Nygren Wetlands - Land Birds

Seeing a Dark-eyed Slate colored Junco in Northern Illinois is a sure sign that winter is just around the corner, Nygren Wetlands, Rockton, IL; 10/15/2011.

Yesterday I posted pics of water birds from my October 15, visit to the Nygren Wetlands near Rockton, IL. Today I'll feature some of the land birds I photographed. Dark-eyed Slate-colored Juncos (Above) are frequent winter visitors in our area, so seeing one certainly means Winter is not far off. These Juncos are usually one of the first winter migrants to arrive and one of the last to leave in the Spring. It seems like these guys were still hanging around in late April. So they are virtually here more than half of the year.  Other land birds (Below) I saw that are travelling through are: Yellow-rumped Myrtle, Fox Sparrow, White-throated Sparrows, White-crested Sparrows, and a Lincoln’s Sparrow. Some photos of these migrants are below:

A White-crowned Sparrow travelling through on its way South, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

A juvenile White-crowned Sparrow, making its first migratory trip, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

Another northern Sparrow traveling through to warmer climates, the White-throated Sparrow, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

Another common migrant in the Autumn and Spring is the Yellow-rumped Myrtle, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

Land birds that I observed and are present year round are Wild Turkeys, American Crows, a Downy Woodpecker, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flickers, White-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped-Chickadees, Northern Cardinals, American Robins, Song Sparrows, and American Goldfinches. And then there were an Eastern Towhee, Eastern Phoebe, and Swamp & Savannah Sparrows that spend their summers here, but will probably soon take off for warmer southern climates.

An American Goldfinch in the process of losing its bright yellow summer colors and growing its winter plumage, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

Another Goldfinch getting ready to spend the winter in Northern Illinois, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

Black-capped Chickadees are also common year round residents of N. IL, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

A Downey Woodpecker looking for food to fatten up for the winter here in N. IL, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

Song Sparrows are the only Sparrows that live in N. Illinois year round, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

And then there were an Eastern Towhee, Eastern Phoebe, and Swamp & Savannah Sparrows that spend their summers here, but will probably soon take off for warmer southern climates.



Eastern Phoebes will be gone soon, travelling South, but are usually one of the first song birds to return to Northern Illinois in the Spring, and are already here by mid to late March, Nygren Wetlands, Rockton, IL; 10/15/2011.  



A Swamp Sparrow spending its last days in Northern IL before flying south for the winter, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011.



I heard this Eastern Towhee singing its last songs before leaving us for the winter, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011.

On Thanksgiving Day I'll feature water birds seen at the various ponds in Chicago's beautiful Lincoln Park.