This past week has ranged in temperature from 37 to 80. It has rained, stormed, and gone from high to low humidity and then back to high. Through it all, the birds are still traveling. Warbler fever is definately going around here in Northern Illinois….does anyone else feel a bit crazy yet?
Friday started off a big sweep of new species for the year at the Callaway Nature Preserve. Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting, Nashville and Chestnut-sided Warbler were a few of the first to be spotted.
Indigo Bunting Bathtime
Magnolia, Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers arrived just yesterday morning, singing and eating. A Common Yellowthroat and Nashville Warbler continuously sang for about six hours Wednesday, along with White-throated Sparrows, American Robins, and American Goldfinches chiming in. Occasionally adding to the mix were Red-eyed Vireo and Gray Catbird. A very nice melody!
Lincoln’s Sparrow
The most exciting this week? A brand new bird altogether for the CNP; Lincoln’s Sparrow! He has been hanging around with the White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows. Swainson’s Thrush and Veery are back, maybe they will be singing in the morning, one of the best song combos to hear in the spring.
Magnolia Warbler
New Arrivals
- Baltimore Oriole
- Black-and-white Warbler
- Blue-winged Warbler
- Chestnut-sided Warbler
- Chipping Sparrow
- Common Yellowthroat
- Golden-winged Warbler
- Gray Catbird
- Indigo Bunting
- Lincoln’s Sparrow
- Magnolia Warbler
- Nashville Warbler
- Red-eyed Vireo
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Scarlet Tanager
- Tennessee Warbler
- White-crowned Sparrow
- Yellow-throated Vireo
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Ive often wondered what are the odds of me spotting the same exact bird here in Honduras and you guys afterwards in the US….I guess they would be very slim but even so of the list you posted I got this winter maybe 5 of them…but no Chestnut Sided Warblers, that bird keeps eluding me
I like how the 2 indigos are looking at each other while they’re bathing.
Hooray for indigo buntings! It seems our local group have moved on. <:( We saw a bird the other day that I just canNOT identify (pix on my blog, in the “Quick Pix” post.)
Sorry I’ve been AWOL–I’ve had company in from Canada (still do, actually,) & we’ve been pretty busy. Things will return to normal later this week, at any rate!
Looks like the Callaway Nature Reserve is still functioning beautifully. I once lived in the area, and used to frequent Callaway because I am a bird lover. It is more of a hobby than anything else. It looks like the start to a great season with the beautiful birds headed to your area. Keep the great posts coming.
Yes… the Callaway Nature Preserve is still going strong although it isn’t officially a visitable preserve (although we always welcome birders!!)