Sangamon County Bird Report January 2026

[Dyer, Beckie]

Click on photo to see three gull species together, Glaucous, Iceland Gull = Thayer’s Gull and Iceland Gull = Kumlien’s Gull

Birds in Sangamon County in January 2026

 

No loons or grebes seen this month.

White Pelican – in December 2025 these birds appeared to have left, however 14 (12 at LSpfld & 2 at Sangchris) were seen on (Jan 5) + HC= 17 at Sangchris (Jan 12) and last seen 3 at LSpfld (Jan 15)                       

Double-crested Cormorant – one held on at Marine Pt (Jan 2 & 3) and one was(photo) at the Marina (Jan 18). Seen on 3 days

Great Blue Heron – wintered, w/ HC = 36 (Jan 29) seen on 29 days- mostly below the dam at LSpfld and near the Warm-water Ditch. Some seen out on the ice near open water.

Mute Swan – HC = 3 at Mall area (Jan 16) - seen on 7 days.

Trumpeter Swan – one im at Sangchris (Jan 5 - 22) – also 2 adults at LSpfld (Jan 23 & 27).

Tundra Swan – 7 (3 adults & 4 immatures) were at LSpfld (Jan 26). 

Greater White-fronted Goose – wintering in scattered # w/HC = 1000 (Jan 18 & 22). Much moving around with changing weather, seen on 17 days - mostly at LSpfld and Sangchris and sometimes in flight.

Snow Goose – present off & on, w/ HC = 1150 (Jan 7) and 2625 (Jan 21)- present only 16 days.

Ross’s Goose – few identified, 11 (Jan 5) & 5 (Jan 8 ) – all near Sangchris.

Cackling Goose – wintered in small numbers, w/HC = 10 (Jan 2)- and last seen 8 (Jan 6).

Canada Goose – wintered w/ increasing # w/ 830 on (Jan 21) and HC = 1160 (Jan 27) when LSpfld was mostly frozen. Seen every day.

       Wood Duck – none

Green-winged Teal – HC = 27 at Sangchris (Jan 12) w/ last seen in January,  4 at Sangchris (Jan 27)- seen on 6 days. Sangchris had shallow water OPEN water.

Am Black Duck – wintered in very small #, w/HC = 4 (Jan 8, 20 & 22) – seen on 12 days.

Mallard = wintered, w/HC = 460 at LSpfld & Sangchris (Jan 18), seen every day. Not the large # as before the loss of warm water at LSpfld.

N. Pintail – This duck wintered for the first time! There were still  98 at Sangchris (Jan 5) from the influx on (Dec 28) last month. Then on (Jan 18) another influx started w/ 236 and HC = 243 (Jan 22) – some # continued into February. In January pintail were seen on13 days – this is the most I have seen this time of year.

Blue-winged Teal – the same ♂ was seen again (still in alternate plumage!) at Sangchris (Jan 12).

N. Shoveler – some attempted to wintered at LSpfld w/HC = 86 (Jan 18) and were last seen 5 at LSpfld (Jan 29).  Seen on 11 days. Some of these ducks probably survived by going to open sewer ponds.                                                          

Gadwall – wintered w/ HC= 330 at Sangchris (Jan 5), last seen in January was 20 at Sangchris  (Jan 27). Seen on 13 days.

Am.Wigeon – seen in small #, w/HC = 26 at Sangchris (Jan 5)-  seen on 5 days. Stragglers at WP & Sangchris until (Jan 22). 

Canvasback – wintered in small #, w/HC = 11(Jan 18 &19). Seen on 19 days. 

Redhead – seen in winter, starting w/ 3 at LSpfld (Jan 2), w/HC= 21 at Sangchris (Jan 22).  Also 11 at Sangchris (Jan 8). Seen 3 days.

Ring-necked Duck – seen in small # in winter where there was open water, w/ HC =20 at Sangchris (Jan 22) – seen on 12 days. Some were at Mall Ponds also.

Greater Scaup – found in small #, w/HC = 3 at LSpfld (Jan 3 & 19) -  seen on 6 days.

Lesser Scaup – wintered in small #, w/ HC = 30 (Jan 1), -# dropped later in the month - seen on 27 days.

