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09 Feb IBET Weekend Miscellany/Raptor Run; De Witt/Woodford Cos; 02/05 and 02/07/10 ["prairie oak" ] 08 Feb IBET Re: Vic's photos [] 8 Feb Re: IBET More Nachusa Area Raptors - 02/07/2010 (Old Sighting) [Christopher Cudworth ] 8 Feb Re: IBET More Nachusa Area Raptors - 02/07/2010 (Old Sighting) [] 8 Feb IBET FW: QC Audubon February program NO SIGHTINGS ["Walt Zuurdeeg" ] 08 Feb IBET North Avenue Turning Basin, Black Scoter, 2-8-10 AM ["samburckhardt" ] 8 Feb Re: IBET Fwd: Emiquon Science Meeting, March 4th [Jane Ward ] 8 Feb IBET: Pine Siskin - Genoa, DeKalb County [Karen Lund ] 8 Feb IBET West-central Il on Sunday [Michael Baum ] 8 Feb IBET Fwd: Emiquon Science Meeting, March 4th [Jane Ward ] 8 Feb IBET Superb Owl Sunday Results [Jeff Smith ] 08 Feb IBET Springbrook Prairie Northern Shrike and Naperville Sandhill Crane ["issuesman50" ] 08 Feb IBET shrike one ! ["Yellowstart5" ] 7 Feb IBET QC Audubon February program NO SIGHTINGS ["Walt Zuurdeeg" ] 7 Feb IBET: Northern Shrike west of Rockford ["Daniel & Barbara Williams" ] 7 Feb IBET SANDHILL CRANE & ROSS' GOOSE in Warsaw, Adams Co. [Michael Baum ] 07 Feb IBET More Nachusa Area Raptors - 02/07/2010 [] 7 Feb IBET Crabtree Northern Shrike [Carolyn Fields ] 07 Feb IBET Long-tailed+Duck+-+NOT [Gary J Sibio ] 7 Feb IBET Catching Up - Prairie Falcon Saturday - NOT ["Craig Taylor" ] 7 Feb IBET Long-tailed Duck - NOT ["Craig Taylor" ] 7 Feb IBET Kankakee Area Sightings: Jan 2010 [Jed Hertz ] 6 Feb IBET Saturday Montrose - More Ducks [Steve Spitzer ] 6 Feb IBET Lee, Ogle and other birds for February 6 [David Antieau ] 6 Feb IBET Montrose Long-tailed Ducks [Steve Spitzer ] 06 Feb IBET Spears Woods FP, Palos - Pileated Woodpecker ["mcvetas" ] 06 Feb IBET Montrose to Northerly Isle [] 6 Feb Re: IBET: 38 Greater White-fronted Geese in Ogle County [Beau Schaefer ] 06 Feb IBET Bald Eagles on Pistakee Lake ["joelorlinsky" ] 6 Feb Re: ibet: attack cardinal overwinters at Shabbona Lake ["B.G. Sloan" ] 06 Feb IBET Montrose Harbor - 2/6 a.m. ["bobdolgan" ] 6 Feb IBET Calumet area gulls (2-6-10) [Walter Marcisz ] 6 Feb ibet: attack cardinal overwinters at Shabbona Lake ["Darrell Shambaugh" ] 6 Feb IBET North Pond Am. Pipit, Bufflehead [] 6 Feb IBET Correction: 38 Greater white-fronted Geese were in LEE not Ogle County [] 6 Feb IBET: 38 Greater White-fronted Geese in Ogle County [] 5 Feb IBET North Pond Friday -Bufflehead, Merganser and More [Steve Spitzer ] 5 Feb RE: IBET Adult & Juvenile Red-Tails? RECENT SIGHTINGS ["Darrell Shambaugh" ] 5 Feb IBET Peregrine Falcon in downtown Rockford ["Daniel & Barbara Williams" ] 05 Feb IBET Kankakee State Park Birding This AM ["happywanderer1946" ] 5 Feb Re: IBET Adult & Juvenile Red-Tails? RECENT SIGHTINGS [Brian ] 5 Feb IBET Montrose - slow [David Antieau ] 5 Feb IBET Adult & Juvenile Red-Tails? [Jeanette Repp ] 5 Feb IBET N. SAW-WHET OWLS, near Rend Lake ["Mcmullen, Keith A MVS" ] 5 Feb IBET LONGSPURS, SNOW BUNTINGS and Horned Larks: Boone, Stephenson, and Jo Daviess Cos. [] 05 Feb IBET Lee County 02/04/11 ["ollie085" ] 04 Feb IBET Illinois birding regions (no sightings) ["calcariusp" ] 4 Feb IBET Great Black-backed Gull in Evanston [Josh Engel ] 04 Feb IBET Re: Northern Shrike- Glenview ["franmmmk" ] 04 Feb IBET Rusty Blackbird in yard, & question [] 4 Feb Re: IBET McLean Co. Short-eared Owls [] 4 Feb IBET McLean Co. Short-eared Owls [Matthew Winks ] 4 Feb IBET:� Birding America date correction (no sightings) [] 4 Feb IBET: Gull Frolic Feb. 20th Reminder [Brian Herriott ] 04 Feb IBET Illinois birding regions (no sightings) [] 04 Feb IBET Nachusa Raptors - 1/31/2010 [] 04 Feb IBET Lee County: Northern Goshawk ["mmadsen48" ] 3 Feb IBET Day of Week Correction [Steve Spitzer ] 3 Feb IBET Montrose To Belmont Monday Walk [Steve Spitzer ] 3 Feb Re: IBET Pink-sided Junco ["B.G. Sloan" ] 3 Feb IBET Kankakee/Will Co: Migration Begins [Jed Hertz ] 03 Feb Re: IBET Pink-sided Junco ["calcariusp" ] 3 Feb Re: IBET Pink-sided junco ["Michael L. P. Retter" ] 3 Feb IBET Pink-sided junco [Eric Lundquist ] 3 Feb IBET Tundra Swans [bob shelby ] 3 Feb IBET Rusty Blackbird Blitz reminder (NO SIGHTINGS) [Matt Mckim-Louder ] 3 Feb IBET inconspicuous owls ["Rhonda \(Monroe\) Rothrock" ] 3 Feb RE: IBET Family Owl Prowl (No Sightings) ["John Adams" ] 3 Feb Re: IBET Family Owl Prowl (No Sightings) ["Michael L. Peters" ] 03 Feb IBET Family Owl Prowl (No Sightings) ["Edward" ] 3 Feb IBET Illinois RBA - February 2, 2010 [Sulli Gibson ] 3 Feb IBET North Shore Channel (Touhy/Howard), Emily Oaks NC [] 2 Feb IBET Goin' south [Michael Baum ] 2 Feb IBET eagles moving? [Kevin Richmond ] 1 Feb IBET Monday Montrose Report [Steve Spitzer ] 1 Feb IBET: Kane and Kendall counties, Monday afternoon ["Darrell Shambaugh" ] Subject: IBET Weekend Miscellany/Raptor Run; De Witt/Woodford Cos; 02/05 and 02/07/10 From: "prairie oak" <frakerpovc AT aol.com> Date: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:25:33 -0000 Greetings, everyone -- I posted a Field Report with a couple of photos from this weekend at: http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=32547.0 Thanks! Matt Fraker De Witt/Woodford Cos 02/05 and 02/ 07/10 Subject: IBET Re: Vic's photos From: <astraight4 AT verizon.net> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:43:13 -0600 Great photos. This morning there were two NORTHERN HARRIERS working the Nachusa Grasslands. Plenty of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, RED-TAILS, KESTRELS, BALD EAGLE. SNOW BUNTINGS, LAPLANDS AND HORNED LARKS on Lowden Rd. No Falcon. There is a game farm on Naylor road that has lots of Chukars in some pens. I didn't see any pheasants in these pens. Last week I saw 8 or more pheasants at some grain bins on Carthage Roads. Dave had mentioned a game farm somewhere down that way. At Carnation Park, in Oregon there were a few COMMON GOLDENEYES, COMMON MERGANSERS. At home, two FOX SPARROWS, some AM. TREE SPARROWS, and the RUSTY BLACKBIRD with the daily visitors. Anne Straight Forreston, IL (Ogle County) Subject: Re: IBET More Nachusa Area Raptors - 02/07/2010 (Old Sighting) From: Christopher Cudworth <cudworthfix AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 15:40:44 -0600 Vic's photos are really interesting. Worth following the link! That's one cool looking rough legged hawk. Christopher Cudworth On Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 2:58 PM, wrote: > > > IBETERS, > > Very enjoyable photos. > > I once saw a Belted Kingfisher sitting on a "No Fishing" sign at the State > Natural Area near Nachusa. > > Wish I had grabbed my camera when I stepped out of the car... > > Jim Hoyt :) > Champaign Il > > ---- Original message ---- > >Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:03:42 -0500 > >From: VBirdman AT aol.com > >Subject: IBET More Nachusa Area Raptors - 02/07/2010 > >To: ILbirds AT yahoogroups.com > > > > > > > > Went out to the Nachusa Grasslands area again today > > for about 3 hours. Did not spot the Prairie Falcon > > but did see at least 7 Rough-legged Hawks, 6 > > Red-tailed Hawks, 2 American Kestrels and 5 Bald > > Eagles. > > > > If interested, I posted some photos on Greg's IBF > > site: > > http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=32509.msg40814#msg40814 > > > > Vic Berardi > > Gurnee, IL (Lake County) > > Email: VBirdman AT aol.com > > Raptor Blog: http://theraptorphile.blogspot.com/ > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ILbirds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ILbirds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: ILbirds-digest AT yahoogroups.com ILbirds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: ILbirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Re: IBET More Nachusa Area Raptors - 02/07/2010 (Old Sighting) From: <jwhoyt AT illinois.edu> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 14:58:07 -0600 (CST) IBETERS, Very enjoyable photos. I once saw a Belted Kingfisher sitting on a "No Fishing" sign at the State Natural Area near Nachusa. Wish I had grabbed my camera when I stepped out of the car... Jim Hoyt :) Champaign Il ---- Original message ---- >Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:03:42 -0500 >From: VBirdman AT aol.com >Subject: IBET More Nachusa Area Raptors - 02/07/2010 >To: ILbirds AT yahoogroups.com > > > > Went out to the Nachusa Grasslands area again today > for about 3 hours. Did not spot the Prairie Falcon > but did see at least 7 Rough-legged Hawks, 6 > Red-tailed Hawks, 2 American Kestrels and 5 Bald > Eagles. > > If interested, I posted some photos on Greg's IBF > site: > http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=32509.msg40814#msg40814 > > Vic Berardi > Gurnee, IL (Lake County) > Email: VBirdman AT aol.com > Raptor Blog: http://theraptorphile.blogspot.com/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > Subject: IBET FW: QC Audubon February program NO SIGHTINGS From: "Walt Zuurdeeg" <kaisersosa AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 13:06:39 -0600 That should be February 11 of course. Oops Walt Zuurdeeg ----- Original Message ----- From: Walt Zuurdeeg To: ILbirds Sent: 2/7/2010 10:47:58 PM Subject: QC Audubon February program NO SIGHTINGS This Thursday, January 11, Linda Boardsen will show a film, "Opposable Chums: Guts & Glory at the World Series of Birding" by Jason Kessler at the QC Audubon Society membership meeting. The film features interviews with David Sibley, Kenn Kaufman and Peter Dunne. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Butterworth Center, 1105 8th Street, Moline, Illinois. Walt Zuurdeeg Quad City Audubon Society www.quadcityaudubon.org [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET North Avenue Turning Basin, Black Scoter, 2-8-10 AM From: "samburckhardt" <rawsbb AT mac.com> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:43:24 -0000 A female-type BLACK SCOTER was among scaups resting on the North Branch of the Chicago River at the North Avenue Turning Basin. It is best viewed from the North Avenue bridge. Other ducks were both Greater and Lesser Scaups, Bufflehead, and Common Goldeneye. Sam Burckhardt Chicago Cook County Subject: Re: IBET Fwd: Emiquon Science Meeting, March 4th From: Jane Ward <jward199 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 11:01:15 -0600 The link for more information doesn't work. I'm pasting the information about the EMS below: ********************** You are invited to… Emiquon Science 2010: Restoration Ecology, Theory and Policy Sponsored by: The University of Illinois at Springfield’s newly named Alfred O. and Barbara Cordwell Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon (formerly UIS’s Emiquon Field Station) In cooperation with: The Nature Conservancy US Fish and Wildlife Service Dickson Mounds Museum Keynote speaker: Dr. Joy B. Zedler Dr. Zedler is a Professor of Botany and holds the Aldo Leopold Chair in Restoration Ecology at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Dr. Zedler is known internationally for her work in restoration ecology, wetland ecology, re-establishment of rare plants, the interactions of native and exotic species, and adaptive management. Information about the Zedler Lab for Wetland Plant Ecology is available at: http://www.botany.wisc.edu/zedler/. Call for presentations: In addition to Dr. Zedler’s talk, we invite presentations from scientists, students and managers involved with restoration ecology or the Emiquon Preserve. There will be two types of presentations at the meeting: oral presentations and poster presentations. This year, we hope that each oral presenter will reference our theme: “Emiquon’s contribution to restoration ecology, science theory and policy.” Abstracts of 250 or fewer words are due 1 February 2010. Abstracts can be submitted at this Website: https://illinois.edu/sb/sec/8806145. Deadline for abstracts: 1 February 2010 Meeting date: Thursday, 4 March 2010 Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Place: Dickson Mounds Museum (directions available at http://www.museum.state.il.us/ismsites/dickson/geninfo.html) Registration Fee: $10, check or cash only, please. The registration fee will be collected at the meeting. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Registration Website: Please register at this website: https://illinois.edu/sb/sec/3913717. There is limited seating in the Museum auditorium, so we can only seat the first 120 people who register. For further information, please contact: Dr. Mike Lemke, Director of UIS’s Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon, will be on sabbatical from January to May of 2010. Please direct questions about Emiquon Science 2010 to: Dr. Hua Chen, hchen40 AT uis.edu; Phone number: 217-206-8339 Interim Director, Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon Biology Dept., Mailstop HSB 223 University of Illinois at Springfield One University Plaza Springfield, Illinois 62703 We hope that you can join us at Dickson Mounds Museum on Thursday, 4 March 2010. On 2/8/10, Jane Ward wrote: > Emiquon Science 2010: Restoration Ecology, Theory and Policy > > Sponsored by: > The University of Illinois at Springfield's newly named Alfred O. and > Barbara Cordwell Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon > The Nature Conservancy > Dickson Mounds Museum > US Fish and Wildlife Service > > Keynote speaker: Dr. Joy B. Zedler > Information about the Zedler Lab for Wetland Plant Ecology is available > at: http://www.botany.wisc.edu/zedler/. > > We could use your help alerting people to the conference. Please forward > this message to colleagues who may be interested. Thanks! > > More details about the conference: > https://edocs.uis.edu/kmill2/www/ESM2010invite > > Online registration: > https://illinois.edu/sb/sec/3913717. > > We look forward to seeing you March 4th. > > > > -- > Jane Ward > Lewistown, Illinois > http://walkwithmepart2.blogspot.com/ > http://eaglenature.com > -- Jane Ward Lewistown, Illinois http://walkwithmepart2.blogspot.com/ www,eaglenature.com Subject: IBET: Pine Siskin - Genoa, DeKalb County From: Karen Lund <catbirder AT verizon.net> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 08:10:29 -0800 (PST) This morning there was a lone pine siskin in the yard. I heard him before I finally found him on the safflower feeder. I haven't seen them since October when a few came through. Karen Lund Genoa, DeKalb County catbirder AT verizon.