Eastern Whip-poor-will, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Black-billed Cuckoo at Ewing Park in Bloomington, IL

On Sunday afternoon, May 10, 2015, I went to Ewing Park to look for the Eastern Whip-poor-will seen by the JWP Audubon Society Ewing walk group, led by Les Allen, that morning. I searched for 20-30 minutes without success when I noticed this Black-throated Blue Warbler that Michael Retter had reported the previous day. This bird was not very cooperative, flitting around above me, poorly lit, in the middle of Hedge Apple Woods, but I did manage one decent shot.



Next I saw an American Redstart and a Black-and-white Warbler.





Finally, I saw a whip-poor-will from the trail perched high up in a tree. I had never before seen one during the day, and it was much larger than I had imagined.









I ran into Wes Kolb, who was looking for the Black-throated Blue Warbler, and I showed him the Eastern Whip-poor-will. Next Paula Aschim and Tim Garvey showed up. I called Wayne Hochstetler to let him know about the whip-poor-will. Both Wayne and his wife Lois arrived a little while later in time to see the whip-poor-will. Wes relocated the Black-throated Blue, and we saw three Scarlet Tanagers. Then Lois Hochstetler found this Black-billed Cuckoo. It was the first one I had seen in three years.





Other birds present included Olive-sided Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Veery, Swainson's Thrush, Northern Waterthrush, Golden-winged Warbler, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

The next morning, I relocated the Black-throated Blue Warbler.

Wilson's Phalarope at El Paso Sewage Treatment Center

Dunlin at Salem Ranch in Livingston County, IL

Warblers and Other Migrants at Ewing Park

Yesterday, I went to Ewing Park to see what migrants were passing through. I ran into Wes Kolb and Marty Greenham, and we birded together. I also saw Given Harper, who was leading a group from Illinois Wesleyan, Paula Aschim, and Tim Garvey.

I had ten warbler species: Blue-winged, Black-and-white, Orange-crowned, Nashville, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Yellow, Palm, Yellow-rumped, and Black-throated Green.

Here are a few shots of the Blue-winged. There were at least two Blue-winged Warblers, and they were both frequently singing.







The two Black-throated Green Warblers were also singing, when I photographed them.



There were at least three Blackburnian Warblers.



This Magnolia Warbler was a special treat.



Here is a shot of the Yellow Warbler.



Wes saw a waterthrush. While Marty, Wes, and I were trying to relocate it, we saw this female Purple Finch drinking from the stream.



I also saw three vireo species: Blue-headed, Red-eyed, and Yellow-throated. Here are a couple of shots of the Yellow-throated Vireo.





Other migrants in the park included Wood Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Indigo Bunting, and Baltimore Oriole.

Great Horned Owls at Salem Ranch in Livingston County, IL

American Pipit at El Paso Sewage Treatment Center in Woodford County, IL

Madera Canyon - Old Baldy Trail to Mt. Wrightson Peak

On April 22, I hiked 10.8 miles to the top of Mt. Wrightson and back on the Old Baldy Trail at Madera Canyon with my brother-in-law Ben. My wife Carrie and mother-in-law Laura joined us most of the way to Josephine's Saddle before heading back.



Although our main purpose was hiking, I had a total of 26 species. We hiked the 0.3 miles from the parking area, and turned left on the Old Baldy Trail. Not far up from this turn I heard an ELEGANT TROGON singing. Then two Elegant Trogons flew over Carrie and Laura, who were hiking behind me, and I heard a third singing to them ahead of me. I was able to see it, and it was a female. One of the other Trogons was calling to it, and it flew to the other side of the trail to join it.



Next we had ARIZONA WOODPECKER, GRACE'S WARBLER, and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER.



A little further up the trail, Ben saw a large bird flush. I walked ahead and saw a BAND-TAILED PIGEON sitting in a branch. I barely had a glimpse before it flushed again.

Other birds we were able to identify by song or sight before we reached Josephine's Saddle were MEXICAN JAY, PAINTED REDSTART, BRIDLED TITMOUSE, SPOTTED TOWHEE, YELLOW-EYED JUNCO, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, BUSHTIT, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, ACORN WOODPECKER, HERMIT THRUSH, NORTHERN FLICKER, HOUSE WREN, and GREATER PEWEE. I only heard the Greater Pewee, and it has a delightful song as does the Painted Redstart.



In the first 0.2 miles from the saddle up, we heard and then saw 3 STELLER'S JAYS, which I had missed the previous day at Mt. Lemmon.



A little further up, we had some more Steller's Jays.







Then we had a ZONE-TAILED HAWK fly over us. I heard several CANYON WRENS and saw two of them.



I had 3-4 RED-FACED WARBLERS. One of them was flitting from branch to branch at eye level and flew past my head. I was surprised to find a VIRGINIA'S WARBLER at such a high altitude. This was another bird I had missed at Mt. Lemmon.





Other birds that I saw on the way to the top that I had not already seen further down were HAIRY WOODPECKER, TURKEY VULTURE, and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH.



However, the most interesting sighting of the day was not a bird, but a pack of Kawata Mundis, also known as White-nosed Coatis climbing near the top of Mt. Wrightson. We had not idea what they were when we first saw them, but some of the other hikers told us what they were when we described them. They are beautiful creatures, red like a fox, with long, ringed, bushy tails, and long striped snouts. They are related to Racoons.





I became sick on the way down with nausea and leg cramps and received some much needed encouragement and assistance from a hiker named Steve Wamba, who carried my bag and camera and lent me one of his poles on the way down. By the time we got close to the bottom, I was feeling much better. My wife and mother-in-law were waiting for us at the bottom with Gatorade.