Illinois Beach South & North Units Thursday 6-26-25

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

In the last few days birds like a Loggerhead Shrike & Blue Grosbeak
have been reported here but although we looked hard our group did not
find them. Birded with the Illinois Beach regulars Andy Stewart, Eric
Johnson & Bob Erickson & we were later joined by Paul Sweet.
We only lasted at the south unit until a little before 10 am due to
the heat but I went by myself to the north unit & did some car
birding.

Illinois Beach South Unit (6:45-9:45 am)

D,C. Cormorant (1, park office rocks)
Great Blue Heron (2)
Killdeer (1)
Ring Billed (~30) & Herring (~10) Gulls
Mourning Dove (4)
Kingfisher (1)
Red Headed Woodpecker (2)
Flicker (2)
Eastern Pewee (H-1)
Eastern Kingbird (1-2)
Blue Jay (3)
Crow (2)
Chickadee (H-1)
W.B. Nuthatch (H-1)
House Wren (5)
Sedge Wren (H-1)
Marsh Wren (H-1)
Purple Martin (H-1)
Tree (2), Bank (4) & Barn (6) Swallows
Eastern Bluebird (2)
Robin (12)
Cedar Waxwing (1)
Starling (5)
Warbling Vireo (H-1)
Red Eyed Vireo (H-1)
Common Yellowthroat (3)
Eastern Towhee (2)
Field Sparrow (4)
Song Sparrow (1)
Swamp Sparrow (H-1)
Eastern Meadowlark (1)
Red Wings (16), Grackles (10) & Cowbirds (4)
BREWER'S BLACKBIRD (4)
Baltimore Oriole (1-2)
ORCHARD ORIOLE (1, a 1st year male)
Goldfinch (3)
House Sparrow (2)

Illinois Breach North Unit (Car Birding) (10-10:30 am)

Here I added Great Egret, Willow Flycatcher, Catbird, Yellow Warbler &
Dickcissel.

So 49 species at the two Illinois Beach Units plus 2 roadside
additions for a total of 51.
Bird-Of-The-Day will be the 4 Brewer's Blackbirds & Runner-Up the 1st year male
Orchard Oriole which was singing for us.

Al Stokie
In Lake County today trying to beat the heat