Breaking 90

There's the vast majority of people who choose to stay inside on days like today. Then there's the minority who have to go outside against their own will. Then there's the small sliver of crazies who could stay in, but go out of their own volition. January in Chicago this year has forced me into the latter category on multiple occasions, including this breezy morning in southern Cook County.

A busy week of work had me up late five nights in a row, the latest of which was last night. Any sane person would have taken Saturday morning to sleep in, stay inside, and be warm. Big years do not attract sane people, though, and since Andrew was up for going out too, I couldn't pass up an opportunity at likely year birds. The first step I took outside was surprisingly warm, and the breeze was manageable. But the weather man had said that the temperature was going to drop by the hour for the rest of the day. The weather man was right.

Our initial moments at the bend of the Little Calumet River weren't all that cold, partially due to the conditions, partially due to the adrenaline that comes from a refreshingly large flock of waterfowl when so much of the region is iced in. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite wintertime spots in the county.

Double-crested Cormorants were my first year bird of the day (phew! Don't have to sweat that one any longer! Yes, I'm joking.). A nice flock of White-winged Scoters grew to 10 birds while we stood there, including a couple beautiful males that offered some good views.

White-winged Scoter

Bend of the Little Calumet River, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

That was nice, but by far my favorite part of this stop, and one of the highlights of the year for me so far, was getting great views at two gorgeous adult Great Black-backed Gulls. These were the first adults of this species I have ever seen, and they did not disappoint! It was still pretty dim, so the pics aren't great, but you get the idea; what a striking bird. The way it can dwarf Herrings is remarkable to me.

Great Black-backed Gull

Bend of the Little Calumet River, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

Great Black-backed and Herring Gull

Bend of the Little Calumet River, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

Great Black-backed Gull

Bend of the Little Calumet River, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

Great Black-backed Gull

Bend of the Little Calumet River, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

Other birds of note at the bend were Gadwall, American Black Duck, Ring-necked Duck, both scaup, a healthy flock of 25 Redhead, Common Goldeneye, many Common and two Red-breasted Mergansers, Ruddy Duck, and Pied-billed Grebe. An adult Bald Eagle made a pass through too. After about 45 minutes of scoping in the steadily decreasing temps and increasing winds, we made it back to the car to thaw for a few moments while conversing about whether or not we really need toes. We couldn't feel them at that point, and it didn't seem to be a major loss. A quick stop at the pull off around the corner didn't get us any more ducks, but we simultaneously got on a first cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull sitting in the river. It took off, and Andrew pointed out the black tail band, thick all the way to the outer retrices. Year bird #2 for the day.

126th Street Marsh was our next stop, where the light was in our favor, but the wind did not share the same quality. So cold, and not much to look at. As we headed out of the area, the local Peregrine Falcon flew by, adding another bird to the year list. Stony Island was initially a letdown as we arrived only to find a barge parked between us and the roosting gulls. The odd winter phenomenon of the shining sun did not do us many favors either as we looked east, trying to pick through a small flock of gulls. I was just beginning to think I had gone 0 for 3 at this location when I noticed that part of a large gull flock was partially visible from the parking area. We climbed up on a little berm where we could look over the fence and bushes. The sun was still harsh, but the views weren't terrible. I found a first cycle Great Black-backed, and Andrew quickly got on a first cycle Glaucous, shortly followed by first cycle Iceland. Two more for the year, and just in time, because after the flock lifted up and lit a couple times, the Glaucous and Iceland were no longer to be found. It was frustrating not being able to get on a Thayer's because we know they had to be there. We had a couple good candidates, but just couldn't get views of the entire bird in each case. Oh well.

We swung back by 126th Street again, where a few Red-breasted Mergansers were in close, and another first cycle Great Black-backed Gull was sitting out on the ice. Fine looking bird.

Great Black-backed Gull

126th Street Marsh, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

Running low on time, we decided to swing by Wolf Lake real quick, which was a first for me. A little patch of open water produced some really interesting birds. Three Trumpeter Swans had joined a lone Mute. Trumpeters were a long overdo county lifer, one of five on the day. This was also one of the only times this year that picture taking conditions were actually decent - a nice change of pace.

Trumpeter Swans

Wolf Lake, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

Trumpeter and Mute Swan

Wolf Lake, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

Mute Swan

Wolf Lake, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

But the real treat came in the form of a hybrid, hanging out with a group of three Redheads.

