Sangamon County Bird Report October 2023
Dyer, Beckie
Birds in Sangamon County in October 2023
Common Loon – fall arrival 4 at LSpfld (Oct 28), also HC, seen on 4 days.
Pied-billed Grebe – HC = only 24 (Oct 6), seen on 27 days – much lower #.
Horned Grebe – HC = 4 (Oct 30), seen on 4 days. Boaters very active on LSpfld to the end of Oct. and then some.
Red- necked Grebe – fall arrival adult in non-breeding at LSpfld (Oct 30).
White Pelican – HC = 195 (Oct 18), pelicans seen 28 days in October. These poor birds harassed every day.
Double-cr. Cormorant – HC = 700 (Oct 29), seen 31 days- most at Islands or near Dam, but almost constant harassment by boaters especially at Islands near Marine Pt. where they feed.
Great Blue Heron – HC = 17 (Oct 4), seen every day in Oct. but fewer # & places to feed.
Great Egret – HC = 34 (Oct 1), seen on 31 days. These birds trying to roost on the Islands near Marine Pt.
Snowy Egret - HC = 3(Oct 4), and last seen at Beach (Oct 6), seen on 4 days.
Green Heron – last seen at Lin Gds (Oct 4) – Also seen there Oct 2.
Mute Swan – present, 5 singles at Mall Pond & Hazel Dell (Oct 4 - 22).
Greater White-fr Goose – fall arrival 5 migrating at Marine Pt (Oct 5). Also, 8 at Beach (Oct 19) & HC = 18 (Oct 27) at Marine Pt.
Snow Goose – 4 blue adults at end of Mall area (Oct 24) – SR.
Cackling Goose – fall arrival one at Beach (Oct 12 & 13) - photo.
Canada Goose – HC = 300 (Oct 27), seen every day.
Wood Duck – HC = 39 at Refuge area (Oct 18), seen on 17 days.
Green-wing Teal – HC = 62 (Oct 27), seen on 21 days.
Am. Black Duck – fall arrival ♂ off Lin Gds (Oct 17), w/ HC= 2 (Oct 21)- seen 3 days.
Mottled Duck – one ♂ at Hazel Dell Inlet (Oct 5) – was the same duck seen earlier.
Mallard – HC = 180 (Oct 26) seen every day.
N. Pintail – HC = 17 (Oct 29), seen on 14 days.
Blue-wing Teal – HC = 945 (Oct 5), seen on 12 days and mostly gone by the end of Oct. – the last seen were 2 (Oct 25) at Marine Pt.
Cinnamon Teal – adult ♀ at South end of LSpfld w/ a Blue-wing Teal on (Oct 14) - photos. Noted were slightly larger duck w/larger gray bill, dark eye, plain face (less superciliary – only a small mark behind eye), small white area near base of bill, less & plainer marking on sides, and blue in wing as in Blue-wing Teal. For photos see ISM facebook- Zoology section and attached.
N. Shoveler – HC = 75 (Oct 31), modest # (little shallow water available) seen on 16 days.
Gadwall –fall arrival 4 LSpfld (Oct 5) w/ HC = 46 (Oct 31), seen on 17 days – late &low#.
Am. Wigeon –fall arrival 4 at Marine Pt (Oct 5), w/ HC = 8 (Oct 18), seen on 12 days.
Canvasback – fall arrival 3♀ off Beach (Oct 30).
Redhead – fall arrival ♂♀ at LSpfld (Oct 17), w/ HC= 25 (Oct 30) – seen on 5 days.
Ring-neck Duck – HC = 35 (Oct 21)-. seen on 12 days.
Lesser Scaup – fall arrival 3 ♂ at LSpfld (Oct 15), w/HC= 240 (Oct 31) – low #.
Bufflehead – fall arrival ♂ 3♀ at LSpfld (Oct 29) + a ♂ (Oct 30).
Hooded Merganser – fall arrival 2 ♂ ♀ at LSpfld (Oct 29), w/ HC = 6 (Oct 31).
