Sangamon County Bird Report December 2025

[Dyer, Beckie]

Birds in Sangamon County in December 2025

 

Common Loon – HC = 5 (Dec 1), seen on 10 days. Last seen 2 north of Beach (Dec 12) -Lake froze.

Pacific Loon – one adult off the Triangle at LSpfld (Dec 3) – showed small size and small straight bill, dark lores, no white around eye, some gray on nape, and dark back w/ dim whitish cross rows. Watched this loon for long period of time.

Pied-billed Grebe - 5 singles w/ last seen at LSpfld (Dec 6), – present 5 days.

Horned Grebe – HC = 15 (Dec 1), seen on 8 days – last seen 2 at LSpfld (Dec 12) -when LSpfld was mostly frozen.

White Pelican – HC = 37 (Dec 4), seen 19 days in December – last seen 3 at Sangchris (Dec 28).  Sangchris has shallow open water.

Double-crested Cormorant – HC = 26 (Dec 3), seen on 20 days, but # dropped off after Dec 14.  Last seen in December ♂♀ at Dam area (Dec 24). Some into Jan.

Great Blue Heron – HC = 34 (Dec 16) seen on 31 days in December. Areas in which they can forage are limited due to construction, hunting and other human uses of the lake.

Great Egret – one at Marine Pt (Dec 3) - photo

Tundra Swan – High Count 17 at Marine Pt (Dec 19) – seen on 8 days – More than usual.

Mute Swan – present, HC = 3 at Mall area (Dec 9) -generally always present there. One ad was seen off the Golf Course (Dec 30 & 31).

Trumpeter Swan - HC = 21(20 ad & 1 im) at LSpfld (Dec 16) also w/ one im at Sangchris  (Dec 21, 26 & 28) – seen on 10 days.

Greater White-fronted Goose – HC = 90 (Dec 20), seen on 12 days.

Snow Goose – HC = 400 (Dec 23), some flying back and forth, and birds seen 8 days.

Ross’s Goose – HC = 15 at Sangchris (Dec 28) – only day seen.

Cackling Goose – HC = 6 (Dec 11), seen on 9 days.

Canada Goose – HC = 1180 (Dec 17) - seen every day.

Wood Duck – ♂ at WP (Dec 8 & 30).

Green-winged Teal – HC = 33 at LSpfld + Sangchris (Dec 28) – sudden influx, also last seen. A few were present in early December, w/ 6 (Dec 3)- all seen on 4 days.

Am. Black Duck – HC = 9 at LSpfld (Dec 22) – seen on 14 days  - better #.

Mallard – HC = 800 (Dec 21), seen every day, slight increase from Dec 6 on. One ♂ Mallard x Black Duck at Sangchris (Dec 21)

N. Pintail - HC =1324 at LSpfld +Sangchris (Dec 28) – sudden influx ( % the highest count for winter !) w/ some still being seen w/ 10 (Dec 31). This is most unusual this time of year, but consider the 70⁰ and a SW wind -   this movement involved several waterfowl species.

Blue-winged Teal – one ♂ in alternate plumage ! at Sangchris (Dec 28). It was tucked, but the crescents on the face were visible as was the blue on the wing – photo.

N. Shoveler – HC = 135 at LSpfld + Sangchris (Dec 28), there were still 25 at Marine Pt at LSpfld (Dec 31), seen on 16 days.

Gadwall – HC = 370 (Dec 28), seen on 13 days, there were also 60 (Dec 21) at Sangchris. Some wintering and most seen coming into LSpfld at dusk.

Am Wigeon – HC = 36 (Dec 28), seen on 7 days - last seen ♂♀ at WP (Dec 30). Some % into Jan.

Canvasback – HC = 11 (Dec 1) seen on 12 days - # not increasing even with  freeze-up.

Redhead –HC = 10 at Sangchris (Dec 21) seen on 4 days. There were 8 (Dec 28) at Sangchris.

Ring-necked Duck – HC = 70 (Dec 3), seen on 13 days. Most of these ducks are staying at ponds in the Mall area and usually come into LSpfld late in the evening. There were 50 (Dec 28).

Greater Scaup – HC = 6 at LSpfld (Dec 6)- seen on 6 days.

Lesser Scaup – HC = 220 (Dec 1)  - # dropped after December 6  seen on 27 days – rather erratic and poor #.

Long-tailed Duck – one % ♀ with scaup at LSpfld (Dec 8) – distant photo.

