From lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu Sat Apr 1 10:03:50 2006
From: lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu (Gregory S Lambeth)
Date: Sat Apr 1 10:08:32 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Osprey
References: <>
Message-ID: <>
At 8:00am this morning, I had an Osprey hunting over Crystal LakePark. The bird eventually perched on a tree near Race Street and was still there when I left at 9:00am. I won't blame anyone who thinks this is little more than an April fools joke, but honest, it's true.
There were lots of sparrows in Crystal Lake and Busey Woods. I had 7 Fox Sparrows in my binoculars at one time! I can't remember that happening before. There were several Field Sparrows near the AnitaPurvesCenter as well as Chipping, White-throated and Song. I had several Towhees and a few Brown Thrashers, also.
The Cooper's Hawks were working on a nest just to the left of the main trail right after you cross the Salt Fork.
There are large numbers of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Brown Creepers around, too.
Greg Lambeth
From ryetimothy at gmail.com Sat Apr 1 12:26:22 2006
From: ryetimothy at gmail.com (Timothy Rye)
Date: Sat Apr 1 12:26:25 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Bald eagle and osprey at LakeCharleston
Message-ID: <>
Hi all,
I had a great time birding at LakeCharleston two nights ago! I tried
posting a day or so ago, but it didn't go through. Here's what I saw:
1 male bald eagle
2 osprey (one of which grabbed a fish as I watched)
300-500 American Coots
2 Mallards
5-6 Hooded Merganzers
2-4 Great Blue Herons
Belted Kingfisher (also saw it snatch a fish from the water)
30 or so turkey vultures
Scaups (difficult to determine if they were lesser or greater)
The rest of the birds that I saw were difficult to identify, given that they
were either too far away or between me and the sun. There may have been
teals, common merganzers, or common loons. There were also a number of
gulls, but there may have been other birds that I missed.
Timothy Rye
Charleston
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From bernies at uillinois.edu Sat Apr 1 14:00:11 2006
From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie)
Date: Sat Apr 1 14:00:14 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Hotel birdwatching
Message-ID: <>
I believe this was a first for me...birding from a hotel room. :-)
I was at a conference this week at the Chateau Hotel in Bloomington-Normal. There is a big retention pond to the east of the hotel, to catch water runoff from all the shopping center parking lots. Late one afternoon I glanced out my window and saw some activitiy on and by the pond. I had my binoculars with me. I continued to casually observe over three days when I had the opportunity.
Highlights:
* Several crows were half-heartedly harrassing a pair of geese, sort of dive-bombing them. The geese became very agitated. That's the first interaction I've seen between those species.
* The most groundhogs/woodchucks I have ever seen in a single view - six! They were spaced out fairly evenly over a large grassy area adjoining the retention pond. They were split more or less evenly between two color variations...a very nondescript brown, and a very reddish brown.
Some sightings over the course of three days (note: some, like the Common Loons, I saw only once the three days I was there). There were lots of times when the only waterfowl around seemed to be Canada Geese and Mallards.
Canda Goose (approx half dozen)
Mallard (3-4)
American Coot (maybe a dozen)
American Black Duck (pair)
Common Loon (pair)
Buffleheads (probable...lot of glare off the water at the time...half dozen)
Great Blue Heron (one, flying overhead)
Several smallish waterbirds that I was unable to identify because of glare
American Crow (half dozen)
House Finch (quite a few)
Purple Finch (1)
House Sparrow (a few)
Killdeer (heard one, just one time)
Grackle (couple dozen)
Eurpoean Starling (4-5)
American Robin (a dozen)
Cardinal (1)
Bernie Sloan
Urbana
From dafekt1ve at yahoo.com Sat Apr 1 16:49:26 2006
From: dafekt1ve at yahoo.com (Bryan Guarente)
Date: Sat Apr 1 16:49:29 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Local spots: Champaign/Urbana
Message-ID: <>
Went out on Thursday with Chris Erb to Crytal Lake and Perkin Road Marsh. Birds of interest included:
Increased numbers of:
Eastern Phoebe
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Juncos
Blue-winged Teal
First of the seasons (or close to it):
Chipping Sparrow (1)
Greater Yellowlegs (1)
Tree Swallows (5)
Wood Thrush (1, seen by Chris only)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (1 calling)
Today I went to look for Steve Bailey's Western Meadowlark. I never found it, but heard it multiple times. I am hoping that someone can get a look at this bird, because my experience in the past is that some meadowlarks can do both calls (western and eastern). This is what the major problem was in Colorado when trying to ID an Eastern Meadowlark. You could not depend on song. There still are no accepted records of Eastern Meadowlark in Colorado despite Sibley's map showing Eastern Meadowlarks into NE CO. You cannot believe everything you read I guess.
