"Free Beer!" Alder Flycatcher - another Mid May Arrival to Northern Illinois.

"FREE BEER!"

An Alder Flycatcher, Horicon Marsh NWR, WI; 5/13/2012.

Free Beer!? Where is this "free beer?" Well, it was in the small grove of trees next to the water by the floating boardwalk on the northern boundary of the Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. Now that I gave away the spot, please do not go foraging in this south central region of Wisconsin in the hopes you'll find some of this beverage that Wisconsin is well-known for brewing. The "free beer" that I am talking about is the song that the Alder Flycatcher (Above)  calls out. It sounds like someone yelling "free beer." So when I was walking on the short trail through this stand of trees and heard all the "free beer" calls, I was happy, not because I like beer, but because, first of all, I recognized it being the Alder Flycatcher (from my bird song recordings), and then secondly, it was a Lifer for me (# 394 at the time. I finally broke 400 last weekend).

Another Alder Flycatcher, Horicon Marsh NWR, WI; 5/13/2012.

These Flycatchers were all over this grove of trees - but mostly in the top branches. It still took some patient waiting before a few of them showed themselves at a lower level so I could get some decent photos (Above).  These Alder Flycatchers might be staying here for the summer as Horicon Marsh is at its most southern edge of its summer range. More than likely, they were passing through to their more common summer residences in North Central Wisconsin and further north into Canada, stretching East into Michigan and the Northeastern States. In Canada they can be found from coast to coast.

Eastern Wood Pewee - Flycatchers Part 2

So continuing yesterday's theme of Eastern Flycatchers (Kingbirds and Phoebes), the Eastern Wood Pewee (Below) is usually present in Northern Illinois by mid May.

An Eastern Wood Pewee singing its familiar two-note refrain, Morton Arboretum, Chicago, IL; 5/27/2012.

If you have ever taken a walk in the woods anywhere east of the Great Plains, there is no doubt that you have heard the two-note whistle, that almost sounds like someone who would be whistling at a pretty girl - a long uprising note, then a beat later followed by a sliding descending note. I have always hear these guys singing, but it took me a long time to finally catch up with the originator of this song - The Eastern Wood Pewee (Above). It seemed like I could never locate this little flycatcher (6 1/4" long). It was always up high in tall trees hidden by the foliage.

Another Eastern Wood Pewee, Rock Cut State Park; 5/12/2012.

The first time I was able to definitively identify this guy was when one landed on a branch just a few feet in front of me, sing its two-note song then fly off.  Subsequently I have had more luck at finding these flycatchers for better photo ops (Above).

Fklycatcher Weekend! Eastern Kingbirds & Phoebes

An Eastern Kingbird reflecting the rising sun light, Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL; 5/20/2012.

Eastern Kingbirds (Above) were one of the first of several Flycatchers to arrive back to Northern Illinois. They were present everywhere by the first week of May. As far as my records (unofficial) show the only Flycatcher that arrives before May is the Eastern Phoebe (Two photos Below), which I see even by the end of March.

Eastern Phoebe, Rock Cut State Park; 6/13/2012.

A smaller Eastern Phoebe, Rock Cut State Park; 4/23/2011.

Both the Phoebe (Above) and the Kingbird (Below) are summer residents of Northern Illinois, and stretch their summer range into Canada as far west as Alberta for the Phoebe, and British Columbia for the Kingbird. So thier "Eastern" moniker doesn't mean they can only be found in the east. The Phoebe will migrate to the southeastern corner of the U.S. especially around the Gulf States and mexico. Whereas, the Kingbird will migrate further south into Central and South America.

Another Eastern Kingbird, Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL; 5/5/2012.

At 8 1/2" long, E. Kingbirds are also one of the larger Flycatchers that make their residence in the Eastern half of the U.S. There are plenty of larger Flycatchers, but most of them reside in the Western half of the U.S.

Another Eastern Kingbird, Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL; 5/20/2012.

These Flycatchers are relatively easy to spot. They like to sit on open branches always searching for insects. I find them most often on tree branches or bushes that overhang a river or lake. They fly out catching insects and frequently return to their same perch. I have also seen them out in open grassy fields that have a few trees to use for their perches. Other than their larger size, they are also easier to identify than the other smaller Eastern flycatchers by the white tail tips and weak wing bars.

