Muirhead Springs in Kane County Friday 6-19-26

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

Saw an ebird checklist from yesterday from Walt L who had 50 species
at Muirhead & it included Sedge Wren, which I need for my year list, &
Henslow's Sparrow, which I need for my site list. But luck was not
with me as I found neither of those birds. But I did see a rare
shorebird & a mystery shorebird so I can't complain too much. Here's
my list:

Muirhead Springs (7-11:15 am)

West Pond

P.B. Grebe (H-2)
Great Blue Heron (2)
Canada Goose (3)
Mallard (1-M)
Virginia Rail (H-1, probable)
Marsh Wren (3)

East Pond

Great Egret (2)
Green Heron (1)
Canada Goose (2)
Mallard (3)
Killdeer (2)
Spotted Sandpiper (1 seen & 1 more heard)
WILSON'S PHALAROPE (1-M, flying around near the East Pond)
Chimney Swift (1), Tree Swallow (2) & Marsh Wren (2)

Other Land Birds

Red Tailed Hawk (1)
SANDHILL CRANE (2, fly-bys but close by)
Mourning Dove (5)
Flicker (2)
Eastern Pewee (H-1)
Willow Flycatcher (2)
Eastern Kingbird (2)
Barn Swallow (3)
Blue Jay (2)
Crow (H-2)
House Wren (H-3)
Robin (~10)
Catbird (1)
Brown Thrasher (1)
Starling (2)
Common Yellowthroat (15-18)
Cardinal (2)
Dickcissel (12-14)
Song Sparrow (4)
Savannah Sparrow (1)
Bobolink (7-M & 3-F)
Eastern Meadowlark (5)
Red Wings (15), Grackles (8) & Cowbirds (5)
Baltimore Oriole (H-1)
Goldfinch (5)
House Sparrow (4-6)

So I had 41 species at Muirhead plus a roadside addition for a day's
total of 42. Not up to Walt's 50 species but close enough for the old
retired guy. Bird-Of-The-Day will be the male Wilson's Phalarope which
I hope is nesting here again this year. Runners-Up to all the Marsh
Wrens & the Bobolinks along with all the Dickcissels & the 2 Sandhill
Cranes.

Now to the mystery shorebird! Near, but not in the East Pond I saw a
Yellowlegs sized shorebird fly up from the vegetation but it was right
into the sun & so I never got a very good look. But it called twice &
that call was anything but that of a Yellowlegs. It sounded like a
muffled call of a Crow & made no other calls of any kind. I waited for
it to fly out again in better lighting but that did not happen. So we
are left with a Yellowlegs sized shorebird that made soft Crow like
calls?
I give up but if anyone can help on this please do.

Al Stokie
In Kane County today