Liebert Project Manager Urbana Park District 901 N. Broadway, Urbana, IL 61801 217-344-9583 (W), 217-417-1120 (H) [email protected] / [email protected]

______Bored stiff? Loosen up... Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games. http://games.yahoo.com/games/front From lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu Mon Apr 9 23:00:55 2007 From: lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu (Gregory S Lambeth) Date: Mon Apr 9 23:02:13 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] White Pelicans at Clinton Lake References: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I don't often re-post someone else's sighting, but I thought I would make an exception here. There was a post this evening on IBET of 114 White Pelicans at Clinton Lake today. I've seen large numbers of White Pelicans at Lake Shelbyville before, but never this many at Clinton Lake. I thought some of you on Birdnotes might be interested. The birds were reported off the Highway 48 bridge.

Greg Lambeth From limey at uiuc.edu Tue Apr 10 16:45:11 2007 From: limey at uiuc.edu (John David Buckmaster) Date: Tue Apr 10 16:45:24 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] pelicans at Clinton Lake Message-ID: <[email protected]>

On March 24 I posted a sighting of 22 pelicans in the marshy area where the Salt Creek flows into the lake. Today, at the same place, there were over 100 pelicans. Possibly its favored because very few boats go up there, and they are fairly shy with regard to things on the water. My guess is that it is possible to walk in from 54, but it's not clear from where exactly to start. The creek/lake transition is very clear on the water, but not on the DeLorme map. Do you think this flock represents an addition to the earlier 22, or is a wholly new set?

John Buckmaster 2014 Boudreau Urbana IL 61801 217.621.9786 [email protected]

------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070410/16 b553ce/attachment.htm From calidris_1004 at yahoo.com Wed Apr 11 21:27:28 2007 From: calidris_1004 at yahoo.com (Travis Mahan) Date: Wed Apr 11 21:27:35 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Clinton Lake Access and Yellow Rail Field Trip this Saturday In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello everyone,

The location that John refers to is accessible from at least two different locations east of Parnell. It is a very worthwhile place to visit throughout the year, and one that I try to visit everytime I'm in the area. It currently has a large amount of cattails and other marsh vegetation, which makes it a good place for rails, bitterns, and the like. I've had good numbers of American Woodcock here in the past. If Clinton Lake gets low, this is a great place to view shorebirds.

The access sites to this area as follows:

One site that I once called the "Radio Tower Access" (a tower is no longer present) is basically a small parking lot for hunters and fishermen, which provides easy travel to the subject area from the north. A small gravel lane about 1.5 to 2 miles east of Parnell off of Rt. 54 leads to this parking area. One can also access this location from the south at another hunter/fishermen lot just off of 2400E as it makes a sharp curve to the east towards Farmer City.

This will be one of the stops for this Saturday's Yellow Rail Field Trip hosted by the Illinois Ornithological Society - see the 2007 IOS field trips page at:

http://www.illinoisbirds.org/fieldtrips.html.

Previous trips have produced excellent looks at Yellow Rail and other marsh dwellers, and absolutely amazing looks have been obtained of Le Conte's Sparrows in past trips. To find a Yellow Rail, one must walk through large areas of wetland to either flush one from the marsh or get lucky to see one scurry from your feet. Given the large number of participants each year (30-40 people is typical), this may be your best opportunity to see a Yellow Rail in Illinois.

The initial meeting location for this trip will be at 7:30 am at the Spillway Access parking lot on the southwest end of Clinton Lake off of Rt. 10. A small fee of $5 is required for IOS members, while a $25 fee is required for non-members. The non-member fee will not only provide the ability to participate in the trip, it will also provide IOS membership. Tyler Funk will be the trip leader and can be contacted at [email protected] for more details.

Take care,

Travis Mahan Decatur, IL Macon Co. [email protected] Bird photos: http://home.insightbb.com/~tmahan/index.html Illinois Ornithological Society: http://www.illinoisbirds.org/

John David Buckmaster wrote: On March 24 I posted a sighting of 22 pelicans in the marshy area where the Salt Creek flows into the lake. Today, at the same place, there were over 100 pelicans. Possibly its favored because very few boats go up there, and they are fairly shy with regard to things on the water. My guess is that it is possible to walk in from 54, but it's not clear from where exactly to start. The creek/lake transition is very clear on the water, but not on the DeLorme map. Do you think this flock represents an addition to the earlier 22, or is a wholly new set?

______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes

------Looking for earth-friendly autos? Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070411/61 ad1286/attachment.htm From birder1949 at yahoo.com Thu Apr 12 10:54:10 2007 From: birder1949 at yahoo.com (Roger Digges) Date: Thu Apr 12 10:54:16 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Clinton Lake Access and Yellow Rail Field Trip this Saturday In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Thanks, Travis, for giving such clear directions. I've found LeConte's sparrows, marsh and sedge wrens, nearly all of the dabbling ducks, many shorebirds (as Travis says, when the lake is low), and large groups of White Pelicans at the site formerly known as the "Radio Tower Access". There's always a chance of an interesting gull or tern, Merlin, Peregrine, or Bald Eagle.

Roger Digges

Travis Mahan wrote: Hello everyone,

Take care,

------Looking for earth-friendly autos? Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center. ______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes

------Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070412/d4 fb149c/attachment.htm From birder1949 at yahoo.com Thu Apr 12 10:54:22 2007 From: birder1949 at yahoo.com (Roger Digges) Date: Thu Apr 12 10:54:29 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Clinton Lake Access and Yellow Rail Field Trip this Saturday In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Roger Digges

Take care,

------Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast with theYahoo! Search weather shortcut. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070412/32 590c04/attachment-0001.htm From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Thu Apr 12 13:44:50 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Thu Apr 12 13:44:55 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook Park, 4/12 - Meadowlarks, Gnatcatcher, Chickadee, lots of Flickers Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Thursday, 4/12, 9AM, breezy, cloudy, temp in the 30s, a few snowflakes.

Lots of Northern Flickers at Meadowbrook today. They were everywhere. I bet there was at least 50. Flicker migration?

Several Eastern Meadowlarks. One singing in the usual spot by the Clark-Lindsey "prairie". Two on the lawn south of Prairie Play (one singing).

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher along McCullough Creek a bit downstream from the split rail fence separating the Prairie Play lawn from the prairie.

Interesting mixed flock of maybe 200-300 birds on the lawn- Robins, Flickers, Grackles, Cowbirds, Starlings, and two Meadowlarks.

Sightings:

Northern Flicker - ~50 Coopers Hawk - 1 (also saw a neatly plicked pile of Mourning Dove feathers elsewhere) Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1, a first for me in Meadowbrook Chickadee - 1 Eastern Phoebe - 4 Red-winged Blackbird - many Downy Woodpecker - several Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 Brown-headed Cowbird - 10 Common Grackle - 75-100 Eurpoean Starling - 15 Ring-necked Pheasant - 10 American Robin - several dozen Song Sparrow - 7-8 House Finch - 3 House Sparrow - 4 Chipping Sparrow - several White-crowned Sparrow - 3 Mourning Dove - 5 Canada Goose - 2, flyover Mallard - 1, flyover Killdeer - 1, flyover American Crow - 5

Bernie Sloan Urbana

------Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection. Try the free Yahoo! Mail Beta. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070412/09 8fec0a/attachment.htm From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Thu Apr 12 13:58:11 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Thu Apr 12 13:58:15 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Heron Park, 4/10 - Eagle, Swans Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Spotted a Bald Eagle at Heron Park Tuesday afternoon. The two Mute Swans are also still there, although it is getting harder to spot them from the Boardwalk. They are way off to the east.

Bald Eagle - 1 Mute Swan - 2 Turkey Vulture - 15-20 Red-tailed Hawk - 2 Canada Goose - many Tree Swallow - ~20 Eastern Bluebird - 2 Swamp Sparrow - 2 Song Sparrow - 4 Chipping Sparrow - 1 Carolina Wren - 1 House Sparrow - 3 American Crow - 2 European Starling - 3 Blue-winged Teal - 15 American Coot - 4 (plus 100 on Lake Vermillion) Cormorant - 1, Lake Vermillion Pileated Woodpecker - 1 Downy Woodpecker - 4 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 Northern Flicker - 2 Redwinged Blackbird - quite a few Snipe-like bird - 2, flushed from reeds....haven't checked to see what species yet...right now I am thinking Snipe, but I need to check some more

Bernie Sloan Urbana

------Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070412/25 92d3a2/attachment.htm From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Thu Apr 12 14:00:15 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Thu Apr 12 14:00:21 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Junco, 4/11 Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Spotted a lone Dark-eyed Junco in my back yard yesterday afternoon.

Just wondering if others are still seeing Juncos?

Bernie Sloan Urbana

------Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070412/ac ad0930/attachment.htm From roy2 at uiuc.edu Thu Apr 12 14:26:53 2007 From: roy2 at uiuc.edu (Roy, Jacqueline) Date: Thu Apr 12 14:26:58 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] RE: Birdnotes Digest, Vol 39, Issue 12 In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> References: <[email protected]> Message-ID:

Good - I'm glad you found it. Thanks for letting me know. jackie

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2007 10:54 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Birdnotes Digest, Vol 39, Issue 12

Send Birdnotes mailing list submissions to [email protected]

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to [email protected]

You can reach the person managing the list at [email protected]

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Birdnotes digest..." Today's Topics:

1. Clinton Lake Access and Yellow Rail Field Trip this Saturday (Travis Mahan) 2. Re: Clinton Lake Access and Yellow Rail Field Trip this Saturday (Roger Digges) 3. Re: Clinton Lake Access and Yellow Rail Field Trip this Saturday (Roger Digges)

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Message: 1 Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:27:28 -0700 (PDT) From: Travis Mahan Subject: [Birdnotes] Clinton Lake Access and Yellow Rail Field Trip this Saturday To: Birdnotes Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hello everyone,

Take care,

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Message: 2 Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 08:54:10 -0700 (PDT) From: Roger Digges Subject: Re: [Birdnotes] Clinton Lake Access and Yellow Rail Field Trip this Saturday To: Travis Mahan , Birdnotes Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Roger Digges

Take care,

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Message: 3 Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 08:54:22 -0700 (PDT) From: Roger Digges Subject: Re: [Birdnotes] Clinton Lake Access and Yellow Rail Field Trip this Saturday To: Travis Mahan , Birdnotes Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Roger Digges

Take care,

------Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast with theYahoo! Search weather shortcut. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070412/325 90c04/attachment.htm

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End of Birdnotes Digest, Vol 39, Issue 12 ***************************************** From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Thu Apr 12 15:23:26 2007 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Thu Apr 12 15:21:13 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] East Main backyard In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

One of my Mourning Doves went missing sometime earlier this week. If found, please return it. It will be missing all of its feathers, which were left near the bird feeder...

Also, at 12:10 today, a Coopers Hawk flew right across Washington Street 100 feet east of Vine at about 15 feet altitude. I got a really great view of it!

Bob Vaiden :-) ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070412/a6 84d45a/attachment.htm From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Thu Apr 12 15:24:06 2007 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Thu Apr 12 15:21:56 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Junco, 4/11 In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I had Juncos as of yesterday... Bob Vaiden

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of B.G. Sloan Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2007 2:00 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] Junco, 4/11

Bernie Sloan Urbana

______

Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070412/99 f3bbad/attachment.htm From charleneanchor at msn.com Fri Apr 13 11:05:46 2007 From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor) Date: Fri Apr 13 10:55:22 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook at 8:00 AM Message-ID:

Found my first fatality of the season this morning. A TREE SWALLOW was lying dead on a mound of droppings in a nest box. It's breast bone was razor sharp against its thin skin with no muscle or fat remaining. Apparently it was starving and unable to keep warm. But, while I was cleaning the box two other swallows were chattering nearby and one flew at me. There will be more deaths and new births as the joys and sorrows of the breeding season unfold.

As I was cleaning droppings from another box, I happened to look up in time to see a magnificent OSPREY fly over low. Only other migrants seen was a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and 2 SWAMP SPARROWS. The beautiful, mature RED-TAILED HAWK crossed the east prairie low and landed next to the creek again the same as last week. Only this week it wasn't chasing pheasants :-)

Charlene Anchor ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070413/e6 f72972/attachment.htm From ryetimothy at gmail.com Fri Apr 13 12:49:53 2007 From: ryetimothy at gmail.com (Timothy Rye) Date: Fri Apr 13 12:49:58 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Lake Charleston Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello Fellow Birders,

Birding at Lake Charleston always seems to be better when it's colder outside (fewer people around), so I decided to take advantage of the situation and went birding there this morning.

Here's what I saw: Turkey Vultures White Throated Sparrow Cardinals Brown Thrasher Common Loon Double-Crested Cormorant 30-40 Tree Swallows Rough-Winged Swallow Mallards Canada Geese Song Sparrow Pied-Bill Grebes Ruddy Ducks (in beautiful breeding plumage) 10-15 Great Blue Herons dozens of American Coots

Timothy Rye ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070413/f7 a6ff6b/attachment.htm From roy2 at uiuc.edu Fri Apr 13 13:18:25 2007 From: roy2 at uiuc.edu (Roy, Jacqueline) Date: Fri Apr 13 13:18:32 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Golden Crowned Kinglet Message-ID:

Last Saturday while I was in my back yard trying to corral my cats, a golden crowned kinglet flew from my Fat Albert Blue Spruce into the hedge at the back of my yard. Since the little fellow lit only about 4 feet away and was just below my eye level, I could clearly see the bright yellow strip on the top of its head. I have never before seen a yellow crowned kinglet in my yard, or rather, have never been able to positively identify one. It sat in the hedge for only 5-10 seconds before flying away.

Jackie

------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070413/83 443c86/attachment.htm From brockprice at sbcglobal.net Fri Apr 13 13:58:22 2007 From: brockprice at sbcglobal.net (Brock Price) Date: Fri Apr 13 13:58:26 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Homer Lake Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Highlights only

Fairmount:

Still quite a few duck species present in small numbers. 60+ Am. Golden Plovers * Barred Owl - dead along side of road N. Harrier

Homer Lake:

Ring-necked Ducks Y. B. Sapsucker Hairy Woodpecker N. Rough-winged Swallow Winter Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Hermit Thrush Yellow-rumped Warblers - starting to be quite a few

------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070413/82 ecf229/attachment.htm From Birderdlt at aol.com Fri Apr 13 18:56:56 2007 From: Birderdlt at aol.com ([email protected]) Date: Fri Apr 13 18:57:14 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Junco, 4/11 Message-ID:

In a message dated 4/12/2007 1:01:16 PM Central Standard Time, [email protected] writes:

Bernie Sloan Urbana

I still have three Juncos in my yard (down from about 11 a few weeks ago). They usually totally disappear by the 15th of April so I will see what happens this year.

David Thomas Champaign, IL

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070413/90 94c7b5/attachment.htm From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Fri Apr 13 19:33:58 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Fri Apr 13 19:34:07 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Junco, 4/11 In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I had one this afternoon in my back yard.

Bernie Sloan

[email protected] wrote: In a message dated 4/12/2007 1:01:16 PM Central Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Spotted a lone Dark-eyed Junco in my back yard yesterday afternoon.

Bernie Sloan Urbana

I still have three Juncos in my yard (down from about 11 a few weeks ago). They usually totally disappear by the 15th of April so I will see what happens this year.

------See what's free at AOL.com.

------Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070413/83 2462a1/attachment.htm From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Fri Apr 13 19:56:36 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Fri Apr 13 19:56:41 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Heron Park, 4/13 - Great Egrets, Snow Goose(??), Cormorants Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Made a quick visit to Heron Park this afternoon. Sunny/hazy, about 50. Many of the usual species...I won't mention them.

High points:

Great Egret - 2, one at west end of ponds, one at east end. The one at the east end flew over to the west side and the two were within 50 feet of each other for a bit. First of season for me.

Snow Goose(??) - I also spotted another white bird while I was looking for additional Egrets. The bird was hanging out (at a distance from where I was) with a group of 15-20 Canada Geese and looked a heck of a lot like a white morph Snow Goose. The Canada Geese seemed very comfortable with it in their midst. If anyone else gets a better look, I'd appreciate hearing what you think.

Double-crested Cormorant - ~200, where Denmark Road crosses Lake Vermillion.

Bernie Sloan

------Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070413/37 178435/attachment.htm From jdunkel at hotmail.com Sat Apr 14 16:51:22 2007 From: jdunkel at hotmail.com (John Dunkelberger) Date: Sat Apr 14 16:51:29 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Turkey In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID:

An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070414/db f36c4e/attachment.htm From threlkster at gmail.com Sat Apr 14 17:27:59 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Sat Apr 14 17:28:06 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Seattle sightings Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Seattle Audubon Society census at Seward Park (< http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/sewardpark.htm> -- 300 acres of old-growth forest on a peninsula in Lake Washington), Saturday morning, 14 April 2007, under the guidance of master birder Dr. Tom Weir (< http://www.seattleaudubon.org/birding.cfm?id=511>). Conditions cold and grey, but no rain. We walked a circuit perhaps a mile or two long.

*7:15 a.m.* AMERICAN CROWS Several here, and seen or heard almost constantly throughout the morning; I won't bother listing them each time. Tom tells me that they've given up trying to distinguish American from Northwestern crows.

EUROPEAN STARLING Seen occasionally at various points.

MALLARD Male and female pair. Others seen occasionally at various points.

ROBIN 3 or 4 heard singing. Heard and seen intermittently on circuit.

ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD Heard singing.

*7:26* ANNA'S H. Sighted.

SONG SPARROW Many more heard throughout circuit.

*7:33* Eagle nest. No bird sighted.

*7:38* BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE Several seen and heard on circuit.

PINE SISKIN Not seen, but almost constantly heard.

