Articles in: Birding
Below a Turkey Vulture Roost
April 20, 2012 | No comment
Sugar River, the namesake of Sugar River Forest Preserve One of the most interesting birds to observe is perhaps the Turkey Vulture. They are large and really common in northern Illinois so they are easy to spot. I’ve found many Turkey Vulture roosts before but was surprised to come upon a group perched in a [...]
Tree Swallows Already!
March 19, 2012 | No comment
On Sunday (March 18) I spotted my first Tree Swallow of the season. Seems early in northern Illinois but with temperatures topping 80 degrees and insects already in high numbers, it also seemed fitting. Tree Swallow digiscoped at Afton Forest Preserve in DeKalb County, Illinois.
Weedon Island Preserve – Pinellas County, Florida
February 6, 2012 | 1 comment
To escape from the winter blahs of northern Illinois, Stacia and I headed to the Tampa area in Florida for a week. We were able to fly out of Rockford (instead of Chicago) which meant it was super easy and hassle free. Shortly after landing at St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport, we headed to Weedon Island Preserve [...]
2012 Species Goal – 200
January 10, 2012 | No comment
For 2012 I have decided to set a moderate goal of seeing 200 species of birds. I have been notoriously bad at keeping records so thought this would be a good way to “force” myself to record what birds I see. Eastern Bluebird Why 200? I’m not really sure how many species I see in [...]
Snowy Owl Invasion
December 8, 2011 | 2 comments
There are tons of reports of Snowy Owls being sighted in Wisconsin and northern Illinois. We are planning on doing our own Snowy search this weekend (not the areas where they are being repeatedly seen). We saw a Snowy Owl exactly four years ago in Winnebago County, Illinois (picture below). You can check some of [...]
Rock Cut State Park Hawk Watch – 2011
October 18, 2011 | 1 comment
October 15, 2011 at Olson Beach, Rock Cut State Park, Winnebago County, Illinois Cooper’s Hawk in flight (birdfreak.com file photo) About ten to twelve members of the NCIOS turned out at Rock Cut State Park on Saturday morning with the purpose of counting migrating hawks. It was a sunny morning but a brisk wind over [...]
Rock Cut State Park Birding Trails
September 12, 2011 | No comment
We just found out that one of our favorite birding spots, Rock Cut State Park, may have officially designated birding trails. Two women are working to establish four birding trails, one to highlight each season. The trails would be restricted to foot travel only to allow for birders, including groups, to have it to themselves. [...]
Magee Marsh Birding – September
September 10, 2011 | No comment
After adopting Leo we couldn’t wait to take him out birding. Labor Day we decided to check out what was going on at Magee Marsh and Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. The weather was not ideal for birding but we did see a few Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons as well as a lot of [...]
