Join us for an exciting birding adventure where we’ll visit some of Southern Illinois’ best birding hotspots with longtime Illinois birder, Keith McMullen. Our list of birds should top the 100 species mark and we should encounter several species of reptiles, amphibians, mammals, butterflies and wildflowers as well.
The weekend begins on Friday with an evening sojourn to Ferne Clyffe State Park for Chuck-will’s-Widow, Whip-poor-will and hopefully a few owl species ahead of a full day of birding on Saturday.
Planned stops on Saturday include the Pomona/Cave Creek area south of Murphysboro where we should encounter as many as 12 breeding warblers, including Hooded, Worm-eating, Kentucky and the crowd-pleasing Cerulean. Not to worry if we miss any of them as our route continues west, heading towards Union and Alexander Counties. We will have great opportunities to find Mississippi Kite, Fish Crow, Blue Grosbeak, Black-necked Stilt and depending on Mississippi River water levels, excellent chances of viewing nesting Least Terns.
In the afternoon, we’ll continue south and eastward into Pulaski and Massac Counties, with a visit Mermet Lake with chances for Least Bittern and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron as well as other waders. We plan to end our day at Heron Pond in Johnson County where we should see plenty of Prothonotary Warblers, Acadian Flycatchers and both Scarlet and Summer Tanager (if we haven’t already checked them off our list). Heron Pond is a cypress/tupelo swamp and is a must-see, fan-favorite for those visiting Southern Illinois.
A block of rooms has been set aside at the Best Western Plus in Marion for Friday and Saturday nights, 400 Comfort Drive, Marion, Illinois, 62959. Call 618.998.1220 to reserve and ask for the Illinois Audubon Society block. Field trips will begin and end at this location.
Trip Leader: Keith McMullen, Jo Fessett, Nathan Goldberg
Cost of trip includes transport by van, lunch on Saturday, snacks and water. Dinner on Friday and Saturday night will be optional. We will announce a location for both nights closer to the trip date if anyone would like to join us. Saturday morning breakfast will be at the hotel.
Maximum Field Trip Capacity: 18
Cost: $70
Red-headed Woodpecker by Chuck Hunnicutt