Entries from May 2008 ↓
May 31st, 2008 — Bird Counts
May 30th, 2008 — Bird Counts
This is the part five of six of Birdfreak’s 72-hour birding extravaganza. Our goal was to find as many bird species as possible within Winnebago County, Illinois.
We started our third and last day a bit later, departing for Sugar River Alder Forest Preserve at 0600. We were in search of warblers, Red-headed Woodpecker, and Lark Sparrow. We still could not find a Red-headed but we did add a Kentucky Warbler and found the Lark Sparrow.
Lark Sparrow
After several miles of hiking, we headed down the road to yet another Winnebago County Forest Preserve, Colored Sands. Here we met up with two bird club members and together found a overzealous Prothonotary Warbler and heard another Black-billed Cuckoo. Lucky for us, our birding friends found a Red-headed Woodpecker earlier in the day so we could add it to the list!
Prothonotary Warbler checking us out
Storm clouds were moving in so we decided to cool down the hiking by driving to the southern part of the county and closer to home. We drove along a gravel road along the county line (Ogle/Winnebago) and found Western Meadowlarks (in our county).
Gravel road where Western Meadowlarks live
A storm quickly came up and blew dust into our open windows, caking every surface of the car, bins, camera, and faces with dust. We waited out the storm and then headed to one last place for warblers…
The Birdfreak Volvo covered in crud
May 30th, 2008 — Phriday Photo
We have seven species of vireos in northern Illinois but this is probably our favorite.
May 29th, 2008 — Callaway Nature Preserve
The Callaway Nature Preserve recorded a number of new species this spring, including our 100th bird!
The Philadelphia Vireo is officially our 100th species for the CNP Life List, a bird that is difficult to photograph. We have since past the 100 mark and also had an amazing influx of new birds on Memorial Day after a storm passed through.
Black-billed Cuckoo - A new CNP Lifer!
The storm arrived some time Sunday night and we received almost 1.5 inches of rain. Apparently, it also rained birds! We were alerted early in the morning by a Scarlet Tanager singing his heart out and within a few minutes of sitting outside, we heard the distinct call of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
We could hardly believe our eyes when we saw the cuckoo perched near a power pole. If that shock wasn’t enough, later in the afternoon a Black-billed Cuckoo arrived. We had dreamed of cuckoos in the backyard but never really thought it would happen (unless you count neighbors 
)
New Monday Arrivals
- Eastern Wood-Pewee
- Veery
- Great-crested Flycatcher
- Gray-cheeked Thrush
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Tufted Titmouse (we don’t get these guys often!)
Also New Monday and New for the CNP Life List
- Blue-headed Vireo (101)
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo (102)
- Canada Warbler (103)
- Black-billed Cuckoo (104)
- Tree Swallow (105)
- Bald Eagle (106)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - A new CNP Lifer!
This has been an amazing year at the Callaway Nature Preserve so far! We just never know what might show up during migration.
May 29th, 2008 — Bird Counts
This is the part four of six of Birdfreak’s 72-hour birding extravaganza. Our goal was to find as many bird species as possible within Winnebago County, Illinois.
Anna Page Park
We birded Anna Page Park after Sugar River Forest Preserve on day two. It was 70 degrees when we began our hike in search of more vireos and a Yellow-breasted Chat. We never did find a chat, but we first heard and then saw a Bell’s Vireo. This completed all seven vireos possible in Winnebago County: Red-eyed, White-eyed, Philadelphia, Yellow-throated, Blue-headed, Warbling, and Bell’s.
Bell’s Vireo at Anna Page Park
The team took a short rest in the afternoon and then headed over to Oak Ridge Forest Preserve. Our main goal was to find Red-headed Woodpeckers and a few more warbler species but struck out on both accounts. The highlight here included a dried out grassy field holding over 25 Eastern Kingbirds…we left when we started to become delusional over finding a Fork-tailed Flycatcher.
After a short hike at nearby Rotary Road Forest Preserve we decided to call an end to day two of our 72-hour count.
May 28th, 2008 — Bird Counts
This is the part three of six of Birdfreak’s 72-hour birding extravaganza. Our goal was to find as many bird species as possible within Winnebago County, Illinois.
We started the day at 0330 but hit a road block when we were unable to negotiate the tricky lock at Nygren Wetlands where we got permission to enter for the count. We walked instead to the nearby overlook and heard Wilson’s Snipe, Sora and a Swamp Sparrow.