Redhead Hybrid

Wolf Lake, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

Redhead Hybrid (right) with Redheads

Wolf Lake, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

Redhead Hybrid

Wolf Lake, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

Redhead Hybrid withe Redhead

Wolf Lake, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

Redhead Hybrid with Redhead

Wolf Lake, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

Redhead

Wolf Lake, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

Redhead Hybrid with Redhead

Wolf Lake, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

Redhead Hybrid

Wolf Lake, Cook Co, IL

January 25, 2014

At this point, we're leaning towards a Lesser Scaup x Redhead hybrid. The head color initially tipped us off to the fact that it was a hybrid, reminiscent of Andrew's Ring-necked Duck x Redhead Hybrid at Whalon last year. But this clearly wasn't a Ring-necked. Its bill, head shape, color, body pattern, and wing pattern all point to Lesser Scaup. Doesn't look like it's been documented in Illinois before. Cool find! The birds took off while we were there, but I doubt they went far. Maybe they'll come back?

Another really solid day in the bag. While I added five, Andrew and I also made the tough but responsible decision of taking one bird off our list from the previous weekend. Our report of Carolina Chickadees in the Lake Shelbyville area garnered some chatter. It's a fuzzy area for chickadees, and while the birds we heard sounded much more like Carolina than Black-capped (fast paced, high pitched), there's serious questioning as to their status in the area. Andrew is doing some research, and I'll post about it when the data comes in. For now we're leaving them as Black-capped/Carolina in eBird, which means I'm losing one for the year. Obviously it's not a bird I'm worried about missing for the year, and these kinds of situations are great learning experiences. I really want to stay above board with my reporting this year and not let the pursuit of 300 deter from that goal. Thanks to Travis Mahan for bringing up the issue, hopefully we can come to a conclusion that's beneficial for the Illinois birding community.

ABA: 123

Illinois: 91

Cook, IL: 57

Andrew and Joshua Buddy List: 240 (Great Black-backed Gull and Trumpeter Swan)

Snowy Wisconsin Wedding

Well, this was a first for me.

I had the great privilege of leading music for a wedding this past weekend. Beautiful couple, beautiful ceremony. All around beautiful. And BOY do they know how to pick a location!

Upon arrival in Oconomowoc Friday night for the rehearsal, I pulled up the BirdsEye app just to see if there had been a Snowy within a chase-able distance recently. On the one hand, I wasn't getting my hopes up; on the other, I figured this would be as good of a year as any for one to just happen to be nearby. Much to my delight, I found that one was bring seen consistently at an airport directly between the ceremony and reception locations! The couple decided to do pictures after the ceremony, leaving a solid chunk of time to go looking for this state lifer before the reception the next day. My wife was going to help the photographers during that time, so things were falling into place for me to give this bird a shot.

Saturday afternoon, the ceremony drew to a close. People had mostly filtered out of the church. Skinny tie and all, I packed up my guitar and made my way to the Waukesha Airport. As my black leather dress shoes took to the salty, wintery snow/slush mix of the airport roads, I realized just how ridiculous I must look. Slacks and peacoat are not standard attire for a birder, though it's what my dad wears every Sunday morning when he goes on a drive before church. I guess the apple didn't fall too far from that tree.

My first find there was a small flock of Wisconsin birders. The instant sense of connection and camaraderie I felt with these fellow birders is part of what makes the birding community so unique, so enjoyable. One guy had watched the bird for four hours atop one of the hangers earlier in the day, and had just watched it fly down near the airstrip. It was currently out of sight, but definitely still in the area. I had some time, and figured if I waited it out till dusk my chances were pretty good.

I worked the road up and down many times, scanning and scoping frequently. The snow fell harder and flakes got larger, all the while the sky was beginning to grow quite dim. Visibility was diminishing rapidly as 5 o'clock struck, and I needed to get back on the highway in order to make it to the reception on time.

Bummer, I really thought I had a decent chance at this bird. In previous days, it had been reported on the other side of the airport, which was harder to access. I figured it was over there somewhere, and that my chances of catching a glimpse had all but slipped through my grasp by that point. I turned back onto the main road, and as I passed a hanger I could see a dark lump on the corner of the building. Could it be? It was the only corner of the roof with something on it. I strained to get a decent look as I drove by and couldn't believe it, it was the Snowy! The shape was a dead give away, and the white face stuck out from the rest of the bird which was heavily barred. I found a place to turn around, and made my way back to the bird, and snapped a couple poor shots just to document the experience.

