Broad-winged Hawk at Ewing Park

I found a Kentucky Warbler at Ewing Park tonight just a few yards away from the Hooded Warbler which was still there. Les Allen and I also saw a couple of Northern Parulas, a Black-and-white, and a Nashville Warbler. This nice Broad-winged Hawk shown above was near the entrance when I arrived.

American Avocet at Gridley Wastewater Treatment Ponds in McLean County, IL

On April 29, I found this American Avocet at the Gridley Wastewater Treatment Ponds.



This Greater Yellowlegs was also there.



So Carrie was looking at this photo and said, "Greater Yellowlegs?"
I replied, "How did you know it wasn't Lesser Yellowlegs?"
She said, "Because it has greater yellowlegs!"
So true!

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher on Nest at Dixon Waterfowl Refuge

The JWP Audubon Society had a fun trip to the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge at Hennepin and Hopper Lakes this morning. Sarah Garrett, Joseph Phipps, Les Allen, Carrie Murphy, and I went on the trip and ran into Mike Ingram at the refuge. We saw at least 68 species, including 4-5 Yellow-headed Blackbirds and this male Blue-gray Gnatcatcher sitting on his nest. His mate and he were busy going to and from their nest, which Carrie located.

Wilson's Warbler at Ewing Park

On April 26, I photographed this Wilson's Warbler at Ewing Park that was first found by Joe Phipps.

Lark Sparrow at the El Paso Sewage Treatment Center in Woodford County, IL

Well, the wind combined with my excitement made it hard to hold the camera steady, but minus the tail end, here is a bird that is very difficult to find in Central Illinois. However, they seem to show up in unexpected places in late April. At least three sightings have been reported in the area in the last couple of weeks. And they do nest in Central Illinois, if you know just the right place to look.

Black-crowned Night-heron at Emiquon NWR

On April 18, Joe Phipps spotted this Black-crowned Night-heron at the North Globe Tract. I took the photo above through my scope.

Bonaparte's Gulls in Livingston County Fluddle

On April 8, I stopped by a flooded corn field on the North side of 900 N Rd. just East of N 400 E Rd. in Livingston County. This road runs between Livingston and McLean Counties. So the South side of the road was McLean County. There were several Bonaparte's Gulls there. One of them seemed to have a deformed bill.



The next morning on the way to work, I stopped by a fluddle in McLean County just off of highway 29 and found two Greater Yellowlegs.



On the way home from work the same day, I found a Vesper Sparrow just off the road in Livingston County.



I continued to the flooded field beside 900 N Rd. where I had stopped the previous day and found 15-20 Bonaparte's Gulls.































Also present was this American Crow and several Lapland Longspurs.