Severson Dells

The bounty of the spring migration brought two new birds to the Severson Dells Nature Center’s list this week — Summer Tanager and Harris’ Sparrow.

Summer Tananger

Harris’s Sparrow

Photographer Mary Kay Rubey (Click here to view her gallery) captured both on camera Thursday, May 8. Both species were spotted again on Friday, May 9. The Tanager was in a bush on the north side of the center; the Harris’ sparrow was seen on the ground under the bird feeders at the nature center.

Summer Tanagers are normally found in the dry oak and mixed forests of the Southern US, although the species breeds as far north as Wisconsin.

Harris’ Sparrow breeds in northern Canada, west of Hudson Bay and into northern Manitoba. Its Eastern range in winter is typically Iowa.

The two new species join more than 190 others that have been documented at Severson Dells Forest Preserve the past 32 years.

This week’s sightings:

May 6: Monarch Butterfly

May 6: Ruby throated hummingbird; Flicker; Rough-winged swallow; Blue Gray Gnatcher; Swainson’s and Wood Thrush; Red-eyed Vireo; Warblers: Tennessee, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Palm, Black and White, American Red-start, Northern Water thrush, Common Yellow Throat; Scarlet Tanager; Rose-breasted Grosbeak; Rufus-sided Towhee, LOTS of Indigo Buntings; Sparrows: Chipping, Field, Song, White-Throated, and White-Crowned; Eastern Meadowlark; Baltimore Oriole; Goldfinch,
Flicker, Gray Catbird; Downy woodpecker; phoebe, Tree swallow; Blue jay; Cardinal; Crow; Chickadee; White-breasted nuthatch; house wren; robin; red-winged blackbird; cowbird; grackle; purple finch; house finch; turkey vulture, Green Frog; Bullfrog; painted turtle; red-eared turtle; Monarch butterflies; painted lady; cabbage whites

May 7: Red-headed Woodpecker; Orioles; Green Heron at pond

May 8: Harris’ Sparrow; Summer Tanager (1st spring); Lincoln’s Sparrow

May 9: Harris’ Sparrow; Summer Tanager