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET

*7:43* BROWN CREEPER In deep forest. A pair of them; one spotted apparently carrying nesting material.

*7:47* COOPER'S HAWK First heard, then seen. Because of Bryan and Greg's repeated tutelage on the point, I was able to ID the call, and then we finally found the perched bird.

WINTER WREN Heard almost incessantly, loud voices high up, but I don't think we actually saw one.

*8:07* BALD EAGLE Calling; heard several times, but none seen. *8:19* GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET Calling only.

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH Calling only.

*8:36* Eagle nest. No bird seen.

*8:46* VARIED THRUSH Both male and female.

*8:55* DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT A half-dozen or more seen along the lake shore.

HORNED GREBE

VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW Many, many seen over lake. (Tom announced he'd seen a cliff swallow among them.)

PILEATED WOODPECKER Possibly calling. Those in our second group said they'd seen a couple foraging on a downed log a few minutes earlier.

*9:02* GADWALL Male and female. Remarkably tame; they were on the grass between the path and the lake, and appeared unconcerned when we walked by about 15 to 20 feet away.

*9:03* GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL

*9:06* NORTHERN FLICKER Pair (red-shafted).

BUFFLEHEAD Male. Later saw more males, and females.

*9:28* SPOTTED TOWHEE Male.

*9:42* PIE-BILLED GREBE In reeds near shore, just a few yards away.

*9:50* LESSER SCAUP Two males; not absolutely positive about distinction, but head shape seemed more likely that of "lesser" than of "greater."

*10:15* MITRED CONURE Saw at least two pairs; raucous voices, but well camouflaged in trees. They may be breeding in the park; see < http://www.birdweb.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=471>.

Elsewhere in Pacific Northwest birding, there have been a flurry of postings about an *arctic loon* that's been hanging out at Point No Point, about an hour and a half north-by-northwest of Seattle (including a ferry ride). We'll see if there's a possibility of dashing up there to spot the bird tomorrow, before I return to Illinois Monday. See < http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/TWET.html> for recent messages. See < http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=110>, and < http://www.kitsapgov.com/parks/regionalparks/point_no_point.htm>, for information on Point No Point.

Among the birds frequenting Mom's back garden in Seattle, on Queen Anne Hill, are some *house finches* that show a marked orange coloring that I've not seen in our Illinois birds.

Didn't happen to catch the Smith's longspur out here -- see photo at < http://www.wos.org/> -- so I'll have to wait for Travels with Steve next Saturday . . . .

217-384-5164 [email protected] ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070414/4b d886b6/attachment.htm From lldodd2 at uiuc.edu Sun Apr 15 11:52:03 2007 From: lldodd2 at uiuc.edu (Leah L. Dodd) Date: Sun Apr 15 11:54:03 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] smith's longspur - champaign county Message-ID: <001401c77f7e$65bc8910$c2187e82@LeahDodd>

We ran into some of our friends from the Washtenaw (Ann Arbor) Audubon Society yesterday at the Prairie Ridge State Nature Area, where we all enjoyed great looks at the greater prairie-chickens. The Michigan group was also looking for Smith's Longspurs, which they later found in Champaign County. The group asked me to pass along the following note to local birders:

----- We found these birds! We drove around for hours but had luck at 4 PM in at 2400E/600N in Champaign County. We were well rewarded for our patience with excellent looks of many Smith's Longspurs (est 100) The birds were in a triangle of corn stubble formed by the NE corner of this somewhat casual intersection. Though a creek/ditch runs through it,the birds were found most easily across from a small gray barn on 600N with best looks (as we chased them twice) in the NE corner of the corn stubble on the west side of 2400E. They flew from one end of the triangle to another and were present when we left at 5:15 PM. We were thrilled!! Come back and visit us in Mi anytime! Do post this to your list. Dea and those other Washtenaw Wingnuts(Mike, Don, and Lathe) -----

Leah Dodd & Daniel Toronto Urbana, IL ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070415/55 44391d/attachment.htm From regehr5 at aol.com Sun Apr 15 13:42:08 2007 From: regehr5 at aol.com ([email protected]) Date: Sun Apr 15 13:42:22 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Crystal Lake Park birds Message-ID: <[email protected]>

At about 8:30 AM today, driving through Crystal Lake Park in Urbana, I saw and/or heard the following: Dark-eyed Junco

Pair of Wood Ducks flying in and landing at north island

Brown thrashers, singing

Elaine Regehr ______AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070415/36 15ded2/attachment.htm From limey at uiuc.edu Sun Apr 15 17:15:43 2007 From: limey at uiuc.edu (John David Buckmaster) Date: Sun Apr 15 17:16:11 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] pelicans at lake vermilliojn Message-ID:

I guess this is my year for seeing pelicans....

Put on the water at Lake Vermillion at the ramp and paddled up into the N Fork as far as the current would permit.

Amongst other things saw:

2 pelicans at the N end on the shore behind the drowned-tree forest. Later they were thermaling in v.tight formation, Top-Gun style (the formation not the thermaling), over the river's first bridge. A sharp eye would have been able to see them from Heron Pond.

Large flock of cormorants, 300 or so using a rational counting strategy, that I inadvertently scared off the water (I didn't see them until they took off).

One male scaup on the water.

And, not surprisingly, a single bald eagle, high. (Hit rate on the water for bald eagles at LV is roughly 50%).

There are geese on nests, but still large numbers of pairs just hanging out.

No red-headed woodpeckers yet, although they are there in the hundreds during the summer.

------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070415/39 6c8a74/attachment.htm From malessi2 at uiuc.edu Sun Apr 15 18:44:18 2007 From: malessi2 at uiuc.edu (Mark Alessi) Date: Sun Apr 15 18:44:25 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Parula at Clinton Lake Message-ID: <[email protected]> Among a decent suite of birds at Clinton Lake this morning, Ben O'Neal and I happened to find our first NORTHERN PARULA of the spring in a treeline as we were leaving. Other birds to note included 1 flushed sora, 1 golden-crowned kinglet, a swamp sparrow, 40 pelicans, 15 bonaparte's gulls, 1 canvasback, and a ruddy duck.

Mark Mark Alessi Fish and Wildlife Conservation Major University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign President of the Illinois Wildlife Society Illinois Natural History Survey Medical Entomology Laboratory 1902 Griffith Drive Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 333-1186 From lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu Sun Apr 15 19:12:09 2007 From: lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu (Gregory S Lambeth) Date: Sun Apr 15 19:17:21 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Busey Woods Bird Walk (4/15) References: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

It was apparent that Spring Migration remains largely on hold given the weather conditions. Nevertheless, it was a nice morning with 3 species of warbler: Pine Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush and Yellow-rumped Warbler. Everyone had good views of the Pine Warbler and the Louisiana Waterthrush was unusually cooperative, too. Other species included: Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrush, Eastern Bluebird, Phoebe, Cooper's Hawk, Turkey Vulture and Hairy Woodpecker. There were also 2 Pied-billed Grebes at Crystal Lake Park.

I spent a few minutes at Meadowbrook around 6pm this evening and had my first Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher of the year.

Greg Lambeth From threlkster at gmail.com Sun Apr 15 19:28:48 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Sun Apr 15 19:28:54 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] More urban birding in Seattle Message-ID: <[email protected]>

[*There seems to have been a problem with a previous attempt to transmit this. Sorry if it ends up a duplicate message.*]

Doesn't look like the energy or ambition is sufficiently present in all parties to make a road trip for that arctic loon.

About 4:00 p.m., however (in the bottom of the 8th, I think), an immature *bald eagle* glided over Safeco Field (near the downtown waterfront), as we watched Seattle play Texas. Good view of the mottled underwings -- almost textbook pattern.

Otherwise, lots and lots of gulls, and some pigeons.

217-384-5164 [email protected] ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070415/de d56ea6/attachment.htm From smithsje at egix.net Sun Apr 15 21:09:58 2007 From: smithsje at egix.net (Jim & Eleanor Smith) Date: Sun Apr 15 20:11:09 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] juncos Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello, Bird,

We had 4 juncos at our feeders this evening, 4/15.

Best regards.

From Birderdlt at aol.com Sun Apr 15 20:49:42 2007 From: Birderdlt at aol.com ([email protected]) Date: Sun Apr 15 20:49:51 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Arcola Marsh Message-ID:

Went to Arcola Marsh today with Marv Piwoni. Best bird there was an AMERICAN BITTERN. Lots of coots plus, GADWALL, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, WIDGEON, MALLARD, LESSER SCAUP, RUDDY DUCK, AND SHOVELERS. Just east of Paris we had a field with probably over 1000 GOLDEN PLOVER. Also had one small flock of PECTORAL SANDPIPER. Only different waterfowl in Edgar County was a pair of RING-NECKED DUCK.

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070415/01 db2e30/attachment.htm From jjokela59 at hotmail.com Sun Apr 15 21:28:05 2007 From: jjokela59 at hotmail.com (Janet Jokela) Date: Sun Apr 15 21:28:12 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Large nest Message-ID:

Greetings--

On the north side of I-74 in Piatt County, very close to the DeWitt County line, a large nest is present in the trees adjacent to the highway. While flying by at 60+ mph this afternoon, at 12:30 and again at about 5:30 PM, a large bird that looked a lot like a Red-tailed Hawk was sitting on the nest, but admittedly these were only quick and partial glimpses.

This was in the group of trees just east of the farm house that is adjacent to the county line. If you are heading west, these trees are just after the blue highway sign for exit 159.

It's not advisable to stop and look at this spot given the traffic and the absence of a safe place to pull off, so quick glimpses will probably be our best views.

All the best,

Janet Jokela Champaign

______Need a break? Find your escape route with Live Search Maps. http://maps.live.com/?icid=hmtag3

From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Mon Apr 16 08:02:43 2007 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Mon Apr 16 08:00:39 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Junco, 4/11 In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <[email protected]>

A few Juncos still in my yard this morning...

Brown Thrasher on Friday...

Riverbend...Kingfisher and pair of Canada Geese on the Sangamon Sunday, Tree and Barn Swallows over fields...mostly looked at Bluebells, now probably 2-4 days from full bloom.

Coopers Hawk on Washington just South of Solo Cup at 7:30 this morning...flew over road at about 15-20 feet altitude.

Bob Vaiden

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Friday, April 13, 2007 6:57 PM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Re: [Birdnotes] Junco, 4/11

In a message dated 4/12/2007 1:01:16 PM Central Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Spotted a lone Dark-eyed Junco in my back yard yesterday afternoon.

Bernie Sloan Urbana I still have three Juncos in my yard (down from about 11 a few weeks ago). They usually totally disappear by the 15th of April so I will see what happens this year.

______

See what's free at AOL.com . ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070416/af 7b1cb7/attachment.htm From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Mon Apr 16 08:06:27 2007 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Mon Apr 16 08:04:12 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Bald Eagle In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I've been told that a dead Bald Eagle was spotted a week or so ago along 150 near or at the Salt Fork crossing. :-(

Bob Vaiden ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070416/16 873c2b/attachment.htm From ryetimothy at gmail.com Mon Apr 16 09:24:49 2007 From: ryetimothy at gmail.com (Timothy Rye) Date: Mon Apr 16 09:24:55 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Lake Charleston Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Had a great time birding at Lake Charleston this morning. Here are the highlights:

Ruddy Ducks and Horned Grebe in breeding plumage (beautiful!) Osprey Blue-winged teal American Coots Double-crested cormorants Mallards Scaup Pied-bill grebe Golden Crowned Kinglet Canada Geese Tree Swallows Turkey Vultures Warbling Vireo

Timothy Rye Charleston ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070416/dd 000d1d/attachment.htm From smithsje at egix.net Mon Apr 16 11:13:57 2007 From: smithsje at egix.net (Jim & Eleanor Smith) Date: Mon Apr 16 10:15:10 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] (no subject) Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello, Bird,

We spent the weekend birding with the Illinois Audubon Society in the Peoria area. Here are a few of the highlightes:

White Pelicans, large number Hudsonian Godwit, two Mute Swan, 6 incubating at Banner Marsh Best regards.

From charleneanchor at msn.com Mon Apr 16 20:00:23 2007 From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor) Date: Mon Apr 16 19:49:54 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Tree Swallows Message-ID:

This morning I was walking towards a box which had a TREE SWALLOW sitting on the roof. Then I noticed some sort of fluttering on the ground - another TREE SWALLOW. I thought, after my last experience, that it was in some sort of death throes. It turned out to be 2 swallows fighting. They were so busy that I could have stepped on them before they finally noticed me and flew off...all 3 flew off. The fighting continued in the air. Then two dropped to the ground and continued fighting. After I finished I walked over to them. They stopped, flew up and around a few more times. One flew off and the remaining 2 returned to their box. They were chattering and chattering at each other. One would repeatedly go to the hole and check inside (a nest is being started). Then it would go back and they would chatter some more. Undoubtedly they were pretty worked up and had a lot to say.

Tree Swallows are pretty good scrappers. I've read they can fight to the death -something I'm glad I've never seen. Last year I saw one attack another in a box. After the attacker left I opened the box carefully and the female was in the back corner of the box with her wings mantled over her tiny nestlings, I assume protecting them. She looked at me and stayed put. So I slowly closed the box. I was pretty anxious about them until they finally fledged.

More than 200 Tree Swallows were found dead in boxes recently in a Wildlife Refuge in New York. This weather has taken its toll. Some are wondering whether this will affect their population.

Charlene Anchor ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070416/f1 e8b4d3/attachment.htm From j.courson at mchsi.com Mon Apr 16 20:57:20 2007 From: j.courson at mchsi.com (Jeffrey A. Courson) Date: Mon Apr 16 20:58:33 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Purple Martins Message-ID: <[email protected]>

One Adult Female on one of the houses this evening. Seemed to be in good health.

I did find one dead female in a house earlier in the week.

Jeffrey A. Courson

"There comes a special moment in everyone's life, a moment for which that person was born. That special opportunity, when he seizes it, will fulfill his mission--a mission for which he is uniquely qualified. In that moment, he finds greatness. It is his finest hour." Winston Churchill

------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070416/40 f3bcce/attachment.htm From birder1949 at yahoo.com Tue Apr 17 07:18:38 2007 From: birder1949 at yahoo.com (Roger Digges) Date: Tue Apr 17 07:18:47 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook Woodcock Message-ID: <[email protected]>

We hadn't heard him for several days (perhaps because of wind and/or rain), but the Woodcock was displaying again in his usual spot, in the prairie west of the sidewalk between miles 0.2 and 0.3. I thought it was a little too light for him to still be up, but apparently he didn't think so.

Brown Thrashers along both creeks were in fine form this morning; the Tree Swallows were sitting placidly on various bluebird boxes, and the Eastern Phoebe is singing loudly from near the Race Street bridge. Also heard White-throated Sparrows, and the usual residential birds. The Ring-necked Pheasants have been unusually active of late. I'm seeing "flights" of 4, 5, even 6 "soaring" across the sidewalk at various points, most active between mile 0.5 and 0.6 along Douglas Creek.

Roger Digges

______Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com From threlkster at gmail.com Tue Apr 17 09:20:00 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Tue Apr 17 09:20:06 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Back to backyard Message-ID: <[email protected]> Some new additions appearing out back after my week's absence, and at least one that I wasn't sure would still be showing up here . . . .

CHIPPING SPARROW At least three.

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW

DARK-EYED JUNCO Spotted three.

CAROLINA WREN Loud.

CARDINAL Male.

HOUSE FINCH Male, with leg band.

217-384-5164 [email protected] ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070417/58 8af918/attachment.htm From jbchato at uiuc.edu Tue Apr 17 16:53:33 2007 From: jbchato at uiuc.edu (John & Beth Chato) Date: Tue Apr 17 16:53:37 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Spring Bird Count Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Birdnoters. The annual Spring Bird Count in Illinois is Saturday May 5, sooner than you think. I am in charge of rounding up birders to cover Champaign County. Please let me know if you will be available for all or any part of the day. Thanks. Beth Chato From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Tue Apr 17 18:28:33 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Tue Apr 17 18:28:38 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] juncos In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I had two Juncos in my yard yesterday, 4/16. Jim & Eleanor Smith wrote: Hello, Bird,

We had 4 juncos at our feeders this evening, 4/15.

Best regards.

------Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070417/fc 4327f9/attachment.htm From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Tue Apr 17 18:33:30 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Tue Apr 17 18:33:34 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Heron Park, 4/15 - Bald Eagle, Great Egret Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Made a quick stop by Heron Park late Sunday afternoon. Not a whole lot of activity:

Bald Eagle - 1, perched at the top of a tree near where the bridge crosses the river on Denmark Road to the east of the park parking lot Great Egret - 1 Great Blue Heron - 7 in pond, others on nests Blue=winged Teal - 15 Mallard - 2

Bernie Sloan Urbana

------Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070417/72 c15311/attachment.htm From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Tue Apr 17 18:45:18 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Tue Apr 17 18:45:27 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook, 4/17 - Quite a few Meadowlarks Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Quite a few Meadowlarks in Meadowbrook this morning (8:30AM). At one point I counted three Meadowlarks singing! Also saw a pair perched in a tree, one singing, one not singing.

Also found a couple of interesting animal parts on the back trails. One was what had to be a Whitetail Deer leg bone gnawed clean. Coyote scat nearby. Later I found what looked like a Red Fox foreleg.

