Went to T.C. Steele State Historic Site this morning to bird the grounds. There are lawns, gardens, and deciduous woods that attract many migrants. There were many birds this morning, including four new birds for the year and a new Indiana state bird. Near the historic house I saw Tennessee Warbler (year bird number 162) and Eastern Wood-Pewee (year bird number 163). I walked one of the trails through oak, beech, and maple woods and saw Wood Thrush (year bird number 164) and ACADIAN FLYCATCHER (Indiana state bird number 195, year bird number 165). Fortunately I also heard the Acadian Flycatcher singing its "spit a KEET" song, otherwise it would have been almost impossible to identify this empid.
My warbler count is now up to 18 species for the year.
Not a very good day to bird. It was sunny and beautiful, but strong winds blowing the trees around made hearing and seeing birds very difficult. While walking through the woods, I did hear the distinctive "teacher teacher teaCHER TEACHER TEACHER TEACHER" call of an Ovenbird off in the trees. I moved toward the singing warbler and soon had it in the bag. Ovenbird is year bird number 161, and my 17th species of warbler for the year.
No other new birds, although I did see another Kentucky Warbler. After seeing my very first Kentucky Warbler--a long-time nemesis bird-- the day before yesterday, I'll probably start seeing them everywhere now. Typical.
This afternoon I went to the wet, swampy fields near the Restle Unit of Muscatatuck NWR to look for rails. In the last couple of days Sora and Virginia Rail have been reported. Either would be a new state bird, so I decided it was time to get muddy.
In the trees at the edge of the fields I saw my first Green Heron of the year (year bird number 160). I then started out into the swampy field. After only a couple of minutes, I flushed up a SORA. It didn't fly too far, and I got the closest, best looks I've ever had of a Sora. I ended up with three for the afternoon, all close, good looks. Sora was not a new bird for the year, since I saw one in Illinois a couple of weeks ago, but it was Indiana state bird number 194.
And, being in a swamp, it was appropriate that I saw dozens of Swamp Sparrows.
After starting out the morning at Stillwater Marsh, where I didn't get any new birds at all, I drove over to Yellowwood State Forest. I went into the woods below the dam and spillway, and soon had Yellow-throated Vireo (year bird number 157). Nothing new after that, so I drove to the north end of the lake. In the woods along the river, I heard the distinctive "chorry chorry chorry" of a Kentucky Warbler. Even though the song is similar to that of a Carolina Wren, I knew this was different, and I was very excited, as Kentucky Warbler would be a lifer. The bird kept moving around, and I couldn't seem to pin it down. Suddenly, it hopped out onto a dead limb and sat there for me to admire for about ten minutes. KENTUCKY WARBLER is life bird number 717, ABA Area/North America bird number 572, Indiana state bird number 193, and year bird number 158. Walking back to the car, I found a brilliant male Scarlet Tanager (year bird number 159).
My warbler count is now up to 16 species for the year.
Didn't do too much birding today, as I had some other things to do. However, I did get two new birds for the year: Solitary Sandpiper (year bird number 155) and Indigo Bunting (year bird number 156).
For some reason, birding has been very slow for me the last couple of days. Even though other local birders are reporting numerous new arrivals, I've only seen three new birds for the year over the last three days, and that was today. I didn't see any new birds at all yesterday or the day before. This morning I did get three new warblers: Cerulean Warbler (year bird number 152), American Redstart (year bird number 153), and Worm-eating Warbler (year bird number 154).
My warbler count is up to 15 species for the year.
Last evening (April 21), I drove to Derby, Indiana where Barn Owls have been reported nesting in the steeple of an abandoned church. The church is undergoing renovation, and the contractor found a nest of owls in the steeple. Not knowing what kind they were, and knowing that some owls are endangered, he contacted the Department of Natural Resources, who positively identified them as Barn Owls. The contractor has left the opening in the steeple used by the owls, and after the young leave the nest, they will place a nesting box on the steeple in the hopes that the owls will use it next year.
