Bicentennial Birding – February 6

We went on a quest to find the Snowy Owl that had been seen all week in White County north of Brookston. Since that area is old home place to my husband, he looked at the coordinates listed and drove us right to it. It was right on the side of the road, so we kept our distance and took pictures with both the camera and IPhone “digiscoped” with the binoculars. When we were finished viewing it, we turned around in the road and went back the way we had come, so we wouldn’t disturb it.

Birds Seen in White County:

1. Snowy Owl
2. Red-tailed Hawk
3. Horned Lark
4. Canada Geese
5. American Crow

We drove on up to Kankakee Sands as there had been short eared owls spotted there during the week. We tried this last year on our way back for our First Day Hike at the Indiana Dunes State Park (see previous post). And like our try last year, we failed to find the short ears. Someone called the cops on the 10 or so cars scattered around the preserve, complaining of cars blocking the road. So we left Newton County and spent our money on supper in Benton County!

Birds seen at Kankakee Sands:

1. Rough-legged Hawk
2. Red-tailed Hawk
3. Northern Harrier
4. American Kestrel
5. Red-winged Blackbird (First of Year)
6. Sandhill Cranes

Bicentennial Birding – February 7

We went to Turkey Run State Park today. Beautiful mostly sunny and about 50 degrees. On our way there, we saw:

1. Turkey Vulture (First of Year in Darlington, Montgomery County) (see previous post).

Birds Seen at Turkey Run:

1. Red-bellied Woodpecker
2. Red-headed Woodpecker
3. Downy Woodpecker
4. White-breasted Nuthatch
5. American Goldfinch
6. House Sparrow
7. Tufted Titmouse
8. Carolina Chickadee
9. Dark-eyed Junco
10. Northern Cardinal
11. Blue Jay
12. Bald Eagle
13. Canada Geese
14. Golden-crowned Kinglet
15. American Crow

And on our annual pilgrimage to find Skunk Cabbage blooming!!!! (see previous post). Yay! Skunk Cabbage! Between the Vultures and the red- winged blackbird returning and the skunk cabbage blooming, we have hope for Spring soon!

On our way home from Turkey Run, we drove past Lye Creek Burn. We have never seen the Lapland Longspurs, but what we did see made us VERY happy!

Birds Seen at Lye Creek Burn:

1. Northern Harrier
2. Canada Goose
3. Mallard
4. Greater White-Fronted Goose
5. Northern Pintail
6. Redhead
7. Ross’s Goose

And the local eagle nest along Sugar Creek has an adult sitting on the nest!