This morning I went on a birding trip to Universal Mines in Vermillion County sponsored by the Sassafras Audubon Society. Universal Mines was once a strip mine which has since been restored to a grassland habitat, and is one of the better places in southwest Indiana to find grassland birds.
Although we tallied up a large trip list, highlights included RING-NECKED PHEASANT (Indiana state bird number 209, year bird number 190), UPLAND SANDPIPER (Indiana state bird number 210, year bird number 191), a flyby LEAST BITTERN (Indiana state bird number 211, year bird number 192), and Blue Grosbeak (year bird number 193).
Not a bad morning's birding.
Drove down to Lawrence County this morning to look for Lark Sparrows that were reported from there yesterday. Almost as soon as I arrived I saw a LARK SPARROW (Indiana state bird number 208, year bird number 189) in a small tree by the side of the road. After a few minutes I had seen three or four individuals flying around and landing in a corn field.
After about a two-week period with no new birds, and very little birding, I went to the end of Friendship Road in Bloomington to try to see Chuck-will's-widows that have been reported from there recently. When I arrived, there were about 12 birders waiting for the nightly show. Chucks are very rare in Monroe County, so they are a draw for local birders. Just at dusk we heard one calling west of the road, and then another on the east side. A CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW (Indiana state bird number 207, year bird number 188) flew over the road and landed in a tree. It was a quick glimpse, and not a very satisfying look. However, it was magical hearing them call in the dusk. I also heard distant Whip-poor-wills and Barred Owls.