We headed over to Sugar River Forest Preserve. A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was reported there but we had yet to find it. They are seldom seen in Winnebago County. Our luck changed when we were rewarded with excellent views of the heron.
Our one clear shot of a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
As we hiked about we found Broad-winged Hawk and Red-shouldered Hawk, both regularly seen at Sugar River Forest Preserve. A really close sighting of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo made up for the lack of warblers and chillier than average temperatures.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Sugar River Forest Preserve
We added a few new birds on the way to Anna Page Park, including two Great Egrets.
May 28th, 2008 — BirdSpots
Texas is well known as a birding mecca and it is difficult (impossible?) to pick one best destination in a state so large and diverse. But Matagorda Bay Nature Preserve is certainly one of the top, and on our list of places to visit!!
Press Release From Great Ideas PR Inc.:
Birders, anglers, campers and nature-loving families are flocking to the 1,600-acre Matagorda Bay Nature Preserve in southeast Texas to enjoy a wealth of wildlife and outdoor adventures in a pristine, off-the-beaten track bit of ocean and fresh water heaven. For the past 15 years, the Audubon Society has ranked this area as one of the top bird watching sites in the nation.
The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) acquired the park two years ago to provide recreation and economic benefits for the area. A core of visitor conveniences have been created while preserving the natural beauty of the surrounding area.
“Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy kayaking and canoeing along the park’s 2.5- mile course plus trail walking to get up-close-and-personal views of birds and wildlife,” says Susan Baxter-Harwell, Park district supervisor for LCRA. “Thousands of students and guests visit our science center to learn about nature at our doorstep. Guests enjoy guided tours focusing on birding and beachcombing and hands-on exhibits about birds and wildlife that call these wetlands home and the ecosystems that nurture them,” says Betsy Terrel, natural science education programs supervisor at the nature park.
A schedule of seminars, tours and events is available by e-mailing outdoorprograms@lcra.org
or calling 1-800-776-5272, ext. 3810.
During March, April and May, the preserve hosts birds on their spring migrations and welcomes them back on their fall travels in September, October and November. Migrating butterflies stop by from late September through November. January and February highlights include the exciting raptor breeding displays of flying prowess.
Matagorda Island-Mad Island Marsh has had one of the, if not the, highest species totals in the United States since the bird count began here 15 years ago, according to Geoff LeBaron, Christmas Bird Count director for Audubon Science. More than 250 varieties of bird have been counted in a single day. The preserve is a protected estuary located on the central flyway – one of four principal North American migratory bird routes and part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. More than 300 species of birds call Matagorda Bay home either full-time on during their migratory travels.
“The intracoastal waterway construction built over 100 years ago is another factor attracting birds to Matagorda Bay,” says James Arnold, birding enthusiast and owner of Day on the Bay tours. “The waterway skirts Matagorda Bay for a distance of 35 miles. Average rainfall, in excess of 40 inches, provides a fresh water supply in a salt-water environment. This is the last fresh water for migratory birds prior to crossing the Gulf of Mexico, and the first fresh water supply when returning.”
With 22 miles of Gulf of Mexico beach to explore, and miles of Colorado River frontage, there’s plenty of room to off-road. or hike, and tent camp. “The fishing is excellent at Matagorda Bay,” says Warren Meyers, president of Recreation Resource Management. “There are four, free public piers – three river and one ocean front to choose from, and all of them right on the beach and easily accessible.”
Amenity-seeking visitors enjoy the bird watching tower. “The beach-front birding tower is a fantastic place to observe the vast variety of birds that visit or live at the nature preserve,” says Meyers, There are miles of walking paths dotted with shaded critter watching stations as well as covered picnic shelters and a group pavilion.
A 70-site RV park managed by Recreation Resource Management is open year-around and is a short stroll to the beach. It features full-hookup concrete pads with electricity, water, and sewer; modern bathrooms with showers; a coin-operated laundry; and a convenience store. The main preserve and RV park are ADA accessible.
For details about the preserve or RV park, go to www.matagordabayrv.com or call 979-863-7120. To make $25 per night (seasonal and monthly discounts available) RV reservations, call the Texas Parks and Wildlife Reservation Center at 512-389-8900. There is a $5 fee for each reservation.