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET West-central Il on Sunday From: Michael Baum <sixftwarbler AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 09:53:29 -0600 I started my day in Nauvoo, Hancock Co, where the Miss. River was frozen except for two seams. One was full of Canada geese. The other was packed with thousands of c. goldeneyes. In the course of the half-hour I was there scoping the area, the goldeneyes would get up 20-50 at a time every minute or so and wing northward. At the end of the half-hour the group seemed undiminished! There were a few canvasbacks mixed into this otherwise pure flock. Down at Warsaw the backwaters were open, and there were 100's of c. mergansers here. Bald eagles were present in small #s (I probably had 50 or so over the course of the day). At Quincy the river was slush. I found only a few goldeneyes and c. mergs in Adams Co. Gulls were quite scarce on the day. A couple hundred ring-bills with a handful of herrings at Warsaw was the only concentration I found. I found the river border in Adams Co. extremely depressing. Driving the highway so. from Hancock into Adams I was right along the bluff which was pretty enough, but to my west stretched several miles of pure corn stubble which went on mile after mile as I proceeded south. I travelled west to the Mississippi levee on two roads, picking up a flock of 30 l. longspurs, but there is exremely limited access to the river. I drove south for several miles hugging the river levee on my right, so that my view was corn and a man-made 30 foot wall of dirt and nothing else. At intervals private roads went up over the levee leading to strings of shotgun shacks overlooking the backwaters. What it felt like I was being told here was, " Feel free to enjoy the endless biological desert we have created but please keep out of the natural area we have kept for our enjoyment. This started as a birding report and has turned into a rant. I am no enemy to the concept of private property. But as I spend my days trying to bird Illinois and the days turn into years, I continue to marvel at how much has been taken away from me. So many miles of our rivers are owned by corporations. Look at the lakefront in Cook and Lake Co's. Late in my day I found myself in beautiful downtown Beardstown. They have a long continuous wall obscuring any view of the Illinois River through most of this town! How have we settled so docilely for so little? So anyway, a rough-leg in Adams Co. was my only one all day. I looked hard in Pike, Brown, Morgan, and Cass. Ten purple finches so. of Siloam Springs were nice. A flock of ten c. waxwings near the scenic Pike Co. landfill were my first in sometime. I have had no p. siskins this fall or winter. I found a gold-crn. kinglet in the pines at Siloam but could not find red-b. nuthatch. I assume that 8 turkey vultures at 4 Pike Co. sites were wintering birds? I ended my day trying to locate short-eared owl in Cass Co. There's an amazing amount of habitat in this county- maybe too much? In particular I drove roads so. of the Beardstown Marsh. Plenty of harriers, red-tails, and kestrels, but the owls were scarcer than a box of rocs. It was still delightful to see so many square miles not under the plow. Mike Baum [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Fwd: Emiquon Science Meeting, March 4th From: Jane Ward <jward199 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 09:36:38 -0600 Emiquon Science 2010: Restoration Ecology, Theory and Policy Sponsored by: The University of Illinois at Springfield's newly named Alfred O. and Barbara Cordwell Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon The Nature Conservancy Dickson Mounds Museum US Fish and Wildlife Service Keynote speaker: Dr. Joy B. Zedler Information about the Zedler Lab for Wetland Plant Ecology is available at: http://www.botany.wisc.edu/zedler/. We could use your help alerting people to the conference. Please forward this message to colleagues who may be interested. Thanks! More details about the conference: https://edocs.uis.edu/kmill2/www/ESM2010invite Online registration: https://illinois.edu/sb/sec/3913717. We look forward to seeing you March 4th. -- Jane Ward Lewistown, Illinois http://walkwithmepart2.blogspot.com/ http://eaglenature.com Subject: IBET Superb Owl Sunday Results From: Jeff Smith <mrqmagoo13 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 08:19:22 -0600 We had a sellout crowd for Sunday's trip with 16 birders in attendance. Things started out slow as we were unable to get a Screech Owl to respond. Perhaps a successful night of hunting got them to bed early. We only saw a single Great Horned Owl on nest at Springbrook as we searched the traditional Long-eared roost area. We then missed Barred Owl in Kane Co. but had one calling on its own in Kendall Co. along with finding our only LEOW of the day. After lunch we headed to Grundy Co. where we again tried for Barred Owl. After most of us were back in our cars one apparently called. We ended the day at Goose Lake Prairie. We spent an hour and a half on the deck watching the Northern Harriers course the grassland. It wasn't until 5 p.m. when the Short-eared Owls started flying. Most of our group had froze enough body parts by then and had left. The remaining 5 had some good looks at 3 SEOWs. We had our share of raptors also. Many Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Sharp-shinned and 1 Cooper's Hawk at Springbrook, 2 Bald Eagles on the Fox River, and a Kestrel along Rt 47, as well as the half dozen or so Harriers at Goose Lake. One other notable bird was a Brown Thrasher at Hoover Park in Kendall Co. Jeff Smith Woodridge, DuPage Co. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Springbrook Prairie Northern Shrike and Naperville Sandhill Crane From: "issuesman50" <issuesman50 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:00:57 -0000 Well, it appears there must have been a movement of Northern Shrikes around northern Illinois this weekend. I will add a shike from Springbrook Prairie in Naperville, Dupage County on Sunday morning, February 7th. The shrike was in the central prairie south and west of the model airplane field. Even fond a freshly impaled mouse on a tree. I spotted the Sandhill Crane again in south Naperville, also on Sunday. This bird was standing only about 30 feet off of busy Washington Street just north of Ring Road in Weigland riverfront park. I was on my way to a meeting and was not able to stop and invetigate, but it seems odd that this crane was so close to the road. Recall that I reported seeing this bird in the same area a couple of weeks ago. Joe Suchecki Naperville Subject: IBET shrike one ! From: "Yellowstart5" <yellowstart5 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:16:00 -0000 hello ibetors-- on sunday, at 4:20 pm, the northern shrike, vacationing in the glenview "glen" prairie, made an appearance. i was able to see it as close as 40-50 feet. it inhabits an area north of the nature center located at harlem/lehigh and compass dr. the only other species there--in 40 minutes, was a cooper's hawk. baseball is coming--jeffrey sanders--glenview--no. cook Subject: IBET QC Audubon February program NO SIGHTINGS From: "Walt Zuurdeeg" <kaisersosa AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 22:48:00 -0600 This Thursday, January 11, Linda Boardsen will show a film, "Opposable Chums: Guts & Glory at the World Series of Birding" by Jason Kessler at the QC Audubon Society membership meeting. The film features interviews with David Sibley, Kenn Kaufman and Peter Dunne. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Butterworth Center, 1105 8th Street, Moline, Illinois. Walt Zuurdeeg Quad City Audubon Society www.quadcityaudubon.org [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET: Northern Shrike west of Rockford From: "Daniel & Barbara Williams" <twotringas AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 21:19:38 -0600 I saw a Northern Shrike along Harrison Road, about 1/2 mile N of Auburn Road, west of Rockford, this afternoon. It was in the top of a scrubby tree in the dog training area on the west side of Harrison Rd., just before you reach the bridge over the north branch of Kent Creek. There has been a Northern Shrike on and off here since mid-December, but not in evidence for 3 weeks during periodic trips down that road. Dan Williams Rockford [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET SANDHILL CRANE & ROSS' GOOSE in Warsaw, Adams Co. From: Michael Baum <sixftwarbler AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 20:21:46 -0600 I pulled off the highway into a Mississippi riverfront campground called Goose Landing in Warsaw and noticed a bunch of waterfowl resting on the edge 200 feet away. A naked-eye look told me there was a great blue heron among them. The binoculars told me it was a SANDHILL CRANE. I'll take the up-grade. Nearby, a lone white goose rested among the Canadas. The scope showed it to be a ROSS' GOOSE, keeping company with several CACKLING GEESE as well. These birds were directly west of a beige shelter with a flagpole. What a delightful stop. Mike Baum [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET More Nachusa Area Raptors - 02/07/2010 From: VBirdman AT aol.com Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:03:42 -0500 Went out to the Nachusa Grasslands area again today for about 3 hours. Did not spot the Prairie Falcon but did see at least 7 Rough-legged Hawks, 6 Red-tailed Hawks, 2 American Kestrels and 5 Bald Eagles. If interested, I posted some photos on Greg's IBF site: http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=32509.msg40814#msg40814 Vic Berardi Gurnee, IL (Lake County) Email: VBirdman AT aol.com Raptor Blog: http://theraptorphile.blogspot.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Crabtree Northern Shrike From: Carolyn Fields <c7echoes AT aol.com> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 17:36:03 -0800 (PST) A NORTHERN SHRIKE was perched and hunting from the tops of the tallest trees along Phantom Prairie Trail at Crabtree Nature Center in Barrington this afternoon. The trails were icy and lumpy but had just enough snow of the right texture to provide decent traction and minimal slippage in cheap hiking boots. It was a beautiful afternoon and the sound of the creek where it flows under the trail gave us a major rush of spring fever. Carolyn Fields Palatine NW Cook County Subject: IBET Long-tailed+Duck+-+NOT From: Gary J Sibio <garysibio AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:05:15 -0600 I just got back from Montrose and didn't see it either. There was a very obnoxious woman up by the Hedge who was letting her dog run loose. She tried to tell me the police gave her permission to. -- Gary J Sibio To see my photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7688801 AT N08/ Blog: Insects of the Chicago Area http://insectsofthechicagoarea.blogspot.com/ Blog: Birds of the Chicago Area http://birdsofthechicagoarea.blogspot.com/ Subject: IBET Catching Up - Prairie Falcon Saturday - NOT From: "Craig Taylor" <tnemec1 AT ameritech.net> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 15:10:58 -0600 I put it about 8 hours yesterday (vainly) in search of the Prairie Falcon. I did find the Greater White-fronted Geese Mike Baum told me about, but did not relocate the Northern Shrike found by Eric Walters at Nachusa Grasslands or the Wood Duck found by John Hockman at the goose spot on Lost Nation Road just south of Kingdom.. There were a few raptors present. As the area the falcon has been seen in covers both Ogle and Lee counties, I will list counties. 1 Bald Eagle (Ogle) adult 1 Northern Harrier (Lee) 3 Red-Tailed Hawk (2 Ogle, 1 Lee) 10 Rough-legged Hawk (5 each in Lee and Ogle) including 2 dark morph adults 1 Kestrel (Lee) A farmhouse on Lowden Road, north of Flagg Road, had Titmice and a Red-headed Woodpecker coming to feeders. Patience may be a virtue, but it doesn't guarantee a Prairie Falcon. Craig A. Taylor La Grange, Illinois Cook County "Behold the birds of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Matt. 6 : 26 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.435 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2673 - Release Date: 02/07/10 07:22:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Long-tailed Duck - NOT From: "Craig Taylor" <tnemec1 AT ameritech.net> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 14:55:09 -0600 I ventured out to Montrose this afternoon hoping to relocate the Long-tailed Duck. Other birders there reported not seeing it, I was no exception. A treacherous walk out to the end of the fishhook revealed all 3 Mergansers, 2 Bufflehead, 4 Redhead, a couple of scaup, a few Mallards and 20 or so Common Goldeneye. Craig A. Taylor La Grange, Illinois Cook County "Behold the birds of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Matt. 6 : 26 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.435 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2673 - Release Date: 02/07/10 07:22:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Kankakee Area Sightings: Jan 2010 From: Jed Hertz <jhh_60910 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 05:55:15 -0800 (PST) Hi all, � I thought it would be interesting to�look at some of the species�around this part of northern IL in January.