113th CBC Illinois Regional Summary

By Paul Sweet

This year produced another warm count season, with 12 counts exceeding 50 degrees, and two breaking 60. Twelve counts failed to reach freezing, all in northern or central Illinois. On the other hand, 29 counts had lows above freezing. Similar to last year, open water was at least partly open on all counts, and only nine reported frozen still water. Twenty counts reported snow cover, with a surprising eight inches from far southern Union County. Things were even windier than 2011, with 34 counts recording wind speeds of at least 15 mph. Carlyle Lake recorded the highest wind speeds, with max winds of 45 mph, and minimum speeds of 30 mph. This would explain the 10 count-week species reported on that count! Across the entire state, there were 172 species recorded, slightly down from last year’s 176 but still a very nice total, with two more count week birds. The highest count-day total was at Rend Lake, with 104, but Carlyle’s 10 count-week birds pushed their overall total to 106, the highest in the state this year.

Sixty-two counts reported totals this year, with 1157 field observers contributing 3255 party hours across 19,694 miles. An additional 277 feeder counters added 524 hours of observation. Observers also logged 338 nighttime hours.  Fermilab’s 116 field observers were down from last year, but they were still the only count in the state to exceed 100. Waukegan’s 79 feeder counters put them back on top in that category.

A Mississippi Kite on Waukegan and a Barnacle Goose at Big Rock are both still pending IORC review. Mississippi Kites have occurred as a breeding species in northern Illinois in recent years, and have been departing the state considerably later than southern populations, but this would still be a remarkable record. Other notable sightings include Barrow’s Goldeneye on Evanston, a Rufous Hummingbird at Kishwaukee, and another host of shorebirds.

Ducks through Herons

Greater White-fronted Geese nearly reached last year’s record high, with a high count of 18,101 at Chautauqua NWR. Snow Geese were reported on 27 counts, with a near record count of 352,787 and a high of 238,217 at Carlyle Lake, while another near-record 171 Ross’s Geese were reported on 13 counts; 100 of those were at Marquette Park. Swans continue their impressive increases – after a series of lower years, 291 Mute Swans were reported. A record 255 Trumpeter Swans were reported on 12 counts, and 198 flyby Tundra Swans on the Chicago Lakefront helped push that species to a new record of 569 on 11 counts. Other notable waterfowl included 29 Blue-winged Teal on four counts, lone Surf and White-winged scoters at Calumet City, two Long-tailed Ducks at Chicago Lakefront, and the aforementioned Barrow’s Goldeneye at Evanston.

Ring-necked Pheasants rebounded a bit from last year’s low count, with 190 on 26 counts, and the 28 Greater Prairie-Chickens at Newton were an improvement over last year’s 11. A total of 158 Northern Bobwhites were reported on 13 counts, again an increase over last year’s record low count. Four counts reported a total of 13 Common Loons, but no Red-throated Loons were found. Two Western Grebes were at Calumet City, and Carlyle reported a count-week Eared Grebe. Eight counts reported 224 American White Pelicans, with a high of 202 at Carlyle. Chicago’s wintering herons put in an appearance – Lisle Arboretum had a Great Egret, and three counts, all in the Chicago area, reported Black-crowned Night-Herons.

Raptors through Hummingbirds

Fermilab reported a Northern Goshawk, and Kishwaukee had one count week. White Pines had a Golden Eagle, while Lisle Arboretum reported one count-week. Thirteen counts reported Merlin, eight reported Peregrine Falcon, and Champaign County had the state’s only Prairie Falcon.

Shorebirds put in a very impressive appearance – Lesser Yellowlegs, four Dunlin, and 54 Least Sandpipers at Rend Lake, two Dunlin at Union County, 10 Least Sandpipers and three Dunlin at Newton, two Spotted Sandpipers, three Least Sandpipers, and a dowitcher sp. at Mermet Lake, a Lesser Yellowlegs at Horseshoe Lake, and five American Woodcock at Crab Orchard N.W.R. As would be expected, 928 Killdeer on 32 counts and 301 Wilson’s Snipe on 16 counts were also well above average. Gull totals were fairly typical, with eight counts reporting Thayer’s, one (Chicago Lakefront) reporting Iceland Gull, five reporting Lesser Black-backed, two reporting Glaucous, and two reporting Great Black-backed. The count-week Thayer’s Gull at Collinsville and the Lesser Black-backed at Kishwaukee were notable. Ten Forster’s Terns at Rend Lake were remarkable.  

Eurasian Collared-Doves were reported on 38 counts this year, both record totals. Three counts reported a total of six Barn Owls, with four at Hennepin. The only Snowy Owl was a count-week bird at Thorn Creek. Long-eared Owls were only reported on 10 counts this year, but 17 counts reported Northern Saw-whets. Kishwaukee had a Rufous Hummingbird, the second year in a row that this bird has been found in the state.

Flycatchers through Finches

Eleven counts reported 55 Eastern Phoebes, with the one at Fermilab the farthest north. Only six counts reported a total of eight Loggerhead Shrikes, down from last year’s tally. Only 27 Northern Shrikes were reported as well. American Crow numbers were down from last year’s record total, but they were still reported on all 62 counts, one of 10 species for which that was true. Fish Crows went unrecorded this year. Fifty-five counts reported a total of 10,882 Horned Larks, both well above the recent average.

Kankakee Valley again had a lone Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Five counts reported House Wrens, while Crab Orchard had a Sedge Wren and Newton had a Marsh Wren. Only two counts reported Gray Catbirds, but Crab Orchard’s 25 Brown Thrashers were actually second to Horseshoe Lake’s 53! American Pipit numbers were down from the last few years, with 41 on seven counts. A Bohemian Waxwing showed up in time for the Evanston count.

Three counts reported Orange-crowned Warblers, and two counts reported Pine Warblers.  Spotted Towhees were at Meredosia and Union County. Four counts reported Vesper Sparrows, eight reported Le Conte’s Sparrows, five reported Lincoln’s Sparrows, and three reported Harris’s Sparrows. Western Meadowlarks were reported on five counts and Brewer’s Blackbirds on seven.

It was a very good year for winter finches – 41 Red Crossbills on seven counts, 19 White-winged Crossbills on Springfield, 491 Common Redpolls on 17 counts, lone Hoary Redpolls on Kishwaukee and Evanston, and six Evening Grosbeaks at Thorn Creek. In keeping with this invasion, 44 counts reported Pine Siskin.