Ruddy Duck – fall arrival 7 off Beach (Oct 2), w/HC = 165 (Oct 30), seen on 25 days. Even these hardy ducks which try to winter on LSpfld are having trouble w/boat traffic and have to relocate many times a day.
Turkey Vulture – HC = 70 (Oct 5), seen on 30 days. Mostly seen at LSpfld. Sangchris, & RSP.
Osprey – 3 singles, all at LSpfld and last seen there (Oct 23).
Bald Eagle – HC = 5 (Oct 31) w/ 20 adults & 8 im, seen on 15 days mostly at LSpfld , RSP & Sangchris.
N. Harrier – fall arrival at Sangchris (Oct 14) – late, HC= 5 at PlPl (Oct 26) – seen on 4 days.
Sharp-shinned Hawk – HC = 2 (Oct 6), seen on 5 days (Oct 6 – 25).
Cooper’s Hawk – HC = 2 (Oct 13, 23 & 31) – seen on 11 days.
Red-shouldered Hawk – HC = 2 at CP (Oct 16) & 2 im (one each) at Golf Course & Refuge (Oct 29) seen on 10 days.
Broad-winged Hawk – HC = 45 - a kettle over Spfld (Oct 6) in high winds + one, the departure date at the Beach (Oct 7).
Red-tailed Hawk – HC = 3 (Oct 26 & 27), seen on 19 days.
Golden Eagle – fall arrival at LSpfld a second- year bird (Oct 15).
Am. Kestrel – HC = 4 (Oct 27), seen on 13 days.
Peregrine Falcon – adult w/bands at LSpfld on 6 days (Oct 3 - 26).
Turkey – a ♂ at refuge (Oct 27).
Ring-neck Pheasant – ♂ at Sangchris (Oct 19 & 23).
N. Bobwhite – one at Sangchris (Oct 14).
Sora – none!
Am. Coot – HC = 157 (Oct 30), seen on 31 days – but in low # & w/much harassment.
Limpkin – one adult at the south end of LSpfld at Refuge Park (Oct 17) w/ photos – I watched it open a mussel, which took considerable time, but it contained a lot of food, This was “my first county record” (but the first county record occurred in the spring 2023 on the west side of Spfld - photos on file for both birds ISM). For photos see ISM facebook – Zoology Section and attached.
Killdeer – HC = 36 (Oct 1), seen on 30 days.
Am Avocet –fall arrival 4 at south end of LSpfld (Oct 17) - distant photo.
Greater Yellowlegs – HC= 4 (Oct 11) seen on 9 days.
Lesser Yellowlegs – HC = 19 (Oct 25). Seen on 6 days.
Solitary Sandpiper – HC=5 (Oct 1), w/ last seen at south end LSpfld (Oct 18) – seen 7 days.
Spotted Sandpiper – HC = 2 at Beach (Oct 9), w/ last seen at Lin Gds Lagoon (Oct 17) – seen 7 days.
Least Sandpiper – last seen at Beach (Oct 5).
Pectoral Sandpiper -none!
Long-billed Dowitcher – fall arrival one im at Sangchris (Oct 1) – called & photo.
Wilson’s Snipe – HC = 2 at Sangchris (Oct 1), + 5 singles (Oct 7 – 25) - last seen on (Oct 25).
Laughing Gull – the second cycle bird from Sept last seen at Beach (Oct 6).
Franklin’s Gull – HC = 12 at LSpfld (Oct 11), birds present 19 days.
Bonaparte’s Gull – HC = 200 (Oct 26), seen on 26 days - # fluctuated daily.
Ring-billed Gull – HC = 700 (Oct 17) seen every day, but no large counts – boaters & something mysterious (at Beach) chasing them off.
Herring Gull – HC = 8 (Oct 29), seen on 9 days.
Lesser Black-back Gull – im seen & photo at LSpfld (Oct 4 -20) & adult (Oct 16 & 20) – seen on 12 days.
