Yesterday's Raptors

Yesterday, on my way to work, I saw a huge bird sitting on top of a telephone pole across the road from Merwin Nature Preserve in McLean County. It was definitely too large to be a Red-tailed Hawk. I looked so monstrous on top of the pole. When I got another look, I realized it was an immature Bald Eagle. I'm guessing it was a second year bird.







I continued driving, and about a mile South of Gridley, I saw a Cooper's Hawk swoop down and capture a European Starling. When I pulled up beside the hawk, which was only a few feet from the road, it just stared at me like my dog does when he wants to eat and wants me to leave him alone. He tried to take of with the starling, but could only hop. He eyed his prey, but waited until I drove away to begin consuming the starling. I'm not sure if the starling was quite dead at first. Notice how it's bill is closed initially, but later opens.









Also, two days ago, I was visiting El Paso Sewage Treatment Center in Woodford County when I saw an American Kestrel mobbing a Northern Harrier.

Wilson's Snipe and Other Migrants at Gridley Wastewater Treatment Ponds

Yesterday, in the morning, I checked the sewage ponds at Gridley. There were small flocks of Brown-headed Cowbirds, European Starlings, and Common Grackles flying around the West ponds. As I was edging around the Southwest pond in my car, I noticed a Wilson's Snipe. I had to back up and drive around to the East side of the pond to get in a position from which I could get some shots of the snipe with the sun behind me.







When I got to the East side of the East pond, there were several American Pipits on the rocks. Below are a few photos of one of the buffiest of them.







I have seen a nice little variety of migrating songbirds on the rocks over the past month, including many Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers and Savannah Sparrows. This Palm Warbler was present on September 21.



The Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers below were there on September 24.





This Northern Shoveler, though not a songbird, was present the same day.



In spite of this Cooper's Hawk, sneaking around, there were Yellow-rumped Warblers everywhere on October 3. Here is the Cooper's Hawk.



And here are the Yellow-rumpeds. They seemed to favor the South side of the middle pond.















Here is a photo of another Cooper's Hawk I saw just down the road from the sewage ponds on September 25.



American Pipits can be seen frequently at this location around this time of year. Here is one I photographed this year on October 12.



And here is another I photographed at the same location exactly one year before I photographed the bird above--on October 12, 2011.



On October 12 of this year, I also saw these Richardson's Cackling Geese. They were only around for a couple of days.



I have not seen many Vesper Sparrows at the ponds this Fall like I did last year, but as I mentioned above, I have seen numerous Savannah Sparrows on the rocks. Since I have not put much effort into photographing them this year, I will post a few photos I took of them in September and October last year at the same location.

Bald Eagles, Sparrows, and a Greater Yellowlegs at Evergreen Lake

On October 11, I returned to the Southeast shore of Evergreen and walked along the shore next to the Deer Island Trail. An area that was previously submerged is now covered in grass and seemed to be a favored spot for the Sparrows. I hoped to see the Sedge Wrens that Hartzler had seen in this area, but alas! Sedge Wren remains my nemesis. The area was thick with Swamp Sparrows, however.



On the way from Evergreen to work, I noticed this pair sharing carcasses with Turkey Vultures in a freshly harvested corn field East of Lake Bloomington.



On the 15th, I returned and managed to photograph a couple of other Sparrow species in the favored corner such as this Song Sparrow and adult and juvenile White-crowned Sparrows shown below.









Other Sparrows present included Field, White-throated, Savannah, and of course Swamp Sparrows galore! When I returned on the 17th, I found this Greater Yellowlegs feeding along the shore.





Also present were several waterfowl species including a Northern Pintail, nine Northern Shovelers, and a single teal. I drove around the lake to see if I could happen upon anything else, and I did. I saw this Bald Eagle soaring low near the water pump station.

McLean County Black-bellied Plovers and Dunlin

Sunday night Matthew Winks texted me, saying there was a Dunlin on the East side of Evergreen Lake along the shore near the Deer Island Trail. I needed Dunlin as a county bird so I drove to Evergreen yesterday morning before work. I could not find the Dunlin, but I found two Black-bellied Plovers, at least 13 Pectoral Sandpipers, 4 Lesser Yellowlegs, and a Least Sandpiper. Below are pictures I took of the two Black-bellied Plovers. Both birds were clearly identifiable by their thick bills and the black patches underneath their wings, which were exposed when they flew.





I returned after work yesterday to try for the Dunlin again. The Black-bellied Plovers were still there.





Also present were 4-5 yellowlegs and about 18 Pectoral Sandpipers.



I found the Dunlin, but a group of about 20 Turkey Vultures flew over and startled the birds before I could get any good photos.



Eventually, I was able to pick the Dunlin out from the Pecs and take some decent identification photos.