Shelbyville Lake & Forest Park

[Steve Heater]

I went to Shelbyville Lake June 6.  I arrived at the East Dam Access area about 7:15 a.m., which was later than I wanted.  I hiked the trail north of the Visitor Center, which loops around to the Spillway, and then hiked back up to the parking lot.   

Morning Dove (1)

Killdeer (2)

Great Blue Heron (2)

Turkey Vulture (10)

Eastern Wood-Pewee (1)  Very vocal, seen and heard

Eastern Phoebe (1)

Carolina Wren (1) Got a good look at this sassy and noisy bird.

Eastern Kingbird (1)

Blue Jay (1)

Barn Swallow (1)

European Starling (20)

American Robin (4)

Houese Sparrow (10)

American Goldfinch (1)

Red-Winged Blackbird (10)

Brown-headed Cowbird (1)

Common Grackle (4) One was eating what looked like a small baitfish 

Northern Cardinal (1)

18 species from 7:15 am to 9:30 am covering about 2 miles.  The winner here was the Eastern Wood-Pewee; runners-up were the Carolina Wren and the Eastern Kingbird.

I then went to Forest Park on the west side of the lake, starting about 10:38 am on the General Dacey Trail.

Turkey Vulture (1)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (1)

Blue Jay (1)

Tufted Titmouse (1)

White-breasted Nuthatch (1)

American Robin (1)

Summer Tanager (1) Got good looks at one that let EVERYONE in the forest know that I was there, and wasn't moving along.

Northern Cardinal (2)

Indigo Bunting (2)

9 species from 10:38 am to 12:23 pm, covering 1.8 miles before my legs gave out.  The clear winner here was the Summer Tanager, the runners-up were the Indigo Bunting and a lizard (skink?) sunning itself on the trail.  I still need to look at my photos to identify this pretty little creature.

Happy with the day in Shelby County

Steve Heater

Urbana