� Here's a list of my�January 2010 sightings (79)�for my�survey area (30 mi radius of Kankakee). � BTW:� My seven year average�is 80.71 sightings.� My high count�was 85 seen in 2008 and 2006.� (Keep in mind, I haven't been trying to set any records for this count).� � Here's�my list of 79 species for Jan. 2010:(Earliest Date/Location�included): � Anatidae 18 Greater White-fronted Goose 01/24/2010 IL, Justine Drive House, Kankakee � Snow Goose 01/28/2010 IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington fide hunters Cackling Goose 01/24/2010 IL, Kankakee Area, Kankakee Co � Canada Goose 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area� Mute Swan 01/14/2010 IL, Wilmington Dam Area � Gadwall 01/13/2010 IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington � American Wigeon 01/29/2010 IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington fide Darrell Benoit� American Black Duck 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV � Mallard 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV � Northern Pintail 01/29/2010 IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington pair Redhead 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV � Ring-necked Duck 01/27/2010 IN, NEWTON COUNTY � Lesser Scaup 01/09/2010 IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington fide hunters. Bufflehead 01/13/2010 IL, Wilmington Dam Area � Common Goldeneye 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV � Hooded Merganser 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV � Common Merganser 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV � Ruddy Duck 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV�� � Phasianidae 1 Ring-necked Pheasant 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area�� � Melagrididae 1 Wild Turkey 01/26/2010 IL, LeVasseur Park-Perry Farm, Kankakee Co along Rt 113 across from Metro-sewer � Odontophoridae 1 Northern Bobwhite 01/27/2010 IN, NEWTON COUNTY�� � Podicipedidae 1 Pied-billed Grebe 01/09/2010 IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington�� � Phalacrocoracidae 1 Double-crested Cormorant 01/09/2010 IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington� � Ardeidae 1 Great Blue Heron 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV�� � Accipitridae 8 Bald Eagle 01/05/2010 IL, Kankakee Area, Kankakee Co ad Northern Harrier 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area imm + F + M Sharp-shinned Hawk 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV � Cooper's Hawk 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area imm + ? Northern Goshawk 01/28/2010 IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington� Red-shouldered Hawk 01/24/2010 IL, Justine Drive House, Kankakee� . Red-tailed Hawk 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area � Rough-legged Hawk 01/27/2010 IN, NEWTON COUNTY 4 LM + DM � Falconidae 2 American Kestrel 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area � Merlin 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area photo � Rallidae 1 American Coot 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV�� � Laridae 3 Ring-billed Gull 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV � Herring Gull 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV � Lesser Black-backed Gull 01/06/2010 IL, Wilmington Dam Area� � Columbidae 3 Rock Pigeon 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area � Eurasian Collared-Dove 01/29/2010 IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington� Mourning Dove 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area�� � Strigidae 2 Eastern Screech-Owl 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV � Great Horned Owl 01/13/2010 IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington�� � Cerylidae 1 Belted Kingfisher 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV�� � Picidae 5 Red-bellied Woodpecker 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area � Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 01/22/2010 IL, Kankakee Area, Kankakee Co Male Downy Woodpecker 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area � Hairy Woodpecker 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area � Northern Flicker 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area�� � Corvidae 2 Blue Jay 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area � American Crow 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area�� � Alaudidae 1 Horned Lark 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area�� � Paridae 2 Black-capped Chickadee 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area � Tufted Titmouse 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area�� � Sittidae 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area fide Leslie Bury White-breasted Nuthatch 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area�� � Certhiidae 1 Brown Creeper 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV�� � Troglodytidae 1 Carolina Wren 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV�� � Turdidae 1 American Robin 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area�� � Mimidae 1 Brown Thrasher 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area Honeysuckle thicket. � Sturnidae 1 European Starling 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area�� � Emberizidae 9 Eastern Towhee 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area female near Sunflower field American Tree Sparrow 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area Sunflower field Fox Sparrow 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area � Song Sparrow 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area � White-throated Sparrow 01/02/2010 IL, CBC ILKV � White-crowned Sparrow 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area � Dark-eyed Junco 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area � Lapland Longspur 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area � Snow Bunting 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area�� � Cardinalidae 1 Northern Cardinal 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area�� � Icteridae 5 Red-winged Blackbird 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area Sunflower field Eastern Meadowlark 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area � Rusty Blackbird 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area photo Common Grackle 01/04/2010 IL, Western Kankakee County Hillside Manor Brown-headed Cowbird 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area Sunflower field � Fringillidae 2 House Finch 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area Sunflower field American Goldfinch 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area Sunflower field � Passeridae 1 House Sparrow 01/01/2010 IL, CBC INWS, IL Side Area � Jed Hertz Kankakee, Kankakee Co, IL (60 mi South of Chicago) Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhertz/ Give "ebird" a try: http://ebird.org/content/ebird [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Saturday Montrose - More Ducks From: Steve Spitzer <steven0703 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 22:37:42 -0800 (PST) Hi Birders Post linked to has details/pictures of some of the other ducks seen at Montrose, as well as a short Old Squaw video and a few more shots of the male. http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=32490.0 Steve Spitzer Chicago - Cook [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Lee, Ogle and other birds for February 6 From: David Antieau <dkantieau AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 17:39:32 -0800 (PST) Dear birders, Geoff & Chris Williamson and I drove around Lee and Ogle Counties today, and picked up a few other birds along the way. Highlights were the 38 Greater White-fronted Geese that Chris reported earlier, one Red-Shouldered Hawk, 1 Bald Eagle, 36 Red-tailed Hawks, and 5 European Collared Doves. Breakdown by Counties: Lee County (32) Greater White-fronted Goose: 38 Canada Goose: 530 Ring-necked Pheasant: 1 – most probably an escapee from a nearby game farm Wild Turkey: 1 Bald Eagle: 1 – Green River Conservation Area Cooper’s Hawk: 1 Red-Shouldered Hawk: 1 – Green River Conservation Area Red-Tailed Hawk: 27 Rough-legged Hawk: 2 American Kestrel: 3 Rock Dove: 55 Mourning Dove: 17 Red-headed Woodpecker: 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker: 3 Downy Woodpecker: 3 Hairy Woodpecker: 1 Blue Jay: 13 American Crow: 70 Horned Lark: 50 Black-capped Chickadee: 3 White-breasted Nuthatch: 1 American Robin: 1 European Starling: 1307 American Tree Sparrow: 18 White-throated Sparrow: 1 Dark-eyed Junco: 16 Lapland Longspur: 3 Northern Cardinal: 11 Brown-headed Cowbird: 82 House Finch: 37 American Goldfinch: 4 House Sparrow: 168 Ogle County (8) Red-tailed Hawk: 5 Rough-legged Hawk: 1 American Kestrel: 1 Rock Dove: 108 American Crow: 111 Horned Lark: 42 European Starling: 250 House Sparrow: 1   DeKalb County (9) Mallard: 4 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Rock Dove: 4 Eurasian Collared  Dove: 5 – Waterman American Crow: 8 Horned Lark: 5 European Starling: 14 American Tree Sparrow: 1 House Sparrow: 1   Kane County (4) Canada Goose: 117 Red-tailed Hawk:1 European Starling: 69 House Sparrow: 1   DuPage County (2) Canada Goose: 22 Red-tailed Hawk: 2   Cook County (1) American Kestrel: 1   We didn’t pay too much attention while getting out of Chicago.  We had a couple of Gull species, high overhead, at one oasis on I-88.  34 total species, counting the pheasant.   For the birds,   Dave Antieau dkantieau AT sbcglobal.net Chicago, Cook County [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Montrose Long-tailed Ducks From: Steve Spitzer <steven0703 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 16:44:40 -0800 (PST) Hi Birders, A couple of shots of a pair of Long-tailed Ducks are at the link. http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=32464.0 Steve Spitzer Chicago - Cook [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Spears Woods FP, Palos - Pileated Woodpecker From: "mcvetas" <mcvetas AT comcast.net> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:41:53 -0000 I took my kids for a hike on the white trail through Spears Woods Forest Preserve in Palos, Cook County, today in hopes of finding PILEATED WOODPECKER. We started at 95th St. and headed north to the junction with the yellow trail before turning around. After refueling at McDonald's (a bribe never hurts), we hit the white trail again from the north. I had nearly given up hope when one flew directly over us as we made our way back to the car at 87th St. Matthew Cvetas Evanston, IL Cook County Subject: IBET Montrose to Northerly Isle From: birdhaxxor AT aim.com Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:37:39 -0500 Mom and I did a downtown lakefront trip today- mainly to see waterfowl. The fishook pier did have a fair number of ducks, but the howling winds, freezing lakespray, and 6-foot swells made viewing them a challenge. And although I did see one flyby LONG-TAILED DUCK, it was mostly common mergansers with a few goldeneyes mixed in. Other than that, there were 40-something crows, 3 Greater scaup, 10 RB mergs, and 100's more mergansers and goldeneyes (especially near the mouth of the harbor). Some of the ducks were very close to shore. No sign of the Harlequin Duck at North Avenue Beach, but i did see a PEREGRINE flying among buildings on the way to Northerly Isle. At Northerly Isle, mom and I met up with Joan, Judy Pollock, and Bob Fisher, and several other bird monitors who had organized a trip w/ lunch at the field museum. Here, we saw 40 Greater Scaup, 1 Bufflehead, more goldeneye, and plenty of Red-Breasted Mergs. Bob thought he saw 2 possible BLACK SCOTERS out on the lake, but these were far away and most of us were too cold to attempt any ID's. -Happy birding! Ari Rice [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: IBET: 38 Greater White-fronted Geese in Ogle County From: Beau Schaefer <beauschaefer AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 14:42:33 -0600 I would just add to Chris' list that Fran Morel and I saw a small flock of about 30 SNOW BUNTINGS off of far eastern Stone Barn Rd. Good Birding! Beau Schaefer beauschaefer AT sbcglobal.net Round Lake Beach, IL Lake Co On Feb 6, 2010, at 11:26 AM, birdchris AT aol.com wrote: > Geoff, Dave Antieau and I are birding around Naschu and encountered > a big flock of 38 Greater White-fronted Geese among a flock of > about 530 Canada Geese. The location is a pasture with a flowing > stream on Lost Nation Rd. just south of the tiny town of Kingdom. > > We're seeing Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks, Horned Larks, a > turkey, juncos, Tree Sparrows and other field birds. The only > falcons we've seen are Kestrels. No Prairie Falcon so far (11:20). > > Christine Williamson > Chicago/Cook > birdchris AT aol.com > > Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ILbirds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ILbirds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: ILbirds-digest AT yahoogroups.com ILbirds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: ILbirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: IBET Bald Eagles on Pistakee Lake From: "joelorlinsky" <orlinsky AT ameritech.net> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:38:47 -0000 There has been a pair of Bald Eagles hanging around on Pistakee Lake. I was surprised to see them so active where there was no open water. After observing them for a while, I concluded that they are cleaning up after the ice fishermen who sometimes discard fish that they don't want by throwing them onto the ice. Subject: Re: ibet: attack cardinal overwinters at Shabbona Lake From: "B.G. Sloan" <bgsloan2 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 12:16:07 -0800 (PST)   Darrell Shambaugh said: "I don't remember where I heard that cardinals migrate a few hundred miles south in the winter, but I think this cardinal is the same one that was there last spring and summer."   