Common Goldeneye – HC = 908 (Dec 8), seen every day, w/ # increasing slowly until Dec 8 -  then lower #.There were 7090 (Dec 23). Boaters drive them off frequently. LSpfld is an important wintering locality for this species and up to 1000 can winter here.

Bufflehead – HC = 90 (Dec 1), seen on 15 days w/ # declining after December 1. Still one ♂ (Dec 31).

Hooded Merganser – HC = 312 (Dec 12)- w/ lower # after, but seen on 31 days. Another fairly numerous species, but it uses the back-waters more than other diving ducks and numbers uncertain on some days.

Common Merganser – fall arrival  ♂ at LSpfld (Dec 4) – w/HC = 150 (Dec 22) – seen on 25 days mostly in low #. This species prefers open water with some ice in the winter.

Red-breasted Merganser – HC = 57 (Dec 1), seen on 13 days – last seen in December -one at LSpfld (Dec21). Still lower #  this late fall.

Ruddy Duck – HC = 304 (Dec 1), seen on 24 days. The snow and ice, along with boats and kayaks were a continual disruption for these quiet flocks which were usually found off Lin Gds and lowered the # (Dec15). They have wintered there in numbers in recent years and like the Goldeneye, are now an expected Winter Resident on LSpfld, but they are having a rough time this winter. I noted several being preyed upon and others dead on the ice.

Turkey Vulture – HC = 15 (Dec 21), seen on 8 days. Main roost in winter is SE of LSpfld.

Bald Eagle – HC = 7 (Dec 16 &21) seen on 21 days, w/December age ratio, adults = 40: im = 30. The # increased between (Dec 14 – 22).

Northern Harrier – HC = 2 ♂ (Dec 20) - seen on 5 days.

Sharp-shinned Hawk – 6 singles (Dec 3- 31) more than usual for December, all were im and some were associated with feeders.

Cooper’s Hawk – HC = 4 (Dec 17)- seen on 10 days. This hawk depressing bird activity in many areas.

Red-shouldered Hawk – HC = 4 adults in Hunter Lake area (Dec 21) seen on 4 days w/ age ratio = 7 ad; 0 im.

Red-tailed Hawk – HC = 4 (Dec 9 & 24). Dark rufus phase east of New City did not return after 10 +/- years of wintering there.

      Rough-legged Hawk – none   

Am. Kestrel – HC = 4 (Dec 21 & 26), seen on 12 days in low #.

Merlin – 2 singles found, at UIS (Dec 4 &12) % same bird - photos.  

Am. Coot – HC = 53 at Sangchris (Dec 28), w/ dwindling # on LSpfld in Dec. and last seen at Dam( Dec 16). Coots were seen 9 days.

Killdeer – last seen 5 at Sangchris on (Dec 28) – seen on 2 days.

Bonaparte’s Gull – HC = 50 (Dec 9), # dropped off after Dec 9, but 4 were seen at LSpfld  (Dec 28) - seen on 14 days in low #.

Ring-billed Gull – HC = 2300 (Dec 2), - seen every day, but difficult to even estimate some evenings with gulls arriving from many directions.

Herring Gull – HC = 195 (Dec 24), seen on 31 days. – most occurred when some ice occurred on LSpfld.

Thayer’s Gull –fall arrival adult (Dec 2) at Curve. Plus 3 imm at LSpfld (Dec 5, 21, &31) Seen on 4 days.

Iceland Gull – one first year at LSpfld (Dec 22) – smaller than Herring Gull, larger than Rb Gull, wing tip same color as body, legs pinkish, dark bill and iris.

Lesser Black-back Gull –after an influx of mostly im in Nov, none occurred until 2 adults & 1 first year (Dec 3) at LSpfld. This continued until the end of the month and included 32 ad & 19 im at LSpfld (Dec 3 – 31)-in 19 days  – some photos. The HC = 6 (Dec 22).

Rock Pigeon – present.

        Eurasian collared- Dove –none

Mourning Dove – HC = 16 (Dec 1), mostly low # and seen on 29 days – may indicate migration.

Great Horned Owl – HC = 2 (Dec 1, 16 & 20) + 4 singles - seen on 7 days.

Barred Owl – one at Hunter Lake area (Dec 21).

Belted Kingfisher – 9 singles (Dec 5 - 30).

Red-headed Woodpecker – HC = 5 (Dec 1 & 24) seen on 28 days – lower #.