Sightings:

Eastern Meadowlark - at least four Eastern Bluebird - 1, heard Brown Thrasher - 3, including one pair Tree Swallow - 7 Eastern Phoebe - 1 Wood Duck - flushed along Douglas Creek Mallard - 2, in McCullough Creek Blue Gray Gnatcatcher - 2 Rusty Blackbird - 1 European Starling - 4 Brown-headed Cowbird - several Red-winged Blackbird - quite a few Norhtern Flicker - several, flushed from prairie Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 Downy Woodpecker - 2 Ring-necked Pheasant - several American Goldfinch - quite a few Song Sparrow - several Swamp Sparrow - 1 Chipping Sparrow - 2-3 Field Sparrow - 1 House Finch - several House Sparrow - 3 American Crow - 1 Blue Jay - Northern Cardinal - quite a few Mounring Dove - 6

Bernie Sloan Urbana

------Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070417/d2 a35811/attachment.htm From lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu Tue Apr 17 18:54:31 2007 From: lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu (Gregory S Lambeth) Date: Tue Apr 17 18:55:29 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Chimney Swift ! References: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I had my first Chimney Swift at 6:50pm this evening in Urbana.

Greg Lambeth From Larryoed at aol.com Tue Apr 17 20:33:23 2007 From: Larryoed at aol.com ([email protected]) Date: Tue Apr 17 20:33:43 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] yellow-breasted sapsuckers Message-ID:

We visited Witt Park in Sidney today and have never seen so many yellow-breasted sapsuckers. We counted at least a dozen and probably more. Is it unusual to see so many together? Witt Park is sign posted on the highway running E to W through town. This is a good place to watch for migrants, however, we only saw yellow rumps today. Margaret and Larry Hoffman

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070417/4d 242dd5/attachment.htm From Larryoed at aol.com Tue Apr 17 20:36:56 2007 From: Larryoed at aol.com ([email protected]) Date: Tue Apr 17 20:37:10 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] correction Message-ID: whoops! Make that yellow bellied sapsucker!

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070417/c7 f1989a/attachment.htm From jbchato at uiuc.edu Tue Apr 17 21:33:09 2007 From: jbchato at uiuc.edu (John & Beth Chato) Date: Tue Apr 17 21:33:13 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] juncos Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Dear Birders,

Several people have asked about juncos. There were still 6 or so at the Anita Purves Center feeders yesterday.

Beth Chato John C. Chato 714 W. Vermont Ave. Urbana, IL 61801 217-344-6803 From dktor1977 at yahoo.com Tue Apr 17 22:12:42 2007 From: dktor1977 at yahoo.com (Daniel Toronto) Date: Tue Apr 17 22:14:46 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] N. Parula - Crystal Lake Park Message-ID: <00fe01c78167$70484eb0$2a1e7e82@LeahDodd>

Had a Northern Parula at Crystal Lake Park this evening. FOY

Dan Toronto ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070417/2f c0a77e/attachment-0001.htm From ryetimothy at gmail.com Wed Apr 18 06:08:00 2007 From: ryetimothy at gmail.com (Timothy Rye) Date: Wed Apr 18 06:08:07 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Fox Ridge Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Had a great day yesterday afternoon at Fox Ridge State Park just south of Charleston. Here are the highlights:

Northern Parula Yellow-throated Warbler Yellow-rumped warbler Blue-gray gnatcatchers Eastern Phoebe Eastern Bluebird Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Timothy Rye ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070418/4e 302d1e/attachment.htm From leslienoa at gmail.com Wed Apr 18 07:32:14 2007 From: leslienoa at gmail.com (Leslie Noa) Date: Wed Apr 18 07:32:19 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Campus birds Message-ID:

I was surprised this morning on my way into work to see not only the usual Cedar Waxwings in the trees outside the Shelford Vivarium on Healey but an Eastern Towhee, Juncos, and much to my surprise a Brown Creeper. I was watching the waxwings forage in a flowering tree when I noticed something small creeping up another tree. This is the first creeper I've seen on campus. A nice way to start out the morning.

Leslie Noa Champaign ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070418/ab 4628ae/attachment.htm From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Wed Apr 18 08:50:30 2007 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Wed Apr 18 08:48:13 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] East Main Backyard: yellow-breasted sapsuckers In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I had a pair of Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers flying around the backyard yesterday afternoon; also a Red Bellied Woodpecker visiting the tube sunflower seed feeder.

Bob Vaiden

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 8:33 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] yellow-breasted sapsuckers

We visited Witt Park in Sidney today and have never seen so many yellow-breasted sapsuckers. We counted at least a dozen and probably more. Is it unusual to see so many together? Witt Park is sign posted on the highway running E to W through town. This is a good place to watch for migrants, however, we only saw yellow rumps today. Margaret and Larry Hoffman ______

See what's free at AOL.com . ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070418/ef faa067/attachment.htm From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Wed Apr 18 08:58:32 2007 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Wed Apr 18 08:56:15 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] East Main Backyard juncos In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Still here today! Bob ------

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John & Beth Chato Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 9:33 PM To: Birdnotes Subject: [Birdnotes] juncos

Dear Birders,

Several people have asked about juncos. There were still 6 or so at the Anita Purves Center feeders yesterday.

Beth Chato John C. Chato 714 W. Vermont Ave. Urbana, IL 61801 217-344-6803 ______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes From j.courson at mchsi.com Wed Apr 18 09:20:24 2007 From: j.courson at mchsi.com ([email protected]) Date: Wed Apr 18 09:20:32 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Birds, Birds and more Birds Message-ID: <041820071420.1445.46262928000352C6000005A5219791299503010CD2079C080C03 [email protected]>

Lots going on!

Martins are really starting to pour in, as well as other swallows. Juncos are still around with a white throated sparrow yesterday. Swamp sparrows still around with are large group of song sparrows. Lots of action in the yard and along the river. Resident Towhees, Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens and others....

My Best! Jeff

-- Jeffrey A. Courson

"There comes a special moment in everyone's life, a moment for which that person was born. That special opportunity, when he seizes it, will fulfill his mission--a mission for which he is uniquely qualified. In that moment, he finds greatness. It is his finest hour."

Winston Churchill From dafekt1ve at yahoo.com Wed Apr 18 10:35:05 2007 From: dafekt1ve at yahoo.com (Bryan Guarente) Date: Wed Apr 18 10:35:11 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Farm Field Floodles: Champaign County Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Yesterday (4/17), I went for a drive in the country. I went to my favorite American Golden-Plover location and found, low and behold, American Golden-Plovers. There were 65 plovers present along with 30+ Pectoral Sandpipers. The surprise of the day though was a flock of about 20 American Pipits in the field. This field is located on the west side of 300E between 1500N and 1400N. I suspect that this upcoming week or two will be a great time to for plovers because it is time to start plowing the fields under. Also, if you are out and about looking for plovers, make sure to check them for rarer plovers like Black-bellied, Pacific, and Mountain. Last thing to keep in mind is gulls. If you find a field that is being plowed under and there are gulls present, make sure to check the gulls for anything special aside from Ring-billed Gulls. This is a great time to add some gulls to the Champaign County list.

Good luck, keep posting, and good birding.

______Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070418/82 c78a09/attachment-0001.htm From bgsloan2 at yahoo.com Wed Apr 18 14:14:48 2007 From: bgsloan2 at yahoo.com (B.G. Sloan) Date: Wed Apr 18 14:14:53 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Yard birds, 4/18 - Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Crow Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I was picking up a few dead branches in the yard and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet landed in a bush about three feet away from me!!

I think that's a new one for all-time my yard list!

Also, I had a box of Cheerios that had gone stale and I tossed them out in the back yard yesterday thinking the sparrows or squirrels might eat them. No takers until five minutes ago, when a flock of 6-7 crows landed and began gobbling down the Cheerios.

Bernie Sloan

------Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070418/0d b74081/attachment.htm From threlkster at gmail.com Wed Apr 18 17:44:30 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Wed Apr 18 17:44:36 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Backyard thrashers, juncos, etc. Message-ID: <[email protected]>

6:55 a.m., in our backyard:

BROWN THRASHER Two on the lawn; I saw one get a worm (no indication otherwise if it was the earlier).

JUNCO At least two.

FLICKER Female on the lawn; the ants are presumably surfacing.

Also had house finches, Carolina wrens, and cardinals at the feeders.

And, GREAT BLUE HERON 8:35 a.m., flying north over I-72 at mile 160.

On my way to and from Springfield today, of course saw lots of red- wingeds and grackles. Didn't notice any hawks, much unlike previous weeks. I'm now frequently seeing plovers (mostly killdeers, I guess) and swallows (mostly barn?) in flight.

217-384-5164 [email protected] ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070418/26 3ca6cb/attachment.htm From BackyardBirds1 at aol.com Wed Apr 18 18:42:09 2007 From: BackyardBirds1 at aol.com ([email protected]) Date: Wed Apr 18 18:42:29 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] migration ( no sightings) Message-ID:

Hello to all, I am in search of a list of birds in Illinois...the migration dates for spring and fall. I had a list, but evidently someone thought they needed it more than I.

I have searched the Illinois Museum web site...which is where I thought I had gotten the list years ago..but I couldn't find any info.

Does anyone have any info or can you lead me in the right direction?

I would appreciate it!

Thanks Vickie [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected])

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070418/e1 0dc56f/attachment.htm From brockprice at sbcglobal.net Wed Apr 18 21:01:00 2007 From: brockprice at sbcglobal.net (Brock Price) Date: Wed Apr 18 21:01:06 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Homer Lake / Champaign Co. Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Quick ride around today:

Osprey Great Egret ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070418/7a 3e1739/attachment.htm From jwhoyt at prairienet.org Thu Apr 19 02:37:45 2007 From: jwhoyt at prairienet.org (James Hoyt) Date: Thu Apr 19 02:37:54 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Homer Lake / Champaign Co. (No good sightings) In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID:

Birders,

Hope the osprey stays around to nest!!!

Jim :)

Ps. At least I did see 2 Mourning Doves on my step yesterday afternoon.

On Wed, 18 Apr 2007, Brock Price wrote:

> Quick ride around today: > > Osprey > Great Egret >

-- James Hoyt "The Prairie Ant" Champaign Co. Audubon Illinois Audubon Society Co-steward Parkland College Prairies. Volunteer Monitor; Urbana Park District Natural Areas. Champaign County Master Gardener East Central Illinois Master Naturalist Grand Prairie Friends - Prairie Grove Volunteers Allerton Allies Prairie Rivers Network The Xerces Society The Illinois Chapter of the Nature Conservancy ======"The way to keep a trail alive is to walk on it". Author unknown ======

*********************************************************************** ******** *********************************************************************** ******** "The human culture is considered to be a 'geologic force' and with good reason. But if we are at a stage where our actions are to decide the world's future, then surely we have reached a level where we can be held acountable for the world's future." Durward L. Allen "Our Wildlife Legacy" *********************************************************************** ******** *********************************************************************** ********

From birder1949 at yahoo.com Thu Apr 19 07:25:23 2007 From: birder1949 at yahoo.com (Roger Digges) Date: Thu Apr 19 07:25:31 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook Woodcocks and Towhee Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Our Woodcock continues to display on the east side of the park, but we were surprised this morning to flush, not 1, not 2, but 3 Woodcocks at the south end of the statuary path.

Heard my first Eastern Towhee of the year (I know, others have heard much earlier) in the Forestry opposite the Rabbit bridge.

And saw a cock pheasant courting and mating with a hen near the Douglas Creek bridge. Quite a display!

Roger Digges

______Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com From threlkster at gmail.com Thu Apr 19 20:38:50 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Thu Apr 19 20:38:55 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Juncos to waxwings Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Out back this morning, around 8:00 a.m.:

JUNCO At least two.

BLUE JAY Vigorously attacking the suet, on a number of return trips.

CARDINAL Male and female pair.

HOUSE FINCH Male and female pair.

GOLDFINCH Pair at the thistle seed.

CAROLINA WREN

FLICKER Female, perched on a limb of the sycamore. As I watched it through binocs, about a 100 feet behind it, in a tree in the neighbors' yard, I saw lighting on the trunk what appeared to be a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. I didn't get a look at much apart from the bird's back, but I don't know anything else in this area with that pattern of black with mottled white.

Can't recall if I saw them this morning, but we're continuing to get regular visits to our suet cage by DOWNY WOODPECKERS (male and female) and RED-BELLIED W. (I've been observing only a female of late).

About 2:45 p.m., in the crab apples (?) along the south side of the federal courthouse at S. Vine St. and Elm St. in Urbana:

CEDAR WAXWING Lots of 'em (dozens?), gorging on last year's dried fruit, amid this spring's blossoms. In fine light, good view of the pale yellow belly. As always, a strikingly pretty bird.

217-384-5164 [email protected] ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070419/a6 41162c/attachment.htm From charleneanchor at msn.com Thu Apr 19 21:57:14 2007 From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor) Date: Thu Apr 19 21:46:43 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] backyard birds Message-ID:

This morning: Carolina Wren, Juncos, White-throated Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, singing Towhee, Brown Thrasher being chased by a squirrel (?) and 100's of House Sparrows, many Doves, Cardinals, Grackles, Starlings and more squirrels.

Charlene Anchor ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070419/c8 4f742c/attachment.htm From betuana at hotmail.com Thu Apr 19 23:10:27 2007 From: betuana at hotmail.com (Beth Kennedy) Date: Thu Apr 19 23:10:33 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Backyard: Juncos still here, White throated Sparrows arriving Message-ID:

Still have at least 2 or 3 juncos hanging around in our yard. Also saw our Brown Thrasher (still has a wing feather sticking out at a 90 degree angle as he's had for a few weeks now). In addition at our feeders we had: 3 White Throated Sparrows 1 Song Sparrow 2 Swamp Sparrows 2 Eastern Towhees (pair) 2 Cardinals (pair) 5 Mourning Doves 3 Blue Jays 7-8 House Sparrows (males and females) 1 American Crow 3 Grackles 2 Starlings 1 Robin (in yard around feeder)

We also saw a Kildeer in poking around in the creek right off the Fox Drive trail (I don't usually get to see them while not in flight, much less so close) as well as a male Mallard and a Canada Goose. This week has shown several Tree Swallows showing up in the area too!

______Don’t quit your job – Take Classes Online and Earn your Degree in 1 year. Start Today! http://www.classesusa.com/clickcount.cfm?id=866146&goto=http%3A%2F %2Fwww.classesusa.com%2Ffeaturedschools%2Fonlinedegreesmp%2Fform- dyn1.html%3Fsplovr%3D866144

From threlkster at gmail.com Fri Apr 20 10:00:12 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Fri Apr 20 10:00:18 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Backyard juncos, et al. Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Busy morning out back:

JUNCO Still have at least two hanging out. One has white outer tail feathers visible even when foraging on the ground; seems to be a look distinct from the other juncos we see.

GOLDFINCH At least two still in winter plumage, or females. One male molting into summer plumage -- a vivid spectacle.

Three customers at the suet cage:

BLUE JAY

RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER Female.

DOWNY W. Male.

Also appearing:

CARDINAL Two males, one female.

HOUSE FINCH Male.

HOSP Male, and leg-banded female

And, away from the feeders:

BROWN THRASHER In mulberry tree at back fence.

MOURNING DOVE Several, as always.

STARLING

217-384-5164 [email protected] ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070420/53 7e443e/attachment.htm From jbchato at uiuc.edu Fri Apr 20 12:20:20 2007 From: jbchato at uiuc.edu (John & Beth Chato) Date: Fri Apr 20 12:20:26 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Longspurs & Plovers Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Birdnoters,

I have been unusually sucessful in following up on Birdnote postings this week. Wednesday I went in search of Smith's Longspurs following the excellent directions provided. When I got to the designated corn stubble triangle at 2400 E, 600 N, the wind was howling and I had no hat. However I parked by the gray barn and walked back along the road to the bridge. I found Savannah and Vesper Sparrows and lots of blackbirds. Those white outer tail feathers on the Vesper Sparrows kept me thinking longspur. Each time I raised my binoculars, the wind picked up speed and it was hard to see detail. I retreated towards the car, and just before I reached it about a dozen Longspurs flew in, in voicing their characteristic rattle. This is an interesting corner of the county that I don't remember visiting before. Last summer we found nesting Cliff Swallows under a very similar bridge but in the southwestern county. I also saw several barn swallows in different spots along the route and came back by Collins Pond. There I had my first gnatcatcher of the season as well as ! th! e pileated woodpeckers calling.

Yesterday Elaine Regehr tempted me away from the computer and in search of the Golden Plover. We checked corn stubble at 300 E/ 1500-1400N with no luck. However as we cruised a little south to 1300 N, we spotted a promising cloud of birds in the air and followed them to where they came down. They were indeed Golden Plover and in large numbers. There was at least one Pectoral sandpiper with them but we didn't see any pipits.

Thanks to those who provided the sightings and directions.

Beth Chato

From astrid at insightbb.com Fri Apr 20 14:47:16 2007 From: astrid at insightbb.com (Astrid Berkson) Date: Fri Apr 20 14:47:17 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] plovers Message-ID: <[email protected]> Today there were plovers and pipits at 300e,1300n, but only one plover had full breeding plumage From charleneanchor at msn.com Fri Apr 20 21:53:18 2007 From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor) Date: Fri Apr 20 21:42:55 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook Fri A.M. Message-ID:

Nothing as exciting as plovers or pipits but did finally see the BLUE- GRAY GNATCATCHER seen by others as well as the 3 MEADOWLARKS mentioned by Bernie Sloan, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, BARN SWALLOW (FOY) and 4 HERMIT THRUSHES.

Over the east-side fence in a grassy patch near the apple orchards a male RING-NECKED PHEASANT was courting a female. She was not paying much attention, head down picking at the grass, while he was circling her and both fanning and dragging his tail and appearing much bigger than I've ever seen them. If I didn't know it was a pheasant I would have thought it was a turkey! He really impressed me but he didn't seem to be impressing her much. At the Herb Garden a CHIPPING SPARROW was sitting on the sundial in the middle of the garden singing - one of those perfect greeting card pictures. SWAMP SPARROW still present and 5 JUNCOS.