Common Goldeneye – wintered, seen everyday in foraging flocks w/accompanying gulls. HC = 700 (Jan 1). When LSpfld mostly froze after Jan 22, Goldeneye foraged in narrow areas of open water because the small fish use these open areas, still Goldeneye # dropped  after Jan 22, especially the ♀♀.     

Bufflehead – straggled, w/ HC = 2♂ (Jan 18), seen on 5 days. Last seen ♀ (Jan 27).

Hooded Merganser – wintered, w/ HC = 43 (Jan 18) # lower after most of LSpfld froze-seen 26 days.

Common Merganser – wintered- # in early Jan – w/ HC = 58 (Jan 3), but # dropped (Jan 7 – 21). Iced conditions starting on (Jan 21) -  w/ HC = 40 (Jan 29). Seen on 23 days.

Red-breasted Merganser – seen only 4 days - % same 1-2 birds. HC= 2 ( ♀♂ ) on (Jan 22). No dead or sick mergansers were found here that I saw or heard of.

Ruddy Duck –the usual winter flock seen off Lin Gds was last seen with only 25 on (Jan 9), but boaters kept rousting these ducks and they scattered to several places on LSpfld and Sangchris and some hopefully went further south. Their # did not recover the rest of January. Seen on 18 days.

Turkey Vulture - a few all winter, w/ HC = 3 (Jan 6 -18), seen on 6 days. The roost is further south-east in the county this winter.

Bald Eagle – wintered, w/ HC = 16 (12 adults & 4 im) on (Jan 24). Observed 28 days w/ age ratio = 57 adults: 59 im (many were repeats). Most seen at LSpfld, some noted at Sangchris and other areas of Sangamon Co. Their # increased (especially im) w/ice on the lake. They came into LSpfld to take advantage of incapacitated or injured waterfowl and small fish “exposed” after the lake froze. 

N. Harrier – only ♀♂ west of Spfld (Jan 11).

Sharp-shinned Hawk – HC = 2 (Jan 3 & 17), + 2 singles (Jan 7 &18). Numbers better for winter, especially at feeders.        

Cooper’s Hawk – HC = 2 adults (Jan 3), seen on 4 days.

Red-shouldered Hawk –HC = 3 adults (Jan 12), seen on 5 days. Age ratio = 6 ad : 4 im . Lower # this winter.

Red-tailed Hawk – HC = 5 (Jan 12 & 28), - seen on 21 days.

Rough-legged Hawk – light phase (Jan 11 & 28) east of Pleasant Plains.

Am. Kestrel – HC = 3 (Jan 11), east of Spfld - seen on 9 days. Low #.

Merlin – Seen on 7 days - 5 at UIS (Jan 5,6, 9,23 & 28) and 2 at Center Park (Jan 10 & 20) Some photos.                                                                     

Am. Coot – up to 30 attempted to winter at Sangchris (Jan 22) with 20 there (Jan 27). One was at Marine Pt on (Jan 30).

Bonaparte’s Gull – after most had left, 8 occurred at the Beach (Jan 8).  

Ring-billed Gull – HC = 6800 (Jan 7) with # dropping especially after (Jan 23) because LSpfld had mostly frozen over.  The numbers were mostly in single digits by (Jan 25) and were 0 on Jan 31. Seen on 30 days.

Herring Gull – HC = 325 (Jan 1), due to a lot of local movements, positioning, visibility, and most arrivals late in the evening, this species was difficult to count. As with some other waterfowl, gull numbers dropped off after (Jan 22) due to LSpfld freezing and by January 31 there were 0. Seen 30 days in January.

Iceland Gull – Thayer’s Gull – at LSpfld  (Jan 6) 2nd winter – pale wings (especially underwings) and tail and (Jan 9,11,14 & 22) 1st winter, see photo – Jan 22.

Iceland Gull - Kumlien’s Gull – one adult at LSpfld (Jan 8 &11) seen well flying & sitting on water on both days, had darker primaries when sitting, but white under wings, one first year gull (Dec 21) -photos , plus a 1st year at Marine Pt (Jan 22) -photo.

Glaucous Gull – One 1st year bird sitting on ice (Jan 22) with Kumlien’s Gull and Thayer’s Gull at Marine Pt.

