5/12 IL Migration Report

Today saw more movement than the past few days, with rarer birds and slightly larger concentrations of neotropical migrants, primarily warblers, present almost universally throughout the state. Species like CERULEAN WARBLER, KENTUCKY WARBLER, and MOURNING WARBLER were the highlights of this. Sparrows were also prevalent, with VESPER SPARROWS and HENSLOW'S SPARROWS reported on territory at the northern edge of the state. Thrushes continue to move through as well, with everything from WOOD THRUSH to VEERY being reported throughout the state. More in the margins but still worth noting, flycatchers, vireos, and migrant cardinalids were reported frequently today. Overall, as with the past few days, a large variety of birds are present in our state; we're just waiting for the heavy movements that make spring so great.

And guess what? The forecast hasn't changed from yesterday, even though high pressure is moving in now. If you're in Southern IL, migration is already moderate to heavy for you

, but for the rest of the state, Tuesday and Wednesday nights will really hold the most favorable conditions (strong southerly winds), although Monday night might be really good as well (Northern IL wind forecast: http://bit.ly/12sOHQz, Southern IL wind forecast: http://bit.ly/12sONHX). Speaking in generalizations, this week should be a birding game-changer, bringing new species in greater concentrations along with more of the species already present. Get your eyes ready, because soon, you won't know which bird to look at first in your local patch.

Check out specifically Southern IL, where most of tonight's migration is concentrated.

Get excited folks! Lots of good stuff is comin' down the pike, and when it does, I'll make sure you're ready.

Here's some good stuff to be lookin' for. Expect this list to change soon: birds to be on the look out for arrivals/influxes of in YOUR area include BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, GREEN HERON, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, SORA, VIRGINIA RAIL, COMMON GALLINULE, maybe SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, PECTORAL, SPOTTED, LEAST, and SOLITARY SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, SANDERLING, UPLAND SANDPIPER, WILLET, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, FORSTER'S TERN, COMMON TERN, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL, CHIMNEY SWIFT, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, LEAST FLYCATCHER, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, BLUE-HEADED, WHITE-EYED, WARBLING and RED-EYED VIREO, HOUSE WREN, SEDGE WREN, MARSH WREN, all the expected swallows, all the expected sparrows (especially take note of LE CONTE'S SPARROWS, HENSLOW'S SPARROWS, GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, and CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS), SWAINSON'S, GRAY-CHEEKED, and WOOD THRUSHES, warblers including but not limited to BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, PRAIRIE WARBLERS, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, PINE WARBLERS, YELLOW WARBLERS, HOODED WARBLERS, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, NORTHERN PARULAS, LOUISIANA + NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, WORM-EATING WARBLERS, COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, SCARLET and SUMMER TANAGERS, ORCHARD and BALTIMORE ORIOLES, BREWER'S, RUSTY, and YELLOW HEADED BLACKBIRDS, INDIGO BUNTINGS, BOBOLINKS, and possibly early DICKCISSELS. And with migration, there are always chances of early overshoots and vagrants too.