Waterfowl through Cranes

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were present in 10 IL counties distributed around the state and in higher numbers than normal for IN (65 reported). The high count in IN was eight both at Sugar Ridge Swamp, Pike Co 4 Jun (Jeremy Ross) and near Mt. Vernon, Posey Co 8 Jul (Katherine Bell, Ethan Wiist). In the northern tier of IN, a single Black-bellied Whistling-Duck was found on an Elkhart Co farm on 14 Jun (ph. Max Power), and two were at Grant St. Marsh, Lake Co on 3 Jul (ph. Matt Kalwasinski, ph. Michael Topp). Nesting by Trumpeter Swans was confirmed at four IL locations across the northern tier. IN’s most southerly breeding record for Trumpeter Swan was documented in Warren Co in the central tier. Two adults and three cygnets were seen by the property owner in early June and by Barny Dunning on 16 Jun. A second brood of Trumpeter Swans was seen at Willow Slough FWA, Newton Co, IN on 30 Jul (Robert Hughes), and five other pairs (one with young) were seen in the northern tier of IN. Presumably one of the Whooper Swans that was present in IN during the spring lingered to 5 Jun south of Sandborn in Knox Co (Gary Bowman).

An excellent summer count of 24 Blue-winged Teal was made 27 Jul in the New Road grasslands, St. Joseph Co, IN (Carol Goodall). A pair and four young Gadwall were observed in LaGrange Co on 20 Jul (Case Radoux), furnishing IN’s seventh breeding record. American Wigeons lingering late included individuals in Deer Park, Lake Co, IL 10 Jun (ph. Bill Dorner) and in Savoy, Campaign Co, IL 7–8 Jun (ph. fide eBird). A Northern Pintail summered at Emiquon (Colin Dobson, m. ob.), and single male Northern Pintails were found in the New Road grasslands, St. Joseph Co, IN on 22 Jun (ph. Martin Stoner, Carol Goodall) and at Goose Pond 13 and 27 Jul (ph. Amy Kearns). A male Canvasback was seen at Wolf L., Lake Co on 10 and 19 Jul (Matt Kalwasinski), providing only the second July record for the IN L. Michigan lakefront. Also unusual for summer was a Canvasback in Sumner, Lawrence Co, IL 10 Jul (Jim Mountjoy). Rare in the region in summer, a Greater Scaup was on L. Maxinkuckee, Marshall Co, IN on 15 Jun (Lyndon Miller). Lingering Buffleheads included individuals at Wakarusa WTF on 2 Jun (Leland Shaum, Kyle Miller) and at Dixon Waterfowl Refuge, Putnam Co, IL 2–12 Jun (Scott Harp, Benjamin Antieau, Naomi Twigg). Common Goldeneyes in Evanston, Cook Co, IL 24 and 26 Jul (ph. Peter Walton) and at Chicago’s Rainbow Beach 25 Jul+ (ph. Woody Goss) were unexpected for July.

White-winged Dove is rare but regular in the region. Four were noted this season: an individual in Bunker Hill, Macoupin, IL 3 Jun (ph. Beau Schaefer); one northwest of LaGrange, LaGrange Co, IN 8-9 Jun (Orva Yoder, ph. Sam Plew, ph. Leland Shaum et al.); one in Munster, Lake Co, IN on 8 Jul (ph. Matt Kalwasinski); and one in southcentral LaGrange Co, IN on 11 Jul (ph. Sam Plew). Chuck-will’s-widows were reported in six southern and one central IL counties. Eastern Whip-poor-will reports came from nine northern, eight central, and five southern IL counties. Both species are thought to be in decline in IL. King Rails were noted in 10 IL counties. Following the appearance of Limpkins in adjacent states, IN’s first Limpkin was found at Crooked Creek SRA, Brown Co on 12 Jun (ph. Jeff Sewell) and 13 Jun (Aidan Rominger), and was subsequently seen, primarily via kayak, by many birders with the last sighting on 14 Jul (Scott Evans). Almost unbelievably, a second (or the same?) bird turned up at Kingsbury FWA, LaPorte Co on 30 Jul+ (ph. Julie Gidwitz-Vinkler) where it was seen by scores of birders. Breeding attempts by Sandhill Cranes occurred in two southern tier IN counties – at Goose Pond in Greene Co and at the east end of L. Lemon in Brown Co. In the central tier of IL, Sandhill Cranes were once again at Heron County Park, Vermilion Co, IL, with two there 16 Jul (Pat Bright, Brett Myskowski), making for IL’s southernmost occurrence this season. Also notable were two at Upper Peoria L., Woodford Co, IL 19 Jun (ph. Pete Fenner). This species is unusual in summer south of the northern tier.

