Sangamon County Bird Report June 2026

[Dyer, Beckie]

Birds in Sangamon County in June 2026

White Pelican – HC = 70 (with no knobs) seen at Marine Pt (June 3), w/ last seen one there (June 25) – seen on 7 days.

Double cr. Cormorant – a flock stayed at LSpfld seen at Marine Pt, Dam and the south end of LSpfld  + with a few seen at Sangchris - seen on 30 days, w/ HC = 176 (June 14). Several nests at East Island (at least 20) with birds sitting but no young seen and nest appeared empty June 14.

Great Blue Heron – HC = 34 (June 19)- seen every day w/ birds constantly flying to nest colony on Vigal Road. Birds seen in most areas of the county in small #.

Great Egret – only one seen was roosting at East Island (June 12). This species very low in # all spring.

Green Heron – single birds seen on 7 days - very low #. Probably nesting at/near WP.

Mute Swan – HC = 4 adults at Mall area ponds (June 30).

Canada Goose - HC = 175 (June 30), seen every day – many young at LSpfld, plus some at Sangchris, WP & other areas.

Wood Duck – ♀, & ♀ w/ yg seen on 4 days but numbers down especially at WP.

Mallard – HC = 124 (June 30), seen every day and some had broods  – but not many.

Blue-wing Teal –  one ♂ at Beach (June 2 -7)- seen on 4 days

Hooded Merganser –  one ♀ south of Airport (June 28) was % a SR.

Turkey Vulture – HC = 81 (June 26) – seen on 30 days. Many sitting at LSpfld Dam area, Beach, & SE of LSpfld.

Bald Eagle – HC= 2 im at Sangchris & Marine Pt (June 22), plus adults at LSpfld (June 26 & 30). Seen on 5 days.

N.Harrier – one ♀ in bottoms off Ramsey Road (June 20).

Cooper’s Hawk – HC = 2 at Marine Pt & Dam (June 17) – seen on 4 days.

Red-shouldered Hawk – HC = 2 (ad & im) along Vigal Rd (June 15) – seen on 6 days.

Red-tailed Hawk – HC = 2 at Nipper Prairie (June 5) – seen 4 days.

Am. Kestrel – HC = 3 north- west of Spfld (June 23), seen on 5 days. Low #.

Ring-necked Pheasant – 3 singles at Nipper Pr, (June 5), HL (June 15) & west of Spfld (June 16). 

Turkey – HC = 7 at Jeff O (June 23) – seen on 7 days.

N. Bobwhite – HC = 6 at HL area (June 15) – heard/ seen on 7 days, still very spotty distribution.

Am Coot – only one at Beach - LSpfld (June 17).

Killdeer – HC =17 at Pattersons Pond on (June 5), seen on 24 days in poor #.     

        Spotted Sandpiper – none – breeding birds missing for first time in years.

Semipalmated Sandpiper – 2 at Beach (June 2) were the last spring migrants.

Franklin’s Gull – one at Beach (June 4) and an adult there (June 17, 18 & 20) – photo.

Ring-billed Gull – most non-breeding, % second-year birds, and some crippled adults.  HC = 49 (June 28)- seen every day. These gulls were mostly at the Beach and very few were at Marine Pt- too busy w/ people trying to run over them- speed limit is 10 mph.

Herring Gull – 2 im at Beach (June 9) were the only ones seen.

Caspian Tern – a few most of June, w/HC = 28 (June 26), present 26 days. Low # may be ascribed to overuse of LSpfld.

Common Tern – 3 adults at Marine Pt (June 22).

Forster’s Tern – 3 im at Marine Pt (June 6) – photos + one adult there (June 23).

Rock Dove – present.

Eurasian Collared Dove – one along Vigal Rd (June 15).

Mourning Dove – HC = 23 (June 22), seen every day, mostly in pairs and some young seen.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo – HC = 2 (June 27) – seen 5 days in low #.

Eastern Screech-Owl – one calling on Old Chatham Rd (June 6).

Common Nighthawk – 4 singles – one in dead tree at Old Chatham Rd ( June 2), + one at S. 6th (June 9) & (June 22) & one hitting the pond at WP (June 30).

Chimney Swift – HC = 9 (June 14), seen 17 days. A few killed at LSpfld Dam due to weather, water going over dam, and speeding drivers.

Ruby-thr. Hummingbird – HC = 2 (4x in June ), low # seen on 9 days – missing in some areas.

Belted Kingfisher – # remain very low – with only one at Marsh Rd (June 20).

Red-headed Woodpecker – HC = 11 ( June 12) – seen on 30 days. First fledged young noted at Lin Gds (June 27).

