Muirhead Springs in Kane County Tuesday 7-1-25

[Al Stokie]

Welcome To July Bird People,

Since July is the start of southbound shorebird migration I thought
I'd start the month with a visit to one of the better shorebird
locations which is Muirhead Springs. My main hope was to refind the
possible nesting Wilson's Phalaropes but although I spent about 2
hours looking at the east pond I found no Phalaropes. I hope they are
still there.

Muirhead Springs (7:05 am-12:15 pm)

Main Pond

P.B. Grebe (3-4)
Great Blue Heron (1)
Great Egret (8)
Canada Goose (6)
Mallard (5-6)
Killdeer (1)
Greater (2) & Lesser (1) Yellowlegs
Chimney Swift (1)
Barn (8) & Cliff (1) Swallows

East Pond

P.B. Grebe (1)
Great Blue Heron (1) & Great Egret (7)
Green Heron (2)
Mallard (5-AD & 1-F with 8 babies)
Sandhill Crane (2 fly-bys)
Killdeer (14-16)
Greater (1) & Lesser (5) Yellowlegs
Spotted Sandpiper (2)
Least Sandpiper (7)
Caspian Tern (1-PR & an unwelcome 3rd Caspian Tern)
Tree (2) & Barn (6) Swallows

Land Birds

Red Tailed Hawk (1 fly-by)
Mourning Dove (1)
Blue Jay (1, heard)
Crow (6)
Sedge (2) & Marsh (H-2) Wrens
Robin (2)
Brown Thrasher (1)
Starling (~30)
Common Yellowthroat (8-10)
Dickcissel (3-4)
Savannah (5) & Song (3) Sparrows
Bobolink (1)
Eastern Meadowlark (5)
Red Wings (15-20)
Grackle (2)
Goldfinch (4)
House Sparrow (2)

So 36 species at Muirhead plus 2 roadside additions for a day's total of 38.
Bird-Of-The-Day to both of the Sedge Wrens which I saw much better than usual.
Runners-Up to the Brown Thrasher, the 2 Cranes & all the new shorebirds.

Wildflower Of The Day to the many Brown Eyed Susans (also called Black
Eyed Susans) which were all over the place.

Al Stokie
In Kane County today not seeing any Phalaropes