Baby It’s Cold Outside

Winter Birds On and Around the Lake

On the lake
During the winter months a lot of migrating water fowl stop to visit Lake Shabbona. During the past few months I have seen Tundra Swan, many american coot, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, and merganser ducks.  They love the closest open water near the boat launch ramps. An eagle was a frequent visitor hunting the same area that the waterfowl congregates to. The ducks of course immediately took flight upon the eagles presence but the swans held their ground. The eagle ate a fish meal about a hundred yards from them. It was amazing to watch.

A few views of  a favorite winter pastime at Lake Shabbona, ice fishing. Many have been enjoying free ice-skating on the lake as well. Everyone enjoying these cold winter days on the lake creates quite a lovely scene to view while bird watching and hiking through the park. Hunting season is now closed and the trails are open to the public again. The Park hours from February thru March are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

In the sky
The rusty red colored tail of this hawk is so striking, the trait is the hawk’s name. The Red-tailed Hawk will often be seen soaring over open fields searching for prey. Favorite meals include mice, voles, rabbits and birds.

Near a creek
This cute little critter may be a meadow vole or field mouse. Voles are small rodents resembling mice but have stockier bodies and rounder heads. Voles and field mice graze in grassy fields, woodland marshes and areas along lakes, rivers and creeks. I saw this one near a creek in the park.

In the woods

The red-bellied woodpecker, not named for it’s eye catching fiery red cap, but rather for the reddish tint on it’s whitish belly. The red-bellied woodpecker has black and white barred striped feathers down it’s back. The long bill is the perfect tool to poke and prod for insects under the bark of a tree. Red-belly’s also enjoy acorns and other nuts they open with their powerful beak.

Along a trail in a clearing
House finch are year round birds that tend to gather and travel in flocks. Birds in the finch family have a bouncy up and down flight pattern. If you notice a flock of small sparrow sized birds take note of the flight pattern, they may be house finch. House finch are really beautiful up close. The male has a bright red forehead, chest and throat area. Both the male and female have brownish gray streaks throughout the belly and back. They enjoy many seeds and fruits from trees and bushes throughout the park.

A Berry Popular Tree
This berry tree was hopping with many of the year round birds. During my last visit to the lake a flock of at least 50 robin really enjoyed these berries. I have never seen so many robins in one place before.

Along the forest edge
This little beauty is a dark-eyed junco. It is only seen during the winter months in Illinois. It belongs to the sparrow family. You will most likely notice them hopping on the ground foraging for fallen seeds near bushes and trees. Seeing a Junco warms any cold winter day, they really are beautiful birds.

Along a wooded path
One of my favorite birds to watch is the White-breasted Nuthatch.  After finding a nut they will wedge it under bark or into a crevice of a tree. They will lean back to use the power of their whole body to pound the nut with their beak like a hammer. This behavior “hatches” the nut and is the reason behind it’s name nuthatch. Nuthatches hide seeds and treats under the bark and in cracks of a tree. It is very interesting to watch it’s meticulous manner as it creeps along a tree searching for a tasty treat. They really are thorough!

Lots to see in, on and around the lake … come visit!

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