Number: 217-785-1083
Reports: 217-782-6697
Compiler: H. David Bohlen
Coverage: Central Illinois
Transcriber: Beckie Dyer
NOTES SHOULD ROUTINELY BE KEPT ON ALL RARE AND UNUSUAL BIRDS AND OUT OF
SEASON MIGRANTS. THOSE WITH ** SHOULD BE SUBMITTED WITH DOCUMENTATION TO
SEASONAL EDITORS IF YOU DESIRE THEM TO BE PUBLISHED.
Birds Mentioned:
SOLITARY SANDPIPER
PECTORAL SANDPIPER
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER
FIELD SPARROW
TREE SWALLOW
ROSS' GOOSE
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
SURF SCOTER
BALD EAGLE
NORTHERN HARRIER
RED-TAILED HAWK
GOSHAWK
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
COOPER'S HAWK
MERLIN
AMERICAN KESTREL
OLDSQUAW
PURPLE MARTIN
WHITE PELICAN
LESSER YELLOWLEGS
GREATER YELLOWLEGS
CHIPPING SPARROW
A few shorebirds showed up in Central Illinois to liven up the dull landscape.
An exceptionally early SOLITARY SANDPIPER was east of Springfield March 21.
On March 20 one PECTORAL SANDPIPER was at Sangchris and one AMERICAN GOLDEN
PLOVER was at Berry. A FIELD SPARROW was singing at Carpenter Park Sunday
March 21.
Eight Pectoral Sandpipers were at Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge and 150
TREE SWALLOWS were there also. Most of the common waterfowl were there
including two ROSS' GEESE. Also Clinton Lake had 24 species of waterfowl
with 1000 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, and six Ross' Geese. On March 16th
two SURF SCOTERS were there. On March 17th a hawk flight was observed in
McLean County and contained BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIERS, RED-TAILS,
GOSHAWKS, SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, COOPER'S HAWK, a MERLIN, and AMERICAN
KESTRELS. On March 20 a male OLDSQUAW was at the Charleston Sewer Ponds.
Further south 100 PURPLE MARTINS were at Mermet Lake March 20. There were
three WHITE PELICANS near Hamlettsburg in Pope County March 21 and LESSER
YELLOWLEGS and numbers of American Golden Plover were in Massac County. A
GREATER YELLOWLEGS was in Alexander County March 21. A CHIPPING SPARROW was
singing at Carbondale March 22.
Contributors to this report are Bill Atwood, Bob Chapel, Mike Retter,
Marietta Dimming, Rhonda Monroe, and Frank Bennett.
If you see rare or unusual birds call David Bohlen (or leave a message) at
the Illinois State Museum at 217-782-6697 or send email to
bohlen@museum.state.il.us
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If you see rare or unusual birds call David Bohlen
at the ISM at 217-782-6697.
H. David Bohlen, bohlen@museum.state.il.us
Illinois State Museum Rare Bird Alert is a service of
the Illinois State Museum, R. Bruce McMillan, director.