BNA says the following about cardinal migration:   "Year-round resident throughout range. Nearly 90% of banded individuals that were found dead came from same 10-minute block of latitude and longitude where banded, and those found dead at greater distances show no directional pattern in movements. Reports of possible migration may be accounted for by dispersing juveniles; no known record of a breeding bird recovered at great distance in the following winter."   So I guess cardinals are homebodies and pretty much stay in the same location year round.   Bernie Sloan Champaign County, IL Monroe County, IN My birding blog: http://bird-bs.blogspot.com Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/birdbs --- On Sat, 2/6/10, Darrell Shambaugh wrote: From: Darrell Shambaugh Subject: ibet: attack cardinal overwinters at Shabbona Lake To: "'IBET'" Cc: "'Mike and Kristen Andrews'" Date: Saturday, February 6, 2010, 1:18 PM   I checked Shabbona Lake this morning. There were very few birds in the state park. A HOUSE FINCH was at the campgrounds boat launch. A few CROWS were by the bait shop, and 6 CANADA GEESE flew over but didn't land. There is some open water at the west end of the lake but it was birdless. The hunter parking area on University Road had the best birds. Nothing rare, but at least there were some common birds, JUNCOS, BLUE JAYS, a NORTHERN FLICKER, a DOWNY WOODPECKER, and the attack cardinal that was there last spring and summer. While looking at some JUNCOS a CARDINAL flew up to a tree on the other side of the parking lot, the same tree where a cardinal had a territory last summer. I had parked by this tree twice and the cardinal attacked my red SUV and landed on the rear view mirrors each time. Today as soon as I parked by the tree, the cardinal immediately landed on the passenger side rear view mirror. It fluttered its wings at me a couple times and flew back to its tree, and then back to the mirror. It flew into the tree above me and then landed on the drivers side mirror. By that time I had my camera out, which scared the cardinal away. I don't remember where I heard that cardinals migrate a few hundred miles south in the winter, but I think this cardinal is the same one that was there last spring and summer. It is the only cardinal I've ever had attack my car or land on the mirror and try to scare me away. Other birds seen in this hunter parking area were BLUE JAY, DOWNY WOODPECKER, and NORTHERN FLICKER. I'll be back to visit the attack cardinal again. Darrell Shambaugh Somonauk, DeKalb County [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Montrose Harbor - 2/6 a.m. From: "bobdolgan" <bobdolgan AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:47:55 -0000 There was a stiff north-northeast wind at Montrose Harbor this morning, and much of the west side of the harbor was ice-free. A nice concentration of ducks (~20) included common merganser, common goldeneye, lesser scaup, red-breasted merganser, and gulls included ring-bills and one first-year herring. There also were rafts of ducks near the harbor mouth and south along the revetment beside the golf course -- probably two dozen more mergs and goldeneyes, scaups (~10) and one male bufflehead. Bob Dolgan Chicago Subject: IBET Calumet area gulls (2-6-10) From: Walter Marcisz <wmarcisz AT att.net> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 11:36:30 -0800 (PST) An adult THAYER'S GULL flew overhead (heading east) while I was looking for sparrows at 130th & Ellis Ave. in Chicago around 11:00am on Saturday (2-6-10), and a 1st-cycle GLAUCOUS GULL was at nearby O'Brien Lock & Dam at about 11:30am. � During my visit from noon to 1:00pm, an�adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was�resting on the ice of the Calumet River with some�800 Herring Gulls, easily viewed from the end of Stony Island Avenue at the far south end of Deadstick Pond. � Deadstick Pond is located at the SE corner of 122nd & Stony Island Ave. in Chicago (follow Stony Island�all the way south till it dead-ends at the Calumet River). � Walter Marcisz Chicago, Cook Co. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: ibet: attack cardinal overwinters at Shabbona Lake From: "Darrell Shambaugh" <d.shambaugh AT mchsi.com> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 12:18:04 -0600 I checked Shabbona Lake this morning. There were very few birds in the state park. A HOUSE FINCH was at the campgrounds boat launch. A few CROWS were by the bait shop, and 6 CANADA GEESE flew over but didn't land. There is some open water at the west end of the lake but it was birdless. The hunter parking area on University Road had the best birds. Nothing rare, but at least there were some common birds, JUNCOS, BLUE JAYS, a NORTHERN FLICKER, a DOWNY WOODPECKER, and the attack cardinal that was there last spring and summer. While looking at some JUNCOS a CARDINAL flew up to a tree on the other side of the parking lot, the same tree where a cardinal had a territory last summer. I had parked by this tree twice and the cardinal attacked my red SUV and landed on the rear view mirrors each time. Today as soon as I parked by the tree, the cardinal immediately landed on the passenger side rear view mirror. It fluttered its wings at me a couple times and flew back to its tree, and then back to the mirror. It flew into the tree above me and then landed on the drivers side mirror. By that time I had my camera out, which scared the cardinal away. I don't remember where I heard that cardinals migrate a few hundred miles south in the winter, but I think this cardinal is the same one that was there last spring and summer. It is the only cardinal I've ever had attack my car or land on the mirror and try to scare me away. Other birds seen in this hunter parking area were BLUE JAY, DOWNY WOODPECKER, and NORTHERN FLICKER. I'll be back to visit the attack cardinal again. Darrell Shambaugh Somonauk, DeKalb County [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET North Pond Am. Pipit, Bufflehead From: NorekJ AT aol.com Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 12:40:57 EST The Bufflehead (m) and Hooded mergansers (m/f) reported yesterday by Steve Spitzer are still on the pond. The Wigeon remains. Wood ducks. American pipit in the surrounding lawn area along the northwest side of the pond. Also seen - Cardinal, Downy woodpecker, Dark-eyed juncos, White-throated sparrow, digi-scopers (last seen focusing on the pipit). North Pond is in Lincoln Park, just north of the zoo across Fullerton. Joan Norek Chicago Intellectual Property _www.noreklaw.com_ (http://www.noreklaw.com/) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Correction: 38 Greater white-fronted Geese were in LEE not Ogle County From: birdchris AT aol.com Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 17:35:56 +0000 Sorry, we keep criss-crossing the county line. Chris Williamson Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry Subject: IBET: 38 Greater White-fronted Geese in Ogle County From: birdchris AT aol.com Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 17:26:31 +0000 Geoff, Dave Antieau and I are birding around Naschu and encountered a big flock of 38 Greater White-fronted Geese among a flock of about 530 Canada Geese. The location is a pasture with a flowing stream on Lost Nation Rd. just south of the tiny town of Kingdom. We're seeing Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks, Horned Larks, a turkey, juncos, Tree Sparrows and other field birds. The only falcons we've seen are Kestrels. No Prairie Falcon so far (11:20). Christine Williamson Chicago/Cook birdchris AT aol.com Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry Subject: IBET North Pond Friday -Bufflehead, Merganser and More From: Steve Spitzer <steven0703 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 22:49:49 -0800 (PST) Hi Birders, I visited North Pond today as the snow was starting. Neatest bird might have been the Bufflehead. I made a 30 second video of him.� He had competition from a Hooded Merganser though. Details, pictures, video, all at the link. http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=32453.0 Steve Spitzer Chicago, Cook [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: IBET Adult & Juvenile Red-Tails? RECENT SIGHTINGS From: "Darrell Shambaugh" <d.shambaugh AT mchsi.com> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 18:11:56 -0600 This pair sounds like a male and a female. Red-tailed Hawks have been pairing up since the first of the year. I find it unusual to see only one Red-tail. There is almost always another one lurking nearby. In raptors, the female is larger than the male. In Bald Eagles, females can be 20% larger than males. It is hard to tell if a single hawk is male of female, but when two are together the large one is the female. Darrell Shambaugh Somonauk, DeKalb County _____ Driving up I-355 through Addison (DuPage Co.,) I saw a couple Red-Tails on a light post. Nothing odd about that, except that they were close together, and based on size and coloring, I wondered if it was an adult and 1st year young from this last season. Is it possible that they'd be together this long? Jeanette Schaumburg, Cook Co. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Peregrine Falcon in downtown Rockford From: "Daniel & Barbara Williams" <twotringas AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 15:03:53 -0600 A Peregrine Falcon is being seen with some regularity in downtown Rockford. It frequents the Faust Landmark, a high rise apartment building, and a telecommunications tower across the street from the Faust Landmark. These structures are located near the intersection of E. State Street and 3rd Street, which is about 4 blocks E of the State Street bridge over the Rock River. Late afternoon is the best time to look. The bird frequently perches on the tower before going in the direction of the Landmark, presumably to roost for the night. Yesterday afternoon, it was plucking a prey item on top of the communications tower around 4:00 p.m. Dan Williams Rockford [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Kankakee State Park Birding This AM From: "happywanderer1946" <bfrens1 AT ameritech.net> Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:29:27 -0000 Had a great time. Saw: 2 Cardinals 1 Nuthatch 3 Downy Woodpecker 1 Red tailed hawk Approx 150 Canada Geese Dozen Chicadee 15 Bufflehead - males and females mixed 18 Common mergansers - male and female 10 gold finch 15 Dark eyed juncos Subject: Re: IBET Adult & Juvenile Red-Tails? RECENT SIGHTINGS From: Brian <chicagostretch2002 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 10:45:28 -0800 (PST) I don't have an answer to that although I have seen larger and smaller raptors working large fields together where food is plentiful, in the past.  I would like to add that there is a lot of hawk activity near the I355 Boughton Road toll plaza as well. I consistently see smaller birds chasing hawks or seeing them gliding along on the Woodward Avenue side (east of 355) looking for food as I am driving to and from work. It's almost a daily occurance and last week I saw what I am pretty sure was a Turkey Vulture heading north along I355 near International Parkway, just south of Boughton exits. Looking for raptors?....They seem to find that area a comfortable spot. Brian Chicago, Illinois (Cook County) ________________________________ From: Jeanette Repp To: IBET Sent: Fri, February 5, 2010 11:00:44 AM Subject: IBET Adult & Juvenile Red-Tails?   Driving up I-355 through Addison (DuPage Co.,) I saw a couple Red-Tails on a light post. Nothing odd about that, except that they were close together, and based on size and coloring, I wondered if it was an adult and 1st year young from this last season. Is it possible that they'd be together this long? Jeanette Schaumburg, Cook Co. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Montrose - slow From: David Antieau <dkantieau AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 09:03:25 -0800 (PST) Dear birders, There wasn't too much action in the hour I was at Montrose this morning.� My best bird was a Cooper's Hawk, flying near the Ravenswood el at Irving Park (on the way home). I didn't take my scope out of the car, so I didn't see very many ducks from the beginning of the breakwall or the beach.