As expected, birding quieted down in July. There was not a lot of potential year birds to search for and I only turned up two: a juvenile Mourning Dove at Blackie Spit on July 13 and the first southbound Lesser Yellowlegs on July 22.
Mourning Dove at Blackie Spit
Perhaps more notable was the absence of some birds. Mourning Dove, which were once reliable at Elgin Heritage Park throughout the summer months, were seemingly absent this year. As were Marsh Wrens; turns out I was very lucky to find one at Blackie Spit on March 17. The marsh at Elgin has previously hosted Virginia Rails during most summers, but there were no reports this year. My only sighting of a Virginia Rail on the SemiPen this year turned out to be a vocal bird on April 18 in the ephemeral wetland that has formed on the old Riverside Golf Course. On the other hand, the Sora that was first reported at Elgin Heritage Park in late April remained until at least early July. There were a couple eBird reports of two Soras at Elgin, so perhaps they nested, though I’m not aware of any sightings of chicks.
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