Deer Run Bird Survey – #14
June 5, 2008
Article in: Bird Conservation
Our last Deer Run Bird Survey for May (31st) and warbler migration is definitely slowing down. However, we found several new species including some from the past week by other local birders.
First, the new birds found from others:
- Bald Eagle
- Bay-breasted Warbler
- Canada Warbler
- Eastern Wood Pewee
- Green Heron
- Kentucky Warbler
- Philadelphia Vireo
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Semipalmated Plover
Over our 72 hour count we also added two new species on an unofficial survey: American Woodcock and Common Nighthawk.
Black-billed Cuckoo
We spent over 5 hours hiking and were thrilled to find a lot of cuckoos, including 8 Yellow-billed and 2 Black-billed. Warbler numbers were low but we believe there are Prothonotary Warblers nesting in the swampy areas.
Prothonotary Warbler singing on his territory
New birds:
- Blackpoll Warbler*
- Cliff Swallow
- Eastern Screech-Owl
- Olive-sided Flycatcher
- Scarlet Tanager
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
We sighted 70 species and now have found 139 species for the survey area.
Total individual birds counted: 5,760
*sighted the following day on a non-survey outing
CNP Update: Bird Number 100
May 29, 2008
Article in: Birding
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.
Hawking and A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
May 28, 2008
Article in: Bird Conservation
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.
