Sangamon County Bird Report, August 2025
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Dyer, Beckie
Oct 1, 2025, 4:24:05 PMOct 1
to IBET - Illinois Birders Exchanging Thoughts
Birds in Sangamon County in August, 2025
Pied-billed Grebe – fall arrival one adult at LSpfld (Aug 16) seen on 4 days. Very low # - due to huge amount of boat traffic?
White Pelican – only 2 at LSpfld on (Aug 5) – it is difficult, with so much boat traffic for this large species to stay on LSpfld
Double-crested Cormorant – SR non-breeding, numbers increasing to 156 (Aug 13), w/ HC = 200 (Aug 25), seen 30 days – mostly at Dam and on East Island at Marine Pt, plus a few were at Sangchris.
Great Blue Heron – HC = 14 (Aug 9), seen on 31 days in August. Most of the breeding birds on Vigil Rd dispersed w/ rather low # at LSpfld.
Great Egret – HC = 8 (Aug 10, 11,13 & 31), but w/ much harassment. Seen on 29 days- mostly at Marine Pt, Beach and south end of LSpfld.
Little Blue Heron –HC = 4 juveniles at south end LSpfld (Aug 10), + one there Aug 11. – seen on only 2 days – chased off by many kayakers there constantly.
Green Heron – HC = 7 (Aug 31), noted on 13 days. Some hy noted.
Black-cr. Night-Heron – one adult at Round Inlet (Aug 30) – only one seen this year! -photo.
Mute Swan – at Mall area w/ HC =8 (Aug 2) – seen on 3 days.
Snow Goose – 2 Blues at west end of Mall (Aug 15) and one white in Center Park changing from im to adult plumage (Aug 18 -25) – seen on 7 days.
Canada Goose – HC = 190 (Aug 18) seen on 31 days.
Wood Duck – HC = 10 (Aug 6), seen on 11 days in small #. Very few at WP w/no feeding.
Green-winged Teal – fall arrival one at Marine Pt (Aug 31).
Mallard – HC = 170 (Aug 27), seen on 31 days – a few ♀ w/ small broods during Aug.
Blue-winged Teal –HC = 23 at LSpfld (Aug 11) – also 15 (Aug 23) –low # seen on 4 days.
Turkey Vulture – HC = 50 (Aug 6), seen on 30 days. Vultures seen at LSpfld, RSP, Sangchris + other areas. First fledged young were 2 detected at LSpfld (Aug 3) & photo.
Osprey –fall arrival at Center Park (Aug 20) was the only one seen in August.
Bald Eagle – one adult (Aug 1) & 2 im (Aug 18 & 28) seen at LSpfld, and one im at RSP August 24. Eagles must not fly much in the heat!
Cooper’s Hawk – 5 singles seen in August - 3 were immatures and 2 adults (Aug 3-27).
Red-shouldered Hawk – one adult at WP (Aug 27).
Broad-winged Hawk – im at Lin Gds -local? (Aug 20)- photo.
Red-tailed Hawk – HC = 5 (Aug 9), - recorded on 11 days – mostly local SR – some im.
Am. Kestrel – HC = 3 (Aug 2) – seen on 4 days – mostly local SR.
Turkey – 2 at the south end LSpfld (Aug 13).
Am Coot – fall arrival at Marine Pt (Aug 25).
Killdeer – HC = 54 (Aug 17), seen on 31 days.
Lesser Yellowlegs – fall arrival at Beach (Aug 19). Unbelievably few shorebirds this fall!
Solitary Sandpiper – HC= 2 (Aug 1), + 3 singles (Aug 10, 13 & 24).
Spotted Sandpiper – HC = 2 (6x in Aug ) seen on 15 days mostly at LSpfld.
Semipalmated Sandpiper – fall arrival at Beach (Aug 10) + 7 more singles (Aug 11 – 28).
Least Sandpiper – HC = 4 at Beach (Aug 20) – seen on 7 days.
Laughing Gull – fall arrival im at Beach (Aug 29) - photo + also seen there (Aug 30).
Franklin Gull – im first year present at Beach (Aug 19) Photo.
Ring-billed Gull – HC = 155 (August 24), seen on 31 days, but # fluctuated – much harassment from public.
Caspian Tern – HC = 45 (Aug 18), observed on 27 days. Some adults feeding hys.
Forster’s Tern – HC = 8 (Aug 23) seen 5 days, but much harassment by the pubic.