Snowy Owl

Waukesha Airport, Waukesha Co, WI

Pre-reception, January 18, 2014

The birds are making me work this year, but I'm learning over and over again that, if you can put in the time, the results usually come. Not every time. But most of the time for sure. The result this time is that I can now say I have a list, be it ever so modest, of birds I have seen between a wedding ceremony and reception. And I'm thrilled that Snowy Owl is on it. The perpetual quest of a birder and random little adventures like this one are just part of what make this hobby endlessly intriguing. There is always something else to be seen.

Wisconsin Life List: 128

Solid Day, Minus Rarities

It really was a great day. We just have to keep reminding ourselves of that.

4:30 am didn't even feel that early as Andrew and I hit the road, for the anticipation of good birds ahead was almost as effective a stimulant as our first Starbucks stop (which was at 4:35 am). The three hour drive that brought us to our first location was almost entirely in the dark, until a nice sunrise eventually lit up the sky. We were on our way to look for the Coles County Prairie Falcons. Someone should have let the falcons know.

For three solid hours we searched far and wide, not a sign of a Prairie Falcon. We had no shortage of scares along the way though. American Kestrels dotted fence posts and power lines throughout our search. A Merlin made a swipe past us twice and posed nicely once. Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks perched low on cutoff corn stalks. A distant male Northern Harrier was similar enough in size to give us pause for a moment. We were racking up the raptors, just not the one we had come for.

Merlin

Coles Co, IL

January 20, 2014

Rough-legged Hawk

Coles Co, IL

January 20, 2014

American Kestrel

Coles Co, IL

January 20, 2014

So we headed west to Wolf Creek, where the recent CBC had produced a Spotted Towhee. We worked the area for a while and year birds started falling into place. Carolina Chickadees were chattering away, a Fox Sparrow was present, and we quickly got on a group of Eastern Towhees. Other birds of note were Eastern Bluebird, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, and four species of woodpeckers. But no Spotted Towhee. Tyler Funk gave us great directions that led us to a nice flock of passerines, but after picking through it for over an hour we had still come up empty. Though bummed, we were finding joy in the little victories of year birds and county ticks. Ah, the lives of listers.

Eastern Bluebird

Wolf Creek, Shelby Co, IL

January 20, 2014

Fox Sparrow

Wolf Creek, Shelby Co, IL

January 20, 2014

The West Dam area of Lake Shelbyville helped fill out our day list with some nice waterfowl and a Pileated Woodpecker. There were many Common Goldeneyes and Common Mergansers, joined by American Black Ducks, Redhead, Pied-billed Grebes and a lone Horned Grebe. A few Cackling Geese were mixed in the huge Canada flock, along with a single Snow Goose and 150 Greater White-fronted Geese. We picked up Cooper's Hawk, Bald Eagle, and Great-horned Owl in the area, bringing our raptor total to eight. Solid. But we had now missed both of our targets.

Still optimistic, though increasingly nervous, we made our way back towards the magic stump. We picked up Eurasian Collared Dove on the way, bird #50 for the day. As we pulled up and saw the stump, I spotted what looked like a bird sitting behind it on the ground. We got the scopes out to find a raptor sitting there, two actually! But, they were Rough-legged Hawks. A lovely sight to be sure, but not what we wanted in the moment. We continued scanning and Andrew spotted our ninth raptor and final bird of the day, a Short-eared Owl. Again, an excellent bird and really nice pick up for the year. We had racked up the raptors, just not the one we came for.

Short-eared Owl

Coles Co, IL

January 20, 2014

We both needed to get back, and with a three hour drive ahead, we couldn't afford to hang around till dusk. Dusk was when the Prairie Falcons were seen again. Bummer.

You can't hang your head on a day like that though. Year birds and county ticks abounded, and we learned that the Prairie Falcon may require a different strategy - one involving dusk instead of dawn. So, though we missed our targets, the day wasn't a loss in my books. It's still early in the year, and another trip down at some point is feasible. Meanwhile, my year list has taken a nice little bump.

ABA: 120

Illinois: 87

Shelby, IL: 43

Andrew and Joshua Buddy List: 239 (added Rough-legged Hawk)

Another Long-eared Owl, And More!