Lesser Black-backed Gull – the influx of these gulls in Dec continued into Jan. HC = 7 at LSpfld on (Jan 2) - this gull species seen on 17 days. There were 30 adults and 25 im. (first, second & third year birds) identified – % repeats - some photos. As with other water birds all departed when LSpfld froze after (Jan 22). And none were seen the rest of January.

Rock Dove – present.

Eurasian Collared-Dove – HC= 10 at Berry (Jan 12), seen on 4 days.

Mourning Dove – HC = 15 (Jan 28), seen mostly in low # on 25 days.

Eastern Screech Owl - 2 east of LSpfld (Jan 3).

Great Horned Owl –HC = 2 east of LSpfld (Jan 3) + 2 singles  off Old Chatham Rd ((Jan 4 & 28). Raging young drivers are killing off the wildlife in Sangamon County -especially at night.

Barred Owl – one at bridge south of Rochester (Jan 3) and one at Luken Rd (Jan 28) - Photo.                                                

Belted Kingfisher – HC = 3 (Jan 2) none after one (Jan 22) freeze-up. Seen on 8 days.

Red-headed Woodpecker – HC = 6 (Jan 10), seen on 28 days in lower #. Dead trees in Center Park continue to be cut down. Some of these birds migrated.

Red-bellied Woodpecker – HC = 10 (Jan 4), seen every day.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – HC =2 (Jan 6, 29 & 31) – seen on 8 days.

Downy Woodpecker – HC = 11 (Jan 23 ), seen every day.

Hairy Woodpecker – HC = 2 (Jan 17 & 19), seen on 9 days in low #.

N. Flicker – HC = 12 (Jan 22), seen on 24 days. At Sangchris again a flock of flickers were seen, but only one day – (Jan 22).

Pileated Woodpecker – HC = 2 (Jan 13) – seen only 5 days.

Horned Lark – HC = 78 (Jan 27)- more flocks up by the roads because of snow (Jan 26 - 30) -  & seen on 9 days. Some of the flocks were % migrants – but most appeared to be the Prairie race.

Blue Jay – HC = 25 (Jan 26), fairly good # around LSpfld– seen every day.

Am. Crow – seen every day, some going to & from roosts with 203 at Park south (Jan 28) and 322 along the west side of LSpfld (Jan 29).

Black-capped Chickadee – HC = 6 (Jan 10), seen on 30 days.

Tufted Titmouse – HC = 19 (Jan 2), seen every day. Some singing (Jan 26)

Red-br. Nuthatch –single birds (Jan 10, 14,19 & 26) = small incursion.

White-breasted Nuthatch – HC = 11 (Jan 4), seen every day.

Brown Creeper – 8 singles - some at feeders (Jan 3,6,7,16,17,19, 23, & 31.) – still not common, but I have to see this species, as I can not hear it.

Carolina Wren – HC = 4 (Jan 4), seen on 10 days. Numbers very low after January 10.

      Winter Wren – none.

Golden-crowned Kinglet – HC = 3 (Jan 3 & 6) + 3 singles. Seen on 5 days.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 1 single – ♂ seen at Golf Course (Jan 15).

Eastern Bluebird – HC = 4 (Jan 8) also last seen, and none seen through cold period – seen on 4 days.

Hermit Thrush – one at Dam Forest (Jan 3).

Am. Robin – wintered in scattered areas in few #, w/ HC = 36 (Jan 29) - seen on 30 days. Roost at Cinder Flats mostly destroyed.

Cedar Waxwing -  one bird feeding on Hackberries with Robins at Sangchris (Jan 29).

Eur. Starling – present in pest #. I estimated 30,000 at the Cinder Flats (Jan 3)  - biggest problem is all the food they consume -leaving the other birds very little!

     Yellow-rumped Warbler – none. 

N. Cardinal – HC = 44 (Jan 2), seen every day and numbers highest at feeders.

     Eastern Towhee – none.

Am. Tree Sparrow – HC = 56 (Jan 28) – seen 12 days – low # & scattered this winter.

Savannah Sparrow – This sparrow is a winter resident associated with grassland in Sangamon County and it comes up to the roads when it snows. There were 2 at Sangchris (Jan 27) – photo and another 2 (Jan 29).