Other birds at the swine ponds were:
33 Mallards
4 spankin' Ruddy Ducks
3 Wood Ducks
23 Blue-winged Teal
American Kestrel
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
White-crowned Sparrows
Song Sparrows
Eastern Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
House Sparrow
Bryan Guarente
Atmospheric Sciences Graduate Assistant
Champaign, IL
------
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From jdunkel at hotmail.com Sat Apr 1 16:50:35 2006
From: jdunkel at hotmail.com (John Dunkelberger)
Date: Sat Apr 1 16:50:44 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Osprey
In-Reply-To: <>
Message-ID: <>
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From charleneanchor at msn.com Sat Apr 1 19:41:28 2006
From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor)
Date: Sat Apr 1 19:35:04 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Allerton bird walk
Message-ID: <>
7 people showed at Allerton this A.M. We were supposed to walk for 1 1/2 hours but instead spent most of our time standing around between the Visitor's Center and the 4-H Camp. Species seen and/or heard (mostly seen) were:
Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Blue-winged Teal, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, excellent view of a Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, nice views of a Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe who looked like it was inspecting a possible nesting area under some eves, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee who was excavating a nest hole, Tufted Titmouse, beautiful views of 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, pair of Carolina Wrens, one of which flew off carrying nesting materials, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, House Finch, Pine Siskin and American Goldfinch.
We also saw many newly excavated woodpecker holes of various sizes. I was surprised we didn't see any Red-headed Woodpeckers which I have seen in that area before. It would have been nice to have completed all 7 woodpeckers!
Charlene Anchor
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From bprice at pdnt.com Sat Apr 1 23:15:11 2006
From: bprice at pdnt.com (Brock Price)
Date: Sat Apr 1 23:15:17 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Homer / Fairmount
Message-ID: <005701c65614$6b0da9b0$5a41fa3f@YOURCD7BB1D575>
Homer Lake:
Only thing new for Homer Lake this year were Blue-winged Teals.
Fairmount Highlights:
Canvasback
Green and Blue-winged Teal
Hooded Mergansers ( all female )
Numerous Snipe
Lesser Scaup
Northern Shovelers
Brock Price
Champaign / Vermilion Co's.
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From Frank21 at insightbb.com Sun Apr 2 01:53:42 2006
From: Frank21 at insightbb.com (Frank)
Date: Sun Apr 2 01:53:47 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Osprey
References: <>
Message-ID: <001a01c6562a$8fd3dec0$6b01a8c0@BLACKDELL>
I think I saw the Falcon Friday near prospect and I-74 at 4:30 PM Friday pursuing a bird, probably a pigeon, over I-74. I didn't see the result as I was past him.
Frank Cooper
----- Original Message -----
From: John Dunkelberger
To:
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 4:50 PM
Subject: RE: [Birdnotes] Osprey
The Audubon phone has had 5 calls today -- 2 were about the osprey at Crystal Lake, 2 about hawks eating pigeons in downtown Urbana (may be 2 different hawks since the calls were 2 hours apart), and 1 about the Wesley peregrine -- has anyone seen him lately?
John
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From bernies at uillinois.edu Sun Apr 2 10:50:14 2006
From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie)
Date: Sun Apr 2 10:50:24 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Osprey
References: <>
<001a01c6562a$8fd3dec0$6b01a8c0@BLACKDELL>
Message-ID: <>
Re: the Wesley Peregrine...I check the steeple a couple of times a day on weekdays and have not seen it there in quite a while.
But then I have the impression that the bird was on the steeple fairly regularly when the evening light reached a certain level. As the daylight lengthens, perhaps the falcon might show up later in the day (clock time)?