I'm doing music for some friends' wedding today up in Wisconsin, and we headed up here yesterday afternoon, so Friday morning was my last chance to get out in Illinois for the next few days. With that in mind, I headed to Kane between dropping my wife off for work and a lunch meeting.

In light of the crazy weather I've already birded in this year, I did not think much of the forecast for the morning; it looked pretty manageable. But, as it turned out, the stiff breeze accompanying the temperatures in the teens made for my least favorite conditions. After just a few minutes of walking around, my face was hurting, and pishing was even difficult! The leafless deciduous trees did little to provide a barrier to the breeze, so I was in the teeth of the wind for almost a solid hour. It's the coldest I've been all year.

But, one bird made it more than worth it. After searching a stand of conifers for a while, I had come up with nothing but a Hairy Woodpecker, a Great-horned Owl, and a few chickadees. Getting tired of the wind, I decided to check one more spot then make my way back. I was getting to the point where I was wondering if finding roosting owls was just not for me. I've put a pretty decent amount of time in recently, and seem to keep striking out. With the wind still tearing through me, it was not my best moment.

Then it happened. I found a little blob sitting up next to a trunk in a pine. I was looking at the back of an owl! It was clearly much smaller than the Great-horned I had just seen, and I knew right away it could only be one thing, a Long-eared Owl! At this point, I was no more than fifteen feet from the bird, and I really didn't want to disturb it. I made a wide circle, keeping my eye on the bird, then approaching and leaving quietly, and thankfully the bird stayed comfortably perched the whole time and wasn't disturbed in the slightest. I got outstanding views, and after a few minutes, it even turned to check me out. Shout out to the chickadees that were scolding in that general vicinity; not sure if I would have found this bird without their direction. What a great experience it was getting to spend some time with this beauty; surely one of the highlights of the year so far! And, it made the biting wind on the walk back to the car not feel quite so unbearable.

Long-eared Owl

Kane Co, IL

January 17, 2014

However, the rest of the preserve was dead. It was obvious that the wind was keeping things quiet. I figured I probably wouldn't get a new bird for the year, but didn't mind at all after finding the owl.

I decided to check out Seavey Road, because there always seems to be something interesting going on over there. As I poked along, a tree full of black birds caught my eye. I could tell from the long tails that it wasn't just starlings. I pulled off the side of the road and happily whispered "year birds" to myself. I put my binoculars up and quickly saw Brown-headed Cowbirds in with some Red-winged Blackbirds. As I continued to scan, I found a Rusty Blackbird, and then another, and another! The flock then flew down to a field, so I turned around to get a better look. As it turned out, there were more Rusties than anything else, nice! A lone Common Grackle was in the bunch, too. Wow, four year birds just like that! Obviously they're mostly common birds that will make their way on to hundreds of my checklists this year, but it felt good to go ahead and get them in the winter months. Also, any chance to get a good look at a Rusty is always enjoyable.

Rusty Blackbird

Seavey Rd, Kane Co, IL

January 17, 2014

Rusty Blackbird

Seavey Rd, Kane Co, IL

January 17, 2014

Common Grackle

Seavey Rd, Kane Co, IL

January 17, 2014

So, having stayed within my four county boundary of Cook, Kane, Will, and DuPage, I've scrounged up 78 species in just 10 days of being here and able to bird.

ABA: 114

Illinois: 78

Will, IL: 55

Kane, IL: 49

Cook, IL: 49

DuPage, IL: 39

State Lifers in Cook County

For the second morning in a row, a striking rosy sunrise eased its way over the eastern horizon. Yesterday, the sky quickly grew dreary and filled with falling flurries. Today stayed crisp and clear as I drove towards the rising sun into Cook County. It was an interesting day, filled with my favorite and least favorite parts of this particular county. The bird highlights far outweighed the inconveniences along the way.

After picking up Monk Parakeets between meetings yesterday, I began today with 69 for the state. I had a long list of potentials for the day, and figured that getting 5-10 of them would constitute a solid day. It turned out to be just that.