Charlene Anchor ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070420/60 c43c39/attachment.htm From dafekt1ve at yahoo.com Sat Apr 21 14:05:41 2007 From: dafekt1ve at yahoo.com (Bryan Guarente) Date: Sat Apr 21 14:05:52 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Migration Sunday (No Sightings) Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Birdnoters, I was checking out the weather today because there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms for the High Plains of the US (Western NE, KS, and TX) according to the Storm Prediction Center. These threat levels usually translate across the US and this made me look to see what our chances for severe thunderstorms is for tomorrow. The chances are very limited, but the good news is that the winds will be very good for migration tomorrow nearly all day. If you need to see the streamline maps, you can head to my birding weather website to check these out. (www.atmos.uiuc.edu/~bguaren2/birdweather) Follow the links for Eta Streamlines for should be somewhere between 18hr and 48hrs depending on when you check your email. The important levels to look at are 900mb and 850mb, or about .75km and 1.5km up in atmosphere from the surface. At either of these levels for most of the day tomorrow, we will be under south to south-southwest flow from the Gulf Coast around Louisiana. The unfortunate thing is that we are still early on in migration, so we may not see a lot of the long-distance migrants from the Yucatan Peninsula. Tomorrow also doesn't look like it will be a fallout kind of day because there is no front stationed just to our north to stop the birds from migrating farther to our north. However, I still expect migrants to be moving pretty well tomorrow. If you are feeling really ambitious, you could go out over night and listen for night migrants but again luck will be limited by a few factors that I will discuss here in a minute.

Some of the earlier migrants could be easily expected tomorrow like Yellow-throated Warbler, Pine Warbler, and Louisiana Waterthrush. Some of the slightly later early migrants might be possible like Eastern Kingbird, Great Crested Flycatcher, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Chimney Swifts, Barn Swallows, House Wrens, Gray Catbirds, Hermit and Wood Thrushes, all the expected vireos for IL except possibly the later Philadelphia Vireo, Blue-winged, Orange-crowned, Nashville, Yellow, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Palm, Hooded, and Black-and-White Warblers, Northern Parula, Ovenbird, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, and Indigo Buntings. If this wind field happened about two weeks from now, we would have a large flyover of birds, with some likely to land in our area.

This list is not all inclusive or necessarily the list of birds you should be looking for tomorrow. There will also be plenty of shorebirds on the move as noted by Dan Kassebaum's posts to IBET. Southern Illinois is already starting to get most of these birds and we could expect them to be here by tomorrow if the wind field forecast holds true.

For the true science geeks out there, I will explain what is happening in the wind field for tomorrow that doesn't bode well for a fallout. If you look at the map entitled 070422/1200 (this is shown in the top left of the map after clicking on it) for either 900mb or 850mb, you will see that the winds streamlines are conitinuing straight over us. There is no sharp turn in the field just to our north. To pick out a front on this map, you would look for a sharp turning in the wind field of 90 degrees or greater over a distance of maybe 75 or 100 miles. On this same map there is a front in Minnesota near the South Dakota border oriented from SW to NE. It is seen as a sharp turning in the winds. Look ing at the winds from the north of there, you see they are coming to the south and then turning to the NE or SW as you approach the front. Where the winds are pushing against each other is the front. This makes sense because a front is the boundary between two masses of air with drastically different temperature and moisture characteristics. Each of these volumes of air is trying to spread out like syrup over your pancakes (mmm... pancakes). The cold airmass is trying to spread south and the warm airmass is trying to spread north. Because the winds in the cold airmass are stronger than the winds in the warm air mass pushing against it (in this case), the cold airmass is winning the tug of war and pushing the front to the south, making it a cold front. A warm front would be when the warm airmass is winning the tug of war because its winds are stronger. Where the airmasses meet, the winds are pushing against each other and deforming the wind field like you see in the streamlines on the map. Because the winds are fighting against each other, there is only one option for where the air will go, and that is up. This means there will be clouds over this front, and this is one of the reasons that clouds can be associated with fronts (not all clouds are associated with fronts!!). Tomorrow's forecast for here does not include cloudy conditions that are associated with a front, until tomorrow night or monday morning. The streamline map does not show a front to our north either, so we are not expecting a fallout. If we had cloudy conditions tomorrow associated with a frontal boundary and maintained the same wind field (out of the south from the Gulf Coast), then we might see a fallout (assuming that there are birds to migrate). As it stands right now though, we don't see a front in IL at all. A front is necessary for a fallout because you need to have a constant stream of birds approaching the front, then finding that they encounter poor migration conditions so they land near the front. We would want a front to be just to our north (this time of year) to have a fallout.

If you have any questions about this information, please email me back and we can continue talking offline. I am more than willing to talk weather and birds with whomever feels like talking. If you didn't understand something in this email, I can explain it in more detail and hopefully less sciency with you in a separate email. I don't want to clog the listserve's bandwidth with weather talk rather than birding talk.

I hope to see you out in the field tomorrow some time. If you find anything new for the year for your list, post it to the list. This will help validate or invalidate the knowledge base in this email. Good luck tomorrow.

______Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070421/17 fb18d2/attachment.htm From rboehmer at mail.millikin.edu Sun Apr 22 09:29:24 2007 From: rboehmer at mail.millikin.edu (Ray F. Boehmer) Date: Sun Apr 22 09:31:21 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] plovers Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I went to 300E and 1300N this morning. Despite all of the plowing going on in nearby fields, there were still many plovers and many in breeding plumage.

I saw no pipits.

A large V of CORMORANTS flew right over me going North - about 70 birds.

There were at least 2 VESPER SPARROWS singing in that area. Also saw one SAVANNAH SPARROW in breeding plumage.

Not far from there, saw several YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and a PALM WARBLER feeding in some spruce in a front yard.

Back home, there were WAXWINGS and a WHITE-EYED VIREO in my yard.

Ray 210 W Iowa Urbana

From dafekt1ve at yahoo.com Sun Apr 22 17:04:24 2007 From: dafekt1ve at yahoo.com (Bryan Guarente) Date: Sun Apr 22 17:04:28 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Busey Woods Walk Sunday Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Birdnoters, This email is just a follow up to today's birdwalk in Busey Woods. I am attaching a list to the bottom of the email for your perusal. We split up into two groups and I have compiled the list for both groups combined. We ended up going down to Cyrstal Lake as well, so those birds are included here as well. For general locations of these birds, you can email me back for a hint as to where they were.

Double-crested Cormorant flyby 50+ Great Blue Heron 1 flyby Canada Goose Wood Duck 2 Mallard 2 Cooper's Hawk 2 Broad-winged Hawk 1 flyby Rock Pigeon 1 Mourning Dove many Chimney Swift 10+ Red-bellied Woodpecker some Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4 Downy Woodpecker 3 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker some Eastern Phoebe 1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3 Barn Swallow 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet many Cedar Waxwing 4 Carolina Wren 2 House Wren 1 Brown Thrasher 2 Swainson's Thrush 3 Hermit Thrush 7-10 American Robin many Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6 Black-capped Chickadee 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 4+ Brown Creeper 2 Blue Jay 2 (nesting) American Crow 5 European Starling some Blue-headed Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Nashville Warbler 3-6 Tennessee Warbler 1 Northern Parula 1 singing Yellow-rumped Warbler 10 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 seen/singing Palm Warbler 4+ Black-and-white Warbler 1 female Hooded Warbler 1 Eastern Towhee 2-3 Chipping Sparrow many Field Sparrow 4 Swamp Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow many Northern Cardinal some Indigo Bunting 1 Common Grackle flyby Brown-headed Cowbird a bunch American Goldfinch some House Sparrow 6 or so calling

______Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070422/47 4a2b16/attachment.htm From jrfinley at uiuc.edu Sun Apr 22 18:07:29 2007 From: jrfinley at uiuc.edu (Jason R. Finley) Date: Sun Apr 22 18:07:37 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Photos from Busey Woods Bird Walk 04-22-02007 Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Busey Woods Bird Walk w/ Champaign County Audubon Society Urbana, IL Photos by Jason R. Finley 04-22-02007 http://www.jasonfinley.com/photogalleries/BuseyWoods_4-22-07/index.htm

An addition to Bryan's excellent list of sightings: Red-winged Blackbird

These birds were life-listers for me today: Hooded Warbler* Swainson's Thrush* Brown Thrasher* Swamp Sparrow* Wood Duck* American Goldfinch* (believe it or not! before this I'd only for- sure seen Lesser Goldfinches, in southern California. but I've seen condors in the wild, so maybe that makes up for it!)

~jason

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jason R. Finley Graduate Student, Department of Psychology Cognitive Division University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

603 East Daniel Street Champaign, IL 61820 cell: 949-433-4216 [email protected] http://www.jasonfinley.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From jrfinley at uiuc.edu Sun Apr 22 18:14:09 2007 From: jrfinley at uiuc.edu (Jason R. Finley) Date: Sun Apr 22 18:14:16 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Brown Thrasher dead at Nature Center (possible window casualty?) Message-ID:

Hi all,

After the bird walk in Busey Woods this morning, I discovered a Brown Thrasher dead on the concrete next to the nature center, near the feeding area. S/he looked as if s/he had just recently died, as the plumage was still bright and there were no ants or flies yet (the ants began to arrive within a few minutes). The bird was without a mark on it.

Photos (they're sad but not at all gruesome): http://www.jasonfinley.com/brownthrasher_4-22-07/ BrownThrasher_4-22-07a.jpg http://www.jasonfinley.com/brownthrasher_4-22-07/ BrownThrasher_4-22-07b.jpg

I guess there's no telling how it died, but a collision with the windows it was laying next to seems a likely possibility. The windows there look like they're tinted, and they're highly reflective. Wouldn't it perhaps be a good idea to affix some decals to the windows or something?

~jason ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jason R. Finley Graduate Student, Department of Psychology Cognitive Division University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

From smithsje at egix.net Sun Apr 22 19:55:46 2007 From: smithsje at egix.net (Jim & Eleanor Smith) Date: Sun Apr 22 18:57:11 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] heron rookery Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello, Bird,

I received this message from Sue Smith, who kayaked on the Salt Fork and Saline Branch Friday. There is a rookery of 18 Great-blue Heron nests along the Saline Branch between the Pioneer Seed plant and the confluence with the Salt Fork. This is west of St Joesph.

Best regards.

From leiterp at msn.com Sun Apr 22 20:22:28 2007 From: leiterp at msn.com (Pam Leiter) Date: Sun Apr 22 20:21:13 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] heron rookery References: <[email protected]> Message-ID:

That's pretty cool. Unfortunately, I think that area is slated for development - shopping along 150 and houses just south of 74. I read in the paper that the developer wants to put in biking/walking trails along the waterway, which is better than nothing I guess.

Do GBHs abandon rookeries under such conditions?

Pam ----- Original Message ----- From: Jim & Eleanor Smith To: Bird Notes Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2007 7:55 PM Subject: [Birdnotes] heron rookery

Hello, Bird,

I received this message from Sue Smith, who kayaked on the Salt Fork and Saline Branch Friday. There is a rookery of 18 Great-blue Heron nests along the Saline Branch between the Pioneer Seed plant and the confluence with the Salt Fork. This is west of St Joesph.

Best regards.

______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070422/47 17ff13/attachment.htm From dafekt1ve at yahoo.com Sun Apr 22 21:39:27 2007 From: dafekt1ve at yahoo.com (Bryan Guarente) Date: Sun Apr 22 21:39:34 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Crystal Lake Park Evening (Sunday) Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Birdnoters, After this morning's fun, I went back tonight to see what I could pull up from the Magic Bridge. I had a great list of warblers despite only having four species. Here's the list:

Chimney Swifts

Downy Woodpeckers 2

Hairy Woodpecker 1 calling

Northern Flickers

Red-bellied Woodpecker American Robins Ruby-crowned Kinglets

Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (a few) Tennessee Warbler 1 Yellow-throated Warbler 2 Prothonotary Warbler (1 male, finally!! It only took me three years of being in Illinois, and 13 years since my only other sighting of one) European Starling White-throated Sparrows (hundreds) Indigo Bunting 2 Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird

______Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070422/3b edf679/attachment.htm From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Sun Apr 22 22:55:47 2007 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Sun Apr 22 22:53:27 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] East Main Backyard References: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

A fair amount of bird activity on a beautiful Sunday!

Hooded Warbler (1st for yard!) Carolina Wren Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (all weekend) Gold-Crowned Kinglet (small flock last Sunday afternoon) Brown Creeper (several) Flicker Blue Jay Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher Philadelphia Vireo Robin Brown Thrasher Cowbird Cardinal White Throated Sparrow Turkey Vulture Red Wing Blackbird Grackle Canada Goose House Finch House Sparrow

Bob Vaiden From limey at uiuc.edu Sun Apr 22 23:25:28 2007 From: limey at uiuc.edu (John David Buckmaster) Date: Sun Apr 22 23:25:43 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] another heron rookery Message-ID:

I agree that heron rookeries are cool and want to point out that there is a large one on the Sangamon, a mile or so downstream of the Oakley bridges. It's on the flood plain, so probably safe from development.

------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070422/ad cdc7a6/attachment.htm From lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu Mon Apr 23 08:25:27 2007 From: lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu (Gregory S Lambeth) Date: Mon Apr 23 08:25:30 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Cerrulean Warblers (!) References: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I was at Crystal Lake Park this morning at 6:00am and had 2 Cerrulean Warblers just downstream from the magic bridge. They were both males and at least 1 of the birds was singing. I relocated one of the birds about 45 minutes later near the fountain. It was in a mixed flock of warblers.

Warbler list:

1 Orange-crowned 2 Black-throated Green 3 Palm Warbler 2 Cerrulean 15 Yellow-rumped 2 Nashville 2 Tennessee 2 Northern Waterthrush 5 Parula 1 Yellow-throated 1 Pine Warbler 1 Yellowthroat

A total of 12 species of warbler plus a Philadelphia Vireo. I had to tear myself away at 7:50am to get ready for work, but Bryan Guarente had arrived by then so I'm looking foward to his post.

Greg Lambeth From dafekt1ve at yahoo.com Mon Apr 23 10:00:04 2007 From: dafekt1ve at yahoo.com (Bryan Guarente) Date: Mon Apr 23 10:00:13 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Cerrulean Warblers (!) Message-ID: <[email protected]>

When I got to Crystal Lake Park, the Cerulean Warbler hadn't been heard for about 15min. I searched until 8:30 for this bird, and couldn't refind it. I gave up in the location Greg had found them this morning and just went to the Magic Bridge to see what I could turn up. There I had these birds, which may be an addition to Greg's list, but not too likely:

Northern Waterthrush 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 8-10 Yellow-throated Warbler 1 CERULEAN WARBLER 1 adult male seen with Yellow-rumpeds NW of magic bridge (heard the flight call which tipped me off to this bird) Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Northern Parula 1-2 Blue-headed Vireo 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 Downy Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (1, FOY) Northern Flicker American Robins Cedar Waxwings Northern Cardinal White-throated Sparrows Blue Jays (a mob) Chimney Swifts Northern Rough-winged Swallows

Beaver 1 Groundhog 1 Squirrels

I am certain this list is incomplete, but I just am too excited to figure out what the other non-warblers were. Get out there and bird today or tomorrow. These birds could stick around for a while with the way the winds are setting up for us over the next two days.

______Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070423/3b 021f41/attachment.htm From leslienoa at gmail.com Mon Apr 23 19:57:12 2007 From: leslienoa at gmail.com (Leslie Noa) Date: Mon Apr 23 19:57:17 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Busey Woods Worm-eating warbler Message-ID:

I went out to the Magic Bridge and Crystal Lake Park this afternoon after work. I didn't see anything different than what was seen earlier in the day by Bryan and Greg at Crystal Lake Park. I wasn't able to re-locate the Cerulean Warbler.

I took a quick walk in Busey woods along the stream and saw a Wood Thrush and a Worm-eating warbler. The Worm-eating Warbler was less than 2 meters from me and I got really great looks at it! In fact I believe this was the best look at a Worm-eating Warbler I've ever had.

I also got great looks at a yellow-throated warbler at the Magic Bridge; it landed on the bridge several times.

It was a really great afternoon of birding; thanks to Bryan and Greg for posting their sightings!

Leslie Noa Champaign ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070423/9d 3bcddc/attachment.htm From Birderdlt at aol.com Mon Apr 23 20:02:09 2007 From: Birderdlt at aol.com ([email protected]) Date: Mon Apr 23 20:02:36 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Busey Woods Worm-eating warbler Message-ID:

In a message dated 4/23/2007 6:57:32 PM Central Standard Time, [email protected] writes:

I took a quick walk in Busey woods along the stream and saw a Wood Thrush and a Worm-eating warbler. The Worm-eating Warbler was less than 2 meters from me and I got really great looks at it! In fact I believe this was the best look at a Worm-eating Warbler I've ever had.

Very interesting, because I had a WORM EATING WARBLER at lunch time in the UI Forestry across from Meadowbrook. Also had a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER and NORTHERN WATERTHRUGH. This evening in Urbana saw a BROAD-WINGED HAWK and a WOOD THUSH. Yesterday at Homer Lake also had a BLACK THROATED GREEN WARBLER AND PALM WARBLER.

