by NIAS | Jan 15, 2024 | Birding Sites, Fall Migrating Shorebirds, Fall Migrating Songbirds, Fall Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds, Nesting Species, Spring Migrating Shorebirds, Spring Migrating Songbirds, Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds, Stephenson County
Espenscheid Forest Preserve
Owned by Jane Addamsland Park Foundation; located at 8500 E Farm School Rd; parking lot is small fenced in grass area; trail starts at information sign; area contains a variety of habitat types including oak savanna and riparian; a good variety of summer nesting, as well as spring and fall migrant passerines can be seen here; waterfowl can also be observed along the creek that runs through the area; also a very scenic location.
Birds Found at this Site:
Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds (Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds)
Spring Migrating Shorebirds (Mid-April through Mid-May)
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.
<< BACK TO BIRDING SITES
by NIAS | Jan 15, 2024 | Birding Sites, Nesting Species, Spring Migrating Songbirds, Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds, Stephenson County
Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park
North of Lena off Lake Rd. Man-made lake with woods/open woods/ pine plantings surrounding it. Best birding areas are below dam on east end and lake inlet/picnic area on west end. Have seen Common Loons, Osprey, a few shorebirds on swimming beach, songbirds such as Scarlet Tanager, many warblers, etc. Numerous parking areas.
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)
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.
<< BACK TO BIRDING SITES
by NIAS | Jan 15, 2024 | Birding Sites, Spring Migrating Shorebirds, Spring Migrating Songbirds, Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds, Stephenson County
Blair Road
Wetlands on both sides of road even into roadside ditches. About 7 miles east of Freeport on HWY 20, turn north on Farwell Bridge Rd. At about 3 miles turn east on Blair Rd. (west of this intersection road is called Maize Rd.). Immediately begin driving slowly. Reliable site for Wilson’s Snipe during first two weeks of April if water levels are good. Great close-up looks using vehicle as blind, sometimes other shorebirds. Continue on Blair for 3 miles until you reach Pecatonica Rd. Along the way are various wetlands and woodlands that you can bird from the road (most private property).
Birds Found at this Site:
Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds (Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds)
Spring Migrating Shorebirds (Mid-April through Mid-May)
Spring Migrating Songbirds (April and May)
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.
<< BACK TO BIRDING SITES
by NIAS | Jan 15, 2024 | Birding Sites, Nesting Species, Spring Migrating Songbirds, Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds, Stephenson County
Jane Addams Trail – Duck’s Misery
Backwaters/wetlands/ponds (some recreated) near where Richland Creek empties into the Pecatonica River. Trail walking gives views to the west; road walking gives views to the south. Access trail from Winneshiek Rd. going west from HWY 26 about 2 miles north of Freeport. Songbirds on trail edges and in woods to the south. Reliable site for Sandhill Cranes (nests have been seen from the trail). NOTE ON JANE ADDAMS TRAIL: Above sites most diverse, but birds can be found entire length of trail, especially migrating songbirds.
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)
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.
<< BACK TO BIRDING SITES
by NIAS | Jan 15, 2024 | Nesting Species, Spring Migrating Shorebirds, Spring Migrating Songbirds, Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds, Stephenson County
Jane Addams Trail – Orangeville Wetlands
The trail is an abandoned railroad right of way, so typical brushy/some woods edges with trail bordering intermittent small wetlands of Richland Creek which parallels trail. Larger “Orangeville Wetland” is a mitigation re-creation by the IDOT. Access from trailhead in Orangeville just east of BP gas station. Walk south to wetland areas – be sure to cross HWY 26 to smaller often more productive wetlands. Depending on water levels, variety of shorebirds can be present. Virginia Rail, Barred Owl, Sandhill Cranes also have been sighted there.
Birds Found at this Site:
Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds (Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds)
Spring Migrating Shorebirds (Mid-April through Mid-May)
Spring Migrating Songbirds (April and May)
Nesting Species (May through Mid-July)
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.
<< BACK TO BIRDING SITES
by NIAS | Jan 15, 2024 | Along the Mississippi River (mostly Carroll County), Birding Sites, Fall Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds, Nesting Species, Spring Migrating Songbirds, Spring Migrating Waterfowl/Waterbirds, Winter Varieties
Lock and Dam #13
Site contains mostly Pool 13 at its widest, some bottomland forest and below dam, the Mississippi River. Army Corps of Engineers property about three miles south of Thomson off of HWY 84 onto Lock Rd. Stop in parking areas along Lock Rd. to view birds on Pool 13. Parking areas both north and south of dam give good river views. Excellent waterfowl diversity and nesting Bald eagles. Songbirds in bottomland forest by parking area below dam. Belted Kingfishers, Prothonotary Warbler, Horned Grebe, many swallow species. Large numbers of wintering Bald eagles, often hundreds.
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 Waterfowl/Waterbirds (September through 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.
<< BACK TO BIRDING SITES