During the first week of the semester, it turns out that I have five fewer hours of meetings than usual, which gave me an almost completely free day today! After dropping Jen off at work, I headed to Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, knowing that I wouldn't have another chance at woodland species for the rest of the day. One of the first things I heard upon getting out of the car was the "Peter! Peter! Peter!" of a Tufted Titmouse. First time hearing that distinct song this year. I was expecting it to be rather quiet, but the bird activity was actually rather impressive given the temperature in the teens and frost still clinging to the trees. The nicest surprise was seeing five species of woodpeckers: Northern Flicker, Red-bellied, and Downy were expected. A Hairy was a county lifer (rolling eyes). As I walked one of the small loop trails, I caught some movement out of the corner of my eye. It was a crow-sized woodpecker, with large white wing patches and a bright red crest - Pileated! An unexpected county lifer and year bird, and a very pleasant way to begin the day. Like most of the birds for the remainder of the day, it managed to elude a decent photo-op.

Next stop was the bend of the Little Calumet River, which was rich with waterfowl. The water was loaded aythya species, dominated by Ring-necked Ducks and Lesser Scaup, with a handful of Greaters in with them. The Common Merganser flock was impressive, as was the number of Mute Swans. A lone Ruddy Duck was my only year bird here. I picked out one American Black Duck among the Mallards, and had a hybrid of the two as well. An immature Bald Eagle (county lifer, again rolling eyes) made a lazy pass by the waterfowl, which didn't so much as move as it flew over. And just like that, I had seen as many species in two stops as I had found all day last Tuesday - a tale of two weeks indeed!

One of my main targets for the day was Great Black-backed Gull. Getting stopped by a train on the way, twice - that was not one of my targets. Having to avoid potholes that would make the Grand Canyon proud - also not one of my targets. But I got both of those things nonetheless. I was on my way to the Stony Island Overlook when I realized that the sun would be much more in my favor at 126th Street Marsh, so I decided to stop there first. This ended up being a great decision. One of the first birds I put the scope on was a first cycle Great Black-backed Gull! This was not only a state lifer, but also a U.S. lifer for me. The only other one I had seen before today was at Point Pelee a few summers ago. I left the bird and kept scanning the others, only to look back and see it flying off just a moment later. I hadn't even taken a picture yet, gah! I quickly snapped this pathetic shot of it flying off:

Great Black-backed Gull

126th Street Marsh, Cook Co, IL

January 15, 2014

My journey to Stony Island was impeded by a stopped train. So I took the long way around, encountering along the way roads emulating lakes and others where I couldn't even tell what I should call "road" and what I should call "pothole." I've driven many a mountain road far less treacherous than that, Chicago. The thing is, there aren't people living on mountains where I go back home, so it's fine for roads to be rough here and there. But I'm pretty sure there are a few people living in the city, making these deplorable conditions all the more surprising to me. Not impressed.

I was also not impressed that the gulls at Stony Island decided to sit several hundred yards away, forcing me to look through a fence to see them. Though I did pick out another first cycle Great Black-backed, it was an overall frustrating experience. I had hoped to get a look at an adult, but it was not meant to be today. I thought I'd swing by 126th Street again to see if I could find another to study more carefully, but alas, the same train was still stopped on the tracks. I decided to move on and was happy to be leaving the area.

I then headed on to the lakefront, beginning with Calumet Park, which had the expected ducks, many geese, and another couple of Mute Swans:

Mute Swan

Calumet Park, Cook Co, IL

January 15, 2014

Monroe Harbor was my next stop. I hadn't really birded there before, and recent reports seemed to indicate it would be worth checking for waterfowl. I scanned for a while, finding more of the expected stuff, and I was beginning to lose steam. Then, between two flocks of Common Mergansers, a large black duck stuck out like a sore thumb. I watched it closely for a few moments, as a showed off a bright white wing and a white "tear drop" by its eye - it was a beautiful, adult male White-winged Scoter! This was the first male I had seen in Illinois doing something other than flying by during a lakewatch. Nice! I looked up from my scope to see a small brown bird in with some Common Goldeneyes, about 50 yards out. I put my binoculars on it and confirmed it was a Long-tailed Duck, another state lifer! It was a rather dingy female, definitely not the best looking Long-tailed I've seen, but still an excellent bird!