Least Tern – 3 im seen at the south end of LSpfld (Aug 10) and one im seen at Beach (photo) and another im at Marine Pt (Aug 12). Total 5 im in 2 days.
Black Tern – fall arrival 3 at LSpfld (Aug 10) - plus HC = 13 adults & im (Aug 12).
Rock Dove - present
Eurasian Collared-Dove – HC = 2 at Sangchris + one DOR on West Lake Dr, (Aug 19), seen on 3 days.
Mourning Dove – HC = 34 (Aug 23), seen on 31 days.
Black- billed Cuckoo – fall arrival at CP (Aug 30) -red eye & black bill seen.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo – HC = 4 (Aug 18), detected on 15 days.
Great-horned Owl -3 singles one at RSP (Aug 3), one along I-72 (Aug 8) & one at Old Chatham Rd (Aug 31).
Barred Owl – one at WP (Aug 27).
Common Nighthawk - 2 singles at s. 6 th (Aug 3 & 10)
Chimney Swift – fall migrants 40 at Marine Pt (Aug 31), seen on 17 days.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird – fall migrants 6 (Aug 10), w/HC = 12 (Aug 24), seen on 19 days.
Belted Kingfisher – HC = 2 (Aug 14 ,27& 31), seen on 12 days.
Red-headed Woodpecker – HC = 13 (Aug 31) – may have been some migration, seen on 30 days – # of im seen.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – HC = 11 (Aug 16), seen on 30 days – some im seen.
Downy Woodpecker – HC = 7 (Aug 21), seen on 30 days.
Hairy Woodpecker – HC = 4 (Aug 30), seen on 7 days.
N. Flicker – HC = 4 (Aug 13, 14 & 27), seen on 27 days – some young seen.
Pileated Woodpecker – HC = 3 (Aug 26 - 29), seen on 21 days.
E. Wood-Pewee – HC = 8 (Aug 27), seen on 29 days, # helped by fledged young and family groups seen.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher – fall arrival at RSP (Aug 21), seen on 3 days (Aug 22 & 24).
Acadian Flycatcher – one at Lin Gds (Aug 23) - at nesting site.
Alder Flycatcher -none?
Willow Flycatcher – 4 singles at nest sites (Aug 2 & 3), + 2 in same area on (Aug 26 & 28).
Least Flycatcher – fall arrival at WP (Aug 15), + 2 singles at RSP (Aug 26 & 28), seen on 3 days in poor #. All empid populations seem only a remnant of the past.
E. Phoebe – HC = 4 (Aug 6 & 12), seen on 21 days.
Great Crested Flycatcher – HC = 3 (Aug 4, 7 &13), seen on 14 days. Some young seen, but numbers lower?
E. Kingbird – HC = 11 (Aug 6), seen on 24 days. Some family groups seen.
Prairie Horned Lark – 3 west of Spfld on (Aug 2) – numbers of breeding population remain low.
Purple Martin – HC = 121 at LSpfld roost (Aug 5 & 14), seen 20 days. Most gone by (Aug 22) – very early.
Tree Swallow – SR, but very few seen in August – HC = 24(Aug 19) at Cascade Rd and 4(Aug 31).
N. Rough-wing Swallow – last seen? 2 at WP = SR (Aug 1), none at usual spot at RSP, the bottomland is used as a dog park now.
Bank Swallow – none!
Cliff Swallow – HC = 36 (Aug 6), seen on 8 days. Fewer the last half of Aug w/ only 6 at KOA Rd (Aug 23).
Barn Swallow – HC = 63 (Aug 13), seen on 29 days, many family groups seen.
Blue Jay – HC = 14 (Aug 16), seen on 31 days. Some young seen.
Am. Crow – HC =12 (Aug 10), seen on 29 days & flocks starting to form.
Fish Crow – HC = 6 at Beach (Aug 17). Still some at RSP and Sangchris, seen on 21 days – calling all through August.
Black-capped Chickadee – HC = 8 (Aug 27), seen 27 days. Difficult to find Aug 1 – 15 = molt?
Tufted Titmouse – HC = 12 (Aug 4), seen on 29 days.
Red-breasted Nuthatch – fall arrival one at CP (Aug 29).
White-breasted Nuthatch – HC = 10 (Aug 16), seen on 31 days.
Carolina Wren – HC = 11 (Aug 5), seen on 31 days.
House Wren – HC = 4 (Aug 27 & 28), seen in low # on 18 days.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – HC = 11 (Aug 26), seen on 15 days. Some young seen.
