Sangamon County Bird Report for April 2026

[Dyer, Beckie]

Birds in Sangamon County in April, 2026

 

Common Loon – HC = 2 (April 3 & 8), seen on 6 days – poor #. w/ % departure one non- breeding at LSpfld (April 28).

Pied-billed Grebe – HC = 51 (April 2), last seen 4 at LSpfld (April 24) seen on 13 days in low #.

Horned Grebe – HC = 9 (April 2), last seen one in breeding Plumage at LSpfld (April 10) - only seen 2 days in April.

Am. White Pelican – HC = 217 (April 5), w/ dropping # after April 13. Much harassment and scattering by humans with boats. Last seen one at LSpfld (April 29). Seen 19 days.

Double-crested Cormorant – HC = 2000 (April 9), seen every day, even with much intentional harassment by humans.

Great Blue Heron – HC = 8 (April 2 & 4), many flying from LSpfld to nest colony – seen every day. However, not as many because of reduced areas in which to feed. Some seen at Sangchris.

Great Egret – spring arrival one at RR embankment at LSpfld (April 9), but with cold conditions- seen only 2 days.

Green Heron –spring arrival (April 14) at Lin Gds – seen only 1 day.

Black-cr Night-Heron – spring arrival adult off Marine Pt. (April 12) -seen only one day. 

Mute Swan – present – one at Mall Pond (April 2 & 18).

Snow Goose –last small flocks of 3 (white) at LSpfld on (April 3) and 3 (blue) on (April 23) – w/stragglers at a couple places -especially at west end of Mall - seen on 5 days.

Ross Goose – one adult at the west end of Mall (April 2 – 18) – seen on 4 days.

Canada Goose – mostly SR present, w/ HC = 80 (April 4), seen every day, and young noted at Marine Pt (April 18) with many more after that.

Wood Duck – HC = 14 (April 2), seen on 15 days – poor # - fewer coming into LSpfld & WP.

Green-wing Teal – HC = 47 (April 2), w/% last seen ♂♀ at Patterson Pond (April 16), seen on 13 days.

Black Duck – last seen pair at KOA Marsh (April 9)- pair seen 5 days.

Mallard – mostly SR present, although # increased w/ KOA Marsh, w/HC = 149 (April 7), seen every day -no young yet.

N. Pintail – last seen 2♂ at Marine Pt (April 10) – seen on 2 days.

Blue-wing Teal – HC = 255 (April 6) w/ all counts over 100 (April 1 -10), # drop from April 12 to the end of April - seen 23 days.    

Northern Shoveler – HC = 138 (April 2) -only large flight, w/ low # seen on 17 days.

Gadwall – HC = 24 (April 1), seen on 10 days – low #, w/ % last seen 4 (April 15). 

Am. Wigeon – HC = 6♂1♀ at Sangchris (April 25), seen on 9 days and last seen -see May.

Canvasback – two ♂ stragglers at the Beach (April 3 & 15).

Ring-necked Duck – HC = 24 (April 2) and last seen 8 at Mall Pond (April 10) – seen on 5 days.

Lesser Scaup – HC = 172 (April 2) - /w last seen ♀ at LSpfld (April 29) – seen on 14 days.

Bufflehead – HC = 3 (April 1), w/ last seen 2 ♀ at Marine Pt (April 3) – seen on 3 days.

Hooded Merganser – HC = 10 -2♂ & 8 ♀ (April 10) – seen on 8 days -some were % SR?

Red-breasted Merganser – HC = 6♀ (April 15), w/ declining #- hastened by boaters - seen on 8 days- mostly ♀♀.

Ruddy Duck – HC = 125 (April 2), w/ much harassment by boaters - seen on 14 days. Numbers drop @ April 10 w/ last seen 2♀ at Beach (April 20). 

Turkey Vulture – HC = 46 (April 24), seen on 30 days w/ # increasing in late April. Some pairs in rural areas on barns.

