Author: Brendan

Likes birding.

We spent a lovely couple hours strolling around the Crabtree Nature Center, with lots of feathered friends in attendance. We spotted 34 species! Here are some of the highlights. Here’s our Ebird list.

An American Phoebe on the lookout for bugs
An American Phoebe on the lookout for bugs; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Blue-winged Teal swims in a pond
A Blue-winged Teal swims in a pond; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Blue-winged Teal swims in a pond
A Blue-winged Teal swims in a pond; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Brown Creeper on its way up a tree
A Brown Creeper on its way up a tree; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Brown Creeper, well, creeps up a tree
A Brown Creeper, well, creeps up a tree; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Canada Goose browses for its breakfast
A Canada Goose browses for its breakfast; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Golden-Crowned Kinglit peeps between two branches
A Golden-Crowned Kinglit peeps between two branches; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Killdeer flies overhead, peeping!
A Killdeer flies overhead, peeping! Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Northern Flicker peeks its head up against the top of a tree
A Northern Flicker peeks its head up against the top of a tree; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Palm Warbler looks at us
A Palm Warbler looks at us; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Palm Warbler eyes us suspiciously
A Palm Warbler eyes us suspiciously; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Palm Warbler perches on a twig
A Palm Warbler perches on a twig; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Palm Warbler perches on a twig
A Palm Warbler perches on a twig; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Pine Warbler sits on a perch
A Pine Warbler sits on a perch; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Pine Warbler makes its way to a new perch
A Pine Warbler makes its way to a new perch; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Red-Tailed Hawk soars overhead
A Red-Tailed Hawk soars overhead; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet shows its crown
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet shows its crown; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet calls out
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet calls out; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet perches on a twig
A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet perches on a twig; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
Two Sandhill Cranes stand among the reeds
Two Sandhill Cranes stand among the reeds; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Yellow-Rumped Warbler sits above us
A Yellow-Rumped Warbler sits above us; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025
A Yellow-Rumped Warbler perches on a log
A Yellow-Rumped Warbler perches on a log; Crabtree Nature Center, Illinois; 19 April 2025

Dean Nature Sanctuary felt a bit desolate — they’d done a controlled burn and a lot of the grasses were denuded. The Robins and the Red-winged Blackbirds were out in force.  No new lifers, but an enjoyable time nonetheless.

Two Brown-headed Cowbirds chat in a tree
Two Brown-headed Cowbirds chat in a tree; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025
Canada Geese enjoy the lake
Canada Geese enjoy the lake; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025
A Great Blue Heron cruises on by
A Great Blue Heron cruises on by; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025
A House Sparrow surveys things from atop its box
A House Sparrow surveys things from atop its box; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025
Mourning Dove enjoys the sun
Mourning Dove enjoys the sun; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025
A Northern Flicker waits in a tree
A Northern Flicker waits in a tree; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025
A Song Sparrow sings from a tree
A Song Sparrow sings from a tree; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025
A Tree Sparrow waits in a tree
A Tree Sparrow waits in a tree; Dean Nature Sanctuary; 13 April 2025

 

During a bookstore outing downtown, we took a break from our bibliophilia to peep some birds. We didn’t see the birds we hoped we would, but it was a fun outing nonetheless.

New Lifer:

  • Hermit Thrush
Black-capped Chickadee on the lookout
Black-capped Chickadee on the lookout; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025
Three Double-crested Cormorants fly by
Three Double-crested Cormorants fly by; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025
A Flock of Double-crested Cormorants fly by
A Flock of Double-crested Cormorants fly by; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025
A Red-breasted Merganser enjoys Lake Michigan
A Red-breasted Merganser enjoys Lake Michigan; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025
A Mallard enjoys Lake Michigan
A Mallard enjoys Lake Michigan; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025
A Goldfinch chills on a branch
A Goldfinch chills on a branch; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025
A Hermit Thrush takes a break
A Hermit Thrush takes a break; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025
A Hermit Thrush glowers at the camera
A Hermit Thrush glowers at the camera; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025
Red-winged Blackbird on alert
Red-winged Blackbird on alert; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025
Red-winged Blackbird calls a warning
Red-winged Blackbird calls a warning; 12 April 2025
Caspian Terns on the beach
Caspian Terns on the beach; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025
An American Kestrel on the lookout
An American Kestrel on the lookout; Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary; 12 April 2025

 

 

We joined the Will County Audubon society for a lovely outing in the O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve.

New Lifers:

  • Winter Wren

We saw these tweeters:

A Northern Flicker on the lookout
A Northern Flicker on the lookout; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025
A Great Egret hunts for dinner
A Great Egret hunts for dinner; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025
A couple Gadwalls hunt for dinner
A couple Gadwalls hunt for dinner; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025
An Eastern Phoebe watching for bugs
An Eastern Phoebe watching for bugs; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025
An Eastern Bluebird gives us the cold shoulder
An Eastern Bluebird gives us the cold shoulder; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025
A Winter Wren bops around a log
A Winter Wren bops around a log; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025
A Cooper's Hawk soars overhead
A Cooper’s Hawk soars overhead; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025
Three pelicans soar toward a pond
Three pelicans soar toward a pond; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025
A pelican soars toward a pond
A pelican soars toward a pond; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025
A flock of pelicans fishes together in a pond
A flock of pelicans fishes together in a pond; O’Hara Woods Nature Preserve; 12 April 2025

We had a lovely outing in Arie Crown Forest — starting to see some Spring birds.

A sassy Eastern Phoebe says hello
A sassy Eastern Phoebe says hello; Arie Crown Forest Preserve; 6 April 2025
A Yellow-Rumped Warbler joins us, the vanguard of the Spring
A Yellow-Rumped Warbler joins us, the vanguard of the Spring; Arie Crown Forest Preserve; 6 April 2025
A White-breasted Nuthatch sees us and looks awry
A White-breasted Nuthatch sees us and looks awry; Arie Crown Forest Preserve; 6 April 2025
Our first Tree Swallow of the season
Our first Tree Swallow of the season; Arie Crown Forest Preserve; 6 April 2025
Red-bellied Woodpecker looks for food on a tree
Red-bellied Woodpecker looks for food on a tree; Arie Crown Forest Preserve; 6 April 2025
Red-bellied Woodpecker flicks his tongue out, looking for food on a tree
Red-bellied Woodpecker flicks his tongue out, looking for food on a tree; Arie Crown Forest Preserve; 6 April 2025
A Golden-crowned Kinglet takes flight
A Golden-crowned Kinglet takes flight; Arie Crown Forest Preserve; 6 April 2025
A Golden-crowned Kinglet regards a tree
A Golden-crowned Kinglet regards a tree; Arie Crown Forest Preserve; 6 April 2025
A Golden-crowned Kinglet takes flight
A Golden-crowned Kinglet takes flight; Arie Crown Forest Preserve; 6 April 2025
A Golden-crowned Kinglet perched
A Golden-crowned Kinglet perched; Arie Crown Forest Preserve; 6 April 2025
Downy Woodpecker looks for food on a branch
Downy Woodpecker looks for food on a branch; Arie Crown Forest Preserve; 6 April 2025
A Dark-eyed Junco perches on a branch, fluffed up
A Dark-eyed Junco perches on a branch, fluffed up; Arie Crown Forest Preserve; 6 April 2025
Blue Jay flies through the forest
Blue Jay flies through the forest; Arie Crown Nature Preserve; 6 April 2025
Black-capped Chickadee perches on a branch, sassy
Black-capped Chickadee perches on a branch, sassy; Arie Crown Nature Preserve; 6 April 2025