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070423/83 c44996/attachment.htm From betuana at hotmail.com Mon Apr 23 20:36:22 2007 From: betuana at hotmail.com (Beth Kennedy) Date: Mon Apr 23 20:36:31 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Backyard Sightings: White Crowned Sparrow.. Message-ID:

The nice weather over the past couple days has brought some visitors to our yard feeders (Champaign south of Hessel Park): 1 White Crowned Sparrow (and just in case the 1st sighting yesterday from 3 feet away wasn't enough to confirm it, it showed up again this morning and sat 5 feet away for several minutes) 1 Gray Catbird 2 Chipping Sparrows 3-4 White Crowned Sparrows Numerous Grackles A few Starlings 3 Robins 2 Blue Jays 1 American Crow Numerous House Sparrows 1 House Finch 2 Goldfinches 2 Swamp Sparrows Several Mourning Doves 1 Hermit Thrush

Also 1 Great Blue Heron (fly over) 6 Canada Geese (fly over) Several un-ID'd swallows (fly overs) 2 Nighthawks (fly overs) 1 Kildeer (fly over)

Haven't seen our pair of Towhees or Brown Thrasher in the past couple days, hopefully they'll show back up! -Beth Kennedy [email protected]

______MSN is giving away a trip to Vegas to see Elton John. Enter to win today. http://msnconcertcontest.com?icid-nceltontagline

From jbchato at uiuc.edu Mon Apr 23 20:50:51 2007 From: jbchato at uiuc.edu (John & Beth Chato) Date: Mon Apr 23 20:50:58 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Prairie Warbler Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Birdnoters, Prairie Warbler and catbird in Cyrstal Lake Park at the magic bridge about 4 pm today. Didn't see any of the other reported warblers. I've been trying to figure our why this bridge is more attractive to birds than the other bridges. I think it is partly that the water is shallow and goes over stone ridges making ripples and sounds. Just now that flowering crab also helps as it provides insect food. Those are my theories for the day.

Beth Chato From threlkster at gmail.com Mon Apr 23 22:15:46 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Mon Apr 23 22:15:50 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Busy back yard Message-ID: <[email protected]>

8:00 - 8:30 a.m. Mon., 23 Apr. 2007 (Happy 443rd birthday felicitations to Shakespeare -- albeit a bit happier if he'd just left the starlings out of Henry IV pt. 1) Out back:

BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD 1 male, 2 females.

RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER

HERMIT or SWAINSON'S THRUSH The eye-ring made me think "hermit," as did the general pattern of spotting, but despite good light and close approach I didn't see the reddish tone in the tail that I look for in the hermit.

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW Lots of 'em, especially out toward the back fence. I was wondering if there might be any white-crowned among them; some individuals didn't seem to show much in the way of a white throat, but I wasn't getting especially good looks. WREN sp. Flitting among cut branches near the sparrows. No eyebrow, so not a Carolina, but not a sufficiently good look to hazard an ID.

MOURNING DOVE Multiple

STARLING Two.

HOSP Multiple

9:25 a.m.:

BROWN THRASHER Nice look from about 25 feet. A delightfully good-looking bird, as always.

COMMON GRACKLE Five, on the lawn.

No backyard warblers seen, yet.

217-384-5164 [email protected] ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070423/2d 870190/attachment.htm From threlkster at gmail.com Tue Apr 24 00:46:28 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Tue Apr 24 00:46:34 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] IOS Smith's Longspur Trip Message-ID: <[email protected]>

2007 Smith's Longspur Trip Saturday, April 21, 2007 Vermilion and Champaign Counties, Illinois Guide: Steve Bailey

* = New bird for life list My dad and I arrived in Kickapoo at 7:00 a.m., so we missed the first half hour; if others have good notes for that initial period, that would surely be of interest.

Location: Kickapoo State Park (>), west entrance, Vermilion County, Illinois

7:02 a.m. Brown Thrasher

7:05 Ruby-crowned kinglet

7:07 Yellow-throated warbler x2

7:10 Brown-headed cowbird

7:12 Crow

7:13 R-c. kinglet

7:14 White-breasted nuthatch x2 Mourning dove Red-bellied woodpecker

7:20 Y.-throated warbler Cedar waxwings x10 -- In flight, good view of yellow on the undersides

7:25 Yellow-bellied sapsucker B. thrasher

7:35 R-c. kinglet

Steve heard a northern parula, but we didn't see it

7:44 Blue-grey gnatcatcher

7:46 Red-shouldered hawk -- Call only, heard in response to Steve's barred-owl call. Steve was excited about this; he said it's the first red-shouldered observed in Vermilion county in several years.

7:47 Robin

7:50 Wood ducks x2 -- In flight

7:58 Crow

8:06 Yellow-rumped warbler x2 Location: Wetland Boardwalk, Heron County Park, Vermilion County Conservation District ( and < http://www.vccd.org/giheron.htm>) ? West Newell Road (east of Denmark Road), North Fork of the Vermilion River and Lake Vermilion

8:45 Bald eagle -- Immature plumage, perched for a long time on a snag to the east of the boardwalk Tree swallow -- Ubiquitous Red-winged blackbird -- Many Canada goose -- Everywhere Great blue heron ? Rookery in sycamore trees north of road, two-dozen + nests, numerous adults * Pileated woodpecker -- In flight, perhaps 200 to 300 meters west-by-southwest; good flash of the red crest. (I'd seen PWs before -- as recently as 2004, in Congaree N.P., S.C. -- but not since I'd been formally keeping a list.)

8:51 Sora

8:52 American coot

9:12 Double-crested cormorant x50 - 75 -- Perched in trees at several hundred meters

9:20 HOSP male

9:27 Osprey in flight

9:35 Northern shoveler

9:38 * Broad-winged hawk x3

9:44 Great egret in flight

9:49 Wood duck -- Male and female

9:50 Cardinal -- Male

10:05 Goldfinch -- Several

10:09 Louisiana waterthrush -- Singing; we waited quite a while, but saw only split-second glimpses as it flew past.

10:12 Wh.-breasted nuthatch

10:13 Turkey vulture x3

10:39 Great egrets x4

Location: Lake Vermilion County Park, Denmark Road, Danville -- Vermilion County Conservation District () 11:05 * Bonaparte's gull x 50

11:10 Northern mockingbird B. thrasher

11:13 Tufted titmouse

11:14 Robin Brown-headed cowbird

11:17 Turkey vulture x2

11:18 Blue jay

11:22 Starling

Lunch break, Danville

Location: Corn field several hundred meters east of County Road 900 E, & north of County Road 500 N, Tolono, Illinois

2:09 p.m. Cowbirds x2

2:13 Common grackle

2:15 Horned lark

2:17 * Vesper sparrow

2:20 Robin

2:35 Smith's longspur ? Flocks scattered here and there about the field. When we flushed them, they were in flights that Steve estimated at up to 40 to 50, rising from and settling in field (ID'ed by white showing in tail, distinctive call, and by form of flight). There must have been at least 100 SLs in the field. We eventually had views of foraging birds on the ground, through scopes and binoculars.

3:16 Vesper sparrow

3:25 Killdeer

42 total species

4 new species Notes:

The migrating Smith's longspurs like to settle onto corn-stubble fields that have foxtail grass from the previous season; they feed on the fine seeds. This habitat is diminishing as farmers increasingly use herbicides to suppress weed grasses like foxtail. Foxtail isn't a problem for the corn itself, but it tends to gum up combines, and so farmers disfavor it. This means that Steve has to scout diligently in the central Illinois countryside over the winter for fields that look like hospitable territory.

In this terrain, of corn stubble sticking up through a low, loose mat of dead grasses, all colored a dull straw blond, the longspurs are superbly camouflaged. We can hear their calling, but when they flush from the ground, as little as 30 or 40 yards from us, it's as though they rise out of nowhere. We watch carefully when they land, but when they hit the ground it's as though they vanish. Steve says they flatten down into the stubble (I actually saw one do this as I was leaving the field) and lie still for several minutes; your only hope to see them is wait till they relax and start walking around again.

The longspurs are wary. Sometimes you'll spot some on the ground that haven't yet flown, but that's an exceptionally lucky catch. The birding strategy is to watch where a flock lands. You'll frequently see flocks in the air that have taken flight for some reason other than your presence. Much of the time, though, you walk slowly through the fields ? each step crunching loudly ? and eventually you happen to flush some birds. You watch them fly up and circle around, and you mark where they land. You keep an eye on that spot, try to keep 40 to 50 meters, or more, from it, while walking to a point where you can look straight along a row to where the birds should be.

Once you're at that position, because of the birds' camouflage it's really important to have a good scope. I got good looks at both males and females through scopes, but even when the birds were moving around feeding, and I knew exactly where they were, it was exceedingly difficult to see them through my binoculars. It was a real achievement when I could spot a bit of their white, moving slightly, and even then I could just barely discern the bird. You'd think the male's buff-orange front and collar, especially, would stand out more, but that, too, blends well with the old vegetation.

Watching the Smith's longspurs takes patience. If you have a guide like Steve who has scouted out the fields over the winter (and obtained the farmers' permission to bring several dozen birders onto the land), and checked within the last few days to see if they're in particular fields, then you may well confirm their presence pretty quickly. We did within twenty to twenty-five minutes or so of stepping into the field. Then, however, you have to take time to watch flights and landings, carefully creep up to vantage points, and watch closely and meticulously through scopes to spot them in the stubble and dry grass.

Steve observed that today the birds did not seem especially "co?perative," and they did strike me as pretty spooky. To be sure, it occurred to me, as I looked down the line of some 35 birders advancing up the rows of corn stubble, that if I saw such an army advancing on me (and one, no less, armed to the teeth with large-caliber spotting scopes), I'dprobably fly off far and fast, too. Even when we got a bead on some of the Smith's walking around in the rows, they seemed to be ducking behind the stubble and the mats of weeds all the time.

Around 4:30, after most of the group had obtained looks that satisfied them and taken their leave, the last dozen of us started working our way south to County Road 500 N, where we'd parked. At this point, we started flushing numerous groups of Smith's, and at remarkably close range, too -- some as close as 15 to 20 meters. Two possible explanations occurred to us: First, we were walking in much smaller groups, and may have presented a less terrifying image as we approached. Second, as my dad noted, we were now walking into the very stiff wind blowing up from the south. It seems likely that the birds simply couldn't hear us as readily when we were downwind of them. In any event, these late views were most rewarding, and if we'd not had to hurry home, we could have obtained some exceptionally good looks. We had fine views of one male in excellent breeding plumage from only 20 to 30 meters; even with just binoculars, it was an excellent look.

Once again, many thanks to Steve Bailey for preparing an terrific day.

______Brian Threlkeld 107 E Michigan Ave Urbana IL 61801-5027 217-384-5164 [email protected] ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070424/63 3c219b/attachment-0001.htm From charleneanchor at msn.com Tue Apr 24 07:44:38 2007 From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor) Date: Tue Apr 24 07:34:09 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] IOS trip Message-ID:

Thanks to Brian Threlkeld for his detailed description of the Longspur trip and especially the informative section on the Longspurs.

Brian mentions the foxtail problem. Unfortunately the farmers are not the only ones who get rid of it. It's an excellent food for many birds. With all the mowing that goes on and eradication because it is a "weed", I hardly see it anymore. Maybe individual landowner-birdlovers could start a "Foxtail Revolution" and start growing it where they have the room. My neighbor had some growing in their yard this past year right in town. I'm hoping some of the seeds blew my way :-)

Charlene Anchor ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070424/f9 979118/attachment.htm From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Tue Apr 24 08:08:21 2007 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Tue Apr 24 08:06:01 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] East Main Backyard In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Still a small flock of White Throated Sparrows. I haven't seen Juncos since the weekend. Swainsons Thrush in the bushes... The usual gang of Robins, Cardinals, RedWing Blackbirds, Grackles, Doves, etc...

Bob Vaiden

From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Tue Apr 24 08:12:45 2007 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Tue Apr 24 08:10:27 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] IOS trip In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Well...what did they eat before there was Foxtail? Better to figure out which native grasses supported them rather than spread European plants even more (although Foxtail generally disappears from native landscapes...it's primarily a "farm weed").

Bob Vaiden

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of charlene anchor Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 7:45 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] IOS trip

Thanks to Brian Threlkeld for his detailed description of the Longspur trip and especially the informative section on the Longspurs.

Brian mentions the foxtail problem. Unfortunately the farmers are not the only ones who get rid of it. It's an excellent food for many birds. With all the mowing that goes on and eradication because it is a "weed", I hardly see it anymore. Maybe individual landowner-birdlovers could start a "Foxtail Revolution" and start growing it where they have the room. My neighbor had some growing in their yard this past year right in town. I'm hoping some of the seeds blew my way :-)

Charlene Anchor ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070424/c6 689b9d/attachment.htm From ryetimothy at gmail.com Tue Apr 24 10:16:33 2007 From: ryetimothy at gmail.com (Timothy Rye) Date: Tue Apr 24 10:16:41 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Lake Charleston PM and Fox Ridge AM Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello birders,

I had a productive night at Lake Charleston and a productive morning at Fox Ridge State park. Here's what I saw:

Lake Charleston (PM April 23): Bald Eagle Osprey Blue-winged teal Wood Ducks Canada Geese Double crested cormorants Northern Shovelers American Coots Ruddy Ducks Northern Parula Yellow warbler (heard, not seen) Warbling vireo Yellow throated warbler Yellow rumped warbler Blue gray gnatcatcher Black throated green warbler Possible Cerulean (the light was failing at that point) Palm warblers (at least 10)

Fox Ridge (AM April 24): Northern Parula American Goldfinch Black throated green warbler White throated sparrow Yellow rumped warbler Yellow throated warbler Nashville warbler Louisiana Waterthrush Common Yellow throat warbler Yellow warbler Eastern Bluebird Eastern Towhee Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

Timothy Rye Charleston ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070424/44 d20e8c/attachment.htm From threlkster at gmail.com Tue Apr 24 10:36:40 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Tue Apr 24 10:36:46 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] IOS trip In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> References: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I was wondering about that, when Steve mentioned that foxtail is an introduced plant.

Generally, I'd agree that it's better to try to nurture the recovery of native flora. Solely from the information given here, however, one might reasonably infer that foxtail is fairly benign, as introduced plants go, for these reasons:

1. It flourishes in disturbed landscapes, where native species are less successful;

2. It sustains populations of native fauna that depended on native plants that are no longer available; and

3. If modern urban or agricultural use of land stops, and the land begins reverting to a natural or wild condition, then the foxtail declines, and does not out-compete returning native plants.

Naturally, the validity of these conclusions depends on whether the premises stated in the previous postings are correct, and in no way do I hold forth myself as an expert on such matters.

Nevertheless, I think it's an inescapable truth that the corn and soybean "deserts" (see remarks by the Field Museum's Doug Stotz, and others) that now dominate our local landscape are far less rich environments than the prairies they replaced. If farmers will tolerate weeds such as foxglove that are not directly detrimental to their crops, and adopt practices such as "no-till" (which my relatives in Indiana use in their fields, because it reduces erosion), that may at least mitigate to some extent the harm migrants have suffered from the loss of the prairies.

217-384-5164 [email protected]

On 4/24/07, Vaiden, Robert wrote: > > Well?what did they eat before there was Foxtail? Better to figure out > which native grasses supported them rather than spread European plants even > more (although Foxtail generally disappears from native landscapes? it's > primarily a "farm weed"). > > Bob Vaiden > > -----Original Message----- > *From:* [email protected] [mailto: > [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *charlene anchor > *Sent:* Tuesday, April 24, 2007 7:45 AM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* [Birdnotes] IOS trip > > Thanks to Brian Threlkeld for his detailed description of the Longspur > trip and especially the informative section on the Longspurs. > > Brian mentions the foxtail problem. Unfortunately the farmers are not the > only ones who get rid of it. It's an excellent food for many birds. With all > the mowing that goes on and eradication because it is a "weed", I hardly see > it anymore. Maybe individual landowner-birdlovers could start a "Foxtail > Revolution" and start growing it where they have the room. My neighbor had > some growing in their yard this past year right in town. I'm hoping some of > the seeds blew my way :-) > > Charlene Anchor > ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070424/99 f2a790/attachment-0001.htm From jjokela59 at hotmail.com Tue Apr 24 11:29:25 2007 From: jjokela59 at hotmail.com (Janet Jokela) Date: Tue Apr 24 11:29:37 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Magic Bridge Message-ID:

Good morning--

A quick look this morning at the Magic Bridge in Crystal Lake Park in Urbana yielded a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a Brown Thrasher, numerous Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Waterthrush, a Common Yellowthroat, and both species of Kinglets. Also, a large mottled brown snake was sunning in the brush next to the water on the park-side of the stream.

Good birding, Janet Jokela Champaign

______Get a FREE Web site, company branded e-mail and more from Microsoft Office Live! http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/mcrssaub0050001411mrt/direct/01/

From jbchato at uiuc.edu Tue Apr 24 16:51:44 2007 From: jbchato at uiuc.edu (John & Beth Chato) Date: Tue Apr 24 16:51:50 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Fwd: Second Save Our Trees Meeting Planned for May 3 Message-ID: <[email protected]>

This comes from Sara Livesay. She is concerned about work being done by the Upper Salt Fork Drainage District, especially as it will severely impact the new St. Joe wetland project. They hope for a large turnout, particularly at the Champaign meeting Beth Chato John C. Chato 714 W. Vermont Ave. Urbana, IL 61801 217-344-6803 ------next part ------An embedded message was scrubbed... From: "s.livesay" Subject: Second Save Our Trees Meeting Planned for May 3 Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2007 12:37:56 -0500 Size: 12928 Url: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070424/46 d75361/Message7.eml From threlkster at gmail.com Tue Apr 24 19:14:35 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Tue Apr 24 19:14:40 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Swifts Message-ID: <[email protected]>

CHIMNEY SWIFT 5:50 p.m. Tue., 24 Apr. 2007 Federal Public Defender's Office, 300 W Main St, Urbana As I stepped out of the office, I heard a familiar twittering, and looked up to a pair of swifts swooping overhead. There were also swifts a few minutes later over Leal School, at W California Ave and S Birch St. My first of year swifts, only a week after Greg's FOY -- not bad! Last year, my FOY swifts were 22 Apr.

