Ring-necked Ducks: Mid April Spring Migration through Northern Illinois

A pair of Ring-necked Ducks, Horicon Marsh National wildlife Refuge, Wisconsin; 4/24/2011

Ring-necked Ducks are another diving duck that migrates through northern Illinois from its winter home in the southern half of the U.S. to its summer homes in Canada, Alaska, Northern Midwest and Northwest states as well as the cooler climates of the Rockies. These ducks like the shallow freshwater ponds and nest in marshy areas near woods. The Horicon Marsh in Wisconsin is such a place, and is where I saw this pair (Above) swimming about. In the photo above you can see the faint rings around its neck that gives them their names. In low light or at a far distance, it is difficult to see these rings.


Another pair of Ring-necked Ducks in their winter home, Phoenix, AZ; 12/26/09.

From a distance, male Ring-necked Ducks look much like male Scaups (see my 4/22 post about Scaups at http://northernillinoisbirder.blogspot.com/2011/04/lesser-greater-scaups-spring-migration.html ) and are similar in size (17" long). But as you see them at close range, you can see their backs are black (Scaups' backs are lighter) and their grayish bills have a white outline and a larger black tip than Scaups, which have a bluish bill with less white and a tiny black tip. Another good identifying characteristic of the Ring-Necks is between its black breast and gray flanks is a small white "spur" (Above). The crown of a Ring-Neck also looks like it has a bit of a "hairdo", whereas, the Scaups are smoother. females are brownish all over, with a dark gray cap and a white eye-ring, and have less of a white outline on their bills.

Another pair of Ring-necked Ducks,
Seney Wildlife Refuge in Upper Michigan; 5/27/2007.



Ring-necked Ducks travel through Northern Illinois usually around mid April. If you miss them while they are travelling through our area, you can probably catch them up around the Horicon Marsh National Wildlife refuge, only a couple of hours north of Rockford. Or if you want to travel even further north you most assuredly can see them in the Seney National Wildlife Refuge in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which is the first time I remember seeing Ringed-necks (Above).

Ruby-crowned Kinglets: Mid April Spring Migration through Northern Illnois

April, 2011,  had been colder than normal for northern Illinois'Aprils, and the migration of birds reaching northern Illinois has been slow this entire spring. But slow or not, migrants have been trickling in. Mid April brought the next wave a birds to our area. Of these birds the species I saw the most included both Kinglets (Ruby-crowns and Golden-crowns), Barn Swallows, and two more types of Ducks - Red Heads and Ring-necked Ducks.

The first Ruby-crowned Kinglet I saw this April, Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL; 4/17/2011.

The first time I ever identified a Ruby-crown was last summer in Colorado, so I was very happy to finally see one in our area. From mid April until early May, Ruby Crowns have been swarming the thickets of Rock Cut State Park. They hide quickly in the underbrush, but I found if I stand still for a bit they will not be afraid to get close. So I was able to get some nice close up shots of these little guys.  I saw a few with their ruby crests blazing, but I was tooo slow to get them in my viewfinder for a great picture. (Below) is the best photo I took this sping of a Ruby-Crown with its red crest visible.

You can see a touch of the red crest showing on this Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL; 4/23/2011.

Ruby Crowns are on their way to Canada, Alaska and the higher cooler elevations of the Rocky Mountains. They spend their winters in the southern half of the U.S. as well as Mexico, but you can find them Year Round between the Rockies and Sierra Nevada Mountain ranges.

This little RC Kinglet was bold enough to stay close while I was snapping pictures,
Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL; 4/29/2011.

Ruby Crowns are a pale yellowish/olive bird with darker green and white wings and lighter underneath. They have very small bills which is effective in gleaning tiny insects off of branches. Two very good identifying marks for this Kinglet is their wide black and white wing bar across the secondaries, and its white eye-ring which is narrow at the top and bottom edges and wider in the front and back of the eye, giving it an oval shape.