� Probably more than 20 Red-breasted Mergansers, smaller numbers of the others, especially the scaup (4 or 5). Species list from Montrose: Canada Goose Mallard Common Goldeneye Greater Scaup Red-breasted Merganser Common Merganser Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull American Crow - 33+ European Starling American Tree Sparrow - 22+ - all chittering away in the trees on the east side of the ������� point.� It was quite a lovely sound. House Finch - 2 Northern Cardinal - at least 9 House Sparrow For the birds, Dave Antieau dkantieau AT sbcglobal.net Chicago [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Adult & Juvenile Red-Tails? From: Jeanette Repp <jzlrepp AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 11:00:44 -0600 Driving up I-355 through Addison (DuPage Co.,) I saw a couple Red-Tails on a light post. Nothing odd about that, except that they were close together, and based on size and coloring, I wondered if it was an adult and 1st year young from this last season. Is it possible that they'd be together this long? Jeanette Schaumburg, Cook Co. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET N. SAW-WHET OWLS, near Rend Lake From: "Mcmullen, Keith A MVS" <Keith.A.Mcmullen AT usace.army.mil> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 08:49:53 -0600 Greetings Birding Friends, I shouldn't have to tell you that spring is around the corner despite the gloomy 7-day forecast which includes snow, sleet, freezing rain and cold temperatures. Just last weekend I noted several RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS on territory and many of you have noticed large flocks of geese and ducks making movements which are likely the beginnings of their treks northward. The main purpose of my message is to report for Leonard Stanley, 5 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS he heard calling last evening from several spots at or near Rend Lake in Franklin and Jefferson County, Illinois. Obviously, I won't divulge exact locations so as to protect these birds from disturbance. For those new to IBET or for beginning birders, most owls have roosting locations that are fairly well-hidden and protected from predators, including humans. Once we, birders, divulge these locations and sometimes hundreds "flock" to that location, the roosting owl can and will become disturbed and vacate such a roost. It's really within the best interest to not share exact roost locations. (PLEASE, I didn't intend to begin a owl roost discussion forum. We've been there and done that!). The good news is this. Apparentely SAW-WHETS are becoming very vocal at this time so you may be able to find your own in a favorite woods near you! Check areas with smaller pines and cedars that are pretty thick. Chances are slim if you have 1 lone cedar in a woodlot. However, if you notice a woodlot with dozens of cedars or small pines packed in together, you just might have a SAW-WHET roosting there. All of these birds Leonard reports responded to a tape. He mentioned all of them were fairly quick to respond as well and none of the birds revealed their exact locations. Good owling! Keith McMullen O'Fallon, IL warbler7 AT sbcglobal.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET LONGSPURS, SNOW BUNTINGS and Horned Larks: Boone, Stephenson, and Jo Daviess Cos. From: djohnsoda AT comcast.net Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 14:24:01 +0000 (UTC) 5 Feb 2009 Yesterday, Bailey (my dog) and I headed to Boone Co. to look for Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs at Dan William's previously mentioned location in far SE Boone Co.  I was not disappointed--I found 25 Snow Buntings and 105 Lapland Longspurs on Shattuck Road just north of Engllson Rd. about 1/8 of a mile which is also N of Davis School Rd; most of the buntings and longspurs were in corn stubble on either side of Shattuck Rd. 38 Horned Larks were also in this area and back towards Pinegar Rd and Hill Rd. On the Stephenson and JoDaviess county line there was a flock of 38 Lapland Longspurs and 15 Horned Larks on N. County Divide Rd. between Main and and Howardsville Rd. The longspurs were on either sides of the Rd in light corn stubble often coming to the roadside grit and wind blown corn spills. In Jo Daviess Co.  on S. Willow Road just S of Rte. 20 there was a flock of 100 Snow Buntings mixed in with 50 Horned Larks.  Farther south off Willow Rd and Black Hawk Rd, SE corner, there was a flock of 75 Horned Larks on a manure spread and two Bald Eagles, one adult eagle sitting on the manure pile! (a first for me!).  Best gas was $2.59 at Stockton.  No Dairy Queens just two runs at Starbucks drive-thrus (no lattes--just straight up black!). Good Birding! David B. Johnson NE IL djohnsoda AT comcast.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Lee County 02/04/11 From: "ollie085" <ollie085 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:26:40 -0000 I took a car ride out to Green River SWA and Nachusa late this afternoon. It was my first father/son birding trip....he's only four months. Sticking to the car and roads I saw a few good birds without much effort. At Green River I was greeted by a hunting female Northern Harrier just east of the main entrance. She made an attempt at a prey item but came up empty. I then relocated the Red-shouldered Hawk mentioned earlier this week north of the big marsh along the pine trees. It was too cold to make an attempt at the Long-eareds, plus I didn't want to wake my boy. I made it to Nachusa after sundown but it was showtime for Short-eared owls. Three of them were fluttering together southwest of the yellow barn, basically around the big snag on the ridge. I had never observed either a Short-eared or a Red-shouldered so it was a short but productive jaunt. Pete Oliver Dixon, Lee County Subject: IBET Illinois birding regions (no sightings) From: "calcariusp" <sdbailey AT mail.inhs.uiuc.edu> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:50:07 -0000 Dave Bohlen (1978) used Gaults (1922) state delineation as well (although in combination with Smith and Parmalee (1955)), as did authors of several other Illinois bird works. The regional dividing lines in Bohlens 1978 work (An annotated check-list of the birds of Illinois)are drawn along mostly political boundaries, and are along county lines (but also follow isothermal lines closely). As someone who has traveled the north/south length of Illinois many, many times along I-57 from Champaign to Lake County, and Champaign to Union County, there are often times many changes in weather (especially noticeable in winter), both when I get to the Kankakee area and Effingham area (both counties along these state divisions). Rain often turns to ice around Kankakee (with snow often farther north), and snow often turning to ice or rain in Effingham (with rain and warmer temps farher south past Effingham). Birds and bird communities also change quite a bit in these two regions north and south of central Illinois, with a marked drop-off in numbers of more southern breeders like Barred Owls, Orchard Orioles, Kentucky Warblers and White-eyed Vireos once you get to the Kankakee area, and marked increases of these same species (and others like Blue Grosbeaks, Summer Tanagers, Blue-winged Warblers, etc.) once you get to Effingham and farther south. There are similar wintering bird differences in these general areas as well. Traveling the state as much as I have, such things may be more noticeable to me. There is a common joke in central and southern Illinois that basically goes, anything south of I-80 is southern Illinois to some northern Illinois folks...with my addition that includes central Illinois tends to totally disappear! ;-) Good birding! Steve Bailey Mundelein (Lake Co.) formally Champaign Co sdbailey AT mail.inhs.uiuc.edu <> There are two systems for delineation of the state's birding regions: 1) the four-region system used by Vern Kleen for his Spring Bird Count tallying, and 2) the three-region system first used by Benjamin T. Gault in 1922, which has been the basis for many subsequent comparisons. Listers Corner has, historically, used the Gault system. A map showing the regions can be found on the IOS website in the Listers Corner section. I don't pretend that Gault's division of regions is beyond criticism, but it has afforded a point of comparison dating back almost 90 years. (even though I've always wondered why Kankakee wasn't put in the north!) The Listers Corner update is coming soon; there were a lot of last-minute additions and corrections. Joe Lill Chicago, Cook County Subject: IBET Great Black-backed Gull in Evanston From: Josh Engel <jengel5230 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 15:10:56 -0800 (PST) An adult Great Black-backed Gull was harassing the ducks and other gulls in the lake this afternoon off the northeast point of the Northwestern University Lakefill in Evanston. There were a decent number of ducks in the lake, but besides Common Goldeneye and Common and Red-breasted Mergansers there was only a single female Bufflehead. A coyote walked by me as I was scanning the lake. To reach this spot, turn east on Lincoln from Sheridan Road and follow it around to the lakefront parking lot. Josh Engel Evanston, Cook Co. jengel5230 AT yahoo.com Tour Leader, Tropical Birding www.tropicalbirding.com Subject: IBET Re: Northern Shrike- Glenview From: "franmmmk" <franmmmk AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:44:24 -0000 I was driving home from Crystal Lake today and stopped for my 3rd or 4th attempt this winter at a drive-by shrike. Today, I was successful....at 3:50 pm, the Northern Shrike was perched in this field. Fran Evanston, Cook Co. --- In ILbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "Leonard, John P." wrote: > > > An adult NORTHERN SHRIKE was again seen perched on top of various dogwoods > at the Air Station Prairie, LeHigh and Compass Rd in Glenview, 11 AM > 1/31/10. This is likely the same bird that has been present in this area > since November. > > > John Leonard > Glenview, IL > Cook County > Subject: IBET Rusty Blackbird in yard, & question From: <astraight4 AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:23:31 -0600 There have been around 26 or so Cowbirds in the yard the last few weeks. Today I got home around 3p.m. (after trying to find the Prairie Falcon - no sighting) I looked out in the back yard and said that is one big Cowbird. Put my scope on it, and it was a RUSTY BLACKBIRD. It had a yellow eye, sharp bill, buffy eyebrow, some buff below the throat area, and had brown edges to the tertails and wing coverts. I didn't get the rump, but looked more like a female. So I guess I need to pay more attention to those blackbirds. Question: Are the Meadowlarks being reported on the CBC's as Eastern, assumed? The one we had was from a distance, no vocal, so I reported it as species. I have heard from a few experts that the facial pattern can be difficult and with the birds not vocal at this time of the yard, what is the protocol? Did anyone see the recent report from the University of Michigan that indicates that native grassland is being converted at an alarming rate and sensitive wildlife is declining significantly in areas with high plantings of corn? 87 million acres of corn was planted in 2009, up 1 million from 2008. This was analyzed increased corn production in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Anne Straight Forreston, IL (Ogle County) Subject: Re: IBET McLean Co. Short-eared Owls From: <jwhoyt AT illinois.edu> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 15:16:14 -0600 (CST) Mathew, That is good news! I once saw a pair of Short Eared Owls while hunting pheasants with a friend on some CRP land near Bellflower along Route 130. They were the most memorable part of the trip. :) Jim Hoyt Champaign ---- Original message ---- >Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 11:39:11 -0600 >From: Matthew Winks >Subject: IBET McLean Co. Short-eared Owls >To: IBET > > > > Hi all, > > The presence of Short-eared Owls was discovered at > the Saybrook Habitat Area last week by Given Harper > and Angelo Capparella. Several local birders > gathered at dusk on Monday (2/1/10) and watched at > least six (possibly more) Short-ears sporting > around. The Saybrook Habitat Area in eastern McLean > County was purchased jointly by Pheasants Forever > and IDNR for grassland restoration and pheasant > hunting. The key sections of this area are a 320 > acre and a 160 acre tract bounded by Illinois Route > 9 to the south; 1500 N to between 3700 E and 3800 E. > The best vantage point to view the owls seems to be > from a small gravel parking lot on 1500 N. I've made > a map for anybody interested. > > http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Colfax,+IL&gl=us&ei=oQNrS-vDHseWtgePy_WCBg&ved=0CAsQ8gEwAA&msa=0&ll=40.50636,-88.534355&spn=0.030281,0.084543&z=14&msid=115910564470275447199.00047ec9abecd2e0a24e7 > > I would like to add a report of a possible Prairie > Falcon seen in the area last week. Ted Hartzler > spotted a large falcon near 3300 E and 1700 N which > appeared two-toned underneath; having dark underwing > coverts with contrasting paler flight feathers. A > few local birders, including myself, have attempted > to relocate the falcon with no luck however. When > Ted last saw the bird, he said it was gaining > serious altitude and drifting far to the south. > > Matthew Winks > El Paso, IL > > __________________________________________________________ > Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM > protection. > http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469227/direct/01/ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > Subject: IBET McLean Co. Short-eared Owls From: Matthew Winks <fluidfive AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 11:39:11 -0600 Hi all, The presence of Short-eared Owls was discovered at the Saybrook Habitat Area last week by Given Harper and Angelo Capparella. Several local birders gathered at dusk on Monday (2/1/10) and watched at least six (possibly more) Short-ears sporting around. The Saybrook Habitat Area in eastern McLean County was purchased jointly by Pheasants Forever and IDNR for grassland restoration and pheasant hunting. The key sections of this area are a 320 acre and a 160 acre tract bounded by Illinois Route 9 to the south; 1500 N to between 3700 E and 3800 E. The best vantage point to view the owls seems to be from a small gravel parking lot on 1500 N. I've made a map for anybody interested. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Colfax,+IL&gl=us&ei=oQNrS-vDHseWtgePy_WCBg&ved=0CAsQ8gEwAA&msa=0&ll=40.50636,-88.534355&spn=0.030281,0.084543&z=14&msid=115910564470275447199.00047ec9abecd2e0a24e7 I would like to add a report of a possible Prairie Falcon seen in the area last week. Ted Hartzler spotted a large falcon near 3300 E and 1700 N which appeared two-toned underneath; having dark underwing coverts with contrasting paler flight feathers. A few local birders, including myself, have attempted to relocate the falcon with no luck however. When Ted last saw the bird, he said it was gaining serious altitude and drifting far to the south. Matthew Winks El Paso, IL _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469227/direct/01/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET:� Birding America date correction (no sightings) From: trptjoe AT aol.com Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 10:56:23 EST In our recent IBET posts, both Alan Anderson and I ended our posts with a footer publicizing Birding America: but with the WRONG date! Fine Board members we are... Birding America VIII is on Saturday, March 6, 2010; see www.chicagoaudubon.org for details, but here's the lineup: Symposium Schedule: 8:15 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.  Registration and Refreshments. Keynote Address:  9:00 a.m.  Roger Tory Peterson—No Person Left Behind.  Presented by Joe Lill. Near Chicago Birding Areas: 10:00 a.m.  Birds at Carlyle Lake.  Presented by Keith McMullen. 11:00 a.m.  Birding the Frozen North (Wisconsin).  Presented by Steve Betchkal 1:00 p.m.   North Pond / Lincoln Park.  Presented by Geoffrey A. Williamson. 2:00 p.m.   North Point Marina and Spring Bluff Forest Preserve, Lake County. Presented by Eric Walters. Skill-Building Workshops: 10:00 a.m.  Shorebird Identification.  Presented by Walter Marcisz. 11:00 a.m.  Secret Lives of Illinois’ Breeding Birds.  Presented by Steve Bailey. 1:00 p.m.  Navigating Chicago’s High-Rises.  Presented by Dave Willard. 2:00 p.m.  Bird Conservation Opportunities in the Chicago Region.  Presented by Judy Pollock, Donnie Dann, and Steve Flexman. International Birding Trips: 10:00 a.m.  Birds of Southern Arizona.  Presented by Clair and Bev Postmus. 11:00 a.m.  Birds of Kenya.  Presented by Paul Gitau. 1:00 p.m.   Veracruz, Mexico Hawk Migration.  Presented by Jorge Barrios.   2:00 p.m.   Birds of Florida’s Sanibel Island Area.  Presented by Clair and Bev Postmus. 3:00 p.m.  Closing Presentation:   Birds on the Wind: The Miracle of Migration.  Presented by Kevin Karlson. Joe Lill Chicago, Cook County Chicago Audubon Society [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET: Gull Frolic Feb. 20th Reminder From: Brian Herriott <wrybill AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 06:59:53 -0800 (PST) Saturday, February 20, 8:00 AM 9th Annual IOS Gull Frolic Guest Speaker 9:30 and 11:30 AM: Mr. Alvaro Jaramillo - Slaty-backed Gull Identification Bring your binoculars, scope and cold weather gear. Experts will be available to help ID and answer questions. $10 registration fee includes continental breakfast, lunch, including Sea Gull Stew, vegetarian chili, drinks and more. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate will be available all day. This fee will help defray facility expenses. Any surplus will go to the IOS Grant Program to benefit Illinois birds and birding. The featured speaker, sponsored by the Chicago Ornithological Society, will be Mr. Alvaro Jaramillo, a Field Guides Chile specialist guide, who lives in Half Moon Bay, Calif. His progam will be on Slaty-backed Gull identification. Lunch will be served immediately following the 2nd presentation. To reach the Winthrop Harbor Yacht Club take the I-94 toll road north toward Milwaukee. Exit at Route 173. Turn right (east) and go to Sheridan Road (Rt. 137). Turn left and proceed to 7th Street. Turn right on 7th Street and follow the North Point Marina signs to the yacht club. DO NOT SPEED on 7th Street! It is actively patrolled by the Winthrop Harbor police. More info will be posted at http://www.illinoisbirds.org as we get closer to the date. Sponsored by many local bird clubs, organizations and individuals. Hosted by the Illinois Ornithological Society. Cheers, Brian Herriott Evanston, IL Cook County Illinois Ornithological Society [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Illinois birding regions (no sightings) From: trptjoe AT aol.com Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:27:02 -0500 <> There are two systems for delineation of the state's birding regions: 1) the four-region system used by Vern Kleen for his Spring Bird Count tallying, and 2) the three-region system first used by Benjamin T. Gault in 1922, which has been the basis for many subsequent comparisons. Listers Corner has, historically, used the Gault system. A map showing the regions can be found on the IOS website in the Listers Corner section. I don't pretend that Gault's division of regions is beyond criticism, but it has afforded a point of comparison dating back almost 90 years. (even though I've always wondered why Kankakee wasn't put in the north!) The Listers Corner update is coming soon; there were a lot of last-minute additions and corrections. Joe Lill Chicago, Cook County Save the date: March 7th, Birding America VIII, North Park University, Chicago www.chicagoaudubon.org Subject: IBET Nachusa Raptors - 1/31/2010 From: VBirdman AT aol.com Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:18:54 -0500 My wife Ann and I were out at Nachusa Grasslands for a few hours this past Sunday. Didn't see the Prairie Falcon but did see several raptors, including several Rough-legged Hawks, Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels. If interested I put up a few photos of a young Bald Eagle and an adult male Rough-legged Hawk on Greg's site: http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=32373.msg40613#msg40613 Vic Berardi Gurnee, IL (Lake County) Email: VBirdman AT aol.com Raptor Blog: http://theraptorphile.blogspot.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Lee County: Northern Goshawk From: "mmadsen48" <mmadsen48 AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:06:36 -0000 The first bird of the day turned out to be the highlight of a day of birding in Lee and Ogle counties with Andy Sigler on Wednesday. An immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK was perched near Maytown Road along the southern boundary of the Green River Conservation Area in Lee County. It was across the road from a farmhouse with pens filled with pheasants in their back yard. At least 3 LONG-EARED OWLS were present in the Conservation Area (could have been more but we didn't want to flush them). A long search for the Prairie Falcon that has been seen in and near the Nachusa Grasslands had the same result as all my searches for this species in Illinois - zilch! A beautiful sunset (complete with howling coyote pack) was followed by the appearance of a hunting SHORT-EARED OWL in the Nachusa Grasslands. A short time later, a GREAT HORNED OWL was checking us out from a perch over our heads and was promptly harassed by two more Short-eared Owls. Other Great Horned Owls serenaded us from nearby in the fading light. Later we were able to locate an EASTERN SCREECH OWL nearby and then we drove a few miles north to the Lowden-Miller Forest area where we heard BARRED OWLS and several more Screech Owls to complete a five species owl day. Mike Madsen mmadsen48 AT comcast.net Woodridge, IL (DuPage County) Subject: IBET Day of Week Correction From: Steve Spitzer <steven0703 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 20:04:09 -0800 (PST) I meant Wednesday Walk, by the way. Those days, they all look alike I guess. Steve Spitzer [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Montrose To Belmont Monday Walk From: Steve Spitzer <steven0703 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 19:54:02 -0800 (PST) Hi Birders, I walked the lakefront this afternoon No unusual birds, but all three Mergansers were seen, along with a photogenic Goldeneye and a Scuap that I used to test my new FZ35 camera. http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=32374.0 Details at the link. Steve Spitzer Chicago, Cook [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: IBET Pink-sided Junco From: "B.G. Sloan" <bgsloan2 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 17:30:23 -0800 (PST)   Steve Bailey said "The range in variation in the most common junco in Illinois (Slate-colored) varies greatly between individuals, and nowhere was this more noticeable to me as when I used to band hundreds of birds each year, many years ago...I was somewhat amazed at the varying amounts of brown wash there was in the otherwise gray plumage of the dorsal areas of the juncos, not to mention the varying amounts of pinkish/brownish wash in the flanks and sides."   I did some furniture re-arranging this fall, moving my home office from the second floor to the first floor. My writing desk faces north and looks out on my bird feeders through a big floor-to-ceiling window. At my left elbow is a good-sized west-facing window. This winter I put bird feed out on the ground outside each of these windows for juncos and winter sparrows.   I've watched LOTS of juncos this winter...I'll have as many as 75 juncos outside these windows at one time. And, like Steve, I'm really amazed at the color variations of juncos. I've seen pinkish/brownish wash in the flanks and sides of quite a few. I've seen some that look kinda "Oregon-ish". But I doubt that any of them were true Pink-sided or Oregon juncos. Let's hear it for junco diversity. :-)   I had an interesting experience early this fall. I was out with some birders and someone came up to me with their camera and asked me to ID a bird photo. I was like "Uh, it's a junco". They noted how it didn't have "typical" junco field marks. I said "then let's call it 'junco-esque'". It definitely was a Dark-eyed Junco...   Bernie Sloan Champaign County, IL Monroe County, IN My birding blog: http://bird-bs.blogspot.com Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/birdbsBirds playing electric guitar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89Kz8Nxb-Bg --- On Wed, 2/3/10, calcariusp wrote: From: calcariusp Subject: Re: IBET Pink-sided Junco To: ILbirds AT yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2010, 5:48 PM   My post does not reflect on Eric's recent Pink-sided Junco sighting, but is more in agreement with Michael in that folks should take caution in identifying ANY junco other than "Slate-colored" Junco's…even the "Oregon" subspecies. I have to admit that other than juncos at my feeders, I don't often scrutinize junco flocks for rare subspecific individuals. With that said, many years ago, I did find and identify a "Pink-sided" Junco (even got some poor pictures!) at Lake Shelbyville…in June! Luckily, I had just started working for Dr. Scott Robinson at the time (one of few exceptional ornithologists that I know who are avid birders and listers). As Scott still did not know me well, he went to look for it the next day (I suspect as he had doubts that I had ID'ed it correctly), and luckily he found it! Bohlen (1989) lists it as only one of two "good" sight records in his Birds of Illinois book. Of course, there have likely been several more sightings since then, but this does show the subspecies rarity. My thought is that I think even the "Oregon" Junco may very well be identified way too easily (& often) by a lot of birders, as I seldom even see this subspecies. They are relatively often reported on the Christmas Bird Counts I help on, and I've noted 2-3 individuals reported at the same time and place by some folks, and have always wondered how well these individuals were actually seen. The range in variation in the most common junco in Illinois (Slate-colored) varies greatly between individuals, and nowhere was this more noticeable to me as when I used to band hundreds of birds each year, many years ago. Most of my banding was done in late-fall and winter, so a good percentage of the birds I caught were "Slate-colored" Juncos, and I was somewhat amazed at the varying amounts of brown wash there was in the otherwise gray plumage of the dorsal areas of the juncos, not to mention the varying amounts of pinkish/brownish wash in the flanks and sides. Even the gray of many birds approached more of a charcoal gray to blackish, although these may have been immature males. It was much easier to differentiate the gray and white adult males. I have always been a lot more hesitant to call any junco an "Oregon" without