217-384-5164 [email protected] ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070424/5d c273f1/attachment.htm From smithsje at egix.net Tue Apr 24 22:32:31 2007 From: smithsje at egix.net (Jim & Eleanor Smith) Date: Tue Apr 24 21:33:56 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Farmer birds Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello, Bird, Here is a list of birds that I have seen from the tractor seat over the last two days. Canada goose Mallard Wood duck Red-tailed hawk Golden plover Pectoral sandpiper Killdeer Pheasant Pipit Horned lark (2 just fledged) Barn swallow Vesper sparrow Savanah sparrow Crow Starling Red-winged blackbird Cowbird Grackle Mourning dove

Mammals

Coyote Deer 13 lined ground squirrel House mouse

Best regards.

From 4heines at sbcglobal.net Tue Apr 24 22:06:37 2007 From: 4heines at sbcglobal.net (The Heines) Date: Tue Apr 24 22:06:47 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Smith's Longspur facts (No sightings) Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I also attended the Smith's Longspur outing on Saturday, and got pretty good looks at both males and females. Thank you Steve Bailey for helping me add this difficult-to-find lifer to my list. While doing some research on the Web, I discovered some interesting facts about this species:

1. Audubon named this bird after his friend Gideon B. Smith, a medical doctor from Baltimore, MD. 2. Migration is elliptical, with northbound birds staging in Illinois in the spring and traveling south through the Great Plains in the fall. 3. Over a period of one week in June, a female Smith's Longspur will copulate over 350 times on average; this is one of the highest copulation rates of any bird.

With all of that longspur sex going on, it's a wonder that the they had any energy left to fly away from us in the corn stubble field!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tom Heine | 1205 S. Abercorn St. | Urbana, IL 61802

From lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu Tue Apr 24 22:13:55 2007 From: lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu (Gregory S Lambeth) Date: Tue Apr 24 22:17:24 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Bird Photos (No sightings) References: Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I have made some revisions to my web site today. I've added some new photos taken on the Busey Woods Bird Walks. There is a link to photos taken on my recent trip to Corpus Christi. And, I've added a new link entitled "Recent Additions". This link has a photograph of a White- eyed Vireo taken this morning at Busey Woods.

Please enjoy and I welcome your feedback.

Greg Lambeth http://web.mac.com/gregorylambeth/iWeb/Site/Welcome%20.html From threlkster at gmail.com Tue Apr 24 23:11:45 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Tue Apr 24 23:11:50 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Bald eagle, Indiana Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Dad, his granddaughter Lydia, and I visited family in Boone County, Indiana, on Sunday. We were at my aunt's house, and my cousin Dick mentioned casually that they had a bald eagle land in a big old snag right next to their house, in a narrow strip of pasture on the farm, around early March (the most precise date I could get from them). That floored me; I'd *never* heard of eagles around that area, in all my decades of visiting our relatives there, and correspondence and conversation with them. I wondered if they could possibly have made a mistake -- perhaps seeing a big hawk with anomalous plumage? A vulture that had stuck its head in some peroxide?

It seems that someone driving past had seen the bird, stopped his car, and started snapping photos. At some point he saw Dick, I guess, and asked if he could hop the fence into the pasture to get closer. Dick said, Sure, and so the photographer carefully approached, and eventually got right under the snag, without appearing to bother the bird. He subsequently sent a CD with dozens of shots on it to Dick and his wife Michelle. We drove out to their farm from my aunt's house late Sunday afternoon, and Michelle put the disk into the computer. She pulled up the images, and the close-range shots were absolutely unmistakable: a bald eagle in fully adult plumage.

Their farm is at:

9896 W State Road 47 Thorntown IN

You can feed that into Mapquest, and then click on the "Aerial Image" tab at the upper right to get a pretty good image of the location. The pasture is west of their house, and east of Dick's brother's house, which is at:

This is between 65 and 70 miles east of Urbana-Champaign, as the crow flies. The snag the eagle landed in was on the eastern edge of the pasture, just a few meters from Dick and Michelle's house, and about 60 meters north of the road.

It's not obvious to me why the bird stopped there. South across Route 47, the family have rented the field to a gravel-digging operation, and it looks like there's a pond there, at least seasonally, but it wouldn't have any fish. Sugar Creek runs a couple hundred meters north of the bird's perch. It's a fair-sized creek, but it's no Illinois or Wabash -- or even Sangamon -- river. There are some ponds between one and two kilometers to the southeast and northeast, which could provide some fish. I can't recall if we were having a cold spell in early March that might have pushed eagles into new territory, and without a more precise date from my relatives it would be hard to correlate this sighting with any specific weather records.

217-384-5164 [email protected] ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070424/85 07a2ea/attachment.htm From birder1949 at yahoo.com Wed Apr 25 07:10:20 2007 From: birder1949 at yahoo.com (Roger Digges) Date: Wed Apr 25 07:10:36 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook Whip-poor-will, Great Crested Flycatcher Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Cathy and I heard two Whip-poor-wills about 5:30 this morning at the west end of Meadowbrook Park. One was singing in the distance, but we judged it to be somewhere near the confluence of Douglas and McConnell Creeks. The other was much closer to us, on McConnell Creek perhaps 25-30 yards south of the Molecular Reflection sculpture. Neither was singing my second time around--probably too light by then.

At around 6:10, heard a Great Crested Flycatcher near the north end of the east sidewalk, calling from one of the apple trees. He was very insistent. These are both FOY for me.

Neglected to say yesterday that I had both a Hermit and a Wood Thrush calling from somewhere in the Forestry around 6 a.m., across the street from the west sidewalk south of the Race Street parking lot. Didn't hear either this morning.

Also a much larger than usual collection of White-throated (and one White-crowned?) Sparrows in my backyard this morning (northwest of the Colorado/Anderson intersection). The "noise" was positively deafening. It was hard to pick out individual birds, but I counted at least 10. Not sure what drew them.

Roger Digges

______Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com From leslienoa at gmail.com Wed Apr 25 07:48:36 2007 From: leslienoa at gmail.com (Leslie Noa) Date: Wed Apr 25 07:48:41 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] U of I campus warblers and sparrows Message-ID: I got off my bus a couple of blocks early this morning and walked through the quad on my way into work this morning. I ran into MANY white- throated sparrows; impressive in number. I also saw several brown thrashers and heard 1 or 2 eastern towhees. Of note were a small flock of warblers on the west side of the quad. The lighting was bad but I was able to pick out yellow-rumped warblers and at least 2 pine warblers. It's possible I missed something as I did not spend a lot of time picking through the flock.

At the shelford vivarium I also had impressive numbers of white-throated sparrows, a couple of ruby-crowned kinglets, 1 or 2 cedar waxwings, 1 brown thrasher (down from the 4 I saw on Monday) and 1 YELLOW WARBLER (FOY). I believe this is a first for me at the vivarium but I'm not too surprised as I saw a variety warblers and vireos here last year.

In hind sight I wish I had gone out to the Magic Bridge this morning. Hope someone makes it out there and please post!

Leslie Noa Champaign ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070425/a5 e0eabd/attachment.htm From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Wed Apr 25 08:00:51 2007 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Wed Apr 25 07:58:30 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Bald eagle, Indiana In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I guess sometimes they show up in strange places :-) I have copies of a photo taken early this year of a Bald Eagle sitting on the ground in the middle of a corn field near Villa Grove.

Bob Vaiden

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Threlkeld Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 11:12 PM To: Birdnotes Cc: Weir, Tom; Threlkeld & Stein (AOL) Subject: [Birdnotes] Bald eagle, Indiana

It seems that someone driving past had seen the bird, stopped his car, and started snapping photos. At some point he saw Dick, I guess, and asked if he could hop the fence into the pasture to get closer. Dick said, Sure, and so the photographer carefully approached, and eventually got right under the snag, without appearing to bother the bird. He subsequently sent a CD with dozens of shots on it to Dick and his wife Michelle. We drove out to their farm from my aunt's house late Sunday afternoon, and Michelle put the disk into the computer. She pulled up the images, and the close-range shots were absolutely unmistakable: a bald eagle in fully adult plumage.

Their farm is at:

217-384-5164 [email protected] ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070425/20 e2d071/attachment-0001.htm From lcase at autumngoldconsulting.com Wed Apr 25 08:42:15 2007 From: lcase at autumngoldconsulting.com (Linda Case) Date: Wed Apr 25 08:42:32 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] American Bittern at LOW Conservation Area In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <00ff01c7873f$8a9ca6c0$6400a8c0@vegan2>

Good Morning - We had a beautiful sighting of an American Bittern while out hiking at LOW this morning. The bird was in one of the prairie restoration fields and flew up as we walked by. He flew right over our trail, so we had a great view of him. This is the first time that I have seen a Bittern out here!

Linda Case

Linda P. Case

AutumnGold Consulting

(217) 586-4864 www.autumngoldconsulting.com [email protected] or [email protected]

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Vaiden, Robert Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 8:01 AM To: Brian Threlkeld; Birdnotes Cc: Weir, Tom; Threlkeld & Stein (AOL) Subject: RE: [Birdnotes] Bald eagle, Indiana

I guess sometimes they show up in strange places :-) I have copies of a photo taken early this year of a Bald Eagle sitting on the ground in the middle of a corn field near Villa Grove.

Bob Vaiden

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Threlkeld Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 11:12 PM To: Birdnotes Cc: Weir, Tom; Threlkeld & Stein (AOL) Subject: [Birdnotes] Bald eagle, Indiana

It seems that someone driving past had seen the bird, stopped his car, and started snapping photos. At some point he saw Dick, I guess, and asked if he could hop the fence into the pasture to get closer. Dick said, Sure, and so the photographer carefully approached, and eventually got right under the snag, without appearing to bother the bird. He subsequently sent a CD with dozens of shots on it to Dick and his wife Michelle. We drove out to their farm from my aunt's house late Sunday afternoon, and Michelle put the disk into the computer. She pulled up the images, and the close-range shots were absolutely unmistakable: a bald eagle in fully adult plumage. Their farm is at:

------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070425/17 48582f/attachment.htm From mpward at uiuc.edu Wed Apr 25 08:59:26 2007 From: mpward at uiuc.edu (Mike Ward) Date: Wed Apr 25 08:59:37 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] St. Joseph Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Eurasian Collared-Doves have arrived in St. Joseph. The first individual I had every seen in St. Joseph was near the Casey's two weeks ago and I saw one yesterday at the Elementary School.

The St. Joseph Wetland had over 70 shorebirds this morning

35+ solitary sandpipers 20-25 lesser yellowlegs 3 spotted sandpipers 2 wilson snipe 10-15 pectoral sandpipers 5 killdeer 2 least sandpipers

Last week 3 greater yellowlegs 2 dowitchers (probably long-billed)

Waterfowl Mallards Canada Geese Northern Shovelers Blue-winged Teal

Mike Ward St. Joseph

From lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu Wed Apr 25 10:02:36 2007 From: lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu (Gregory S Lambeth) Date: Wed Apr 25 10:02:40 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Fantastic Morning at Crystal Lake Park References: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Bryan Guarente and I met up at Crystal Lake Park this morning at 6am (actually, I got there at 6 and he rolled in a little later). We had 18 species of warblers, including 3 PROTHONOTARY, 1 WORM-EATING, 1 BLUE-WINGED and I HOODED. The Magic Bridge produced 3 of these species with the Hooded being over at the Pavillion. I've posted photos of the Hooded and 2 of the Prothonotaries together on the Magic Bridge. Go to my web site and click on "Recent Additions": http://web.mac.com/gregorylambeth/iWeb/Site/Welcome%20.html.

Warbler List:

1 Blue-winged 1 Tennessee 8 Orange-crowned 3 Nashville 2 Yellow 50+ Yellow-rumped 1 Black-throated Green 2 Yellow-throated 3 Pine Warbler 20 Palm Warblers 1 Blackpoll 1 Black-n-white 3 Prothonotary 1 Worm-eating 2 Ovenbird 5 Northern Waterthrush 1 Hooded 1 Wilson's

In addition, we had 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 1 Yellow-throated Vireo, 1 Warbling Vireo, 1 Blue-headed Vireo and 2 Green Herons.

Greg Lambeth From redshank at tringa.org Wed Apr 25 13:20:35 2007 From: redshank at tringa.org (Jacob Spendelow) Date: Wed Apr 25 13:19:21 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Fantastic Morning at Crystal Lake Park Message-ID: <[email protected]>

That is a truly remarkable warbler list for such an early date in the season. Jacob

At 09:02 AM 4-25-2007, Gregory S Lambeth wrote:

>Bryan Guarente and I met up at Crystal Lake Park this morning at 6am >(actually, I got there at 6 and he rolled in a little later). We >had 18 species of warblers, including 3 PROTHONOTARY, 1 WORM-EATING, >1 BLUE-WINGED and I HOODED. The Magic Bridge produced 3 of these >species with the Hooded being over at the Pavillion. I've posted >photos of the Hooded and 2 of the Prothonotaries together on the >Magic Bridge. Go to my web site and click on "Recent >Additions": http://web.mac.com/gregorylambeth/iWeb/Site/Welcome %20.html. > >Warbler List: > >1 Blue-winged >1 Tennessee >8 Orange-crowned >3 Nashville >2 Yellow >50+ Yellow-rumped >1 Black-throated Green >2 Yellow-throated >3 Pine Warbler >20 Palm Warblers >1 Blackpoll >1 Black-n-white >3 Prothonotary >1 Worm-eating >2 Ovenbird >5 Northern Waterthrush >1 Hooded >1 Wilson's > >In addition, we had 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 1 Yellow-throated >Vireo, 1 Warbling Vireo, 1 Blue-headed Vireo and 2 Green Herons. > >Greg Lambeth >______>Birdnotes mailing list >[email protected] >https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes

From regehr5 at aol.com Wed Apr 25 13:48:31 2007 From: regehr5 at aol.com ([email protected]) Date: Wed Apr 25 13:48:51 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Turkey Vultures Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Just received from the Audubon telephone:

Twenty-nine Turkey Vultures were seen in tall sycamore trees on Saturday evening by Sarah Vogel, phone 328-1402. Location: Perkins and High Cross Road. The birds were not there Sunday. ______AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070425/81 75cb11/attachment.htm From regehr5 at aol.com Wed Apr 25 13:53:16 2007 From: regehr5 at aol.com ([email protected]) Date: Wed Apr 25 13:53:30 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Shorebird at Crystal Lake Park Message-ID: <[email protected]>

A shorebird was bathing and preening in a floodle at the entrance to the Lake House area of Crystal Lake Park Wednesday at about 11:00 AM.

It appeared to me to be a non-breeding plumage Spotted Sandpiper. Canada Geese were in the same flooded area.

Elaine Regehr ______AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070425/aa 6a54dd/attachment.htm From ccas at prairienet.org Wed Apr 25 14:31:53 2007 From: ccas at prairienet.org ([email protected]) Date: Wed Apr 25 15:09:50 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] [Fwd: Quail sighting] Message-ID: <[email protected]> Thank you George! I will forward the sighting to our birding listserve.

------Original Message ------Subject: Quail sighting From: "George Stanhope" Date: Sun, April 22, 2007 12:01 pm To: [email protected] ------

Thought someone would be interested in a quail sighting this morning (11:30AM) at 1008 W. John, Champaign, of a single quail (See attached photos). The bird was calling out, which caught our attention. What a surprise to see a quail underneath the pine tree. We took some pictures as he walked away.

George Stanhope 398-0920 ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070425/b7 97de0d/untitled-1-0001.htm ------next part ------A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Quail 3.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 246127 bytes Desc: not available Url : https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070425/b7 97de0d/Quail3-0001.jpg ------next part ------A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Quail 2.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 201744 bytes Desc: not available Url : https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070425/b7 97de0d/Quail2-0001.jpg From threlkster at gmail.com Wed Apr 25 15:21:08 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Wed Apr 25 15:21:12 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] [Fwd: Quail sighting] In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> References: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

That's a male northern bobwhite (*colinus virginianus*)?

On 4/25/07, [email protected] wrote: > > Thank you George! I will forward the sighting to our birding listserve. > > ------Original Message ------> Subject: Quail sighting > From: "George Stanhope" > Date: Sun, April 22, 2007 12:01 pm > To: [email protected] > ------> > Thought someone would be interested in a quail sighting this morning > (11:30AM) at 1008 W. John, Champaign, of a single quail (See attached > photos). The bird was calling out, which caught our attention. What a > surprise to see a quail underneath the pine tree. We took some pictures > as he walked away. > > George Stanhope > 398-0920 ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070425/e4 352d24/attachment.htm From jrfinley at uiuc.edu Wed Apr 25 15:31:58 2007 From: jrfinley at uiuc.edu (Jason R. Finley) Date: Wed Apr 25 15:32:07 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Magic Bridge: where is it? Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hi all, This is my first Spring in Urbana, and I'm enjoying seeing migrants coming in. But could I please ask where the 'Magic Bridge' can be found? I gather it's a footbridge at Crystal Lake, but is there more than one bridge, and is it obvious where to find the magic one? Also, what would everyone recommend for observing at the bridge? Stand right in the middle of it and gawk in all directions, or some other tactic? thanks! ~jason

From jbchato at uiuc.edu Wed Apr 25 16:53:19 2007 From: jbchato at uiuc.edu (John & Beth Chato) Date: Wed Apr 25 16:53:28 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Sparrows, Warbler review Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Birders, I had a Lincoln Sparrow at my feeder this morning, a first of the year for me. I almost missed him in the crowd of House Sparrows and my winter White-throated visitors.It reminded me that I want to tell everyone to keep an eye on those annoying House sparrows. I noticed a different sparrow just as he flew, because he was walking differently and had a different shape, but I almost passed him by. Luckily he came back a few minutes later and I got a good look. So far this spring I have had Chipping, White-throated, White-crowned, Fox, Swamp, Song and now Lincoln's sparrows joining the sparrow gang. Don't forget that the Spring Bird Count is Saturday May 5. Even if you can't spend the day birding, do keep track of your yard birds or any other places you go in Champaign or Piatt County. Let me know and I'll add them in. Tuesday, May 2, 7pm you are invited to the Chatos, 714 W. Vermont, Urbana to view the CD Watching Warblers with us. This is an excellent sight and sound production to review before the BIrd Count. Let me know if you are coming so I know how many chairs to round up. From dafekt1ve at yahoo.com Wed Apr 25 17:19:06 2007 From: dafekt1ve at yahoo.com (Bryan Guarente) Date: Wed Apr 25 17:19:12 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Magic Bridge Location (No Sightings) Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Oh, I guess since I am a supporter of the Magic Bridge name, and a pretty consistent poster from there this time of year, I guess it is my duty to tell you where it is. I kept forgetting to post directions to the bridge, so here goes.