Bernie Sloan
----- Original Message -----
From: John Dunkelberger <mailto:>
To:
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 4:50 PM
Subject: RE: [Birdnotes] Osprey
The Audubon phone has had 5 calls today -- 2 were about the osprey at Crystal Lake, 2 about hawks eating pigeons in downtown Urbana (may be 2 different hawks since the calls were 2 hours apart), and 1 about the Wesley peregrine -- has anyone seen him lately?
John
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From spendelo at uiuc.edu Sun Apr 2 14:27:04 2006
From: spendelo at uiuc.edu (Jacob Spendelow)
Date: Sun Apr 2 14:33:21 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Prairie Ridge to Champaign, Sunday 4-2-06
Message-ID: <>
Sonja Kassal and I started this morning watching Prairie Chickens from the
blinds at Prairie Ridge, then birded our way back to Champaign. Highlights
along the way:
PRAIRIE RIDGE:
Northern Harrier
Greater Prairie-chicken - 9 adult males, one first-year male (quickly
driven off the lek by the others), 2 females
Northern Bobwhite - a pair in the cemetery
Short-eared Owl - 1
Northern Mockingbird
American Pipit - ~30
Vesper Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark - astonishing numbers, as usual for this area
LAKE CHARLESTON:
A number of ducks on the far side were too distant to identify, mostly
scaup sp., but good looks at an immature BALD EAGLE catching a fish. Many
sparrows, titmice, Carolina Chickadees, woodpeckers, etc.
ARCOLA MARSH:
Several hundred ducks, including:
Mallard
Gadwall
Green-winged Teal
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Northern Shoveler
Blue-winged Teal
Ruddy Duck
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Also 1 PIED-BILLED GREBE, 4 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, CANADA GEESE, 3
GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 19 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, 1 EASTERN PHOEBE, and 2
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS.
ARCOLA:
5 Eurasian Collared-Doves
Good birding!
Jacob Spendelow
Champaign
From LewsaderBud at aol.com Sun Apr 2 16:11:51 2006
From: LewsaderBud at aol.com ()
Date: Sun Apr 2 16:12:10 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] West Newell Rd.
Message-ID: <>
Just came from Heron Park on West Newell Rd (Danville). Saw 9 Great
Egrets. Along with the usual birds, Blue-wing Teal, Canada Geese,Northern
Shoveler, Mallards, Herons, Turkey Vultures, Ring-billed Gull, Red-wing blackbird,
Tree Swallows, House Finch.
Bud Lewsader
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From bernies at uillinois.edu Mon Apr 3 15:55:36 2006
From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie)
Date: Mon Apr 3 15:55:38 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Turkey sighting - in Champaign!
Message-ID: <>
Just received a report that three turkeys were sighted in the grassy
fields west of UI's Memorial Stadium.
I think that might be the first sighting in Champaign??
Bernie Sloan
E-mail:
From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Mon Apr 3 16:45:07 2006
From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert)
Date: Mon Apr 3 16:45:10 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Turkey sighting - in Champaign!
Message-ID: <>
They were right along the south edge of Windsor Road (the cow pasture
next to forestry) Saturday morning just before 8...several deer were
bedded down nearby...
Bob
______
-----Original Message-----
From:
[mailto: On Behalf Of Sloan,
Bernie
Sent: Monday, April 03, 2006 3:56 PM
To: Birdnotes
Subject: [Birdnotes] Turkey sighting - in Champaign!
Just received a report that three turkeys were sighted in the grassy
fields west of UI's Memorial Stadium.
I think that might be the first sighting in Champaign??