E. Bluebird – HC = 10 (Aug 13 & 29), seen on 28 days/w some young seen.
Veery – fall arrival one at CP (Aug 29) + another there Aug 30.
Wood Thrush – 3 singles (Aug 2, 16 & 30) - last seen at CP.
Am. Robin – HC = 28 at CP (Aug 15), seen on 31 days in small #. Went from towns & cities to woods. Did not see any roosting in corn fields.
Gray Catbird – HC = 12 (Aug 10), seen in low # on 26 days.
N. Mockingbird – one near New City (Aug 6).
Brown Thrasher – 4 singles (Aug 2 – 28), very scarce in hot weather (and during molt).
Cedar Waxwing – lower # all summer and into August, w/ % fall arrival 17 at RSP on (Aug 25), also HC = 41 at RSP (Aug 27). Found on 11 days w/ a few im present.
European Starling – present.
White-eyed Vireo – 3 singles one at Sangchris (Aug 6) – not as widespread now.
Bell’s Vireo – 3 singles - one at Cascade Rd (Aug 6), one at Centennial Park (Aug 15) and one at Sangchris (Aug 19).
Yellow-throated Vireo – 2 singles ♂ at RSP (Aug 3) and one at CP (Aug 29) - low #.
Warbling Vireo – HC = 3 (Aug 17, 19 & 31), seen/heard on 10 days – not much singing.
Philadelphia Vireo – fall arrival at RSP (Aug 25) + another at CP (Aug 29) – both seen.
Red-eyed Vireo – HC = 5 (Aug 29), seen on 12 days.
Blue-winged Warbler – fall arrival at RSP (Aug 24), w/ HC= 3 (Aug 28), TC = 8/5.
Golden-winged Warbler – fall arrival ♂ at RSP (Aug 24), w/ HC = ♂ 5♀ (Aug 29) & sex ratio = 7 ♂: 8 ♀, TC = 15/ 6.
Tennessee Warbler – fall arrival at Marine Pt (Aug 14), w/HC = 11 (Aug 27), TC = 58/9.
Nashville Warbler – fall arrival at RSP (Aug 21), w/ HC= 2 (Aug 25 - 28), TC = 8/5.
N. Parula - 3 singles – SR? one hy at RSP (Aug 25) + one (AUG 29 & 30), TC = 3/3.
Yellow Warbler – fall arrival 2 at Marine Pt (Aug 5), w/HC = 3 (Aug 17), TC = 5/2.
Chestnut-sided Warbler – fall arrival 3 im (siblings?) at RSP (Aug 22), w/ HC = 15 (Aug 28), TC = 61/8.
Magnolia Warbler – fall arrival 3 at RSP (Aug 24), w/ HC = 6 (Aug 28), TC = 23/7.
Black throated Green Warbler – fall arrival ♀ at CP (Aug 29), TC = 1/1.
Blackburnian Warbler - fall arrival ♀ at Marine Pt (Aug 10), w/ HC = 5 (Aug 27), TC =16/7.
Yellow-throated Warbler – none
Bay-breasted Warbler – fall arrival at RSP (Aug 25),+ one (AUG 27) , TC = 2/2.
Blackpoll Warbler – fall arrival one at RSP (Aug 26), TC = 1/1.
Cerulean Warbler – fall arrival a first fall ♂ at RSP on (Aug 26), TC = 1/1.
Black & white Warbler – fall arrival at WP (Aug 15), w/HC = 4 (Aug 28), TC = 15/8.
Am. Redstart – fall arrival 2 ♀ at RSP (Aug 21), w/HC = 7 (Aug 25), first ad ♂ seen (Aug 22), TC = 32/9.
Prothonotary Warbler – none!
Ovenbird – fall arrival one at Lin Gds (Aug 23) - late, TC = 1/1.
Northern Waterthrush – none.
Mourning Warbler – fall arrival im at RSP (Aug 21), + one there (Aug 24) & one at CP (Aug 29), TC = 3/3.
Common Yellowthroat –SR, w/ HC = 4 (Aug 26), TC = 20/13.
Wilson’s Warbler – fall arrival ♂ at RSP (Aug 25), w/ HC= 3 (Aug 28), TC = 6/4.
Canada Warbler – fall arrival one at RSP (Aug 24), w/ HC= 3 (Aug 26), TC = 7/5.