Since Barn Owl would be a new Indiana bird, and I haven't seen them in the Midwest, I made the two-hour trip. Left home about 5:00 p.m. and arrived about 7:00 p.m. in the tiny town located on the banks of the Ohio River. On the way, I saw my first Chimney Swift of the year (year bird number 149) flying over a town I passed through. I ended up waiting about an hour and fifteen minutes before anything happened. Just at dark, I heard scuffling noises coming from inside the steeple, and through my binoculars, saw a ghostly white form moving inside. A few minutes later, both parents flew out on into the trees. I was only able to see their silhouettes as they flew over in the dusk. However, after they landed in the trees, they started screeching, and I was able to find them and get great looks with my flashlight. I could also see two of the young peeking out of the steeple when I shined my light up there. BARN OWL was Indiana state bird number 192 and year bird number 150.
And this morning, the first Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the year (year bird number 151) made a brief appearance at my hummingbird feeder.
Went to Lake Lemon to chase a Least Tern that was seen there last evening and this morning. Struck out on the tern, but got three new birds for the year, including Least Sandpiper (year bird number 146), Eastern Kingbird (year bird number 147), and Gray Catbird (year bird number 148).
Early this morning I walked along the edge of the woods near by backyard and found two new birds for the year, House Wren (year bird number 139) and Common Yellowthroat (year bird bumber 140).
Later I went to Lake Monroe and found Spotted Sandpiper (year bird number 141), Warbling Vireo (year bird number 142), Yellow Warbler (year bird number 143), Palm Warbler (year bird number 144), and Baltimore Oriole (year bird number 145).
My warbler count is now up to 12 species for the year.
Went to Fairfax SRA at Lake Monroe this morning to look for a Franklin's Gull that was reported yesterday. No luck with the gull, but as I was waiting around the beach area hoping the gull would fly in, two large shorebirds landed on the beach at the water's edge. They turned out to be a pair of MARBLED GODWIT (Indiana state bird number 191, year bird number 138), a very good bird for the Midwest. These were the first Marbled Godwits I've seen since I lived in California 15 years ago.
New year birds are starting to add up faster and faster now that spring migration is in full swing. This morning I birded the west side of Stillwater Marsh, and saw my first White-eyed Vireo (year bird number 136) and Prairie Warbler (year bird number 137) for the year. My warbler count so far is up to nine species.
Went birding at Stillwater Marsh and Yellowwood State Forest this morning. The warblers are finally starting to move in. New warblers for the year included a brilliant golden PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (Indiana state bird number 190, year bird number 131), Northern Paula (year bird number 132), and Blue-winged Warbler (year bird number 133). Other warblers, which weren't new for the year, included Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, and Northern Waterthrush.
Another new arrival was Red-eyed Vireo (year bird number 134).
And this evening after supper, I heard the "sllllllip" call of Henslow's Sparrow (year bird number 135) in the grassy field behind my house. (Their call is one of the most prevalent sounds of summer in my backyard). Got a good look as it called from the top of a small cedar tree.
Went to Lingle Road on the Morgan-Owen county line to check the wet fields for shorebirds. Saw the usual and expected Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe, Greater Yellowlegs, and Pectoral Sandpipers. I also spotted a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (Indiana state bird number 188, year bird number 128). No sooner had I positively identified the semipalm than all the shorebirds scattered in a panic. A PEREGRINE FALCON (Indiana state bird number 189, year bird number 129) swooped low over the field and chased the shorebirds out of the area.
Later in the afternoon, I added another bird to the year list when I flushed a Northern Bobwhite (year bird number 130) from the grassy field behind my house.
Went to Lake Lemon this morning. The only bird of note was a Forster's Tern, year bird number 127.
Braved the bitter cold winds to see what was at Lake Lemon. The only bird of note was a new bird for the year (number 126): Caspian Tern.