Shorebirds through Gulls

Black-necked Stilts were recorded in eight of 92 IN counties and 13 of 102 IL counties. High counts included 90 at Chautauqua 26 Jul (Colin Dobson), 41 at Emiquon 6 Jun (Matthew Hixson, Nathaniel Watkins), and 39 at Goose Pond 8 Jun (Amy Kearns). Among the region’s nine reports of American Avocet, those of eight at Des Plaines Conservation Area, Will Co 23 Jul (Jim Lukancic) and six in the Quad Cities area, Rock Island Co, IL 24 Jul (Kelly J. McKay) involved the largest numbers of individuals. For the first time in four years, an American Golden-Plover was reported in IN during the summer; a single was seen at Oatsville Bottoms, Gibson Co on 4 Jul (Matt Seaton). A late-migrating American Golden-Plover was at Montrose 16 Jun (ph. Scott Record, m. ob.), and scattered reports from Emiquon, including three there 3 Jul (Colin Dobson), may have involved summering individuals. The Snowy Plover found by Woody Goss at the end of spring at Montrose remained to 3 Jun (ph. Geoffrey A. Williamson). The only Piping Plover reported in IL was the lone bird summering at Montrose (m. ob.).

A Whimbrel was noted at Montrose 24 Jul (Audrey Carl, m. ob.). Unusually late northward bound Hudsonian Godwits were noted at Emiquon 6–7 Jun (Matthew Hixson, ph. Nathaniel Watkins, Jim Herkert) and at Kankakee Sands, Newton Co, IN 8 Jun (ph. Jonathon Marlow). A late spring migrant Marbled Godwit was seen at Goose Pond 6–7 Jun (Ryan Sanderson, Richard Garrett, Mark Welter). Southbound birds, all singletons, were at Montrose 2 Jul (Mark Kolasa, m. ob.), at Michigan City, LaPorte Co, IN 16 Jul (ph. Evelyn Kirkwood), at Montrose 17 Jul (ph. John Fabrycky, Adam Benner), at Chautauqua 26 Jul (Colin Dobson), at Meredosia NWR, Morgan Co, IL 27 Jul (Colin Dobson), and in Beardstown, Schuyler Co, IL 27 Jun (Colin Dobson).

The adult Ruddy Turnstone that Lisa Todd found at Lynnville, Warrick Co on 24 Jul tied two other reports for IN’s second earliest fall migrant away from the L. Michigan lakefront. Matt Kalwasinski found an adult Stilt Sandpiper at Hammond Cinder Flats, Lake Co on 5 Jul, tying the second earliest fall record for the IN L. Michigan lakefront. The 71 Sanderlings tallied at Miller Beach, Lake Co, IN 23 Jul (Richard Garrett) and the 95 at Montrose 24 Jul (Matthew Cvetas, Woody Goss) represented fine summer counts. In a record summer for Semipalmated Sandpipers in IN, more than 550 were reported, the highest daily count consisting of 150 late spring migrants at Wheeling Bottoms, Gibson Co on 3 Jun (Evan Speck). The lone Western Sandpiper reports were of two at Chautauqua 26 Jul (Colin Dobson) and of one at Goose Pond 31 Jul (Lisa & Randy Vanderbilt, Tina & Eric Rosier). With respect to numbers of Wilson’s Phalaropes, this summer was the best since 2008. A pair at Kankakee Sands likely nested as the birds were seen regularly with a juvenile noted there 14 Jul (Corey Wagner). An estimated total of 25 at Chautauqua 26 Jul (Colin Dobson) was thought to be a conservative count of the birds there.