Another Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL; 4/29/2011.

Yellow-rumped Myrtles: Early April Spring Migration through Northern Illinois

A Yellow-rumped Myrtle Warbler; Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL; 4/17/2011.

Another early April arrival in Northern Illinois is the Yellow-rumped Warbler (also known as the Myrtle) as it is on its way to northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, Upper Michigan, Canada and Alaska. It will also spend its summers in the Northeast states (New York, New hampshire, Vermont and Maine).  They winter not too far south from our area in southern Illinois and southern Indiana as well as the entire southestern U.S. as well as all the coasts. I saw several of them in Mexico last December. They will also spend the winter on the southern shores of Lake Erie in Ohio, and are most likely (as is the case) the first warbler to be seen in the spring.

A BIF pic of a Myrtle showing its yellow flanks and streaky breast,
 Nygren Wetlands Preserve, Rockton, IL; 4/10/2011.

The first Myrtle I saw this year was at the Nygren Wetlands Preserve (Above), and since that time they have been all over. At Rock Cut State Park, Bauman Park, and Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserve in Rockford, as well as in Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin. They are not hard to miss, with their bluish/gray body set off with a bright yellow rump (Below), crown and flanks with contrasting black and white streaks on its breast. Another great identifying trait is its black mask with white eyebrows and throat.

A good look at the Myrtle's namesake yellow rump,
Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, Wisconsin; 4/24/2011.

A Myrtle showing off its contrasting dark bluish/gray and black colors
with its bright yellow and white markings, Horicon Marsh NWR, WI; 4/24/2011

Another Myrtle, Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL; 4/17/2011.

Fox Sparrows: Early April Spring Migration through Northern Illinois

Along with the American White Pelicans (yesterday's post) among the early April arrivals that I have seen are Green-winged Teals, Yellow-rumped Myrtles, Brown Thrashers, Eastern Meadowlarks, Rough-winged Swallows and Tree Swallows, and a slew of sparrow species including Fox Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, and Field Sparrows. Of this group, the Green-winged Teals, Fox Sparrows, and Myrtles are just travelling through toward more northern territories, while the rest will call northern Illinois their summer home.

A Fox Sparrow, Rockford, IL; 4/7/2011.



I was able to add to my Life List (#280) one afternoon as I returned home from school, and saw an unfamiliar sparrow-like bird scratching in the dirt and leaves in the backyard. As soon as it came into better light, I recognized it as a Fox Sparrow (Above) because they are larger and have more red on it than the usual sparrows that hang around here. I was very excited since it is the first time I have seen one close enough to identify. I hoped it stayed put long enough for me to get camera-ready, and fortunately it did. I was able to fire off several pics before it finally flew off into the bushes. The unfortunate part was that it was already late in the day and somewhat cloudy, and there wasn't good light for better photography.

Fox Sparrows' migration takes them from their winter grounds in the Southeastern States (as well as Southern California and along the Pacific Coast) through the Midwest and onto their summer grounds of extreme northern Canada and Alaska. They will also spend their summers in the Rockies extending all the way to the Pacific Coast.



A look at the Fox Sparrow's rufous coloring, Rockford; 4/7/11.

Fox Sparrows get their name from their reddish coloring which as you can see from the photo (Above), it has reddish stripes alternating with gray on its back, and much of its wings are red with black tips. Its tail is red along with heavy streaking on its breast and flanks. Its gray head is usually capped off with a red crown (though the red cap on the sparrow in the photos hasn't come in yet - you can see the beginnings of it appearing), red cheeks and eyeline extending to the back of the head. Its breast and belly are lighter (Top photo).

I was hoping it would stick around for a few days to get better pictures in better light, but I didn't see it again. It was fun while it lasted.