Caspian Tern – HC = 3 at Beach (Oct 4), w/ last seen one at Beach (Oct 9) – photo. Seen on 5 days.
Forster’s Tern – HC = 9 (Oct 2), last seen 2 at LSpfld (Oct 6) – seen on 4 days.
Rock Pigeon – present.
Eurasian Collared-Dove – HC = 2 (Oct 1) on CWLP Rd (Calling) – seen on 4 days.
Mourning Dove – HC = 60 (Oct 29) –mostly low # , but seen 31 days.
E. Screech Owl – one heard along Old Chatham Rd (Oct 13).
Great Horned Owl – HC = 2 Old Chatham Rd (Oct 20), + 2 singles (Oct 4 & 10).
Barred Owl – HC = 2 at LSpfld (Oct 3) + a single (Oct 13).
Chimney Swift – HC = 13 (Oct 2, 6 & 9), w/ fall departure 2 at south 6th (Oct 15), seen on 14 days.
Ruby-thr Hummingbird – HC = 2 (Oct 4), w/last seen at Marine Pt Rd (Oct 8) – seen on 2 days.
Belted Kingfisher – HC = 2 (Oct 14,15 & 25), seen on 16 days.
Red-headed Woodpecker – HC = 5 (Oct 17), seen on 27 days. Some leaving for winter?
Red-bellied Woodpecker – HC = 9 (Oct 6), seen every day.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – HC = 5 (Oct 10), seen on 11 days - low # & very patchy occurrences.
Downy Woodpecker – HC = 6 (Oct 2), seen 27 days.
Hairy Woodpecker – HC = 3 (Oct 16), seen only 8 days.
N. Flicker - HC = 9 (Oct 12), seen on 28 days.
Pileated Woodpecker – HC = 5 (Oct 16), seen on 11 days.
E. Wood-Pewee – HC = 2 (Oct 1 & 8), w/ fall departure at North Pt (Oct 19) - photo – seen on 4 days.
E. Phoebe – HC = 4 (Oct 7 & 8), seen on 13 days.
Prairie Horned Lark – one off Woodside Rd (Oct 1).
Tree Swallow – HC = 2500 (Oct 13), seen on 30 days. Mostly seen flying low over LSpfld & Sangchris.
Barn Swallow – HC = 3 (Oct 2) – seen on 3 days and mostly gone after 2 (Oct 5).
Blue Jay – HC = 15 (Oct 25 & 29), seen every day, and some migrant # (Oct 18 – 30).
Am. Crow – HC = 48 (Oct 11), roosts formed % at Sangchris and Spfld – seen every day.
Fish Crow - HC = 37 in one group that flew out of the woods toward the lake at Sangchris (Oct 19) was my highest count ever and the last day seen + they were mostly all calling – group photo. Seen on 6 days. At their other major area they were last seen 2 at RSP on (Oct 12).
Black-capped Chickadee – HC = 11 (Oct 12), seen on 28 days.
Tufted Titmouse – HC = 12 (Oct 12), seen on 29 days.
Red-breasted Nuthatch – one at Oak Ridge Cem. (Oct 23) – so far very slight incursion.
White-breasted Nuthatch – HC = 9 (Oct 6), seen on 30 days.
Brown Creeper – fall arrival one at RSP (Oct 7) – seen on 4 days, but late & very low #.
Carolina Wren – HC = 5 (Oct 1 & 6), recorded on 24 days.
House Wren – HC = 4 (Oct 6 & 10), w/ fall departure 2 at RSP (Oct 16), seen on 11 days.
Winter Wren – fall arrival at CP (Oct 10) – cat killed specimen + one CP (Oct 16) – seen on 2 days.
Sedge Wren – HC =2 at CP (Oct 3)- and % last seen at RSP (Oct 22) -photo, seen 4 days.
Marsh Wren – HC= 2 at Sg (Oct 1 & 8) + last seen there (Oct 19)- seen on 3 days.