Osprey – 2 at Sangchris (April 17) + one at Lin Gds (April 30) – low #.

Bald Eagle – HC = 5 (3 ad & 2 im,) on (April 17). Age ratio = 21 ad: 20 im, seen 21 days.

N Harrier – a ♀ at KOA Marsh (April 5-8)-seen 4 days.

Sharp-shin Hawk – single at WP (April 20).

Cooper’s Hawk – 5 singles (April 11 - 29.) several nesting – CP, Lin Gds, & 10th street.

Red-shouldered Hawk – HC = 2 adults (April 17), most seen at CP/RSP

( nest ) and Sangchris -  seen on 10 days.

Broad-wing Hawk – spring arrival adult at Lin Gd (April 14), w/ HC= 2 (April 29) - seen on 5 days – no flights.

Red-tailed Hawk – HC = 3 (April 10). Mostly SR seen on 12 days – no flights.

Am. Kestrel – HC = 5 (April 11) mostly SR? Seen on 5 days – low #.

Peregrine Falcon – spring arrival adult at Beach (April 30) - photo.

Ring-neck Pheasant – 7 singles seen mostly at Sangchris & Nipper Prairie.

Turkey – HC = 2 east of LSpfld (April 25) – total of 9 seen on 8 days.

Sora – spring arrival one adult at Centennial Park (April 10), plus also there (April 14 & 19) and one at Patterson Pond (April 26). Checked at Sangchris many times -none found.

Am. Coot – HC = 330 (April 2), with # drooping until last seen one at Marine Pt (April 20).

Am. Golden Plover – spring arrival 45 near Curran (April 2). Also 17 at KOA Marsh (April 9) – seen only 2 days.

Killdeer – HC = 6 (April 3 & 26), very low # on 25 days. Both Beach and UIS athletic field where these birds occur had very few birds.

Am Avocet – spring arrival 2 at Beach (April 22), w/ HC= 12 at Beach (April 24) + 3 at Beach (April 26). Seen on 3 days - photos.

Black-necked Stilt – spring arrival one at Beach (April 25)- photos.

Greater Yellowlegs – HC = 13 (April 3) seen on 18 days.

Lesser Yellowlegs – HC = 69 (April 3), seen on 24 days.

Solitary Sandpiper - HC = 6 (April 10 & 16) - seen on 19 days.

Willet – spring arrival 35 at Marine Pt (April 22), plus 6 at Beach (April 27) and one at Marine Pt (April 28) - photos.

Spotted Sandpiper – spring arrival at Beach (April 15), w/ HC = 5 (April 27). Seen on 14 days.

Sanderling – spring arrival ♀ at Beach (April 19), plus another there (April 29) - photos

Least Sandpiper – spring arrival one at KOA Marsh (April 9).

Pectoral Sandpiper – HC = 69 (April 8), seen on 19 days.

Dunlin - spring arrival one at KOA Marsh (April 12).

Wilson’s Snipe – HC = 19 at KOA (April 16), last seen 9 at KOA Marsh (April 25) -seen on 15 days.

Wilson’s Phalarope – spring arrival ♂ at KOA Marsh (April 10).

Laughing Gull – one adult at Marine Pt/ Beach (April 24) - photo. 

Franklin’s Gull – spring arrival adult at Beach (April 15) + 2 (April 16) & one (April 20) seen 3 days.

Bonaparte’s Gull – HC = 610 (April 6), seen 25 days. Last seen 1 at LSpfld (April 28). # lower than usual for spring. Some into May.

Ring-billed Gull – HC = 650 (April 5), # lower by (April 17) when mostly non-breeding second-year immatures remained. These remaining immature gulls (30 -75) seen every day, w/ boaters and drivers pestering the gulls.

Herring Gull – HC = 2 (April 30), w/ only stragglers at LSpfld seen on 4 days.

Caspian Tern – HC = 5 (April 6). Numbers very low! Seen on 7 days. Low # caused by “bird flu” or by no place to land or both! Humans w/ dogs bothering birds and fishing craze taking over the area. 