American White Pelicans; Early April Spring Migration through Northern Illinois

The black wings are very visible on this American White Pelican coming
 in for a landing, Nygren Wetlands Preserve, Rockton, IL; 4/10/2011 

By early April another wave of birds start arriving into Northern Illinois. Among this wave are the American White Pelicans. Northern Illinois is on the eastern edge of their migratory route, so it is always a treat to see them in one of our lakes, ponds, or rivers. American White Pelicans often use the Mississippi flyway as a prime route for both their Spring and Fall migrations, and can be found in large squadrons (check my 8/11/10 post http://northernillinoisbirder.blogspot.com/2010/08/american-white-pelicans.html ) on the Mississippi River. Once in a while they venture a few more miles east and can be seen on the Rock River and at Nygren Wetlands Preserve, IL, which is where we saw a few small pods (or pouches, or scoops, or squadrons as flocks of Pelicans are often called) in early April (Above).  In winter, these Pelicans will be found along the Gulf Coast States as well as the southern Pacific Coast and into Mexico and central America. When we see them migrate through our area, they are on their way to their summer homes in shallow ponds, lagoons, and marshes of the North Central Plains States (Minnesota, Montana, North & South Dakota, and parts of Nebraska, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon) as well as the Central Canada. They can also be seen spending their summers in Northern Wisconsin and along sheltered bays of Lake Superior. They find lake islands where they will build a primitive nest of debris and a low mound of earth.

A scoop of American White Pelicans sunning on a shallow sandbar,
Nygren Wetlands Preserve, Rockton, IL; 4/10/2011.

American White Pelicans are one of the largest of the boreal birds. They can weigh as much as 30 pounds and their wing spans can exceed nine feet. While standing or swimming., they appear all white, but in flight (Top) their black primaries and outer primaries are very evident. During breeding their legs, bills and pouch get a bright orange and they grow a rounded keel on their culmen (upper bill) (See Below). During non-breeding months (Sept - Feb), their bills and legs get a duller yellow as seen on my 8/11/10 and 8/12/10 posts about these magnificant birds.

The "keel" on the American White Pelican's culmen is prominent while in their
breeding plumage, Nygren Wetlands Preserve, Rockton, IL; 4/10/2011.

American White Pelicans are excellent fishers and often capture fish cooperatively by swimming in a long line, beating their wings and driving the fish into shallow water where they scoop up the fish in their large pouches, which can hold up to 3 gallons of water. Val and I saw a small pod of these Pelicans at Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, WI, ( http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=32520 ) on Easter morning, where we witnessed them make a circle facing inward,surrounding a school of fish, then all dunking their heads simulataneously to scoop up the fish they trapped. After the fish have been caught the bill is pointed downward allowing the water to drain, and then the bill is raised and the bird swallows its meal. This is unlike their cousins, the Brown Pelican which catch fish by dive bombing from great heights.

I loved this capture of an American White Pelican just about to make its landing in Nygren Wetlands Preserve, Rockton, IL. Wouldn't it be awesome to have this magnificent bird nesting in Northern Illinois? 4/10/2011.

I have read in some sites that because of pesticides, human disturbance, and the draining of wetlands, the American White Pelican is in decline as the number of active colonies has dropped sharply in recent decades. However, I have also read that their population in Wisconsin is growing and in the future their breeding grounds may extend to include the upper Mississippi River, which for now serves only as a migratory route.

Ospreys;Late March Spring Migration through Northern Illinois

An Osprey soaring overhead looking for its next meal, Phoenix, AZ; 12/26/09.