Golden-crowned Kinglet –fall arrival at RSP (Oct 6) – late, w/ HC = 4 (Oct 28) seen on 10 days.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – HC = 29 (Oct 7), seen on 20 days – fairly low #.
E. Bluebird – HC = 18 (Oct 23), seen on 23 days with better numbers.
Swainson’s Thrush –HC = 2 (Oct 3) w/ fall departure at CP (Oct 6), seen 2 days.
Hermit Thrush – fall arrival at RSP & WP (Oct 12), w/ HC = 5 (Oct 16), seen only 3 days.
Wood Thrush - none
Am. Robin – HC = 44 (Oct 30), seen on 29 days, mostly in low # & some times difficult to find!.
Gray Catbird – HC = 6 (Oct 3 &6), fall departure at RSP (Oct 12), seen on 7 days.
N. Mockingbird – none.
Brown Thrasher – HC = 6 at CP (Oct 3), w/fall departure at CP (Oct 10) –seen on 3 days.
Cedar Waxwing – HC = 18 (Oct 27), seen on 11 days.
European Starling – present.
Blue-headed Vireo – 4 singles seen on 12 days, w/% departure ♂ at Golf Course (Oct 23) – but see November.
Yellow-throated Vireo – a ♂ last seen at Lin Gds (Oct 2).
Red-eyed Vireo – HC= 2 (Oct 4), w/fall departure at CP (Oct 6) – seen on 2 days.
Golden- winged Warbler – one ♂ at Lin Gds (Oct 4), TC= 1/1.
Tennessee Warbler – HC = 13 (Oct 2), w/ fall departure at Center Park (Oct 18), TC = 44/12.
Orange-crowned Warbler – HC = 8 (Oct 16), for last date see Nov, TC = 35/13.
Nashville Warbler – HC = 5 (Oct 7), w/fall departure ♂ at IDOT (Oct 16), poor #, TC = 15/9.
N. Parula – HC = 3 (Oct 2), w/ fall departure at North Pt (Oct 5), TC = 6/4.
Chestnut-sided Warbler – HC = 2 (Oct 6), w/ departure at RSP (Oct 7), TC = 6/5.
Magnolia Warbler – HC = 3 (Oct 2 & 6), w/ fall departure at LSpfld Rd (Oct 9), TC = 12/6.
Yellow-rumped Warbler – HC = 59 (Oct 13), TC = 584/30.
Black-throated Green Warbler – HC = 11 (Oct 2), w/fall departure at North Pt (Oct 15), TC = 34/8.
Blackburnian Warbler – HC = 2 (Oct 4 & 5), w/ departure LSpfld Rd (Oct 9), TC = 6/4.
Yellow-throated Warbler – one at North Pt (Oct 3), and last seen at Center Park (Oct 18) - TC = 2/2.
Pine Warbler – last seen ♂ at North Pt (Oct 5), TC= 1/1.
Palm Warbler – HC = 5 (Oct 10), w/ last seen at North Pt (Oct 19), TC = 13/8.
Bay-breasted Warbler – HC = 5 (Oct 2), w/ fall departure at CP (Oct 6), TC = 10/5.
Black & white Warbler – one seen (Oct 2), and last seen ♂ at CP (Oct 6), TC = 2/2.
Am. Redstart – 3 singles at CP/RSP (Oct 3, 6), & last seen at RSP (Oct 7), TC = 3/3.
Ovenbird – fall departure at Lin Gds (Oct 5), TC = 1/1.
Common Yellowthroat – HC = 4 (Oct 6), w/ fall departure at RoSP (Oct 7), TC = 10/5.
Tanagers – none.
N. Cardinal – HC = 13 (Oct 31), seen every day, but usually in lower #. WHY?
Rose-breasted Grosbeak – HC = 3 (Oct 7), w/ fall departure at RSP (Oct 12) – seen 4 days.
Blue Grosbeak – last seen at RSP (Oct 12). One also seen there (Oct 10).
Indigo Bunting – HC = 9 (Oct 3), seen on 7 days, w/ departure at RSP (Oct 12).