An Eastern Phoebe, Rock Cut State Park; 7/21/2010.

Eastern Phoebes (Above), at 7" long, are smaller than its Kingbird cousin, and are more often found in the woods, but also I have seen them very routinely along a boardwalk over a cattail marsh, on the eastern edge of Pierce Lake, near the edge of woodland.

Baltimore Orioles Galore! and some Orchards too in Northern Illinois

A Baltimore Oriole gathering nesting materials near Olsen Lake, Rock Cut State Park; 5/5/2012.

I have never seen or heard as many Baltimore Orioles as I did on May 5, at Rock Cut State Park this year.  I am guessing I probably saw and heard as many as 2 - 3 dozen Orioles. The day before - None. They showed up overnight in huge numbers. Judging by the posts on the IBET (birdingonthe.net) boards from the same date, the same thing was happening all over Northern Illinois - Baltimore Orioles were being reported in large numbers by many birders from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan in the northern third of Illinois.

Another Baltimore Oriole, Rock Cut State Park; 5/5/2012.

Within the week, while visiting Colored Sands FP, Espenscheid FP, Black Hawk Springs FP, and Nygren Wetlands, I saw many Baltimore Orioles in each of these places.

Another Baltimore Oriole, Rock Cut State Park; 5/12/2012.

A Male Balt. Oriole checking out a female who is in obvious mating position, Rock Cut State Park; 5/20/2012.

As I was waiting for the male Baltimore Oriole to get more in the open, he was soon joined by a female. By the looks of things, they were getting ready to mate (Above and Below), but I never actually witnessed the deed. I think they were bothered by my presence and probably waited until I was out of sight.

The same Oriole pair, Rock Cut State Park; 5/20/2012.

An Orchard Oriole, Rock Cut State Park; 5/12/2012.

Another Oriole species that showed up about mid May was the Orchard Oriole (Above). They are not as common as the Baltimores, but I have had a chance to see an Orchard in at least three different occaissions this Spring.

An Orchard Oriole, Rock Cut State Park; 5/20/2012.

A 1st Year Orchard Oriole, Nygren Wetlands, Rockton, IL; 6/2/2012.

While hiking in Nygren Wetlands, I was following a yellow bird that flew behind a small bush. I initially thought it was a Common Yellowthroat, but it seemed too big to be a Yellowthroat so I kept on it. While I was aiming my camera at the bush hoping to get a better glimpse, it poked its head out and I saw that it was a First Year Orchard Oriole, which are mostly yellow with dark wings and a black mask and throat. This was very satisfying, since I haven't seen a First-year Orchard since two years ago at the Rowe Sanctuary in Nebraska.

When the Swallows return ... Early May in Northern Illinois

When the Swallows return to ... Rockford area bridges...

Val's pic of Barn Swallows sitting on the handrails of the bridge over the Rock Cut State Park Dam; 5/17/2009.

... then you know it's finally May in Northern Illinois.

Two places that I know I can find two types of Swallows anytime I want to between the beginning of May to the end of September are at two bridges in two of my most commonly visited parks for my birding endeavors.

Bridge #1 - in Rock Cut State Park- the bridge over the dam which separates Pierce Lake from Willow Creek, always has a colony of Barn Swallows (Above). 

Bridge #2 - in Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve - the bridge over Kishwaukee River at start of the multi-use trail always has a colony of Northern Rough-winged Swallows (Below) during the same time frame.

A pair of Northern Rough-winged Swallows resting on the bridge handrail, Black Hawk Springs FP, IL; 5/2/2010.

More photos of these two types of Swallows below:

A Barn Swallow sitting on the rope handrail of the "floating boardwalk," Horicon Marsh NWR, WI; 5/13/2012.

A nice mirror image of a Barn Swallow landing on a mud bar, Horicon Marsh NWR, WI; 5/13/2012.

Barn Swallow, Rock Cut State Park. 5/5/2012.

