Fall Birding at Espenscheid and Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserves

A sunset in Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 11/4/2011.

On of my favorite local places to go birding are the conjoined Forest preserves of Espenscheid and Black Hawk Springs. I like to park at Espenscheid (both entrances can be found off of Perryville Road, south of Rockford) and hike to Black hawk Springs and back again. In a long loop you can follow the Kishwaukee River to look for shore and water birds, hike through some disiduous and coniferest forest, and through prairie.  In today's post, I will highlight some of my birding pics from October 1, a combination of year round residents and those that are migrating through to their winter homes.
(Above) is a Sunset from Black Hawk Springs on November 4, but don't get locked in after sunset - like I did last weekend.

A Black-capped Chickadee with a snack, Espenscheid Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.



A backlit juvenile Eastern Phoebe, Espenscheid Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.



A Red-bellied Woodpecker, a year-round resident of Espenscheid Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

White-throated Sparrow, Espenscheid Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

Northern "Yellow-shafted" Flicker, another year-round resident of Espenscheid Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

A juvenile Cedar Waxwing, Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

A molting Eastern Towhee, Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

Field Sparrow, Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

Northern Cardinal, a year-round resident, Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

A juvenile White-crowned Sparrow, Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

A Yellow-rumped "Myrtle" Warbler, Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

A Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.



The same Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.