E. Towhee – HC = 4 (Oct 7 & 16), seen on 7 days in low #.
Am Tree Sparrow – fall arrival at south end of LSpfld (Oct 18) – very early.
Chipping Sparrow – HC = 14 (Oct 21). seen on 17 days.
Field Sparrow – HC = 7 (Oct 22), seen on 3 days - very scarce.
Vesper Sparrow – none.
Savannah Sparrow – HC = 17 at Sg (Oct 23), seen on 8 days. Spotty distribution, which may be due to dry conditions.
Fox Sparrow – fall arrival at RSP (Oct 12), only one seen in October.
Song Sparrow - fall arrival 3 (Oct 6), w/HC = 13 (Oct 22), seen on 13 days – rather poor #.
Lincoln’s Sparrow – HC = 6 (Oct 3), last seen 2 NW of Spfld (Oct 22) seen 6 days.
Swamp Sparrow – HC = 19 (Oct 6), seen on 12 days.
White-throated Sparrow – HC = 36 (Oct 16), seen on 24 days – # continue low.
White-crowned Sparrow – fall arrival im Center Park (Oct 1), w/HC = 9 (Oct 24), seen on 15 days – mostly very low #.
Dark-eyed Junco – HC = 44 (Oct 28), seen on 14 days – very low #.
Red-winged Blackbird – HC = 810 (Oct 11), seen on 19 days. Not ubiquitous anymore.
E. Meadowlark – HC = 5 (Oct 23), seen on 5 days – very low #. Need to go to special areas to find these birds.
Common Grackle – HC = 350 (Oct 1), seen on 20 days – low #.
Brown-headed Cowbird – HC = 250 (Oct 19), seen on 14 days.
Purple Finch – fall arrival at RCC (Oct 11), also one at RSP (Oct 22).
House Finch – HC = 14 (Oct 31), seen on 24 days.
Am. Goldfinch – HC = 24 (Oct 22), seen on 13 days – very/scarce.
House Sparrow - present
Eurasian Tree Sparrow – HC = 40 at south end of LSpfld (Oct 27), seen on 4 days.
Total field days = 31
Total hours in October = 272
Total species for October = 157
The range of high temperatures in October 2023 were from 89◦ to 37◦. It was very warm the first 5 days and mostly (21 days) in the 70s and 60s. It was cold the last 4 days – with first frost 27◦ October 30, and 25◦ on the 31st. October seemed mostly dry and some lakes started to fall and create mudflats. There was a total of 3.79 inches of rain, provided by 12 days of some rain this month, the highest daily amount was 1.26 inches on October 29. This did little good for most shorebirds were already gone or heavy vegetation covered or hid the water and potential birds. This was still a poor shorebird migration in Sangamon County and I could not even find a Pectoral Sandpiper. The two areas at Lake Springfield (the Beach and Marine Pt) were so disrupted by people (and dogs) and boats that very few shorebirds put down there. It would be nice in these climatically extended warm times to have a boating season as the waterfowl were run ragged by speed boats, jet skis, and in shallow areas by canoes and kayaks. Again, this month I noted there were some emerging aquatic swarms of midges around Lake Springfield that probably provided food for migrating birds, but not as good as two years ago – maybe because of extensive spraying by CWLP. The leaf fall was delayed making the denser woods much cooler and preventing easier viewing of smaller birds. I also noted that birds were more anthropophobic than ever, and that the birds tended to clump in some areas and were absent in others. Low numbers and late arrivals of sparrows and others. were probably due to climate change and resulting dry conditions. The Beach at LSpfld suffered some changes (October 14) that eliminated many birds (ranging from 800 one day to 0 the next day)- but due to what? – see November.
H. David Bohlen, Illinois State Museum, IDNR
Beckie DyerMuseum TechnicianIllinois State Museum1011 East Ash StreetSpringfield, Illinois 62703-3500Phone: 217-782-7475/ 217-785-0037Fax: 217-785-2857http://illinoisstatemuseum.org/
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