60 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 
Notes From Ottawa, Illinois 
By FRANK BELLROSE, JR. 
Several field trips were taken during the Christmas week, the major 
one occurring on December 26, when the following birds were seen: 
Lesser Scaup, 7; American Merganser, 5; Red-tailed Hawk, 3; Bob-white, 
22 (two coveys); Ring-necked Pheasant, 1; Herring Gull, 65; Ring- 
billed Gull, 8; Kingfisher, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 20; Hairy Woodpecker, 
2; Prairie Horned Lark, 2; Blue Jay, 42; Chickadee, 30; White-breasted 
Nuthatch, 1; Brown Creeper, 2; Red-winged Blackbird, 110 (three 
flocks) ; Goldfinch, 3; Slate-colored Junco, 85; Cardinal, 24; Tree Spar- 
row, 550 (estimated) ; Song Sparrow, 10. 
On the 28th further observations added the Red-bellied Woodpecker, 
4; and the Red-headed Woodpecker, 2. 
On December 29 a Great Blue Heron was seen feeding on some 
small fish cast up by the waves along the river shore, and several Killdeer 
also were seen. Other birds seen lately are: Winter Wren, Carolina Wren, 
Red-shouldered Hawk, Bronze Grackle, and European Starling. 
Due to the formation of a large lake and many ponds along the IIli- 
nois River, caused by the obstruction known as the Starved Rock Dam, 
more shore and other water birds are being attracted to this section. Ducks 
have come by the thousands, those most common this fall being the Lesser 
Scaup, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, American Mer- 
ganser, and Pintail. Coots also are common. The shore-birds most numer- 
ous were the Greater and Lesser Yellow-legs. “The Pectoral Sandpipers 
also appeared in large numbers. Others, such as the Least, Semipalmated 
and Solitary were less plentiful. 
In mid-summer I visited a piece of uncultivated land and found there 
four Upland Plover. A large flock of American Egrets stayed for a month 
along the Illinois River and adjoining ponds. Over 300 were estimated 
in this flock, which gave the game-wardens many hours of care. 
October 24 was a red-letter day for me, as on that date I observed 
the following birds: several Double-crested Cormorants on a pond, and 
fying, then a Turkey Buzzard sailed over, the red head and gray under- 
wing teathers showing conspicuously. At Starved Rock Dam I saw a lone 
female Wilson Phalarope in the water. It swam within five feet of me 
for about 15 minutes. 
The most notable birds seen during the spring migration were the 
Cerulean and Cape May Warblers. I was standing at the top of a steep 
hill, when the Cerulean flew from the top of a large tree into the top 
of a smaller one within ten feet of me. It was watched through field- 
glasses for fully five minutes. Then I was surprised in seeing also another 
warbler, a Cape May, and both in the same field. And what a picture 
they made! 