Bernie Sloan
E-mail:
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From sdbailey at inhs.uiuc.edu Mon Apr 3 18:18:23 2006
From: sdbailey at inhs.uiuc.edu (Steve Bailey)
Date: Mon Apr 3 18:18:30 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Allerton Park & Champaign birds
Message-ID: <>
I was able to do a little birding this past Sat. while giving presentations
and leading bird hikes at Allerton Park in Piatt Co. Around the Red Barn
near the prairie on the south side of the park were two PILEATED
WOODPECKERS, one HERMIT THRUSH, an EASTERN TOWHEE, an EASTERN PHOEBE, and
a BLACK_CAPPED CHICKADEE excavating its own nest site in a small 3-4 ft.
stub, among other common species. Across the road to the south in the ag
fields was a singing male VESPER SPARROW. A hike out to the GREAT BLUE
HERON rookery provided looks at dozens of nests and birds on nests and
still adding sticks. Also along the river there and the grassy fields
coming to the site were two EASTERN PHOEBES, a singing BROWN THRASHER, 3-4
EASTERN TOWHEES, 6+ GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, and two YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKERS (including a gorgeous male!), a pair of calling BARRED OWLS, and
a BROWN CREEPER. Near the Visitor's Center was a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and
at least 5 PINE SISKINS coming to the thistle feeder there. This is the
highest count that I think I have heard of this spring anywhere in the
state! Unfortunately, the park decided to take out the several, small,
evergreen trees (white cedars or yews?) that were growing up against the
north side of the Visitor's Center building. Just a few weeks ago, I had
found anywhere from one to 3-4 NO. SAW-WHET OWL pellets underneath each of
those trees, from earlier roosting spots from the bird that had spent most
of its time just west of the building.
There were two PIED-BILLED GREBES on the small Lowe's pond Sat. afternoon
along Prospect Ave., made famous a few years ago by the Sandhill Crane that
hung around there for several days. Good birding!
Steve Bailey
Rantoul
From bernies at uillinois.edu Tue Apr 4 11:30:08 2006
From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie)
Date: Tue Apr 4 11:30:47 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Turkey sighting
Message-ID: <>
One turkey was sighted a few minutes ago (11:20AM) at the west end of
Montclair in Urbana.
I've noticed that the last several sightings reported to me over the
past few days have involved fewer than four turkeys. There was an Urbana
sighting with three turkeys, another one with two turkeys, the Champaign
sighting with two turkeys, and this morning's sighting of one turkey. In
the past the sightings have almost always involved four turkeys.
Wonder if the family group is starting to disperse?
Bernie Sloan
E-mail:
From bprice at pdnt.com Tue Apr 4 11:54:29 2006
From: bprice at pdnt.com (Brock Price)
Date: Tue Apr 4 11:54:52 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Collins Pond
Message-ID: <002801c65808$71265cc0$b441fa3f@YOURCD7BB1D575>
Collins Pond Highlights:
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch ( pr.)
Y-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-rumped warbler
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Caroline Wren
Field Sparrow ( open field before Collins Pond )
White-throated Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Homer Lake:
Chipping Sparrow
Purple Finch
Brock ( Champaign Co.)
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From charleneanchor at msn.com Tue Apr 4 12:17:44 2006
From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor)
Date: Tue Apr 4 12:10:47 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Short Meadowbrook walk
Message-ID: <>
TREE SWALLOWS were checking out the box at the Overlook this morning. The male couldn't convince the female to go inside but she did land on the roof with him!
Saw some birds between the east fence and "The Marker" statue. Singing were SONG SPARROWS, BROWN THRASHER, GOLDFINCH, RED-WINGS, with a male chasing a female, GRACKLES, with males courting females in the top of the evergreens. Saw BROWN CREEPER and my first BLUE-GRAY GNATCHER of the season. A brief silence when a COOPER'S HAWK flew over. An EASTERN MEADOWLARK was singing from somewhere in the south prairie west of the bridge but didn't have time to go further. Lots of FLICKERS and heard TOWHEE calling. PHEASANTS running around...wonder how many are out there. One day I counted 13.
Charlene Anchor
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From bernies at uillinois.edu Tue Apr 4 18:55:47 2006
From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie)
Date: Tue Apr 4 18:55:52 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Mystery Birds
Message-ID: <>
Was at the northwest corner of Wright and Green on campus about 5:00PM
tonight when I noticed a flock of six large dark birds coming from the
east-southeast. First noticed them when they came into my field of view
over the roofline of the Illini Union. They were relatively high up.
They slowly and deliberately moved from the east-southeast to the
west-northwest, more or less traveling into the prevailing breeze (they
would change course every now and then, but over the long haul kept
heading in the west-northwesterly direction). They appeared to increase
their altitude the farther west they went.