Well, it was grassland birding this weekend.

Yesterday, we went on a club field trip to Nachusa Grasslands
about an hour and a half west of here in north central Illinois
(about 18 miles west of Rochelle).  This is a combination of
original and restored prairie that can be very exciting.  Lots of
rare plants, bugs and, of course, boids.

Grasshopper Sparrows...lots of them.  In fact, they were the most
common bird we saw (and heard).  We found another pair of Upland
Sandpipers, although we did not get as good a look as last
weekend.  We also found a pair of Harriers and a Mockingbird. 
More Mockers are turning up this year.  I wonder why - mild
winter perhaps?

We found Bell's Vireo and heard Wild Turkey (I gave our leader a
hard time about this but she said they had been introduced way
more than 10 years ago).

Today was much closer to home and, frankly, a little more
exciting.

I had a report that there were Western Meadowlarks on a golf
course near the DuPage County Airport, about 10 minutes from
Maison Frazier.  So I went over to check it out.  Not wishing to
pop $60 for the privilege of playing, I found a path that runs
between the airport and the golf course.  Spectacular.  If you
want Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrows along with Dickcissels and
BOTH Meadowlarks, this is the place.  In addition, you get to
heckle the golfers <G>, watch some old airplanes in action (they
have a museum at the airport) and enjoy the birds.  

BTW, the Western Meadowlark was a state bird...ka ching!

Jim

5/18/95