    Fox Sparrow – none.

Song Sparrow – HC = 7 (Jan 29) – seen only 8 days - very poor # for winter.

Swamp Sparrow – poor # due to very dry in fall & early winter – with one at Sangchris (Jan 29).

White-throated Sparrow – HC = 16 (Jan 17 & 31) – low # seen on 27 days.

White-crowned Sparrow – HC = 21 at Cinder Flats (Jan 3) + some in other scattered areas. Seen on 11 days.

Dark-eyed Junco – HC = 122 (Jan 23) - mostly small flocks seen every day. Plus, one ♂ J. h. oreganus (Jan 4) at Oak Ridge Cem. & one (Jan 11& 23 ) at North Pt. feeder and seen well. Also one J.h. cismontanus at Center Park (Jan 24 & 25) – photo.

Lapland Longspur – HC= 24 at New City area (Jan 27) – Longspurs were seen on 4 days.

Red-winged Blackbird – very few all winter, w/HC = 20 (Jan 3) – seen on 9 days – some at feeders.

Eastern Meadowlark – HC = 10 at Sangchris (Jan 22). Seen 2 days.

Western Meadowlark – one on the west side of Sangchris (Jan 27). A very dull plumaged bird with yellow malar.

Rusty Blackbird – HC = 5 at Hazel Dell feeder (Jan 30) – also seen were 4 there (Jan 26).

Common Grackle – sporadic, w/ HC = 10 (Jan 3) at roost – seen on 3 days.

Brown-headed Cowbird – HC = 30 at PlPl (Jan 28) – seen on 4 days – with some at feeders.

House Finch – HC = 53 (Jan 9), - seen on 24 days.

Common Redpoll - ♂ at Watt feeder 7 days (Jan 4 – 30) - some Photos.

Pine Siskin – 2 were at Oak Ridge Cem. (Jan 31)

Am. Goldfinch - HC = 6 (Jan 24 & 28)- seen on 11 days in small #.

House Sparrow – present.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow – HC = 55 at south end LSpfld (Jan 6), seen on 5 days.

Total # of field days = 31

Total hours = 227

Total species = 99

January 2026 was mostly cold in Sangamon County with a few days of warmer or milder temperatures, with 65⁰ on the eighth. It was warmest January 5 – 16 but there was some snow January 10 and 16. By January 18 there was some ice on Lake Springfield which increased the next day and single digit night temperatures started that night (Jan 19). On January 20 Island Bay Yacht Club started their bubbler to keep the water open, and 3-4 other small areas near the Dam and the Golf Course were the only open water on Lake Springfield.  In the evening of January 22 at Marine Pt there was a migration of waterfowl. Numbers of gulls were on the ice close enough to photograph. I took several shots and in one frame were immatures of Glaucous Gull, Kumlien’s Gull and Thayer’s Gull. But most gulls must have migrated that night, and by January 31 there were no gulls on Lake Springfield and the remaining ducks and geese were in isolated pools. On January 24 and 25 it snowed 5 inches, and it was -13⁰ on the on the night of January 26th the lowest low of the month. Plus, it stayed cold the rest of January. Total monthly precipitation was 0.99 inches. However, water levels remained low- continuing the drought. The wintering flocks of Goldeneye and Ruddy Ducks were particularly affected by the ice for the second year in a row. The Ruddy Ducks were scattered and only a few stayed at Lake Springfield -some went to Lake Sangchris. Sangchris had mudflats and low open water which supported numbers of puddle ducks- Green-wing Teal, Mallards, Pintail, Gadwall, and others- plus Am. Coots tried to winter there. Eagle numbers increased and they took some of the ducks and gulls as they were easy prey. Visibility of the waterfowl also became difficult because of access (it gets worse every year) for viewing, and the weather, steam, fog and wind played a deterrent to identification on several days.

 Berry crops and other available food had largely diminished due to the 30,000 Starlings that roosts on the north side of the Dam. Some robins and fewer bluebirds managed to hang on. Many sparrows and especially finches seemed low in numbers. Blackbird flocks were few and scattered, although I think most are from the roost at the Cinder Flats.

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

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