A Long-tailed Jaeger at Chautauqua 26–27 Jul (ph. Colin Dobson, m. ob.) was an excellent find. Five Laughing Gulls were noted: one at Carlyle L., Clinton Co, IL throughout the season (Mark Seiffert, Dan M. Kassebaum); an adult on L. Lemon, Brown Co, IN 12 Jun (Jim and Susan Hengeveld); an immature at L. Springfield, Sangamon Co, IL 18 Jun (H. David Bohlen); one at Horseshoe L., Madison Co, IL 26 Jun (ph. Frank Holmes); and a juvenile at Michigan City Harbor, LaPort Co, IN 31 Jul (ph. Brendan Grube). An adult Laughing x Ring-billed Gull hybrid was seen in Calumet, Cook Co, IL and across the state line in Hammond, Lake Co, IN between 2 Jun (Amar Ayyash) and 29 Jul (Alex Haza). An adult California Gull at L. Springfield, Sangamon Co, IL 19–20 Jun (ph. Colin Dobson, H. David Bohlen, m. ob.) provided the only report. An interesting adult gull identified as a hybrid between California Gull and Herring Gull was found in Chicago 1, 26, and 28 Jul (ph. Woody Goss). It was seen together with another apparent hybrid of the same combination 28 Jul (ph. Woody Goss), with this second and smaller bird seen also 30 Jul (ph. Woody Goss).

Anhinga through Falcons

Indiana’s first accepted record of Anhinga involved two birds that were photographed in a remote area of Sugar Ridge FWA, Pike Co on 4 Jun (Jeremy Ross). At least one of the birds was seen over the next two days by only five or six birders and one was last seen on 18 Jun (Jeremy Ross). Neotropic Cormorants continued their increased presence in the region, being seen at seven IL locations involving at least 15 birds. Two were in Taylorville, Christian Co, IL 16 Jun (ph. Trevor Slovick). One or two were present at Carlyle L., Clinton Co, IL throughout the season (Mark Seiffert) with three there 24 Jul (Dan M. Kassebaum). Another was noted in Mattoon, Coles Co, IL 9 Jun (Ron Bradley), and one was found in Chicago 28 Jul+ (Woody Goss, Alex Haza, m. ob.). Another Neotropic Cormorant continued its spring presence at Lambert L. Nature Preserve, DuPage Co, IL throughout the season (m. ob.). The species was seen all season at Horseshoe L. SP, Madison Co, IL, with seven there 22 Jul (Bill Rowe). Finally, one was located at Moraine Hills SP, McHenry Co, IL 30 Jul (ph. Carolyn Fields).

A major incursion of Little Blue Herons into IN included approximately 150 birds in nine southwestern counties. The highest daily count, which included the highest count of adult birds (three), was of 25 at Sugar Ridge FWA, Pike Co on 27 Jul (Jeremy Ross). Quite a find was a Tricolored Heron at Waukegan Beach, Lake Co, IL 21 Jun (ph. Dawn Fronk, ph. Geoffrey A. Williamson, m. ob.); it represents IL’s fourth record in the last 10 years. On 24 Jul, a juvenile White Ibis was photographed at Goose Pond (Vern Wilkins), and was seen sporadically over the next few days, last reported on 27 Jul (ph. Amy Kearns). Twelve Plegadis ibis were noted in the region, with six identified as White-faced and the others not identified to species. White-faced Ibis sightings included one in Lawrence Co, IL 7 Jun (ph. Gary Bowman), one in Rochelle, Ogle Co, IL 9 Jun (ph. Ryan Jones, Jason Newton), one in Clark Co, IL 10 Jun (ph. Steven Lima), and three at Waukegan, Lake Co, IL 13 Jun (ph. Dawn Fronk). Individuals not identified to species included a singleton at Fermilab, DuPage Co, IL 21 Jun (Walter Levernier) and five at Goose Pond 27 Jun (Emmett Iverson).