Red-bellied Woodpecker – HC = 10 ( June 15) - seen on 30 days, and first (2) fledged young at Center Park (June 8).

Downy Woodpecker – HC = 7 ( June 13) - seen on 30 days.

Hairy Woodpecker –one seen at Marine Pt (June 11) - # of this declining PR dropping.

N. Flicker – HC = 6 (June 7), seen on 25 days. Some young seen.

Pileated Woodpecker – HC = 4 (includes ad w/ 2 fledged yg at CP) on ( June13), seen on 13 days. Still being seen in Center Park and Lin Gds.

E. Wood-Pewee – HC = 3 (June 24), seen on 14 days. Many fewer than in the past and some missing from known areas.

Acadian Flycatcher – 2 singles (June 6 & 9 ), seen at HL Creek & Lin Gds. Missing from some areas.

Willow Flycatcher – 2 singles ( June 15 &19) at Zion Rd & Cinder Flats.

E. Phoebe – HC = 5 (June 23), seen on 10 days.

Great crested Flycatcher – HC = 6 (June 2 & 7)- seen/heard on 28 days.

Eastern Kingbird – HC = 8 (June 15 ), seen 25 days – some nesting & fledged young seen – at Dam June 27. The 2 adult kingbirds at Dam were chasing T Vultures which were feeding on dead fish -quite a show!

          Prairie Horned Lark – none seen.

Purple Martin – HC = 18 (June 10), seen on 26 days – some young seen. Martins started gathering at Center Park on towers and tops of trees in late June -but # still low. The work and increase in fishing and other human activities seems to be disrupting the roost area.

Tree Swallow –HC = 6 (June 24), seen on 16 days & nesting in small # in several places – some around LSpfd and Sangchris.

N. Rough-winged Swallow – HC = 8 (June 19 & 22), seen on 16 days. Mostly along the creeks & Sangamon River.

Bank Swallow – HC = 10 at Cinder Flats (June 14). Numbers unknown at Buckhart. Seen on 5 days. Nesting anywhere uncertain.

Cliff Swallow – HC = 60 (June 20) & 61(June 27), seen on 27 days, w/some young seen  at Lindsay Bridge Colony. Also nesting at Sangchris, Nipper Prairie & Farley Rd.

Barn Swallow – HC = 20 (June 27), seen on 28 days. Some young seen.

Blue Jay – HC = 11 (June 2 & 12)- % due to young out of nests, seen every day. One odd ? juv had no black on throat June 30- photo.

Am. Crow – HC = 16 (June 21), seen 29 days, some family groups seen in June.

Fish Crow – HC = 6 (June 4,10 & 26), heard and seen on 25 days, mostly at RSP/CP, Beach, some in city of Spfld, Sangchris & south of Airport – some young w/adults. They eat peanuts.

Black-cap Chickadee – HC = 3 (June 6 & 7) - seen on 22 days -rather scarce!

Tufted Titmouse – HC = 11 (June 2), seen on 30 days. Some young noted.

White-breasted Nuthatch – HC = 8 (June 7 & 24), seen on 30 days- young seen.

Carolina Wren – HC = 5 (June 23 & 28), seen/ heard on 27 days.     

House Wren – HC = 8 (June 27), seen/ heard 27 days – some young seen.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – HC = 3 at Hunter Lake Creek (June 15), - low # on 4 days.

E. Bluebird – HC = 25 (June 28), seen on 15 days. Many fledged young seen.

Wood Thrush – HC = 2 (4x in June ), noted on 9 days. Heard at RSP, Lin Gds , KOA Rd, & HL Creek.

Am. Robin – HC = 20 (June 20), seen every day. Many fledged young seen.

Gray Catbird – HC = 10 (June 16), seen on 19 days – some young seen.

N. Mockingbird –2 seen along Vigal Rd (June 15) – very scarce.

Brown Thrasher – HC = 5 (June 15)- seen on 16 days. – some young seen.

Cedar Waxwing – HC = 8 at Lin Gds (June 18) – only record. 

Eurasian Starling – present .

                    White-eyed Vireo – none found ??

Bell’s Vireo – HC = 2 at Centennial Park (June 16) + one seen at Jeffo area (June 23).

Yellow-throated Vireo – 2 singles (June 13 & 20) at CP & Lin Gds. This species missing in several places!

Warbling Vireo – HC = 5 (June 15 & 30), seen/heard on 27 days.

Red-eyed Vireo – HC = 3 (June 2) seen on 9 days.

            Northern Parula – none.

Yellow Warbler – ♂ at Zion Rd (June 15) and 3 at Cinder Flats (June 19), but missing at Sangchris plus other areas.

         Yellow-throated Warbler – none. Maybe due to pack of dogs illegally running in the bottomland at RSP

         Prothonotary Warbler – none. See above.

