by NIAS | Jan 15, 2024 | Along the Mississippi River (mostly Carroll County), Birding Sites, Fall Migrating Songbirds, Fall Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds, Nesting Species, Spring Migrating Shorebirds, Spring Migrating Songbirds, Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds
Spring Lake Backwater on Pool 13, some diking. Also bike trail with brushy/woods habitat parallels backwater. Another section of the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, this site is about 2 miles south of Savanna off of HWY 84. Dike area good for waterfowl; bike trail going north provides good looks at songbirds and waterfowl, sometimes shorebirds and rails, American White Pelican, Tundra and Trumpeter Swans, Sandhill Cranes, waterthrushes and good variety of ducks. Birds Found at this Site: Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds (Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds) Spring Migrating Songbirds (April and May) Nesting Species (May through Mid-July) Fall Migrating Songbirds (Late August through early November) Fall Migrating Shorebirds (Mid-July through August) Fall Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds (September through November)
Year-round resident species will be found at nearly every location. Visit Audubon.org to learn about the specific species of birds listed in each area.
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by NIAS | Jan 15, 2024 | Along the Mississippi River (mostly Carroll County), Fall Migrating Songbirds, Nesting Species, Spring Migrating Songbirds
Mississippi Palisades State Park
Heavily wooded riverside bluffs and sheltered valleys with stream flowing through some areas. South entrance about 1 mile north of Savanna, off of HWY 84. Park in first lot and walk roads and trails for great diversity of songbirds including unusual warblers such as Kentucky, Northern Parula, Cerulean, and Yellow-throated. Also Pileated Woodpecker, Scarlet Tanager, Louisana and Northern Waterthrush, and many more. Early May birding also provides brilliant wildflowers. Late September can get good Broad-Winged Hawk migration.
Birds Found at this Site:
Spring Migrating Songbirds (April and May)
Nesting Species (May through Mid-July)
Fall Migrating Songbirds (Late August through early November)
Year-round resident species will be found at nearly every location. Visit Audubon.org to learn about the specific species of birds listed in each area.
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by NIAS | Jan 15, 2024 | Along the Mississippi River (mostly Carroll County), Fall Migrating Songbirds, Nesting Species, Spring Migrating Songbirds, Winter Varieties
Lost Mound Unit – Upper Mississippi National Wildlife & Fish Refuge
Sand savanna and sand prairie over which some development from the former Savanna Army Depot is still evident. Wooded high banks along the Mississippi. Entrance off of HWY 84 at Blackhawk Rd. about 7 miles north of Savanna. Follow entrance Rd. until it T’s then go right past refuge office. Drive slowly on the different criss-crossing roads for looks at grassland birds, some unusual such as Northern Mockingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-breasted Chat, Western Meadowlark and various sparrows. Whip-poor-wills can be heard off of road that borders river going north from refuge office. This road ends in parking area with river lookout, good for Bald Eagles in winter, with an occasional Golden Eagle. No walking trails, road travel only. Vast majority of refuge closed to private road travel. Bird tours sponsored by refuge have access to closed area. Call (915) 273-2732 for information on tours.
Birds Found at this Site:
Spring Migrating Songbirds (April and May)
Nesting Species (May through Mid-July)
Fall Migrating Songbirds (Late August through early November)
Winter Varieties (December through February)
Year-round resident species will be found at nearly every location. Visit Audubon.org to learn about the specific species of birds listed in each area.
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by NIAS | Dec 20, 2023 | Birding Sites, Fall Migrating Songbirds, Jo Daviess County, Nesting Species, Spring Migrating Songbirds
Wards Grover Nature Preserve
This is a very large tract of woodlands owned by the State of IL and is great for seeing spring migrants and woodland nesting birds such as Scarlet Tanagers, Ovenbird, Acadian Flycatcher, Black and White Warbler, and Pileated Woodpeckers. There are no trails through this large woodland, so be prepared to push through on your own. The preserve is one mile south of Rt. 20 on Willow Rd. and three miles east of Stockton. The parking lot is on the east side of the preserve on Willow Rd. This property is owned by IL Department of Natural Resources.
Birds Found at this Site:
Spring Migrating Songbirds (April and May)
Nesting Species (May through Mid-July)
Fall Migrating Songbirds (Late August through early November)
Year-round resident species will be found at nearly every location. Visit Audubon.org to learn about the specific species of birds listed in each area.
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