22 THE AUDUBON BU LUiEetR 
observed at Illinois Beach State Park, 29 May (C. Clark, G. Rosenband). A 
couple of Barn Swallows were reported in late March but Cliff Swallows 
arrived late. 
CREEPERS through SHRIKES. A lone Brown Creeper was seen in 
unlikely nesting habitat at the Mason County Forest, 23 May and was 
therefore thought to be a migrant (D. Bohlen). A male Bewick’s Wren was 
found at the same location the same day (D. Bohlen). A female Golden- 
crowned Kinglet lingered at Springfield until 9 May (D. Bohlen). Cedar 
Waxwings showed a split migration season (see special report elsewhere in 
this issue). The Loggerhead Shrike in the Chicago lakefront area 3 April 
was considered quite noteworthy (L. Balch). 
VIREOS and WARBLERS. Several species were over-migrants this 
spring. White-eyed Vireos were banded at Rockford 22 and 27 April (L. 
Johnson); they were more common than usual at Normal (D. Birkenholz); 
at least five were found in Springfield on both 22 and 26 April (D. Bohlen, 
V. Kleen). A Bell’s Vireo was banded at Rockford, 17 May (L. Johnson). 
Worm-eating Warblers were first detected in the state at Springfield, 21 
April (D. Bohlen) and banded there 23 April (V. Kleen); another arrived at 
Normal, 22 April (D. Birkenholz); over-migrants included six in the 
Chicago area (fide L. Balch) and singles at Rockford (banded), 13 May (L. 
Johnson) and Oregon, 29 May (M. Swan). A female Brewster’s Warbler was 
banded at Rockford, 17 May (L. Johnson). Overmigrant Prairie Warblers in- 
cluded the first Sangamon County record, 21 April (D. Bohlen) and four 
in the Chicago area (fide L. Balch). A very early-arriving Kentucky Warbler 
was noted in Springfield, 12 April (D. Bohlen). A regular number of Con- 
necticut Warblers ‘were reported during mid-May (observers indentifying 
them before mid-May should take a long look at them; even completed doc- 
umentation forms were not convincing); one was banded at Giant City 
State Park, 17 May for a very rare southern Illinois record (T. Merriman). 
The earliest migrant Hooded Warbler was found in Normal, 15 April (D. 
Birkenholz); there were 14 sightings of this species in Springfield between 
21 April and 16 May (D. Bohlen, V. Kleen). 
BLACKBIRDS through LONGSPURS. There are only a few records of 
Yellow-headed Blackbirds in central Illinois; a group of five were found 
this year at Jacksonville, 4 May (W. O’Brien). The fourth state record of 
a Black-headed Grosbeak was reported from Wilmette, 12 May (many 
observers). Late-departing White-winged Crossbills were observed at 
Charleston, 10 April (L. Hunt) and Winnetka, 15 May (R. Russell); the latest 
southern Illinois record was reported from Carbondale, 3 March (T. Merri- 
man). Lark Buntings continue their regular appearance in Illinois; a mi- 
grant was found in Chicago, 11 April (M. Hogg); an imm. male (COVER 
PHOTO) was present at a Park Forest feeder from 18-22 February and | 
then egain at an Olympia Fields feeder from 17 March to 29 April (fide A. 
Duke). Clay-colored Sparrows were quite common this spring. The first 
was reported from Normal, 22 April (D. Birkenholz); another in Champaign — 
County, 29 April (J. Tangren); others at Carpenter Park in Springfield from 
1-10 May (D. Bohlen, V. Kleen) with at least three on both 8 and 10 May; | 
and five more from four counties on the Spring Bird Count, 4 May; none 
were found at the traditional areas around Chicago. Smith’s Longspurs 
peaked in two central Illinois counties about 13 April with 9 remaining as | 
late as 4 May (D. Bohlen); others were found in Lawrence County, 30 | 
_ March (P. Roush) and Whiteside County, 20 April (H. Shaws). 