Forster’s Tern – spring arrival 4 adults at LSpfld Beach area (April 22), w/ HC = 17 at Marine Pt (April 24) – this is a dangerous situation for these birds because of speeders going 50 -60 mph in 10 mph zone! This species seen on 8 days. Late arrival – due to cold nights?

Rock Pigeon – present.

Mourning Dove – HC = 9 (April 5, 10 & 26), low #, but seen every day.

Great Horned Owl – one calling on Old Chatham Rd (April 24).

Barred Owl – HC = 2 (April 8 & 13), Seen or heard on 6 days.

Chimney Swift – spring arrival one at RCC (April 17), w/ HC = 7 (April 29), low # on 4 days.

Ruby-thr. Hummingbird – spring arrival ♂ at HL creek (April 30).

Belted Kingfisher –HC = 4 singles (April 4 – 23), low # .

Red-headed Woodpecker – some WR.  HC = 10 (April 19 & 22) – seen on 29 days. Numbers started increasing (April 9).

Red-bellied Woodpecker – HC = 16 (April 13) – seen every day.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – HC = 3 (April 3, 5 & 6), w/ last seen at CP (April 23) – seen on 10 days.

Downy Woodpecker – HC = 6 ( 4x in April ), seen every day.

Hairy Woodpecker – HC = 3 (April 23 & 28) seen on 6 days.

N. Flicker – HC = 5 (April 1 & 5), w/ # dropping @ (April 10)- seen on 26 days.

Pileated Woodpecker – HC = 5 (April 23), seen on 18 days.

Eastern Phoebe – HC = 3 (April 3 & 5) – seen in low # on 9 days.

Great Crested Flycatcher – spring arrival at Lin Gds (April 24), w/ HC = 4 (April 28) -seen on 5 days.

Eastern Kingbird – spring arrival at Marine Pt (April 16), w/ HC = 17 (April 29) seen on 13 days.

Horned Lark – HC = 3 (April 14) seen on 3 days.

Purple Martin – HC = 18 (April 19), seen on 23 days. Like most swallows had to endure many cold days flying low over LSpfld.

Tree Swallow – HC = 255 (April 7), seen 28 days – these hardy birds difficult to count when flying low over the lake.

N. Rough-wing Swallow – HC = 6 (April 25), seen on 5 days.

Bank Swallow – spring arrival at LSpfld Dam (April 12), w/ HC = 12 (April 27)- seen on 3 days.

Cliff Swallow – spring arrival one at Lindsay Bridge (April 1) w/ HC = 30 (April 27) – seen on 17 days.

Barn Swallow – spring arrival at LSpfld Dam (April 1) w/ HC = 31 (April 27), seen on 20 days. Very few in April.

Blue Jay – HC = 14 (April 11), seen every day.  Some small groups seen, but no obvious migration.

Am. Crow – HC = 11 (April 3) mostly in family groups - seen every day.

Fish Crow – HC = 10 (April 13 & 17), seen & heard on 27 days - seen at Sangchris, CP, near Airport and LSpfld – becoming more widespread and competing with Am Crow.

Black-cap Chickadee – HC = 6 (April 11), seen on 20 days - # seem to be dropping in some areas.

Tufted Titmouse – HC = 24 (April 16), many seen & heard every day.

     Red-breasted Nuthatch – none – no return flight?

White-breasted Nuthatch – HC =10 (April 13), seen every day.

Brown Creeper – HC = 2 (April 5), w/ last seen at Lin Gds (April 6).

Carolina Wren – HC =11 (April 13), seen/ heard 28 days.

House Wren – spring arrival ♂ at Marine Pt (April 13), w/HC = 6 (April 24) seen on 18 days.

         Winter Wren –none!

Marsh Wren – spring arrival 3 at Sangchris on (April 25).