Kentucky Warbler – ♂ at CP (June 13)- but missing at HL Creek.

Common Yellowthroat – HC = 3 (June 15 & 21), seen on 11 days - lower #.

Yellow-breasted Chat – HC = 3 (June 13 & 16), seen/heard on 7 days.

Summer Tanager –5 singles :  ♂ at Sangchris (June 3), ♂ at Lin Gds (June 4), ♂ S.of Zoo (June 6), ♀ at Lin Gds (June 9) and ♂ at KOA Rd (June 25) - numbers low.

Scarlet Tanager – ♂ at KOA on (June 3), ♂ at Lin Gds (June 9), + 2♂ (June 18) at Lin Gds & Center Park - low # - not singing? 

N. Cardinal – HC = 15 (June 2), seen every day- some young seen.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak – HC = 3 (June 16), seen on 14 days.

Blue Grosbeak – HC = 2 (June 23 & 28), seen on 8 days.

Indigo Bunting – HC = 8 (June 23), seen on 19 days. Still found in multiple habitats, but # mostly missing from some agricultural areas.

Dickcissel – HC = 15 (June 5) in Nipper Prairie area, seen on 13 days - common in certain places, but not as widespread now. 

Eastern Towhee – 5 singles (June 6 -20)- fewer this summer.

Chipping Sparrow – HC = 3 (June 7 & 22), seen on 14 days - # seem to be dropping? Some young seen.

Field Sparrow – HC = 6 at Centennial Park (June 16) – no longer a common bird! Seen on 6 days.

Vesper Sparrow – not found in usual spots, but one ♂ in Sangchris area (June 22).        

          Henslow’s Sparrow – none found in usual areas.

Savannah Sparrow - ♂ singing at PlPl (June 12).

Song Sparrow – HC = 3 ( 4x in June ), seen on 21 days.

Bobolink – 3 ♂ at Pl Pl (June 12)- ♀ sitting on nests?

Red-wing Blackbird – HC = 18 (June 19), seen on 30 days, but mostly low # - some young seen.

Eastern Meadowlark – HC = 5 (June 5- Nipper area & June 12- PlPl), but # low in most areas. Seen on 7 days.

Common Grackle – HC = 27 (June 16), seen on 29 days – lower #, but some young seen – mostly in town. 

Brown-headed Cowbird – HC = 13 (June 3), seen on 29 days.

Orchard Oriole – HC = 2♂ (June15) seen only 3 days -then disappeared! Seen at Center Park- very little singing?

Baltimore Oriole – HC = 6 (June 2), seen on 24 days – some young seen at LSpfld.

House Finch – HC = 16 (June 26), seen on 26 days – some young seen.

Am. Goldfinch – HC = 15 (June 22), low # seen on 14 days.

House Sparrow – present & breeding.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow – HC = 3 (June 15 & 23) - seen on 5 days.

 

Total Species = 106 (94 species % breeding and 12 % non-breeding)

Total field days = 30

Total hours for June = 206

 

June 2026 was hot, but the high temperatures were in the 70s and 80s until 91⁰ June 30.   It was in the 80s on 17 days (with 8 days 85◦ or higher), and the remaining 12 highs were in the 70s, with the lowest high being 70° on June 16. Most of the 70s were from June 13 – 24. The lower humidity ended on June 6, with 90% - 100% the rest of the month. The highest night-time low was 76◦ June 30 and the lowest low was 50⁰ on June 3. These hot conditions put stress on the birds and people.  It rained on 5 days in June from June 9 -18 with a total precipitation of 4.30 inches. The highest one day total for rainfall was 2.00 inches on June 11. The observational conditions were not ideal especially for singing of passerines due to the heat, but it was at times cooler in the early am and heating up about 8 – 10 am, so that some field work could be done. At Lake Springfield most birds sitting on or near the lake were chased away by numerous watercraft and other noisy machines.  Numbers of songbirds were low, with some species missing in some habitats. It seems now, that more and more I need to go to specific places to see a certain species – this indicates to me a much lower total population of some species of birds. Many species need a good production of young this season with at least 2-3 young minus cowbirds / nest. No migrant warblers lingered into June and some summer residents were difficult to find. There is a pack of 10 dogs being run (off the leash) every day at Riverside Park. Riverside Park has the best, most accessible bottomland forest in the county + several woodland ponds (a precious biological commodity). Several species of birds seem to be dropping out of this area of the Sangamon River basin including the Prothonotary Warbler, Cerulean Warbler and Yellow-throated Warbler. Plus, the persons inflicting this on the park are doing it with the blessings of the Springfield Park District.

 

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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