For the fifth consecutive year, Swallow-tailed Kite was reported in IN. The three photographed southeast of Greenfield, Hancock Co on 26 Jul (Patricia Nolen) constituted IN’s largest summer count. Of 60+ Mississippi Kites in 14 IN counties, the northernmost sighting was of a flyby in Michigan City, LaPorte Co on 3 Jun (Susan Bagby). Barn Owls have been doing quite well in IN, with efforts by the IN DNR to help the species including installation of nest boxes in suitable barns. More than 40 sites in IN had active nests in 2022 (fide Amy Kearns). The species remains rare in IL, with just three reports: one in Hardin Co, IL 14 Jun (Cathy DeNeal, Travis DeNeal), two in Peoria Co, IL 28 Jun (ph. Pete Fenner, m. ob.), and one in Tazewell Co, IL 2 Jul (Bert Foquet). IN’s first June report of a Northern Saw-whet Owl since 20 Jun 1972 (when a specimen was obtained from Wayne Co) occurred on 30 Jun. Matthew Press reported a tooting bird in the Wabash Lowlands Nature Preserve of Posey Co, stating that it called every 30 seconds for five minutes. Also surprising was the detection of a Northern Saw-whet Owl at Big R. State Forest, Henderson Co, IL 25 Jul (Kelly J. McKay, Mark A. Roberts).

Two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers at Pecatonica R. FP, Winnebago Co, IL 5 Jul (John Karvelis), one at Big R. State Forest, Henderson Co, IL 25 Jul (Kelly J. McKay, Mark A. Roberts), and one at the Keefer Reserve, Winnebago Co, IL 27 Jul (ph. Joel Neylon) were away from the expected regional summering areas in northwest IL. A late Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was seen in LaGrange Co, IN on 7 Jun (Aaron Yoder). A rare regional nesting by Merlins took place in IL, and two likely Merlin nesting sites were reported in IN. In Belvidere, Boone Co, IL, five young were observed 2 and 8 Jul at or near a nest attended by two adults (ph. Joel Neylon). In Chesterton, Porter Co, IN, a pair was observed regularly from 20 May (Brad Bumgardner) through 14 Jul (Randy Pals), though a nest was not observed. In Bloomington, Monroe Co, IN, a family group of four was discovered by Eve Cusack on 18 Jul and was subsequently seen by many others. Scattered individual Merlins were also noted in Cook and Lake cos, IL, and one was in the central tier northeast of Shelbyville, Shelby Co, IL 16 Jul (ph. Cathy Cox).

Passerines

A late Olive-sided Flycatcher was noted in Evanston, Cook, IL 24 Jun (v.r. Tamima Itani), and IN’s third Jul record of Olive-sided Flycatcher was logged at Willow Slough FWA, Newton Co on 30 Jul (Robert Hughes), providing IN’s earliest fall record. A singing Alder Flycatcher at the Izaak Walton Preserve, Homewood, Cook Co, IL 2–9 Jul (Peter Lowther) was an unusual summer occurrence, while in IN, only six Alder Flycatchers were reported, the lowest total in more than 30 years. Western Kingbirds were present as expected in East St. Louis, St. Clair Co, IL and at four different Madison Co, IL locations. The breeding pair of Western Kingbirds at Evansville Regional Airport, Vanderburgh Co, IN was apparently successful as four individuals were seen there 20 Jul (ph. Matt Seaton) and 27 Jul (ph. Heath Harlan). A breeding pair was also again a regular site in Havana, Mason Co, IL with four Western Kingbirds noted there 28 Jul (Michael McKinley). Away from these regular sites, Western Kingbirds were generally one day affairs with singletons at Silver Creek Conservation Area, McHenry IL 4 Jun (ph. Casey Warnecke, m. ob.), at the Morton Arboretum, DuPage Co, IL 17–18 Jun (ph. Jayne Leone), and at Montrose 18 Jul (ph. Terry Walsh, m. ob.), and with two Western Kingbirds in Libertyville, Lake Co, IL 5 Jun (ph. Amanda Tichacek).

White-eyed Vireos were unusually plentiful in IN as more than twice the average total of individuals was reported from a total of 50 counties. The largest daily count was of 26 birds in the Tecumseh Mine area of Warrick Co on 10 Jul (John Meredig). Somewhat unusual was a Bell’s Vireo in St. Joseph Co, IN on the south side of South Bend. The singing male was present from at least 1 Jun (ph. Martin and Matthew Stoner) through 11 Jun (Mary Jo Mankowski). A Philadelphia Vireo at Illinois Beach SP, Lake Co 9 Jun (ph. Beau Schaefer, Andy Stewart) was record late for IL. Reproductive success by Loggerhead Shrikes in IN was below average. Eight known territories on which 16 nests were found yielded only four successful nests from which 13 fledglings were produced (fide Amy Kearns). Only eight IL counties hosted reports of Loggerhead Shrike, six in the southern tier and two in the northern.