Ruby-crown Kinglet –spring arrival at Lin Gds (April 2), w/ HC = 8 (April 7 & 13) and seen on 14 days.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – spring arrival at HL Creek (April 15), w/HC = 4 (April 27) - seen on 8 days in low #.

E. Bluebird – HC = 2 (7x in April), seen on 16 days. Numbers low – but seemed to be in pairs.

Swainson’s Thrush – spring arrival one at CP (April 29)- also one (April 30). Seen 2 days.

Hermit Thrush –HC – 2 (April 10 & 11) w/ only 1 on (April 28). Left abruptly and not seen in May.

Wood Thrush – spring arrival at Lin Gds (April 24), w/HC= 3 (April 29) – seen on 5 days.

Am. Robin – HC = 33 (April 18), seen every day. Most on territory by mid-April – few in flocks.

Gray Catbird – spring arrival at North Pt (April 20), w/ HC= 5 (April 28) seen on 8 days.

     N. Mockingbird – none!

Brown Thrasher – HC = 6 (April 18), seen on 18 days in low #.

Am. Pipit – 6 were at KOA Marsh (April 19) & 8 were there (April 20), plus one at Ramsey Rd (April 29). Some into May.

Cedar Waxwing – 3 were at Oak Ridge Cemetery (April 5) and 12 were at HL (April11).

European Starling – present.

White-eyed Vireo – spring arrival ♂ at Lin Gds (April 24), w/ HC = 2 (April 25) – seen on 3 days. 

Warbling Vireo – spring arrival ♂ singing at HL creek (April 15), w/ HC = 4 (April 26) – seen on 11 days.

Red-eyed Vireo – spring arrival  ♂ n. of Sangchris (April 25) w/ HC = 3 (April 29) - seen on 2 days.

Blue-winged Warbler – spring arrival ♂ at Lin Gds (April 27) + one at North Pt (April 30).

Tennessee Warbler – spring arrival ♂ at Marine Pt (April 29).

Orange-crowned Warbler –spring arrival at WP (April 13).

Nashville Warbler – spring arrival ♂ at Lin Gds (April 28) + one (April 29).

Northern Parula – spring arrival ♂ at Lin Gds (April 6) – seen on 3 days.  

Yellow-rump Warbler –HC = 44 (April 30) – seen on 23 days.

Palm Warbler – spring arrival 7 at LSpfld (April 20), w/ HC = 9 (April 30) – seen on 8 days.

Northern Waterthrush – spring arrival ♂ at Lin Gds (April 22) + one at N Pt (April 30).

       Louisiana Waterthrush – none – see March.

Kentucky Warbler – spring arrival ♂ at CP on territory (April 29).

Common Yellowthroat –spring arrival ♂ at Lin Gds (April 21) on territory, w/HC = 2 (April 24 & 30).

Yellow breasted Chat – spring arrival ♂ at Sangchris (April 25) + one  there (April 30).

Summer Tanager – spring arrival ♂ at CP (April 29) -on territory.

N. Cardinal – HC = 21 (April 13), seen every day.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak – spring arrival 2♂ at Lin Gds (April 24), w/ HC = 3 (April 29)- seen on 6 days.

Blue Grosbeak – spring arrival ♂ at Centennial Park (April 18), plus ♂ at the Beach (April 27).

Indigo Bunting – spring arrival ♂ at Lin Gds (April 28).

Eastern Towhee – HC = 4 (April 21), low # seen on 21 days.

Chipping Sparrow – HC = 6 (April 25), seen on 12 days – no flocks & rather scarce.

Field Sparrow – HC = 8 (April 18) - seen on 8 days in low #.

Vesper Sparrow – HC= 2 at Revere Rd (April 3) + last seen at New City Rd (April 25) - very scarce now.

Lark Sparrow – spring arrival at Revere Rd (April 17). 

Savannah Sparrow – HC = only 2 on 5 days (April 3 -30), seen on 5 days – much lower #. Some could be SR?

