Go Birding - Get Outside

Key Birding Sites in Lake County

Waukegan Lakefront       

Due to the diverse habitat of a deep-water harbor, sandy beach, a pocket of trees and a marsh/dune area along Lake Michigan (and despite its busy urban environment), this location has recorded sightings of over 300 species. The main harbor can be viewed from the canoe launch and by walking out several hundred yards on Government Pier. The area is excellent for migrating waterfowl and attracts many ducks/gulls in deep winter when inland lakes are frozen.  In addition, wintering birds sometimes feed at the small river outlet out from the south pier. At the swimming beach, you can walk north along the beach to a marshy area where many Marsh & Sedge Wrens and Common Yellowthroats are found. Also nesting at times are both American and Least Bitterns and all the local herons/egrets are common.  This is a favored location for shorebirds including sandpipers, plovers, willets, and possible purple sandpiper. The endangered Piping Plovers have attempted nesting at this site and others in migration have been observed. In summer, Caspian Terns can be seen on most days with less frequent sightings of Forster’s and common tern. The small area of trees just north and south of the parking lot is a migrant trap with 32 warbler species sighted over the years! There is a self-guided walk in English and Spanish. Self-Guided Walk for General Public.
Note: There is a fee for parking in the beach area on weekends in the summer. 

Location:  Waukegan (Northeast Lake County)
Best Time of Year:   Year-round
Key Species:   Migrating ducks, shorebirds, warblers/vireos, possible Snowy Owls, Peregrine Falcon, Piping Plover, bitterns.
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Illinois Beach State Park and North Point Marina

The 4162-acre state park with 6 miles of sandy beach includes a marina, campground, swimming beach plus the first dedicated Illinois Nature Preserve (which is also a Ramsar wetland site). Illinois Beach State Park has been said to have more plant diversity than any other place in Illinois. There are 40 endangered plant and animal species and more than 650 plant species. Fourteen natural community types are found in the park including dunes, wetlands, prairies, and savanna areas. Within these communities are rare plants such as orchids and cactus. The lake shore is the last remaining undeveloped lake shore in Illinois. The park has been designated as an Important Bird Area. IBSP is home to a variety of marsh birds such as sora rails and sandhill cranes plus much of the shoreline has been designated as critical habitat for the piping plover. The south unit Dead River trail is excellent for spring passerine migration. Great horned owls, red tail hawks, and northern harriers are common in the park. In the summer, whippoorwills can be heard in the evenings. One of the best hawk watches in the Midwest is run from a picnic shelter in the north unit off 17th street.  In the winter there are rafts of diving ducks on Lake Michigan, but the North Point Marina harbor is the home of the annual IOS-sponsored Gull Frolic. There is an 8-mile, pea-gravel trail connecting the south unit Nature Center to the north unit Marina which makes for a great birding by bike experience in summer with the cool lake breezes.

Location: Zion (Northeast Lake County)  
Best Time of Year: Year-round
Key Species: Migrating fall raptors, spring passerines, migrating shorebirds, wintering ducks.
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Ryerson Conservation Area Lake County Forest Preserve

The 552-acre Preserve offers some of Illinois' most pristine bottomland woodlands plus two small prairie areas and offers 6.5 miles of scenic trails that wind through a deep forest to the quiet Des Plaines River. There are both a nature center and an art center (often with nature-focused exhibits) and two locations with restrooms. One of the top sights in spring for migrants.

Location: Riverwoods (Southeast Lake County)
Best Time of Year: Spring, Fall
Key Species: Spring & Fall Migrants, Warblers, vireos, flycatchers, Pileated & Red-headed Woodpeckers, Barred & Great Horned Owls
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Daniel Wright Woods Lake County Forest Preserve

This 750-acre Preserve with 4 miles of trails offers excellent spring birding for migrants. The bridge over the Des Plaines River is a popular area in spring with sightings of up to twenty warbler species such as prothonotary warbler, cerulean warbler, oven birds plus orioles and tanagers. The trails to the southeast out of the parking lot often have red-headed woodpeckers. This preserve also has incredible displays of white trilliums and other spring wildflowers in early May. if you want a longer trail to hike, the preserve is part of the Des Plaines River Trail that connects it to Half Day Forest Preserve (south) and Old School Forest Preserve (north).

Location: Mettawa (Southeast Lake County)
Best Time of Year: Spring, Fall
Key Species: Spring & Fall Migrants, Warblers, vireos, flycatchers, pileated & red-headed woodpeckers, Barred & Great Horned Owls
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Rollins Savanna Lake County Forest Preserve

With over 1200 acres and 7 miles of trails, this is one of the largest forest preserves and one of the most important prairie/wetland areas for birds. The preserve has extensive, well-maintained prairie plantings and is also a good location for butterflies.

Location:  Grayslake (Central Lake County)  
Best Time of Year:   Summer, Fall
Key Species:   Bobolinks, meadowlarks, Sedge & Marsh wrens, Henslow’s & other sparrows, marsh birds, Sandhill Cranes, migrating ducks & swans in fall, possible Short-eared Owls in winter.
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Sedge Meadows Lake County Forest Preserve

This preserve contains restored wetlands and wooded areas along both sides of the Des Plaines River. The trail is outstanding for warblers, vireos, flycatchers, and other spring-migrating passerines. If you only have a short time or prefer to walk only a short distance, park at the canoe launch off Wadsworth Road (east side of the river) and you can see perhaps ten or more warbler species in a ¼ mile walk or perhaps from a sit just off the parking lot area.

Location: Wadsworth (North Central Lake County) 
Best Time of Year: Spring, early Summer
Key Species: Spring warblers, vireos, orioles, tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, flycatchers
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Independence Grove Lake County Forest Preserve

Although this forest preserve is mainly focused on recreation, the deep-water lake (a former rock quarry) is a prime site for spring/fall migration of grebes, ducks, and loons which can often be at quite a close distance. The preserve features a 3-mile loop along the lake plus a shorter 0.7-mile loop along the north bay and connects across the Des Plaines River to the Casey Trail to the west and to the Des Plaines River Trail to both the south and north. These make for excellent spring and summer birding by bike.

Location: Libertyville (Central Lake County) 
Best Time of Year: Spring, Summer, Fall
Key Species: Ducks, grebes, loons, geese in spring and fall, Indigo Buntings, meadowlarks, sparrows, and wrens in summer.
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