A very rare July record of Golden-crowned Kinglet was of a calling bird in a spruce stand in Pigeon River on 10 Jul (Sam Plew). Breeding by Red-breasted Nuthatches likely occurred at Pigeon River as on 10 Jul, two individuals were seen there, one begging from the other (Sam Plew). Southernmost of the expected two dozen or so Red-breasted Nuthatches present this season in IL was an individual that came to a feeder in Decatur, Macon Co, IL 18 and 27 Jul (ph. Judy Oettel). Another interesting report was of a calling Red-breasted Nuthatch on 1 Jul (David Rupp) in a pine stand in Hoosier National Forest in southern Monroe Co, IN. A Sage Thrasher made a brief appearance at Northerly Island, Chicago, Cook Co, IL 22 Jun (ph. Jing-Yi Lu, ph. Matthew Cvetas, m. ob.); IL has fewer than 10 accepted records of the species. Very surprising was a Townsend’s Solitaire at Montrose 18 Jul (ph. Mark Kolasa); it represents the first summer record for IL. Unusual for summer was a Hermit Thrush at Montrose 3 Jul (Robert D. Hughes).

Three Red Crossbills at Big R. State Forest, Henderson Co, IL 25 Jul (Kelly J. McKay, Mark A. Roberts) were the only ones reported. Eight White-winged Crossbills lingered in Gurnee, Lake Co, IL 1 Jun (Adam Sell). On 2 Jun, on the north side of Michigan City, LaPorte Co, IN, Kyle Wiktor identified a White-winged Crossbill (possibly more than one) that was calling (two different call notes) from a neighbor’s spruce tree. This constituted IN’s third summer record and the first since 1886! European Goldfinch sightings were confined mostly to Lake Co, IL. Away from there, the only reports involved a single bird in Carol Stream, DuPage Co, IL 16 and 25 Jul (Carol Minix).

Clay-colored Sparrows were noted in seven northern tier IL counties, the southernmost being four individuals at Springbrook Prairie FP, DuPage Co, IL (Joe Suchecki, m. ob.). Following a storm on 23 Jul with strong northwest winds, a Clay-colored Sparrow was heard singing for several days on a Marshall Co, IN farm (Richard Borkholder). At Pigeon River, a fine count of 71 Field Sparrows was made on 8 Jul (John Miller). Quite unusual was a Fox Sparrow lingering at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Will Co, IL 3 Jun (Robert Bailey). A surprisingly early fall migrant Lincoln’s Sparrow was discovered at Lyman Woods FP, DuPage Co, IL 26 Jul (ph. Graham Deese). Nesting by Yellow-headed Blackbirds was limited to the Glacial Park and the Goose L. Natural Area locations in McHenry Co, IL.

A Northern Waterthrush in Putnam Co on 26 Jul (Carl Huffman) provided IN’s second earliest fall record. John Miller had an amazing one-day count of 137 Common Yellowthroats at Pigeon River on 8 Jul. Rosemary Jeffery discovered IN’s second July Yellow-rumped Warbler on the 24th in Yellow State Forest, Brown Co. (The first July report occurred 18 Jul 1999 at Miller Woods, Indiana Dunes NP, Porter Co.) On 13 Jun, Brad and Scott Jackson performed a breeding survey of Black-throated Green Warblers in Hoosier National Forest. They logged a dozen singing males that included two in Brown Co, six in Monroe Co, two in Jackson Co, and two in Lawrence Co. An early migrating Black-throated Green Warbler was spotted in Champaign, Champaign Co, IL 22 Jul (ph. Aerin Tedesco). Two Painted Buntings were present throughout the season at the usual East St. Louis, St. Clair Co, IL summering location (m. ob.).

Report processed by Eric DeFonso, 03 Nov 2024.