The Barn Swallow (Above) was sitting in the niddle of the road and I watched a group of three 11-13 year old boys walk right past it and it never moved. As I approached, I thought it was injured as it had its left wing spread out flat over the ground. It warily watched me as I approached closer. I was within 3 feet from it and it didn't make any effort to move. I thought that I would try to move it off the road way so it wouldn't get run over. I stepped within a foot from it and it still didn't move. In fact I had to back up to take its picture, because I was too close for my 500mm Sigma lens to focus on it and for me to fit it in my viewfinder frame. After  took its picture, I again approached within a foot to see if I could help it off the road, but as I reached down to pick it up, off it flew without any obvious visual problems. I followed its flight as it soared over Pierce Lake and joined other Barn Swallows. It didn't seem injured at all. I wondered why it let me get so close to it.

a Northern Rough-winged Swallow seemed as interested in me as I was of it, Rock Cut State Park; 7/9/2011.

A Northern Rough-winged Swallow making a home out of a pipe opening in the dam wall, Rock Cut State Park; 5/8/2011.

Early May Arrivals: Gray Catbirds and Wood Thrushes

One of many Gray Catbirds that arrived in Northern Illinois in the first week of May, Espenscheid Forest Preserve, IL; 5/4/2012.

Suddenly overnight Gray Catbirds (Above) descended upon the Rockford, IL,  area. It seemed that while I was hiking in the Espencheid and Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserves, I couldn't walk 50 steps without hearing another Catbird squawking and mewing in the bush.

Another Gray Catbird, Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, IL; 5/20/2012.

Gray Catbirds have been so abundant this Spring that I have had little trouble finding them in the open (Above). It seemed to me that in previous years, I have had a hard time getting photographs of these guys as they stayed hidden in the thickets. This year they have seemed to be showing themselves more frequently, unless I have either been lucky this year or just unlucky in the past.

A Wood Thrush in a rae moment of visibility, Morton Forest Preserve, IL; 5/

Another bird that I hear all the time, but very seldom can find in the open for a good photograph is the Wood Thrush. These Thrushes, in my opinion,  have one of the most beautiful songs of the Bird Kingdom. They sound like two first chair floutests playing a duet, as the Wood Thrush is able to create two pitches simultaneously. The Thrush (Above) happened to be sitting on a low branch near the ground level, and I was lucky to find him. Although he was at quite a distance away, he stayed put long enough for me to get his portrait. Usually I hear Wood Thrushes high up in the upper tree branches thoroughly hidden by thick foliage. Very seldom do I get a chance to see one. So to find this guy on the open ground was a treat for me.

Early May Water Birds Arrive in Northern Illinois

MAY DAY! MAY DAY!

A Green Heron with its fierce watchful eye, waiting for a meal to happen by, Rock Cut State Park; 5/5/2012.

The first week of May saw many more new birds arrive in Northern Illinois. Granted, many of the birds I have listed below may already have been here in April, but it wasn't until May when I first witnessed their presence. 

Water Birds: Spotted Sandpipers (Bottom), and Green Herons (Above & Below). Land Birds listed at the bottom of this blog post.

A Green Heron stalking prey, Espenscheid Forest Preserve; 5/26/2012.

The same Green Heron ready to strike, Espenscheid Forest Preserve; 5/26/2012.

I happened to have the opportunity to watch a Green Heron stalking small prey a couple of weeks ago, while hiking in Espenscheid Forest Preserve. Initially I though it was catching frogs, but whatever it was catching and gulping down in one swallow, were too small to be frogs.

A Spotted Sandpiper, Rock Cut State Park, 5/8/2011.

Some of the early May Land Birds were: American Redstarts, Baltimore Orioles, Barn Swallows, Black-throated Green Warblers, Cerulean Warblers, Gray Catbirds, Harris Sparrows, Indigo Buntings, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Northern Waterthrushes, Ovenbirds, Pine warblers, Warbling Vireos, Wood Thrushes, Yellow-throated Warblers, and Yellow Warblers.
Tomorrow I will post about Catbirds and Thrushes, Sunday I will feature Swallows, and next week I will feature some of the Wood Warblers that I have seen in the Rockford area during May.