Song Sparrow – HC = 4 (April 26), seen on 13 days –very low # - some singing on territory.

Lincoln’s Sparrow – spring arrival 2 at RSP (April 19) – seen on 1 day!

Swamp Sparrow – HC = 6 (April 10 & 18), seen on 13 days in low #.

White-throated Sparrow – HC = 18 (April 22), low #, seen on 27 days.

White-crowned Sparrow - HC = 4 (April 10)- seen on 6 days.

Dark-eyed Junco – WR, w/HC = 8 (April 1), and last seen at North Pt (April 29). Seen on 11 days.        

Red-winged Blackbird – HC = 250 (April 3), seen every day, but in low to moderate #. there were flocks of ♀♀ (escorted by a few ♂♂) from April 16 -29 at Center Park.

Eastern Meadowlark – HC = 4 (April 2 & 14), seen on 5 days mostly in low # - missing in many areas.

Rusty Blackbird – HC = 10 (April 3) w/ last seen 5 at KOA Marsh (April 4) seen on 3 days.

Brewers Blackbird - last seen 7♂ in plowed field along Tebbe Rd (April 14).

Common Grackle – HC = 50 (April 10 & 15), seen every day, but no large flocks!

Brown-headed Cowbird – HC = 33 (April 12), seen on 28 days in small flocks.

Orchard Oriole – spring arrival ♂ at Marine Pt (April 23).

Baltimore Oriole – spring arrival 3 ♂ at Marine Pt (April 23), w/ HC = 5 (April 28 & 30). Seen on 8 days.

Purple Finch – ♂ at KOA cemetery (April 20).

House Finch – HC =16 (April 18), seen on 24 days.

Am. Goldfinch – # increased (April 10), w/HC = 42 (April 19) – seen on 20 days, in low #.

House Sparrow – present.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow – only count were 2 at Centennial Park (April 10).

 

Total Species = 156

Total Field Days = 30

Total Hours = 268

 

 Most of April 2026 had mild to warm temperatures, with daytime highs from 47⁰ (April 7) to 86⁰ (April 14). There were 6 nighttime lows in the 30s with the lowest low of 33⁰ April 20. Five other lows in the 30s were 39⁰ April 5, 35⁰ April 7, 39⁰ April 11, 36⁰ April 19 & 38⁰ April 30.  Most of the trees were leafed-out (because of global warming) and some wooded areas were apparently not suitable foraging for numerous songbirds – the woods being too dense (limiting sunlight). Also, the observer could not see some of birds that could have been present. Many birds were foraging in more open areas with fewer trees and I think a lot of passage migrants quickly moved on. This was the fewest warblers I’ve ever seen in April – and I was out every day! Plus, RSP, which has open areas and forest edge, was closed due to flooding when the warblers were expected. The total precipitation for the month was 6.42 inches, with the highest rainfall on April 28 (3.57 inches). The marsh at KOA road provided some water birds, but the pond on the west end of Sangchris was mostly dry. The wind always plays a significant part in migration and affects the observers in finding the birds – there were 28 days when the maximum winds were 15 mph or more.  Most birds that nest on or feed near the ground were in low numbers, especially the sparrows. This spring the warblers were a shadow of their usual numbers. The human population and their pets are utilizing all the habitat meant for wild animals even in nature preserves and rules are not being enforced. Most of the ducks, loons and grebes were diminished by April 10 due to early increase in boating and other activities on Lake Springfield. In the future this will get much worse, because the peninsula called Center Park and most of the lake are going to be taken over by even more boating and sport-like interest with no regard for waterfowl and other animals! April 2026 was again too warm, I think this is the fewest birds in spring in the 56 years I’ve been counting – hope for an excellent crop of young birds that will survive and keep their species alive. 

 

I would like to thank Beckie Dyer for her help in April.

 

  

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/ cell: 217-670-9871/ 217-785-0037
Fax:   217-785-2857
http://illinoisstatemuseum.org/

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