Afton Forest Preserve

My sister (SnowyOwl) and I (Veery) went to Afton Forest Preserve after our classes last Wednesday to see if we could find any shorebirds hanging out. We knew it was going to be a warm trip. According to a Dekalb bank, it was 95 degrees out at two o’clock as we headed out.

We observed massive amounts of frogs singing and jumping around, dragonflies and butterflies galore, and a lot of very active birds. The paths were a bit muddy and we had to watch out so we didn’t step on any of the toads (or frogs) as we walked.

We saw at least six Great Egrets, a couple Great Blue Herons, and one Green Heron flying around the preserve. We heard Sedge Wrens, Common Yellowthroats, and Song Sparrows (singing loudly), along with some very energetic Eastern Kingbirds. We also heard a Marsh Wren.

The Cupplants and other large prairie plants made finding birds a bit of a challenge, but they were gorgeous.

Along the road next to the preserve, we did find some shorebirds mingling with the numerous of Killdeer. We found a few Short-billed Dowitchers, Greater and Lessor Yellowlegs, and a couple of Solitary Sandpipers. We also found a Great Blue Heron standing with wings outstretched, possibly drying them?
All-in-all we had a good time birding in the hot! hot! hot! month of August!