While hiking through Rock Cut State Park in late March, I was surprised to hear a sweet whistle and before I knew it, an Osprey flew over carrying a fish in its talons. I thought, "Cool! An Osprey in our very own State Park." When I notified E-bird, Illinois, I was asked for proof since at that time of year this was apparently the first sighting of an Osprey in our area. The best picture I had for proof  wasn't a quality photo (Below top), but it was proof enough of what it was. I returned a day later, hoping to see it again, which I did (Below bottom pic). Well, since then, others have spotted the Osprey as much as two weeks later; however, I don't believe it has been seen since early April, undoubtedly moving on to its summer hunting grounds. Through April Ospreys have been sighted more often in northern Illinois as it is migrating through on its way to the Northern shores of the Great Lakes and on into Canada and Alaska.  Ospreys also will spend the summer along the Atlantic coast as well as the Northwest and the northern Rockies. I have seen Ospreys in Rocky Mountain National Park as well as in Montana and Idaho.

The best pic I was able to get of an Osprey with its catch at Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL; 3/26/2011.

The same Osprey a day later at Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL; 3/27/2011.

In winter Ospreys will migrate south to the South Pacific coasts of California, the Baja Peninsula, as well as Florida, and the Gulf states. In December of 2009 while hiking the Butcher Jones Trail at Saguaro Lake, Arizona, I was fortunate enough to not only see an Osprey make its dive and catch a fish, but was able to capture it with a burst of photos (see my 6/27/10 post with link below...

http://northernillinoisbirder.blogspot.com/2010/06/ospreys.html 

Below are a few more photos from that series:

An Osprey locating its prey on Saguaro Lake ...

The same Osprey pulling its catch out of the lake ...

...and taking off with its prize; Saguaro Lake, AZ; 12/29/2009.

Just a week ago, while we were hiking around Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin, Val saw an Osprey flying off carrying a fish that she said was almost as big as he was. By the time she got my attention to try to take a picture it was gone, and I missed the opportunity. Ospreys are always fun to watch, and I hope someday I get another chance to capture one in its dive catching a fish.

Buffleheads: Late March Spring Migration through Northern Illinois

A Bufflhead in its winter grounds, Phoenix, IL;  12/26/09.

Bufflheads are fun to watch, but for me, extremely hard to photograph. I have taken many pictures of Buffleheads over the past year, but have never been happy with any of them. Because the snow white back of its head contrasts drastically to its dark reddish - green face, crown and neck, my camera has a hard time determining the correct exposure.  If I try to compensate for the bright white patch at the back of the head, I lose the beautiful irridescent colors on the rest of the head. If I try to expose for the colors, then the white patch and body looks like a fireball and is way over exposed (Above). Also they are a frenetic diving bird, disappearing under the water and reappearing on the opposite side of the lake very quickly.

A pair of Buffleheads at Regents Park, London, England, UK; 4/10/10.

The first time I saw a Bufflehead was a couple of years ago during winter while I was visiting Arizona (Top) and was fascinated with them. Then I saw a few a year ago while spending a week in London (Above). But this Spring starting in mid to late March, they have been migrating through Northern Illinois in small to large flocks (known as a "brace", "flush", "paddling", "raft", and "team"). They have been present in Rock Cut State Park (Three bottom pics) for almost month. Plus I have seen them at Nygren Wetlands Preserve (Rockton), at North Pond (Chicago's Lincoln Park), and on the Mississippi River on the Illinois / Iowa border. Just last week I saw a brace of Buffleheads at Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin (Below). Their white body contrasts with their dark head, which depending on how the light hits it, they look black, or the forehead looks green, while the neck has a reddish irridescence to it. Then sometimes the red and green tints appear just the opposite.

A Pair of Buffleheads at Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, WI; 4/24/2011.

Two male Buffleheads while fighting over the rights to a female, show off
their black and white markings, Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL; 3/26/11.

Buffleheads spend their summers exclusively in Canada and Alaska, while in winter they can be found throughout the Southern half of the U.S. and will spread north to the southern edges of the Great Lakes (Save Superior) and along both the Atlantic Seaboard and Pacific Coast and south into Mexico and Central America.

A Bufflhead sticking its landing for a perfect"10" in Pierce lake,
Rock Cut State Park; 3/27/11.

A Bufflhead on takeoff in Pierce lake, Rock Cut State Park; 3/27/11.