Birds of Illinois

It has been way too long since I've gotten out! I have been watching the leaves sprouting on the trees and thinking "that will make 'em harder to see & photograph". But until now, didn't have the time to get out. But today I took a day off and this afternoon I visited Volo Bog for the first time in months. It was well worth it!

I have spent plenty of time at Volo Bog over the last few years and have my favorite areas, which I headed to right away. It wasn't particularly 'birdy' but then it was after 2PM. Fairly quickly I had Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Eastern Towhees, shortly followed by Yellow Warbler and Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Eastern Towhee Eastern Towhee

Palm Warbler Palm Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler Prothonotary Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler Prothonotary Warbler

Red-tailed Hawk Red-tailed Hawk

Solitary Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper

Swamp Sparrow Swamp Sparrow

White-throated SparrowWhite-throated Sparrow

Yellow-rumped Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler

I didn't see too many more warblers. There were a few Palm Warblers, a single Orange-crowned Warbler and by far the most exciting for me, the Prothonotary Warbler. The Prothonotary was near the viewing platform on the trail that goes right at the beginning of the floating boardwalk over the bog. I think they are one of the most attractive birds and my favorite warbler. I know they live near water but I had not before seen them feeding on insects that were floating in the water.

The Solitary Sandpiper was in the same area as the Prothonotary, as was the beautiful male Yellow-rumped Warbler that sat on a branch right below the platform I was standing on and 'flashed' his yellow rump. Several Sparrows were also present, by far the most common was the White-throated Sparrows, which were at virtually every stop I made. Song Sparrows and Swamp Sparrows were also spread thinly around the area.

The Red-tailed Hawk flew over while I was waiting for the Towhee to show himself (which he did as you can see from the photo above). Sora were calling from the bog itself. I was initially surprised with the lack of woodpeckers but eventually saw & heard several including Downy's, Red-bellied and Northern Flicker. I haven't seen a Hairy Woodpecker there recently but I have found nest holes of Hairy Woodpeckers in the past so hopefully I just missed them today.

If all days off are like this, I think I will have to make them a more frequent occurrence!