Red-bellied Woodpecker – HC = 7 (Dec 25), seen every day.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 2 at Oak Ridge Cemetery (Dec 23) and one at Center Park (Dec 28).

Downy Woodpecker – HC = 8 (Dec 29), seen 30 days.

Hairy Woodpecker – 3 singles seen last half of December – # declining especially at LSpfld.

N. Flicker – HC = 6 (Dec 26), seen on 21days.

Pileated Woodpecker – HC = 3 (Dec 21), seen on 9 days.

Horned Lark – HC = 132 (Dec 2) – % migrants from the north due to snow.  Seen on 8 days.

Blue Jay – HC = 20 (Dec 15, 21, & 24), seen every day – good #.

Am. Crow – HC = 72 (Dec 23), seen every day, larger counts are from crows going to & from roosts.

Black-capped Chickadee – HC = 5 (Dec 19 & 24), seen on 29 days in low #.

Tufted Titmouse – HC = 12 (Dec 10 & 29), seen every day. One aberrant bird with dark upper breast at Watts feeder.

Red-breasted Nuthatch – HC= 3 (1 at North Pt & 2 at Oak Ridge Cemetery) on (Dec 17). Not a large flight year. Seen on 3 days.

White-breasted Nuthatch – HC = 10 (Dec 17 & 27) - seen on 31 days.

Brown Creeper – 9 singles (Dec 4 - 31), continues scarce.

Carolina Wren – HC = 5 (Dec 23), seen/heard on 18 days in low #.

       Winter Wren – none.

Golden-crowned Kinglet –HC = 2 (Dec 21), seen on 4 days in low #.

       Ruby-crowned Kinglet – none.

Eastern Bluebird – HC = 6 (Dec 26), seen on 7 days – still present at the end of December.

Hermit Thrush – 2 singles: at Lin Gds (Dec 3) & Hunter Lake (Dec 21).

Am. Robin – HC = 135 at Golf course area (Dec 25), seen on 31 days, but mostly in small # - larger # found associated with fruiting trees.

       Brown Thrasher – none

Am Pipit – 6 singles – maybe 1 to 2 or even 3 different birds at LSpfld Dam, Launch & Marine Pt from (Dec 1 -8)-some photos.

Cedar Waxwing – one on ground at North Pt (Dec 7) eating fallen Cedar berries – could not fly, I took it to the RCC - last seen (Dec 8) - photo.

European Starling – present in large #.

Yellow-rumped Warbler – two in Hunter Lake area (Dec 21) w/ woodland flock.

N. Cardinal – HC = 33 (Dec 13), seen every day.

E. Towhee – ♂ & 2♀ at HL creek (Dec 3) and ♂♀ at HL pond (Dec 21).

Am. Tree Sparrow – HC = 44 (Dec 14), seen on 16 days – patchy distribution w/ small #.

Field Sparrow –  one at HL along roadside (Dec 14).

Savannah Sparrow – one seen well along Tebbe Rd (Dec 2).

Fox Sparrow –HC = 8 (Dec 5) w/ last seen 2 (Dec 27) – seen on 8 days.

Song Sparrow – HC = 4 (Dec 14), seen only 8 days – patchy distribution and very low # for this once common species.

       Swamp Sparrow – none  -very dry fall?

White-throated Sparrow – HC = 9 (Dec 24), seen on 27 days – very low #.

White-crowned Sparrow – HC = 13 (Dec 5) seen on 12 days. # better than last Dec.

Dark-eyed Junco – HC = 55 (Dec 14), seen on 31 days – low #, w/ some migration still going on into December. One Oregon Junco seen at North Pt (Dec 2 & 5)

Lapland Longspur – HC =205 along Tebbe Rd (Dec 2) & 70 along Rt 66 (south) on (Dec 1) and again (Dec 3)- Last seen there 2 (Dec 12). All sightings were with snow on fields.

Chestnut-collared Longspur – 2 in field along Tebbe Rd feeding on grass seeds from tall grasses which they bent over. Noted were small size, grayish plumage and white tail with black triangle in middle of the tail ( the white more obvious near the top & sides of tail)  + they had small bills. They flew to the right and landed with Lapland Longspurs and the whole flock flew out of sight. This is the 3rd record for the county.

Red-winged Blackbird – HC = 51 (Dec 3), low # sighted on 9 days.

        E. Meadowlark – none!

Rusty Blackbird –HC = 12 (Dec 4) seen on 8 days & last seen were 3 at Watts feeder (Dec 15).