Went to Yellowwood State Forest this morning and added three warbler species to my year list. One of them was a new bird for Indiana. I also added Barn Swallow to my Indiana year list. It wasn't a new bird for the year, as I saw one in Illinois yesterday. The warblers were: Yellow-throated Warbler (year bird number 123), Northern Waterthrush (year bird number 124), and LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH (Indiana state bird number 187, year bird number 125). I heard a Northern Parula, which would also be a new bird for the year, but I didn't get a good enough look to count it.
Yesterday (April 9) I drove four hours to Clinton, Illinois and spent the night in order to participate in today's "Yellow Rail Search" sponsored by the Illinois Ornithological Society. The Yellow Rail is one of the most difficult birds to see in North America due to its small size and secretive nature. I had participated in the search last year but struck out. Even though I knew the odds of getting to see the Yellow Rail this time were again slim, I went anyway, because it would be a lifer and my 300th Illinois bird.
About 30 of us participants formed a skirmish line and systematically swept across the wet field to try to flush the tiny rail. After going back and forth several times, we pretty much gave up hope on seeing the rail, especially since we only saw one Sora and no Virginia Rails (both of which were numerous last year). Therefore, we went to an adjacent drier field to look for Le Conte's Sparrow. As we were trying to surround one of the sparrows, someone flushed a Yellow Rail! The group surrounded the patch of grass where it landed and closed the circle. We all got great looks as the rail was flushed from the grass. It was only inches from us, and at one point it even ran across the back of my boot as I was kneeling. An excellent bird to get!
Afterward, we went to a different area to look for Smith's Longspurs, but were unsuccessful. It didn't matter to me, since I finally got the Yellow Rail. In addition to that, I also got six new year birds. A list of birds seen (including those seen driving to and from Clinton) includes:
01. Canada Goose
02. Mallard
03. Lesser Scaup
04. Great Blue Heron
05. Turkey Vulture
06. Northern Harrier
07. Cooper's Hawk
08. Red-tailed Hawk
09. American Kestrel
10. YELLOW RAIL (716th life bird, 571st North America bird, 300th Illinois bird, 116th year bird)
11. Sora (117th year bird)
12. American Coot
13. Killdeer
14. Greater Yellowlegs
15. Wilson's Snipe
16. Bonaparte's Gull
17. Rock Pigeon
18. Mourning Dove
19. Belted Kingfisher
20. Downy Woodpecker
21. Northern Flicker
22. Eastern Phoebe
23. Blue Jay
24. American Crow
25. Horned Lark
26. Purple Martin (118th year bird)
27. Tree Swallow
28. Barn Swallow (119th year bird)
29. Black-capped Chickadee (120th year bird)
30. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
31. American Robin
32. Brown Thrasher
33. European Starling
34. Yellow-rumped Warbler
35. Vesper Sparrow (121st year bird)
36. Le Conte's Sparrow (122nd year bird)
37. Song Sparrow
38. Swamp Sparrow
39. White-throated Sparrow
40. Northern Cardinal
41. Red-winged Blackbird
42. Eastern Meadowlark
43. Common Grackle
44. Brown-headed Cowbird
45. House Sparrow
Drove over to Beehunter Marsh southwest of Switz City, Indiana to try to find rails. I took my hip boots and waded through the cattails and mud, but no luck on the rails. I did see Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Wilson's Snipe (hundreds), Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Red-headed Woodpecker, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, and House Sparrow.
The highlight, however, was SAVANNAH SPARROW, a new Indiana state bird (number 186) and year bird (number 115).
Went to Griffy Lake and saw my first Northern Rough-winged Swallow of the year (year bird number 114) along with many Tree Swallows. Having seen Cliff Swallow yesterday, I'm up to three swallow species for the year. Surprisingly, I haven't seen Barn Swallow or Purple Martin, despite reports of them being around. Bank Swallows, which would be a new Indiana state bird, should be here soon also.
Went birding late this morning at Lake Monroe and Yellowwood State Forest. Didn't keep a day list, but I did get three new birds for the year: Cliff Swallow (year bird number 111), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (year bird number 112), and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (year bird number 113).