a pretty good look. It was interesting to read one of the links in Michael's post, in which comments by Ted Floyd (Chief editor of Birding magazine) show just how rare "Oregon" juncos are at the Powdermill Banding Station in Pennsylvania (granted it is a fair distance farther east). He says that the "Oregon" race is EXCEEDINGLY rare in the banding records there, but I bet if you checked the published sight records from that area of the U.S., published records would not show the race to be that rare. Just something to think about the next time you are getting ready to call one of those birds underneath your feeder an "Oregon" or "Pink-sided" Junco. With that said, would someone please find a "White-winged" Junco in Lake County while they're looking for an "Oregon"! I'd probably come and take a look at it. Good birding! Steve Bailey Mundelein (Lake Co) sdbailey AT mail. inhs.uiuc. edu >Hello, all. > >I'm very glad to hear that Eric is scrutinizing the juncos at his >feeders. Many birders simply say "Dark-eyed Junco" and leave it at >that, but they miss out on the fun and challenge of going further. >Anyone who sees any junco they think is not Slate-colored, Oregon, >or a hybrid thereof should be encouraged to properly document and >photograph the bird. It would be accidental in Illinois, and its >true status unclear/unknown. > >Caution and careful study are warranted, especially, when >identifying any junco as Pink-sided (mearnsi) in Illinois. Hybrid >Slate-colored X Oregon juncos (also know as Cassiar Juncos >[=cismontanus] ) are not rare in Illinois, and females can look very >similar to Pink-sideds. Here is a junco I photographed in 2003 at >Starved Rock that I thought might be a Pink-sided: > >http://www.flickr. com/photos/ mlretter/ 928749760/ in/set->72157601057052980/ > >Expert consensus, however, was that this was a female cismontanus. >Not many people know, let alone are familiar with, this taxon, so it >consequently perplexes people on a regular basis. Notice how is >lacks the paler blue-gray head and the starkly contrasting black >lores of this Pink-sided Junco: > >http://www.schmoker .org/BirdPics/ Photos/Sparrows/ PSJU_2.jpg > >Here are some additional junco ID resources: > >http://www.oceanwan derers.com/ JuncoID.html >http://www.schmoker .org/BirdPics/ DEJU.html >http://www.roysepho tos.com/DarkEyed Junco3.html > >Good birding, > >Michael L. P. Retter [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Kankakee/Will Co: Migration Begins From: Jed Hertz <jhh_60910 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 16:15:47 -0800 (PST) Hi all,   I'm going to miss winter - love how the cold congregates the birds - but it seems some species are on the move: 14900 Canada Goose plus other waterfowl moving north the other day, a small flock of Cedar Waxwing yesterday, last seen 12/14/09 here, and two Hermit Thrush perched for photos yesterday, last seen 11/18/09 (almost none existent in Kankakee area this winter).    Also of note: Mute Swan (juvenile) with all black bill - see photo.   BTW: The Rare Bird reported Northern Goshawk was sighted in Will Co at the Braidwood Cooling Lake, not Kankakee Co.  Also, Kankakee Co is part of the northern zone as shown on Vernon Kleen's Spring Bird Count map, not the central zone as has been mentioned recently by others.  (I lived in Champaign Co 4 yrs, I know the difference).   BTW2: I've added a few "classified ads" you might find amusing.  (sent by my sister).   Here's a run-down on 50 recently sighted species in my area:   Anatidae 12 Greater White-fronted Goose IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington   Cackling Goose IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington   Canada Goose IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington  Mute Swan IL, Kankakee River SP + Davis Crk Area immature; photo American Wigeon IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington M American Black Duck IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington   Mallard IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington est; pair "bobbing heads." Northern Pintail IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington   Redhead IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington M Common Goldeneye IL, Kankakee Dam Area & Bird Park Quarry   Hooded Merganser IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington   Common Merganser IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington     Phasianidae 1 Ring-necked Pheasant IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington     Melagrididae 1 Wild Turkey IL, LeVasseur Park-Perry Farm, Kankakee Co Rt 113   Podicipedidae 1 Pied-billed Grebe IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington     Phalacrocoracidae 1 Double-crested Cormorant IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington     Ardeidae 1 Great Blue Heron IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington     Accipitridae 2 Bald Eagle IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington ad Red-tailed Hawk IL, Kankakee River SP + Davis Crk Area     Falconidae 1 American Kestrel IL, Kankakee Area, Kankakee Co f   Rallidae 1 American Coot IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington     Laridae 2 Ring-billed Gull IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington   Herring Gull IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington     Columbidae 2 Rock Pigeon IL, Kankakee Dam Area & Bird Park Quarry   Mourning Dove IL, Kankakee Area, Kankakee Co     Picidae 5 Red-headed Woodpecker IL, Kankakee River SP + Davis Crk Area   Red-bellied Woodpecker IL, Justine Drive House, Kankakee M Yellow-bellied Sapsucker IL, Kankakee Area, Kankakee Co   Downy Woodpecker IL, Justine Drive House, Kankakee F Hairy Woodpecker IL, Kankakee River SP + Davis Crk Area     Corvidae 2 Blue Jay IL, Justine Drive House, Kankakee   American Crow IL, Justine Drive House, Kankakee     Paridae 2 Black-capped Chickadee IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington   Tufted Titmouse IL, Justine Drive House, Kankakee     Sittidae 1 White-breasted Nuthatch IL, Justine Drive House, Kankakee     Certhiidae 1 Brown Creeper IL, Kankakee Area, Kankakee Co     Troglodytidae 1 Carolina Wren IL, Justine Drive House, Kankakee     Turdidae 1 Hermit Thrush IL, Kankakee Area, Kankakee Co photo   Sturnidae 1 European Starling IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington     Bombycillidae 1 Cedar Waxwing IL, Kankakee Area, Kankakee Co     Emberizidae 4 American Tree Sparrow IL, Mazonia/Braidwood SFWA, S. Wilmington   Fox Sparrow IL, Kankakee River SP + Davis Crk Area   White-throated Sparrow IL, Kankakee Area, Kankakee Co   Dark-eyed Junco IL, Justine Drive House, Kankakee     Cardinalidae 1 Northern Cardinal IL, Justine Drive House, Kankakee     Icteridae 2 Common Grackle IL, Kankakee Area, Kankakee Co   Brown-headed Cowbird IL, Kankakee Area, Kankakee Co     Fringillidae 2 House Finch IL, Justine Drive House, Kankakee   American Goldfinch IL, Justine Drive House, Kankakee     Passeridae 1 House Sparrow IL, Justine Drive House, Kankakee     These classifieds actually ran in a Minneapolis newspapers – a few smiles for your day....                 FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER .  8-years old. Hateful little bastard.  Bites!                   FREE PUPPIES:            1/2 Cocker Spaniel,    1/2 sneaky neighbor's dog.    FREE PUPPIES..  Mother, AKC German Shepherd.  Father, Super Dog..able to leap   tall fences in a single bound.          FOUND DIRTY WHITE DOG.  Looks like a rat. Been out awhile.  Better be a big reward.                 COWS, CALVES: NEVER BRED.   Also 1 gay bull for sale.         NORDIC TRACK  $300 Hardly used, call Chubby.                  GEORGIA PEACHES   California grown - 89 cents/lb.               JOINING NUDIST COLONY!  Must sell washer and dryer $300.                   WEDDING DRESS FOR SALE .  Worn once by mistake. Call Stephanie.                                   FOR SALE BY OWNER: Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica, 45 volumes. Excellent condition.  $1,000 or best offer.  No longer needed, Got married last month. Wife  knows everything. Jed Hertz Kankakee, Kankakee Co, IL (60 mi South of Chicago) Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhertz/ Give "ebird" a try: http://ebird.org/content/ebird [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: IBET Pink-sided Junco From: "calcariusp" <sdbailey AT mail.inhs.uiuc.edu> Date: Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:48:17 -0000 My post does not reflect on Eric's recent Pink-sided Junco sighting, but is more in agreement with Michael in that folks should take caution in identifying ANY junco other than "Slate-colored" Junco's�even the "Oregon" subspecies. I have to admit that other than juncos at my feeders, I don't often scrutinize junco flocks for rare subspecific individuals. With that said, many years ago, I did find and identify a "Pink-sided" Junco (even got some poor pictures!) at Lake Shelbyville�in June! Luckily, I had just started working for Dr. Scott Robinson at the time (one of few exceptional ornithologists that I know who are avid birders and listers). As Scott still did not know me well, he went to look for it the next day (I suspect as he had doubts that I had ID'ed it correctly), and luckily he found it! Bohlen (1989) lists it as only one of two "good" sight records in his Birds of Illinois book. Of course, there have likely been several more sightings since then, but this does show the subspecies rarity. My thought is that I think even the "Oregon" Junco may very well be identified way too easily (& often) by a lot of birders, as I seldom even see this subspecies. They are relatively often reported on the Christmas Bird Counts I help on, and I've noted 2-3 individuals reported at the same time and place by some folks, and have always wondered how well these individuals were actually seen. The range in variation in the most common junco in Illinois (Slate-colored) varies greatly between individuals, and nowhere was this more noticeable to me as when I used to band hundreds of birds each year, many years ago. Most of my banding was done in late-fall and winter, so a good percentage of the birds I caught were "Slate-colored" Juncos, and I was somewhat amazed at the varying amounts of brown wash there was in the otherwise gray plumage of the dorsal areas of the juncos, not to mention the varying amounts of pinkish/brownish wash in the flanks and sides. Even the gray of many birds approached more of a charcoal gray to blackish, although these may have been immature males. It was much easier to differentiate the gray and white adult males. I have always been a lot more hesitant to call any junco an "Oregon" without a pretty good look. It was interesting to read one of the links in Michael's post, in which comments by Ted Floyd (Chief editor of Birding magazine) show just how rare "Oregon" juncos are at the Powdermill Banding Station in Pennsylvania (granted it is a fair distance farther east). He says that the "Oregon" race is EXCEEDINGLY rare in the banding records there, but I bet if you checked the published sight records from that area of the U.S., published records would not show the race to be that rare. Just something to think about the next time you are getting ready to call one of those birds underneath your feeder an "Oregon" or "Pink-sided" Junco. With that said, would someone please find a "White-winged" Junco in Lake County while they're looking for an "Oregon"! I'd probably come and take a look at it. Good birding! Steve Bailey Mundelein (Lake Co) sdbailey AT mail.inhs.uiuc.edu >Hello, all. > >I'm very glad to hear that Eric is scrutinizing the juncos at his >feeders. Many birders simply say "Dark-eyed Junco" and leave it at >that, but they miss out on the fun and challenge of going further. >Anyone who sees any junco they think is not Slate-colored, Oregon, >or a hybrid thereof should be encouraged to properly document and >photograph the bird. It would be accidental in Illinois, and its >true status unclear/unknown. > >Caution and careful study are warranted, especially, when >identifying any junco as Pink-sided (mearnsi) in Illinois. Hybrid >Slate-colored X Oregon juncos (also know as Cassiar Juncos >[=cismontanus]) are not rare in Illinois, and females can look very >similar to Pink-sideds. Here is a junco I photographed in 2003 at >Starved Rock that I thought might be a Pink-sided: > >http://www.flickr.com/photos/mlretter/928749760/in/set->72157601057052980/ > >Expert consensus, however, was that this was a female cismontanus. >Not many people know, let alone are familiar with, this taxon, so it >consequently perplexes people on a regular basis. Notice how is >lacks the paler blue-gray head and the starkly contrasting black >lores of this Pink-sided Junco: > >http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/Photos/Sparrows/PSJU_2.jpg > >Here are some additional junco ID resources: > >http://www.oceanwanderers.com/JuncoID.html >http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/DEJU.html >http://www.roysephotos.com/DarkEyedJunco3.html > >Good birding, > >Michael L. P. Retter Subject: Re: IBET Pink-sided junco From: "Michael L. P. Retter" <mlretter AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 10:22:12 -0800 (PST) Hello, all. I'm very glad to hear that Eric is scrutinizing the juncos at his feeders. Many birders simply say "Dark-eyed Junco" and leave it at that, but they miss out on the fun and challenge of going further. Anyone who sees any junco they think is not Slate-colored, Oregon, or a hybrid thereof should be encouraged to properly document and photograph the bird. It would be accidental in Illinois, and its true status unclear/unknown. Caution and careful study are warranted, especially, when identifying any junco as Pink-sided (mearnsi) in Illinois. Hybrid Slate-colored X Oregon juncos (also know as Cassiar Juncos [=cismontanus]) are not rare in Illinois, and females can look very similar to Pink-sideds. Here is a junco I photographed in 2003 at Starved Rock that I thought might be a Pink-sided: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mlretter/928749760/in/set-72157601057052980/ Expert consensus, however, was that this was a female cismontanus. Not many people know, let alone are familiar with, this taxon, so it consequently perplexes people on a regular basis. Notice how is lacks the paler blue-gray head and the starkly contrasting black lores of this Pink-sided Junco: http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/Photos/Sparrows/PSJU_2.jpg Here are some additional junco ID resources: http://www.oceanwanderers.com/JuncoID.html http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/DEJU.html http://www.roysephotos.com/DarkEyedJunco3.html Good birding, Michael L. P. Retter --------------------------------- W. Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co., IN mlretter AT yahoo.com home: 765.838.3152 cell: 309.824.7317 http://xenospiza.com/ Tour Leader, Tropical Birding http://www.tropicalbirding.com/ ----------------------------------- --- On Wed, 2/3/10, Eric Lundquist wrote: From: Eric Lundquist Subject: IBET Pink-sided junco To: "IL-Birds" Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2010, 11:00 AM   Everyone- I had a nice Pink-sided Junco at the feeders this morning in Mundelein, IL. Regards, Eric  Eric Lundquist Mundelein, IL brewbird1 [at] yahoo dot com Subject: IBET Pink-sided junco From: Eric Lundquist <brewbird1 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 09:00:22 -0800 (PST) Everyone- I had a nice Pink-sided Junco at the feeders this morning in Mundelein, IL. Regards, Eric �Eric Lundquist Mundelein, IL brewbird1 [at] yahoo dot com Subject: IBET Tundra Swans From: bob shelby <bobshelby_1956 AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 10:46:28 -0600 Leroy Harrison and I observed 4 Tundra Swans at East Fork Lake in Richland County this morning. They have been around since Tuesday morning. Bob Shelby West Salem, Edwards Co. bobshelby_1956 AT hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469227/direct/01/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Rusty Blackbird Blitz reminder (NO SIGHTINGS) From: Matt Mckim-Louder <mmckimlouder AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 08:46:18 -0800 (PST) Rusty Blackbird Blitz January 30- February 15 Just a reminder for those who wish to participate in the Blitz, even if you don't find any Rusty Blackbirds in appropriate habitat, please enter your report into the eBird.org website or send me your information.� We still have another week and a half to survey Rusty habitats..... With a few scattered sightings across Illinois in January, I hope surveyors have a successful upcoming count week. Illinois eBird Rusty sightings in January 2010: http://tinyurl.com/yfzdj78 � A small recent discussion on Rusty Blackbird locations in southern Illinois can be found at: http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=31560.0 � Matt Mckim-Louder Graduate Student Champaign, Illinois [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET inconspicuous owls From: "Rhonda \(Monroe\) Rothrock" <woodthrusheola8 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 06:58:04 -0800 (PST) On the way home from work I passed 2 separate barred owls inconspicuously perched along a country road. These experiences never cease to make me smile because seeing an owl is always a treat and wondering of how many folks passed without noticing them is interesting. As is wondering how many others I passed without noticing. One of the two owls was perched on a 'no trespassing" sign making the owl appear to be on guard. Rhonda Rothrock Pomona, Jackson County, IL “ooh, ooh, stepped in pooh” phonetic/mnemonic of Swainson's warbler song as per Bob Behrstock and the late David Markley from 'On The Warblers of Texas'. Subject: RE: IBET Family Owl Prowl (No Sightings) From: "John Adams" <jadams6893 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 09:02:01 -0600 Become a fan of the Chicago Audubon Society on Facebook. They will post the results there. From: ILbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:ILbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Michael L. Peters Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 8:24 AM To: Edward Cc: ILbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: IBET Family Owl Prowl (No Sightings) Edward, Please be sure to post the results of the Owl Prowl, sounds like a lot of fun. Good luck. Michael Peters On Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 1:44 AM, Edward > wrote: > > > For those of you who'd like to share the joys of birding with you whole > family, there will be a family Owl Prowl at the North Park Village Nature > Center (5801 N. Pulaski)this Friday, February 5 from 6-8pm. It starts with a > breif talk about owls and is followed by a walk through the moon lit > preserve to search for Great Horned and Eastern Screech owls. > > All ages welcome! > > Edward Warden > Cook County > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4831 (20100203) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: IBET Family Owl Prowl (No Sightings) From: "Michael L. Peters" <michael.l.peters AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 08:24:16 -0600 Edward, Please be sure to post the results of the Owl Prowl, sounds like a lot of fun. Good luck. Michael Peters On Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 1:44 AM, Edward wrote: > > > For those of you who'd like to share the joys of birding with you whole > family, there will be a family Owl Prowl at the North Park Village Nature > Center (5801 N. Pulaski)this Friday, February 5 from 6-8pm. It starts with a > breif talk about owls and is followed by a walk through the moon lit > preserve to search for Great Horned and Eastern Screech owls. > > All ages welcome! > > Edward Warden > Cook County > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Family Owl Prowl (No Sightings) From: "Edward" <ewarden AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:44:18 -0000 For those of you who'd like to share the joys of birding with you whole family, there will be a family Owl Prowl at the North Park Village Nature Center (5801 N. Pulaski)this Friday, February 5 from 6-8pm. It starts with a breif talk about owls and is followed by a walk through the moon lit preserve to search for Great Horned and Eastern Screech owls. All ages welcome! Edward Warden Cook County Subject: IBET Illinois RBA - February 2, 2010 From: Sulli Gibson <sulli.gibson AT comcast.net> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 04:30:53 +0000 (UTC) - RBA * Illinois * Statewide * February 2, 2010 * ILST1002.02 - Species Mentioned (Caps denote a review list species): Long-tailed Duck Thayer's Gull Iceland Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull Northern Goshawk PRAIRIE FALCON Ruby-crowned Kinglet This is the Rare Bird Report for February 2, 2010. Compiler: Sulli Gibson. Email: sulli.gibson AT comcast.net Species in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS ARE REVIEW LIST SPECIES. Details of these sightings are desired by the Illinois Ornithological Records Committee. Careful observation, not ornithological expertise, is the only requirement for submitting data. For details and pointers, see: http://www.illinoisbirds.org/iorc.html Rare Bird Alert Archives: http://www.illinoisbirds.org/illinois_rare_bird_alert_archives.html Long-tailed Duck: Clinton Co (South) - 1 at at the West Access Marina viewed from the end of the jetty on 1/30/10 (Dan Kassebaum, Mark Seiffert, et al.). Thayer's Gull: Clinton Co (South) - 1 2nd winter at the West Access Marina viewed from the end of the jetty on 1/30/10 and 1/31/10 (Dan Kassebaum, Mark Seiffert, et al.). Iceland Gull: Clinton Co (South) - 1 adult at the West Access Marina viewed from the end of the jetty on 1/30/10 (Dan Kassebaum, Mark Seiffert, et al.). Lesser Black-backed Gull: Clinton Co (South) - 1 adult at the West Access Marina viewed from the end of the jetty on 1/30/10 (Dan Kassebaum, Mark Seiffert, et al.). Glaucous Gull: Tazewell Co (Central) - 1 2nd winter at RiverFront Park behind Wal-Mart in East Peoria on 1/30/10 (Matthew Winks). Clinton Co (South) - 1 at the West Access Marina viewed from the end of the jetty on 1/30/10 (Dan Kassebaum, Mark Seiffert, et al.). Northern Goshawk: Kankakee Co (Central) - 1 immature at Mazonia/Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area on 1/29/10 (Jed Hertz). PRAIRIE FALCON: Lee Co (North) - 1 has been seen many times around Nachusa Grasslands and is likely on winter territory. However, it has often been difficult to locate. The bird was last spotted 3/4 miles South of the main buildings at Nachusa Grasslands on 1/30/10 (Bob Erickson, Andy Sigler). Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Kendall Co (North) - 1 has been coming to a suet feeder on private property in Oswego for more than month now. It was last seen on 1/31/10 (Mary Robbins). - End transcript Sulli Gibson Illinois Ornithological Society Rare Bird Alert www.illinoisbirds.org [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET North Shore Channel (Touhy/Howard), Emily Oaks NC From: casresearch AT comcast.net Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 04:23:25 +0000 (UTC) While out and about today in the city, made a couple of very short stops for birding, without too much to report: - North Shore Channel at Touhy Avenue bridge:   YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (1) northeast side, and a BELTED KINGFISHER - North Shore Channel at MWRD discharge area north of Howard:   31 AMERICAN ROBIN   (only ducks I saw at both the above were Mallard) - Emily Oaks Nature Center, Skokie (north of Knox, east of Cicero):     45+ Robins, 2 RED-TAILED HAWK Alan Anderson, casresearch AT comcast.net , Des Plaines Save the date:  March 7th, Birding America VIII, North Park University, Chicago www.chicagoaudubon.org [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET Goin' south From: Michael Baum <sixftwarbler AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 19:26:41 -0600 Andy Sigler and I headed south one more time on Monday. Part of my agenda was to bird Richland Co, my last zero list in the state. Open water was at a premium on this wintry day, but GREATER SCAUP at East Fork Lake in Richland Co. was nice. It was in the company of lesser scaup, bufflehead, ring-necked duck, c. goldeneye, and coot. Birds from the north included purple finch in Effingham Co, a nice flock of lapland longspurs in Richland Co, and red-breasted nuthatch and golden-crowned kinglet at Bird Haven (also Richland). A dark-phase ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in Clay Co. invaded Richland's air space after ten minutes' coaxing. In our three January visits to so. Illinois we failed to find this species. A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE in Clay was a most welcome FOY for us both. Late in the day large flocks of snow geese were winging north in Jasper and Cumberland Co's while a number of modest flights of Canada geese were also noted. Best gas was $2.39 at the Flying J in Effingham. No groundhogs were harmed in the creating of this message Mike Baum [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET eagles moving? From: Kevin Richmond <theeggman AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:01:46 -0600 Encountered an adult GOLDEN EAGLE on the way home from work late yesterday afternoon about halfway between East Peoria and Morton (in Tazewell Co.). It was flap-flying north at a steady pace and gave the impression that it was migrating. An adult BALD EAGLE was doing the same thing over East Peoria late this morning. Perhaps spring is not as far away as it seems :) Kevin Richmond Morton, Illinois Subject: IBET Monday Montrose Report From: Steve Spitzer <steven0703 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 20:53:32 -0800 (PST) Hi Birders, The most interesting birds I saw at Montrose today might have been the three Red-winged Blackbirds. Details and pictures at the link. http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=32326.0 Steve Spitzer Chicago, Cook [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: IBET: Kane and Kendall counties, Monday afternoon From: "Darrell Shambaugh" <d.shambaugh AT mchsi.com> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 20:08:03 -0600 There was an adult BALD EAGLE at the North Aurora Police Station about noon today. Another one was at the Route 30 Fox River bridge in Boulder Hill. There are LOTS of CANADA GEESE in the Fox River along Route 25 between Batavia and Oswego, at least 10000, maybe closer to 20,000. There are a smattering of COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON MERGANSERS, and MALLARDS too. Between Montgomery and Oswego I found 11 GREAT BLUE HERONS. Red Oak Nature Center in North Aurora had a HAIRY WOODPECKER near the feeders at the nature center. Darrell Shambaugh Somonauk, DeKalb County [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]