Common Grackle – HC = 22 (Dec14) – last seen one (Dec 25) seen on 7 days.

Brown-headed Cowbird – HC = 20 (Dec 9), seen on 4 days – last seen at feeder (Dec 29).

         Purple Finch - none.

House Finch – HC= 42 (Dec 13 & 29)- seen on 25 days.

Common Redpoll – arrival date ♂♀ at Watts feeder (Dec13) + a ♂ there (Dec 15) & another (Dec 29) Photos!

Pine Siskin – arrival date 17 birds at Oak Ridge Cemetery (Dec 23) quietly feeding in Hemlock – and none since!

Am. Goldfinch – HC = 10 (Dec 9 & 31), seen on 12 days – some seen feeding on sweetgum balls - all finches w/ low #.

House Sparrow – present

Eurasian Tree Sparrow – HC = 45 at south end LSpfld (Dec24) – seen on s days.

 

Total field days = 31

Total hours in field = 229

Total species = 105           

 December 2025 was a variable month which started out cold with snow still on the ground from the 10 inch snow from late November. This lasted until December 9 and 10 when the highs were in the low 40s. Then another cold period occurred from December 11 -15, which contained the lowest low of the month - 6⁰ on December 14 with the high that day 3⁰.  Then another short warm period (on the 18th) with 54 ⁰ and back down to 31⁰ on the 19th. There were 3 days (20 -22) in the 40s.  Then the warmest period with 60⁰ on December 23 and by December 28 it was 70⁰!  Also, the highest low occurred 50⁰ then on  December 25. It was colder the last 3 days of December, (20s & 30s). Again, it was warmer the last part of December than the early part. Lake Springfield had ice on the lake in December and the lake was mostly frozen by the 14th.   There was an odd flight of waterfowl on the warm day of December 28 either a reverse migration or an influx from the west. There were over 1000 Pintail and numbers of other ducks for this time period (Green-winged Teal, Shovelers, wigeon , and Gadwall).  Precipitation fell mostly on 7 days with a total of only 1.40 inches – extending the ongoing drought. Wind conditions averaged 10.5 m/h for the month, with 21 days 15 m/h or over, which could have played a significant factor in finding and placement of birds this December. Much human activity again occurred, and they continued to mow and destroy food resources (especially the peninsula called Center Park) through most of December. Wild grapes and cedar berries were less this winter, and honeysuckle berries attracted some birds such as Robins and White-throated Sparrows, but the 1000s of starlings that roost at the Cinder Flats probably devoured most of the berries.  During the warm to mild periods few small insects in the leaf litter emerged (probably because of spraying) and the Tree Swallows and other half- hardy birds mostly left early.

  Several modifications need to be instituted to rules to help wildlife in Sangamon County:

1)      No boats on Lake Springfield from November 1 – March 1. This is to protect wintering waterfowl such as the 500 – 800 Common Goldeneye, and 300 – 600 Ruddy Ducks, plus another 19 species of waterfowl that could winter there.

2)      Non- use of fireworks to chase off geese, because this method is non-selective and harms other species of waterfowl such as the wintering goldeneye on Lake Springfield.

3)      There is a great need to slow down vehicle traffic at Lake Springfield and other areas with the maximum of 30 - 40 miles /hour to prevent the road-kill slaughter that is going on presently in many areas the county – especially of owls.

4)      Allow more trees to grow to combat CO2 emissions and provide habitat for woodland  species – once the woodland species foraging flocks are broken -up they % cease to exist.

5)      Do not burn prairies every year, mow only half of each prairie per year to ensure habitat and provide cover during winter.

6)      When eliminating invasive plants make the procedure over long periods of time, giving birds time to adjust to the elimination of food, cover, and roosts. Also plant bushes, grasses and trees at the same time – so that the area will recover sooner. Use as little herbicide as possible, as this affects humans as well as birds.

7)      Do not allow dogs in all of the parks especially in Carpenter Park. If allowed, all dogs must be on a leash and every person limited to a maximum 2 dogs.

 

H David Bohlen, Illinois State Museum (IDNR)

hdavid...@illinois.gov

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beckie Dyer
Museum Technician
Illinois State Museum
1011 East Ash Street
Springfield, Illinois 62703-3500
Phone: 217-782-7475/ 217-785-0037
Fax:   217-785-2857
http://illinoisstatemuseum.org/

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