Yellow-breasted Chat – SR, one at CP (Aug 29), TC = 1/1.
Summer Tanager – 3 singles: ♂ at RSP (Aug 3), ♂ at KOA Rd (Aug 6) & ♂ at CP (Aug 28).
Scarlet Tanager –none.
N. Cardinal – HC = 15 (Aug 10), seen on 31 days in small #.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak – 4 singles: ♂ singing at Old Chatham Rd (Aug 8), one ♀ at RSP (Aug 26), one in basic plumage at CP (migrant) on (Aug 29) + another (Aug 31).
Blue Grosbeak –SR, w/HC = 6 east of Spfld (Aug 6), found on 10 days in August.
Indigo Bunting – SR, w/HC = 20 at RSP (Aug 21), seen on 23 days - distribution spotty.
Dickcissel – SR, w/7 east of & including Sangchris (Aug 6), seen on 2 days +last seen?
E. Towhee –SR, only one east of Spfld (Aug 19) – heat may have caused low #?
Chipping Sparrow – HC = 8 (Aug 18) seen on 20 days. Even this common bird w/ low #.
Field Sparrow – HC = 2 at KOA Rd (Aug 23) -most in molt?- very poor #.
Lark Sparrow – one at cemetery along KOA Rd (Aug 23).
Savannah Sparrow – one juvenile at Refuge (Aug 7).
Song Sparrow – HC = 4 (Aug 2), seen 12 days. Molt % started in Aug – last seen in Aug on 19th.
Red-winged Blackbird – HC = 104 (Aug 8), seen 13 days – poor # for this usually abundant bird, but visibility lacking due to annual molt and not viewing of roost at Cinder Flats. Last seen (Aug 22).
E. Meadowlark –only 2 seen on 2 days -near Nipper Prairie (Aug 2) and near Sangchris (Aug 6).
Common Grackle – HC = 10 (Aug 19), seen on 6 days – very low # seen - due to molt?
Brown-headed Cowbird – HC = 120 at UIS (Aug 19), seen on 12 days – low # and scattered flocks.
Orchard Oriole – last seen ♀ or im at RSP (Aug 21).
Baltimore Oriole – HC = 9 (Aug 13), seen on 20 days – many apparently left early.
House Finch – HC = 22 (Aug 23) w/ some flocks at south 6th & Marine Pt, seen on 26 days.
Am. Goldfinch - HC = 13 (Aug 2), seen on 21 days.
House Sparrow – present.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow – HC = 46 at Refuge at south end of LSpfld (Aug 13) seen on 5 days.
Total field days = 31
Total hours for August = 227
Total species for August = 137
August 2025 was hot and dry. The highs started out in the 70s (first 3 days) went to the 80s (next 11 days) then went to the 90s (August 15 -18) with the highest high 94◦ on August 16. Then the high temperatures went back to the 80s and
70s. The lowest high being 72◦ on August 25. During the heat the night temperatures were all in the 50s - 70s◦, except it was in the mid to upper 40s August 25 - 27. The humidity was 100% 11 days and 90% another 19 days. Wind speeds were low. Field conditions
for seeing numbers of birds were not good because it became so hot in the open by 0800 - 1000 that the birds stopped moving around because of the heat- but in the woods some field work was still possible until noon especially around standing water -if you
could find any. The birds used the dew on the leaves in the am. The total precipitation for August was 0.16 inches (could be a record?), with only two days of small amounts of “rain”. Either there was too much water in lakes and ponds, or no water in sloughs
or puddles, and few if any mudflats were available for shorebirds. Carpenter Park Nature Preserve was especially dry. Bird baths were very necessary for lots of birds. Berries helped provide food and moisture for many birds, and I observed many species feeding
on Hackberry. Most of the songbirds left the peninsula called Center Park at Lake Springfield in August because of so much noise and activity. Also, there was much roaring around in most of the unpoliced areas with many birds and other animals being destroyed.
If the birds are going to survive the manmade catastrophe called Global Warming, then people need to help these animals to survive – just slowing down would help. Blackbirds, Horned Larks, and maybe Robins and some other open country birds are very low in
numbers. Migrant warblers, thus far, are spotty in distribution, with most being along the Sangamon River.
H. David Bohlen, lllinois State Museum (IDNR)
Beckie DyerMuseum TechnicianIllinois State Museum1011 East Ash StreetSpringfield, Illinois 62703-3500Phone: 217-782-7475/ 217-785-0037Fax: 217-785-2857
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