Magic Bridge location: The Magic Bridge is identifiable as the only wooden suspension bridge in the park. All the other bridges are trusses or cement/steel mixtures. The Magic Bridge is on the eastern side of the park over the creek. Entering from the eastern side of the park from off of Broadway, you can find the bridge by going to the second parking lot. It is the bridge right in from of you.

If you enter the park by going straight in on Central St (it is the one with Dunkin Donuts on it [shows you where my priorities are]), you will go around the lake on the western side and end up south of the fairgrounds at one point. The next parking lot will put you on the eastern side of the lake (barely) and is another possible access point to the Magic Bridge (bridge to the east of the lot along the hedge). If you want to access the bridge from the other side, just continue around the road over the only road bridge in the park and go to the second parking lot. This lot will have the Magic Bridge attached to it.

In terms of ways to view from the Magic Bridge, I suggest the get as many people a possible method and just look. Birds can be in all directions (upstream, downstream, above, or below the bridge). It just can help to have people to help you with the numbers of individual birds that can be produced on the bridge. It can be worthwhile some days to stand there and let the flocks find you, but other days it may be that you have to go find the flocks. This morning for instance, the flocks were not moving much, so it was best for us to walk the park looking for birds rather than stand on the bridge and wait for the flocks.

Hope this information helps. If you need more info, please reply directly to me.

______Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070425/cc 7c09a1/attachment.htm From ryetimothy at gmail.com Wed Apr 25 18:57:03 2007 From: ryetimothy at gmail.com (Timothy Rye) Date: Wed Apr 25 18:57:09 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] EIU and Lake Charleston Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hey Folks,

Had a nice birding day on the campus of EIU and Lake Charleston. I walked around campus a little this morning and here's what I saw:

Eastern Kingbird Cedar Waxwings Blue Gray Gnatcatchers

At Lake Charleston this evening:

Prothonotary Warblers Yellow-rumped Warblers Northern Parula Yellow Warblers Yellow-throated Warblers Ruby-throated Hummingbird Baltimore Oriole Warbling Vireo

Timothy Rye Charleston ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070425/33 8cb042/attachment.htm From rkanter at uiuc.edu Wed Apr 25 19:36:08 2007 From: rkanter at uiuc.edu (Rob Kanter) Date: Wed Apr 25 19:36:12 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Champaign and Vermilion County sparrows plus ovenbird Message-ID: <[email protected]>

This afternoon I spent 15 minutes in the weedy field that is the future home of Porter Family Park at the intersection of Windsor and Rising Rd in southwest Champaign. (I happened to be in the area and was curious about the site.)

The entire field was hopping with sparrows. My sparrow ID skills are limited, but I was sure about white-throats, song, swamp, and LECONTE'S (only my second time ever for seeing one). The steady wind in my face and intermittent rain made identifying birds even more of a challenge, but this place is definitely worth a look in better weather.

This past Sunday I was on the Middle Fork to picnic with my son and cast a little for smallmouth bass, just downstream of the Higginsville Bridge (where 900 East crosses the river). As we crossed a fallow field there we stirred up a flock of 5 or so LARK SPARROWS, a life bird for me.

And since we have now entered warblermania, I'll add that I had an ovenbird in the taxis bushes just north of Lincoln Hall on the UI campus at noon today (along with 25 or so w-t sparrows).

Perhaps because it is planted with native woodland flowers, the area between Lincoln Hall and the English Building can turn up some pretty good birds in spring, so do look in there if you go by.

-- Rob Kanter Environmental Almanac On WILL-AM 580 Thursdays, 4:45 pm and 6:45 pm Archives at http://environmentalalmanac.blogspot.com/ (217) 621-2934 [email protected] From dafekt1ve at yahoo.com Wed Apr 25 21:37:13 2007 From: dafekt1ve at yahoo.com (Bryan Guarente) Date: Wed Apr 25 21:37:18 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] South Farms Wednesday (Champaign County) Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Birdnoters, I went to the south famrs as a break from going to Crystal Lake Park (too much stimulation!). I started at the Dairy Cattle unit where I had limited success.

Spotted Sandpiper 1 Solitary Sandpiper 4 Lesser Yellowlegs 3 Killdeer 2 Mallard 4

Then on to Moorman Swine Research Unit:

Pied-billed Grebe Canada Goose 4 Mallard 4 Blue-winged Teal 4 Wood Duck 6 Northern Shoveler 1 American Coot 2 Tree Swallows 20+ Barn Swallows 40+ Sedge Wren 2 American Robin

Savannah Sparrows 20+ (easily)

White-throated Sparrows

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Chipping Sparrows

Swamp Sparrows 10+ Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Common Grackle House Sparrow

______Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070425/55 6c84e5/attachment-0001.htm From smithsje at egix.net Thu Apr 26 09:23:46 2007 From: smithsje at egix.net (Jim & Eleanor Smith) Date: Thu Apr 26 08:25:16 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Quial Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello, Bird,

The quail in the photo sent by George Stanhope appears to be of the sub-race known as Tennessee Red. These are often raised buy quail breeders and released.

Best regards.

From smithsje at egix.net Thu Apr 26 09:25:33 2007 From: smithsje at egix.net (Jim & Eleanor Smith) Date: Thu Apr 26 08:27:02 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Rose-breasted Grosbeaks Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello, Bird,

We two Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, males, yesterday at one feeder. They are singing this am.

Best regards.

From lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu Thu Apr 26 08:38:44 2007 From: lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu (Gregory S Lambeth) Date: Thu Apr 26 08:38:48 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Crystal Lake Park (4/26 am) References: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I birded Crystal Lake Park from 6:00am to 7:45am this morning. There was a lot of activity at daybreak and I had 10 species of warbler by 6:10am. Many of the birds which were around yesterday appear to be present today, but there was also a little bit of an influx as evidenced by increases in the numbers of some species. I wound up with 16 species of warblers before having to leave for work. In addition to the warblers, I had Warbling, Blue-headed and White-eyed Vireo. Swainson's and Hermit Thrush. 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The usual combination of Kinglets, Gnatcatchers and a Brown Creeper. I neglected to mention sparrows from my report yesterday. I'd estimate 500 White- throated Sparrows with 40-50 Swamp Sparrows mixed in to the flocks yesterday. There were fewer of both species today, but WT numbers are still in the hundreds.

Warbler list:

1 Blue-winged 3 Tennessee 4 Orange-crowned 5 Nashville 2 Northern Parula 4 Yellow 45 Yellow-rumped 2 Black-throated Green 3 Yellow-throated 2 Pine 15 Palm 1 Blackpoll 2 Black-n-white 3 Ovenbird 2 Northern Waterthrush 1 Common Yellowthroat

Greg Lambeth From dafekt1ve at yahoo.com Thu Apr 26 09:57:42 2007 From: dafekt1ve at yahoo.com (Bryan Guarente) Date: Thu Apr 26 09:57:48 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Crystal Lake Park (4/26 am) Message-ID: <[email protected]>

After Greg left, the birding was slow. There was little to be found until Margaret and I got over to the hill beside the Lake House. We added a wren, which initially I thought was Sedge Wren (until I got back to my car to look at a book). The bird turned out to be a Marsh Wren, my first for Champaign County. There were good numbers of birds over there including:

Palm Warblers Yellow-throated Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Pine Warbler Yellow Warbler Nashville Warbler Scarlet Tanager Blue-headed Vireo

When we got back to the Magic Bridge we were joined by other birders and added the following:

Black-throated Green Warbler

A little while later a walk up the eastern side of the park produced: Prairie Warbler Rose-breasted Grosbeak

The Prairie Warbler and the Marsh Wren were my best birds of the day.

______Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070426/d1 c9190e/attachment.htm From brockprice at sbcglobal.net Thu Apr 26 14:48:15 2007 From: brockprice at sbcglobal.net (Brock Price) Date: Thu Apr 26 14:48:20 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Crystal Lake Park Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Only one addition to Bryan and Greg's list - A couple of us had a Prothonotary Warbler at the bridge and I spotted it again as I was leaving the park. It was near the Y in the road that leads to a dead end parking lot or out of the park. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070426/5b 0f1766/attachment.htm From dafekt1ve at yahoo.com Thu Apr 26 21:31:34 2007 From: dafekt1ve at yahoo.com (Bryan Guarente) Date: Thu Apr 26 21:31:40 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Marketview Mall Parking Lot Thursday (Champaign County) Message-ID: <[email protected]>

While going out shopping, I openned my car door to the sounds of multiple COMMON NIGHTHAWKS calling. This seems really early. But I am sure that is what I heard multiple times (at least 20). Pretty soon, we might be calling it the Magic Parking Lot or Magic Mall. Just kidding.

______Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070426/ea 477341/attachment.htm From threlkster at gmail.com Fri Apr 27 07:23:10 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Fri Apr 27 07:23:21 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Grosbeak Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Rose-breasted grosbeak 7:20 a.m. Fri., 27 Apr. 2007 Male at feeder out back. First of year for us.

217-384-5164 [email protected] ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070427/f1 2ef438/attachment.htm From lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu Fri Apr 27 08:00:14 2007 From: lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu (Gregory S Lambeth) Date: Fri Apr 27 08:00:22 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] South Farms Sparrows References: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I decided to give the warblers a break this morning and check out the sparrows on the South Farms before work. I had an Eastern Kingbird at the Swine Ponds yesterday afternoon, but it wasn't there this morning. The Swine Pond area is full of sparrows and there are several fields of dandelions nearby. These are rough estimates of species:

5 Field Sparrows 10 Swamp Sparrows 1 Lincoln's Sparrow 50 White-throateds 25 White-crowneds 30-40 Savannah Sparrows 2 Vesper Sparrows 5 Grasshopper Sparrows 40 Chipping Sparrows 10 Song Sparrows I also had an Orchard Oriole in the field South of the Swine Pond. I'm not sure what it was doing there.

From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Fri Apr 27 08:16:31 2007 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Fri Apr 27 08:16:37 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] East Main Backyard In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Yesterday (Thursday) noon in the backyard

ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAK at the sunflower seed feeder...showing the House Sparrows and House Finches "who was boss"

CATBIRD...my first of the year...

Small flock of White Throated Sparrows...

The usual Cardinals, Robins, Grackles, Red Wings, Doves, Carolina Wren... ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070427/b3 9d536a/attachment.htm From benjamin.wilson at yahoo.com Fri Apr 27 12:22:20 2007 From: benjamin.wilson at yahoo.com (Benjamin Wilson) Date: Fri Apr 27 12:22:24 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Backyard visitors Message-ID: <[email protected]>

This morning we had a Brown Thrasher at the backyard feeder, and since Saturday we've had an Eastern Towhee visiting regularly as well.

Am trying to lure Baltimore Orioles ... no luck yet.

Cheers,

Ben Wilson Corner of Galen Drive and Broadmoor in Champaign

From regehr5 at aol.com Fri Apr 27 13:40:47 2007 From: regehr5 at aol.com ([email protected]) Date: Fri Apr 27 13:41:16 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Field trip Saturday Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Lodge Park near Monticello is the destination for the field trip on Saturday, April 28. Meet at 7:00 AM at the parking lot of the Anita Purves Nature Center, 1505 N. Broadway, Urbana. Bring lunch. Bryan Guarente is leading. ______AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070427/2a e64ac5/attachment.htm From jjokela59 at hotmail.com Fri Apr 27 16:49:06 2007 From: jjokela59 at hotmail.com (Janet Jokela) Date: Fri Apr 27 16:49:14 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Crystal Lake Park 4/27 noon Message-ID:

Greetings--

Stopped over for a quick look in Crystal Lake Park in Urbana today shortly after noon: maybe the "Magic Bridge" could be re-named the "Ruby- crowned Kinglet Bridge"...there were many flitting around the bridge on all sides.

In addition, a singing Black-throated Green & Yellow-throated Warbler were nearby, as well as a couple of Black & White warbers, a few Yellow- rumpeds, a Northern Parula, and on a re-visit after walking up and around the stream, 3 Yellow Warbers had popped into view. Some Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were present too.

In the brush along the stream banks, a couple of Swamp Sparrows, singing White-throated Sparrows, a Catbird, a few Brown Thrashers, two House Wrens, and a female Eastern Towhee were present.

Also, maybe this has already been mentioned, my apologies if so, but a Robin is sitting on a nest on a tree limb overhanging the stream just downstream from the bridge; the tree limb is coming from the parking lot side of the stream.

All the best, Janet Jokela Champaign

______Get a FREE Web site, company branded e-mail and more from Microsoft Office Live! http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/mcrssaub0050001411mrt/direct/01/ From betuana at hotmail.com Fri Apr 27 22:01:14 2007 From: betuana at hotmail.com (Beth Kennedy) Date: Fri Apr 27 22:01:20 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Backyard south of Hessel, Mattis Park, Fox Dr.. Message-ID:

Several birds seen in the past few days: Yard: Rose-breasted Grosbeaks - 2 pairs 4/26, 1 male on 4/27 Field Sparrow - 1 White Throated Sparrows - many White Crowned Sparrows - 2 Chipping Sparrows - 3 House Sparrows - many Blue Jays - 3 Grackles - 9-10 Mourning Doves - 6 Eastern Towhee - 1 male House Finch - 2 Brown Headed Cowbird - 1 pair Starlings - 4-5 Cardinals - 1 pair Kildeer - fly over unID'd Swallows - fly overs Crows - 1 landed, 3 flyovers Grey Catbird - 1

Fox Dr Creek Trail: Goldfinches - several, at least half a dozen Brown Headed cowbird - 1 male Kildeer - several fly overs Red Winged Blackbirds - 3 Robins - several Grackles - 4 Mourning Doves - 3 House Sparrows - a dozen White Throated Sparrows - several

Mattis Park: American Coot - 1 on 4/27 evening, hanging out with 3 Canada Geese Canada Geese 5-6 Mallards - 3 males House Sparrows - several White Throated Sparrows - several (still no sign of the Kestrel pair we saw there last year)

The most exciting sighting I have to report: Yesterday evening (Thrus 4/26) we were out walking when the thunderstorm went through. We were finally walking up our street towards our house when it had settled back to a drizzle, and a bright red bird flew over head and landed in a tree. Michael thought Cardinal, as he was not wearing his glasses - but I had seen dark wings. After jogging past several trees following it, I finally got it in the binoculars and managed to ID a male SCARLET TANAGER in the tree, before it flew off again. Suburbs of South Champaign is not really where I'd expect to see this bird (I've only ever seen one once before deep in the canyons at Turkey Run), but I suspect the storm may be to thank for that sighting! I'm not sure if this is early for them or not, but I got a pretty good view of the bright red body, and black wings, shape, etc...

I'm going to try going for walks during storms more often!

______Interest Rates NEAR 39yr LOWS! $430,000 Mortgage for $1,299/mo - Calculate new payment http://www.lowermybills.com/lre/index.jsp?sourceid=lmb-9632- 19132&moid=14888

From roper37 at gmail.com Sat Apr 28 00:00:47 2007 From: roper37 at gmail.com (sarah roper) Date: Sat Apr 28 00:00:51 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] CLP Kentucky warbler Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hi All,

Suzy and I stopped by Crystal Lake Park this evening at about 5:15. Ten warbler species were seen, the best of which was a Kentucky warbler. It was working its way back and forth on the ground under the bushes between the "magic bridge" and the two picnic tables near by.

Other warblers seen: -Yellow -Yellow-rumped -Black-throated green -Palm -Black-and-white -Orange-crowned -Hooded (female) -Yellow-throated -Waterthrush (pretty sure it was a Louisiana but it was scared of by a motorcycle)

Also seen were: several eastern towhees brown thrasher house wrens catbird great-crested flycatcher blue-headed vireo brown creeper northern flicker red-bellied woodpecker hermit thrush empidonax sp. olive-sided flycatcher (95% sure, had a dark vest and dark head)

Good birding,

Sarah Roper Urbana From roper37 at gmail.com Sat Apr 28 00:04:58 2007 From: roper37 at gmail.com (sarah roper) Date: Sat Apr 28 00:05:02 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] CLP oops Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I didn't want anyone to think that I wasn't paying any attention at all...

I of course had white-throated sparrows, many ruby-crowned kinglets, blue-gray gnatcatchers, and also swamp sparrows.

Sarah Roper Urbana From brockprice at sbcglobal.net Sat Apr 28 11:35:46 2007 From: brockprice at sbcglobal.net (Brock Price) Date: Sat Apr 28 11:35:52 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Homer Lake / Champaign Co. Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Made it along the dam and a partial river trail before work.

