Saturday, Carrie was working so I decided to do some holiday birding. I wanted to get my Illinois life list up to 250 species by the end of the year, and I was only two species short. Shanin Abreu had been seeing Red-shouldered Hawks all over McLean County, and I still needed this species for the county and the state. Also, Given Harper had had a red morph Eastern Screech-owl in his screech-owl box, and although I had been blessed with great looks and photos of a screech-owl family of seven, they were all gray, and I had never seen a red morph. So I hoped his red morph would be in the box so I could see it and get some shots. However, the red morph had not been consistently roosting in the box so seeing it was not a guarantee. I also hoped to find some Trumpeter Swans at Dawson Lake, where they were seen last Christmas day.
My first stop was the home of Dr. Given Harper. Unfortunately, the screech-owl was not in its roost; however, conversation with Dr. Harper is always nice. After a brief chat, I headed toward the area where Shanin had seen the most Red-shouldered Hawks just North of Downs. I spent about an hour and a half driving around this area. There were at least six or seven Red-tailed Hawks, all pretty far away from the road. Shanin had recommended 2000 E, 950 N, 2100 E, and Cheney Grove Rd. When I drove down 2100 E Rd., it curved around and eventually turned into 2075 E Rd. There in a long fenced in yard on my left, I saw a hawk fly into a tree about 10-15 yards from the road. However, it was hidden behind too many branches so I could not get a clear view or photograph. Unfortunately, I flushed it while trying to reposition my car for a better view. It flew about a hundred yards back, and I took a few blurry photos of its back. I thought the bird was probably a Red-shouldered Hawk based on its size and behavior. I have noticed that Red-shouldered Hawks seem less conspicuous than Red-tails and that they often roost or perch somewhat hidden, mid-level in trees; whereas, Red-tailed Hawks tend perch higher up in the open and often pick the highest branches. The way the bird flew also reminded me of other Red-shouldered Hawks I had seen. Unfortunately, I could not get a good enough look at the bird for a positive I.D., and I could not tell from the poor photos I had taken either. So it was strike two.
After a detour to check out a Red-tailed Hawk my wife, Carrie, had seen on the way to a client's home, I headed toward Dawson Lake at Moraine View State Park, hoping to see Trumpeter Swans or possibly a Red-shouldered Hawk since Red-shoulders have occasionally been seen at Moraine View as well. I did see a couple of Red-tails and American Kestrels, but no Red-shoulders and no swans. In fact, the only waterfowl I did see on the lake were Canada Geese. Strike three!
It seemed my best birds of the day were not raptors but Galliformes, which were everywhere at Moraine View. Here are a few shots of some of the Ring-necked Pheasants and one of the Wild Turkeys I saw.
Before going home, I drove by the pond at State Farm Corporate South, hoping to see Snow Geese or some other waterfowl there. There were no Snow Geese, but I did see a few shovelers, Lesser Scaups, and about 15-20 Cackling Geese. Here are a few out on the ice with the Canada Geese.
And here are a few on the shore . . .
Here are a couple of shots of a partially leucistic Canada Goose also on the shore of the State Farm pond . . .
Sunday, Carrie had to work again, but I did not go birding. I went to church and spent the rest of the day shopping, running errands, and doing a little bit of cleanup around the house. Shanin texted me that she saw a Red-shouldered Hawk very close to where I had seen the bird that I thought might be a Red-shoulder the previous day, but I decided to wait until the next day, Christmas Eve, to make another attempt.
On Christmas Eve, I started out looking for some swans that Carrie had seen from 700 Rd., North of Schroeder Wildlife Sanctuary, the previous day. I found them in some fenced in open water not far from where she had seen them, but they were not Trumpeters. They were Mute Swans, and their were nine of them. I was only a little disappointed that they were not Trumpeters because I still enjoyed watching them feed. I also saw a nice flock of American Tree Sparrows next to the adjoining drive, and I was pleased to find a single Eurasian Tree Sparrow in this flock.
Next, I decided to head to Deanna Frautschi's yard not far from 51. She had just posted a photo of a red morph Eastern Screech-owl roosting in one of her screech-owl boxes on Facebook. Unfortunately, this screech-owl was absent from the box as well. However, as I arrived, Deanna saw one of her resident Great Horned Owls fly back into the pines in her backyard. She graciously allowed me to walk through her property to try for some photos of this glorious bird. As I walked along the pines, I saw the owl flush, and I was able to take a few photos when it landed. Unfortunately, I could not get into position for good lighting, but I have been told that any photo of an owl is good.
As I continued exploring the property I found many other delights such as Red-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker (heard), Carolina Wren, and Pine Siskin (heard). Then as I walked toward the pines on the other side of the yard, I saw a second Great Horned Owl flying back toward the creek. Then as I walked through the pines, I noticed an enormous knot on the trunk of one of the pines. Alas, it was not a knot, but a third Great Horned Owl! When it noticed that I was staring at it and that I had realized that it was not a knot, it also flushed. I followed it back to the creek and took this shot.
Before leaving, I enjoyed some conversation with Deanna and showed her the photos I had taken of her amazing yard birds.
Next, I explored the area North of Downs, still hoping to find a Red-shouldered Hawk; however, I did not even see a single Red-tailed Hawk. So I headed to Moraine View, where I saw a Bald Eagle in flight. I got out briefly to look for a Barred Owl. When I returned to my car, I found this Northern Cardinal confused and agitated by its own reflection in my car windows and rear-view mirror.
Much of Dawson Lake was frozen, and I did not have time to check thoroughly for waterfowl because I received a text from Shanin that she had just relocated the Red-shouldered Hawk. She texted me the location and told me she would wait until I arrived so that she could show me where it was. I hurriedly left the park en route to Downs.
When I pulled up next to the Shanin's hawk, which was only about 20 yards out from the road, it flushed before I could get a good look or photo. I observed it in flight, but could not see the field marks I was looking for. I relocated the bird and managed to get one shot in which its red shoulder was exposed. Then the bird flew again.
I eventually was able to relocate it a second time in a hedge of trees at eye level. This time the bird sat still, and I was able to take several shots of the immature Red-shouldered Hawk. When I later compared these shots to the photos I had taken of the hawk I had seen on Saturday, it became apparent that this was the same bird. So the bird I had seen on Saturday had been a Red-shouldered Hawk after all, and here it was again--Illinois bird #249!
Thanks to Shanin for helping me find a new state bird, and thanks to Deanna for letting me see and photograph her Great Horned Owls on Christmas Eve! Last Christmas Eve, Carrie and I saw our lifer Long-eared Owls! This Christmas Eve I was blessed to see Great Horned Owls and a Red-shouldered Hawk! I wonder what next year will bring.