Highlights:

** Willets - 4 - great plumage. all flying together on the south end of the lake, approaching very close to the boats on the water. Pileated Woodpecker Red Shouldered Hawk Catbird Northern Parula - 3 Yellow Warbler Palm Warbler - alot Y. Rumped Warbler - alot Nashville Warbler Green Herons House Wrens Barn Swallow - No Cliff Swallows yet but we didn't look for to long

------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070428/9b 49e9a6/attachment.htm From jrfinley at uiuc.edu Sat Apr 28 13:15:38 2007 From: jrfinley at uiuc.edu (Jason R. Finley) Date: Sat Apr 28 13:15:45 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Crystal Lake Park 4/28 am Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I went at about 8:30am this morning, checked out the Magic Bridge in Crytal Lake Park for myself.

Species that I saw from the bridge and was able to ID: Ruby-crowned Kinglet American Robin Mourning Dove Blue Jay European Starling Brown Creeper White-breasted Nuthatch White-throated Sparrow Black & White Warbler Yellow Warbler Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Elsewhere (mostly along the little road running next to the creek near the bridge): Hermit Thrush American Goldfinch Catbird American Crow Brown-headed Cowbird Palm Warbler (brown) 3 Cedar Waxwings

There were a lot of RC Kinglets, WT Sparrows, Robins. Other than that, most of the species I saw only 1 individual, though it was tough to count.

Uncertainties: Wood Thrush? (might have seen 2-3 foraging near edge of big grassy lawn) Swallow (Northern Rough-winged?) Pine Warbler? (female) heard Eastern Towhee?

~jason

603 East Daniel Street Champaign, IL 61820 cell: 949-433-4216 [email protected] http://www.jasonfinley.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu Sat Apr 28 15:48:51 2007 From: lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu (Gregory S Lambeth) Date: Sat Apr 28 15:48:55 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Crystal Lake Park & Busey Woods References: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I did some birding in Crystal Lake Park between 6am to 7am and then at Busey Woods for an hour after that. To paraphrase Tolstoy (first time that's been done on bird notes) "all migrations are strange, but each is strange in its own way". So, I had a Winter Wren at Busey Woods which should be long gone by now, but I also had a Yellow-breasted Chat at Crystal Lake Park, a bird which shouldn't be here for at least another week. Hmmm. The birding was generally slow (I spent some time at Busey just watching a Snapping Turtle) and it was obvious that alot of stuff has left in the past 2 days. My highlights included:

Winter Wren Golden-winged Warbler (Busey) Yellow-breasted Chat Pine Warbler Yellow-throated Warblers

Then, I was off to do things with family the rest of the day. Here's hoping that clear skies tonight encourages a big push a warblers our way just in time for the bird walk tomorrow. I plan to be at Crystal Lake Park at 6am for a "pre-walk" excursion and others are welcome to join me.

I've also posted a few new photos of Sora Rail, Eastern Kingbird, Chipping Sparrow, Palm Warlber and a few others at my web site at "Recent Additions". http://web.mac.com/gregorylambeth/iWeb/Site/Welcome%20.html

Greg Lambeth

From jbchato at uiuc.edu Sat Apr 28 16:25:18 2007 From: jbchato at uiuc.edu (John & Beth Chato) Date: Sat Apr 28 16:25:24 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Lodge Park Field Trip Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Birdnoters, I just returned from our Lodge Park Field Trip and promised to post what we saw. "We" were 6 people ably led by Bryan Guarente and had a total of 73 species. Actually things were rather quiet and we worked hard to find them on this beautiful day. we also enjoyed the spring wildflowers, lots of Blue Phlox, a few Large-flowered Trillium, and an extensive patch of Blue-eyed Mary. Here are the birds from Piat County: Canada Goose, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, 6 Greater Yellowlegs, 4 Lesser, Mourning Dove, 1 Barred Owl ( called up by Bryan), Chimney Swift, Red-bellied, Dwuny, and Pileated Woodpecker, Least flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Yellow- throated Vireo, Blue Jay, Crow, BArn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, WHite-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Carolina and House wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Veery, Hermit & wood Thrushes, Robin, Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Starling. Warblers were Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Nashville, Parula (15 or so), Yellow, Yellwo-rumped, Black-throated Green, 1 Blackburnian, Yellow-throated, PIne, Prairie, Palm (everywhere), Blackpoll, 1 Worm-eating, Ovenbird, and many Northern Waterthrush. Other birds were Towhee, Chipping, Song, Swamp, and abundant White- throated Sparrow; Cardinal, Rose-b! re! asted Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Grackle, Baltimore Oriole, House Finch, Goldfinch, and House Sparrow.

Greg mentioned a Winter Wren in Busey. I had 2 yesterday plus about a dozen Northern Waterthrush.

Beth Chato From lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu Sat Apr 28 18:59:55 2007 From: lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu (Gregory S Lambeth) Date: Sat Apr 28 19:03:10 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Lark Sparrow and Mockingbird References: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I had a Lark Sparrow and a Mockingbird this evening on the South Farms. Both were along the road that runs just East of the Swine Ponds. The Lark Sparrow was just slightly South of the Swine Ponds, along the road and near the large Oak tree. I've only had a few Lark Sparrows in Champaign County prior to this bird. There is a dandelion field in the area and the sparrow disappeared into it.

I neglected to mention in my earlier post that I had my first Gray- cheeked Thrush of the year this morning at Crystal Lake Park.

From tkovacs at uiuc.edu Sat Apr 28 21:35:14 2007 From: tkovacs at uiuc.edu (Thomas Kovacs) Date: Sat Apr 28 21:35:22 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] (no subject) Message-ID:

Roger Kotoske and I spent a short time at Heron Park this morning and stopped at Kennekuk County Park on the way back to Champaign.

Highlights were 3 calling Soras and a singing Yellow Warbler at Heron Park, and 3 Blue Winged Warblers (heard several more,) a Little Green Heron, and the customary Blue Birds at Kennekuk. Oh yes, the single winged Red Tailed Hawk is alive and well (as can be) in its cage by the park official's residence.The hawk has been there for at least 5 years.

Tom Kovacs Professor Emeritus School of Art and Design U.I.U.C. From jbchato at uiuc.edu Sun Apr 29 14:42:02 2007 From: jbchato at uiuc.edu (John & Beth Chato) Date: Sun Apr 29 14:42:07 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Warbler Review Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Birdnoters,

It was pointed out to me that I had the wrong date on my invitation to a warbler CD viewing. It should have said Tuesday, May 1, 7 pm Chatos', 714 W. Vermont. Everyone welcome, Beth Chato From leslienoa at gmail.com Sun Apr 29 15:33:04 2007 From: leslienoa at gmail.com (Leslie Noa) Date: Sun Apr 29 15:33:10 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Fox Ridge State Park Message-ID:

Tim Rye and I spent this morning out at Fox Ridge State Park. Many of the usual suspects were out and about. Highlights were a Yellow-breasted Chat (FOY), blue-winged warbler (FOY), scarlet tanager (FOY), henslow's sparrows, Kentucky warbler (FOY), American redstart (FOY), and a singing worm- eating warbler. We would have never known the worm-eating warbler was up a small stream if hadn't been singing; we got great looks at it!

As a side note, we spent Saturday at Carlyle Lake in southern Illinois. Highlights included 1 American Avocet and 2 Glossy Ibis at the whitetail access. We got great looks at the avocet and really good but brief looks at the Ibis (good enough to tell they were Glossy and not white-faced ibis). Other highlights included a peregrine falcon and 2 bald eagles. On the drive down and back we saw small flocks of American-golden plovers on the move and in fields.

An abridged list of birds at Fox Ridge today: N. Parula Nashville Warbler Black-and-white warbler prothonotary warbler yellow-rumped warbler yellow-throated warbler Louisiana Waterthrush Black-throated green warlber common yellowthroat Yellow-breasted Chat American Redstart Ovenbird Palm Warbler Yellow warbler blue-winged warbler worm-eating warbler Kentucky warbler scarlet tanager rose-breasted grosbeak great-crested flycatcher yellow-throated vireo red-eyed vireo wood thrush indigo bunting barred owl warbling vireo white-eyed vireo (several) Henslow's sparrow (several) Catbird Baltimore Oriole American golden plover (flyover!)

Good birding! Leslie Noa Champaign ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070429/b0 fecbee/attachment.htm From threlkster at gmail.com Sun Apr 29 19:54:16 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Sun Apr 29 19:54:22 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Chatham (Springfield) sightings Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Saturday evening and Sunday morning observations at Camp Illinek, Chatham IL, on the south shore of Lake Springfield, south of the city of Springfield. The camp is run by Abraham Lincoln Council, Boy Scouts of America. The address is 6610 Iron Bridge Rd, Chatham 62629; the site itself is about 1 kilometer east by southeast of the turnoff from the road. The environment is second growth forest, with some sizable trees and a good amount of dead wood, in a strip varying from 50 to 200 meters deep between the lake and the surrounding corn and soybean fields.

Sat., 28 Apr. 2007

About 5:30 - 6:00 p.m. Observed what may have been a Philadelphia vireo, up in canopy. Distinct dark eyeline, yellowish underneath. Cardinals, robins. Brown thrush sp., with eyering; presumably hermit or Swainson's.

6:08 BALTIMORE ORIOLE, male -- Saw and heard these frequently at the camp. 6:10 COMMON GRACKLE -- Lots of them 6:15 NORTHERN FLICKER, male 6:16 INDIGO BUNTING, male 6:20 RED-HEADED WOODPECKER -- At least several at the site. 6:25 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW CANADA GOOSE x2 -- In flight. 6:30 DOWNY WOODPECKER, male 6:31 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, male ("Myrtle") 6:39 NORTHERN FLICKER, female 6:40 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER calling RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET? (grey micro-bird) 6:45 BEWICK'S WREN x2 -- Distinct eyebrow, below white, not butterscotch, longish tail . . . so did not seem Carolina. 6:49 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE -- Very close range overhead. 6:59 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH -- Observed several. 7:10 TURKEY VULTURE x3 -- Soaring toward lake. 7:11 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, male -- These are abundant here. 7:54 MALLARD, male 8:08 PEAFOWL x5 (3 already roosting), male -- The camp manager keeps a number of these birds around, male and female; I gather they look after themselves. It's remarkable to see the males fly up to the trees to roost. In view of how heavy those tails have to be, the birds' ability to fly as they do is an eye-opening demonstration of how strong they are. And their voices may be even louder than the wrens' . . . .

Sun., 29 Apr. 2007 ca. 4:30 a.m. #!@&ing PEAFOWL calling (probably heard in Urbana . . .) 5:50 MOURNING DOVE calling WOODPECKER drilling Abundant singing, especially by robins. 6:01 Ducks x2 in flight 6:05 HOUSE WREN 6:13 HAIRY WOODPECKER (probable), female 6:15 CARDINAL, male 6:18 MOURNING DOVE 6:20 BLUE JAY -- Abundant here, both seen and heard. 6:23 BROWN THRASHER x2 6:24 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER 6:27 RACCOON -- Walking away from lake, presumably back to den. 6:30 CAROLINA WREN (probable; view not the best, but song seemed right) 6:41 WOOD DUCK, male x2, female x1 -- On lake; shortly thereafter took flight. 6:43 CANADA GOOSE x2 -- On lake. 6:44 MALLARD, male and female GREAT BLUE HERON -- Flying low over lake 6:58 MALLARD x4 -- Female swimming with 3 downy ducklings 7:15 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE 7:19 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, male 7:23 EUROPEAN STARLING -- Fairly common, from place to place in camp. 7:41 EASTERN TOWHEE, male 7:44 PALM WARBLER -- I'm not that familiar with PWs, but what I saw had a rusty cap, yellow above and below a dark eyeline, and yellow about the hindquarters. I haven't found any other possibility that seems a good match, but, as ever, I'm open to suggestions. 7:55 BALTIMORE ORIOLE, male 8:01 DOWNY WOODPECKER, female 8:34 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, male 9:05 GULL sp. x20 -- Circling (away from lake). Mostly white, with dark wingtips and trailing edge of tail. Not sure what these might have been. 9:10 TUFTED TITMOUSE

217-384-5164 [email protected] ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070429/d8 1377ae/attachment.htm From LewsaderBud at aol.com Sun Apr 29 19:54:11 2007 From: LewsaderBud at aol.com ([email protected]) Date: Sun Apr 29 19:54:45 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Heron Park Message-ID:

I would like to add to, Roger Kotoske and Tom Kovacs list of what they saw at Heron Park. I saw and heard the same things today. I did see a Virginia Rail today. Oh, I have been seeing one Eaglet in the Eagles nest. I am sure there is another one.

Bud Lewsader

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070429/01 d41952/attachment.htm From dafekt1ve at yahoo.com Sun Apr 29 21:53:30 2007 From: dafekt1ve at yahoo.com (Bryan Guarente) Date: Sun Apr 29 21:53:36 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Moorman Swine Research Unit: Champaign County Message-ID: <[email protected]>

This afternoon was a sparrow round up for me. I went looking for Greg's Lark Sparrow found yesterday, but I had no luck on this front. Instead I added a different sparrow: CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. Almost all the sparrows I saw today were photographed, and I would say photographed well. I had good afternoon light for photos. I will post some of the photos to my webpage as soon as everything is uploaded to my computer. Check here for the photos: http://www.atmos.uiuc.edu/~bguaren2/birds.

Here is the list: White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Clay-colored Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow (not photographed) Field Sparrow (not photographed) Chipping Sparrow Savannah Sparrow House Sparrow (not photographed)

Other birds seen in the South Farms area today: Eastern Kingbird European Starling House Finch American Goldfinch Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird American Robin Chimney Swift Tree Swallow Lesser Yellowlegs Solitary Sandpiper Rose-breasted Grosbeak Eastern Meadowlark Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove

______Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070429/51 0bc038/attachment-0001.htm From lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu Sun Apr 29 22:50:05 2007 From: lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu (Gregory S Lambeth) Date: Sun Apr 29 22:50:09 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Busey Woods Bird Walk (4/29) References: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

The birding was a little slow this morning as many of the birds present for the past several days had apparently departed and there were few new birds taking their place. Nevertheless, a fairly good search of Crystal Lake Park and Busey Woods produced 14 species of warbler. In addition, we had a brief look at a Winter Wren and a first of the year Veery.

Warbler List:

Blue-winged Warbler Tennessee Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Pine Warbler Palm Warbler Black-and-White Warbler Northern Waterthrush Common Yellowthroat

We also had a Green Heron in the shallow wet area near the bridge. I decided to return this evening and see if the bird was still present and try to photograph it. The bird was actively feeding and oblivious to my presence. I spent about 45 minutes watching it and took almost 300 photographs (it's digital so you just throw away everything that doesn't pan out). I've posted 3 of the better shots on my web site at "Recent Additions": http://web.mac.com/gregorylambeth/iWeb/Site/Welcome%20.html

Greg From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Mon Apr 30 07:57:55 2007 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Mon Apr 30 07:58:08 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] East Main Backyard In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Yard list for the Weekend:

ROSE BREASTED GROSBEAK (male)...since Thursday. Eating from feeder. TOWHEES (male & female), Sat, Sun, Mon White Throated Sparrows (MANY this morning) Philadelphia Vireo Ruby Crowned Kinglets (many) House Wren Swifts, Great Blue Heron (overhead) Brown Thrasher Catbird Goldfinch

Cardinals, Jays, Doves, Robins, Grackles, Red Wing Blackbirds, House sparrows\finches, Bats, TIGER and BLACK SWALLOWTAIL Butterflies, Monarch, Red Admiral & Question Mark Butterflies.

Prairie Hyacinth, Columbine, Golden Alexander starting bloom... Shooting Stars in bloom at Meadowbrook. ------Coopers Hawk chasing a Vulture during the Weaver Park Grove dedication Friday morning...

2 Green Herons at Webber Park pond Sunday...

Osprey carrying fish at Homer Lake Sunday...

Bob Vaiden From threlkster at gmail.com Mon Apr 30 09:49:20 2007 From: threlkster at gmail.com (Brian Threlkeld) Date: Mon Apr 30 09:49:25 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Monday backyard; warbler puzzler Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Just before 8:00 this morning, a HERMIT THRUSH out back. Also, a pair of BROWN THRASHERS, and several WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS.

There's a fun "Solve that Warbler" page posted at the Cornell site: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/mystery

217-384-5164 [email protected] ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070430/ad ccddbf/attachment.htm From brockprice at sbcglobal.net Mon Apr 30 10:38:11 2007 From: brockprice at sbcglobal.net (Brock Price) Date: Mon Apr 30 10:38:16 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Homer Lake Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Highlights:

Cliff Swallows Orange crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler N. Parula Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Blk.-throated Green Warbler Palm Warbler Blk. and white Warbler Common Yellowthroat White-crowned Sparrows Indigo Bunting N. Oriole

------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20070430/f1 cc7183/attachment.htm From smithsje at egix.net Mon Apr 30 15:45:04 2007 From: smithsje at egix.net (Jim & Eleanor Smith) Date: Mon Apr 30 14:46:52 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] Peregrine Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello, Bird,

This morning, a flock of Golden Plovers stopped in the field where I was working. Suddenly, the plovers took flight flying in tight circles going ever higher. Then I noticed a Peregrine diving down at them. The plovers were too fast and quick to be caught. The falcon quickly gave up the chase, and went elsewhere. Golden Plovers live and breed in the open; therefore they have to have ability to escape Peregrines and Gryfalcons, an any other winged predator.

Best regards.

From smithsje at egix.net Mon Apr 30 22:15:27 2007 From: smithsje at egix.net (Jim & Eleanor Smith) Date: Mon Apr 30 21:17:03 2007 Subject: [Birdnotes] cardinal nest Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello, Bird,

Today, at lunch, we noticed a cardinal incubating right outside one living room windows; no more that two feet from the window. The nest is only about three feet above ground. We don't have any cats, but we do have skunks, coons, opossums and chipmunks. We hope the nest is successful.

Best regards.