White-winged Scoter
Monroe Harbor, Cook Co, IL

January 15, 2014

Long-tailed Duck

Monroe Harbor, Cook Co, IL

January 15, 2014

Red-breasted Merganser

Monroe Harbor, Cook Co, IL

January 15, 2014

This stop alone would have been worth the whole trip, but already having some nice birds in the bag made it that much more of a treat! I ended the day at Montrose, where I was greeted by another adult male White-winged Scoter near shore. As I scoped a little further out, a flock of eight more scoters quickly grabbed my attention. I watched them for quite a while, trying to pick out a new species. But, between the bobbing of the waves, and all the diving they did, I wound up confirming that it was a pure flock of adult male White-wings again. Though not a new bird, it was definitely a pleasant spectacle and a first for me in Illinois!

White-winged Scoter

Montrose, Cook County, IL

January 15, 2014

Cooper's Hawk

Montrose, Cook County, IL

January 15, 2014

I ended the day with two state lifers and five new year birds. If you had told me that by January 15 I would already have Harlequin and Long-tailed Ducks, Long-eared and Snowy Owl, and Great Black-backed Gull, I would have been one happy guy. With 74 species after just a week of birding in the state, plus the great birds on that list, I'm really happy with this start. Gotta keep plugging away!

ABA: 110

Illinois: 74

Cook, IL: 49

First Snowy of the Year

Spring Semester 2014 officially begins here at Wheaton College today. Thankfully, my first meeting wasn't until noon, so after dropping my wife off at work, I headed down to Bolingbrook in search of the Snowy Owl that had been around for a few days.

My outing was an interesting mix of birding and dodging Chicagoland's cavernous potholes. I felt a little bit like I was driving through a real life MarioKart race, never knowing what part of the road in front of me was going to cave in next. I am grateful to be back home, having avoided irreparable or expensive damage to our little Sonata.

I made it to the Bolingbrook Golf Club at about 8:40, and pretty quickly found my target for the day. It's well known that this is an invasion year for Snowies, but I did not want to leave this tick hanging much longer. After all, with birds, you just never know. It sounded like this Will County bird was pretty reliable, and sure enough it showed quite nicely. Andrew had seen it just this morning, and the place he described was exactly where it was still sitting. This lightly barred Snowy is likely an adult female by my estimation. I watched it through the scope for several minutes and just soaked in its beauty. No matter how many you see, Snowy Owls simply never get old.

Here it is, nestled into its suburban context. It was ironic to me to watch it sit on a sign for a soon to be developed lot - this will sadly not be a place that this Snowy can return in the coming years because it will be too built up.

Snowy Owl

Bush Rd, Will Co, IL

January 13, 2014

This was my only real target for the morning, so I drove away quite content with this excellent year bird. I tried for the Kane County Snowy out on Scott Road but came up empty. I ran into Pete Moxon who had spent a while in the area and was unable to come up with it either.

So, I started heading back to Wheaton. On the way I stopped along the Fox River, where I found three Mute Swans. Two were at Island Park in Geneva and another was just north of there along the river.

Mute Swans

Island Park, Kane Co, IL

January 13, 2014

Many of my excursions will be quick mornings out like this now that the semester is beginning. I'm grateful the first was so productive!

ABA: 104

Illinois: 68

Will, IL: 55

Kane, IL: 39

Fancy Ducks on the Fox

Yesterday afternoon, Kane County again yielded a great bird to snag at the beginning of the year. And yet again, it was quite reluctant in doing so. Texts from two friends and a Facebook message from another alerted me to a Harlequin Duck in Elgin, so I headed that direction after getting home from my retreat.

I figured that there wouldn't be too much open water, and that the bird should be pretty readily found. What I got instead was 40 minutes of character development. I should have known better. I should have thought back to last February when Scott Cohrs, Andrew Aldrich, and I spent well over an hour looking for an elusive White-winged Scoter just a few miles south of where I was currently standing. It was a true wild duck chase. They both got quick glances at it, but I missed it. And then, well after sundown, right as we were about to take off, the scoter popped up in the water right at our feet. Crazy.

Yesterday was quite similar. I parked right at the Elgin Dam, where the Harlequin was initially reported. After scanning for a bit and coming up empty, I decided to head south along to river. I ran into a couple birders who had not seen it recently, but I figured it was still there. Then, after 30 minutes of searching the river, delicately maneuvering the icy paths, and picking through many goldeneyes and mergansers, I still came up empty. The only thing of note to that point had been a nice male Red-breasted Merganser (another point of similarity with last year's scoter quest). Good Kane County year bird.

Red-breasted Merganser

Elgin Dam, Kane Co, IL

January 12, 2014

It was getting darker, and I didn't want to leave my endlessly patient wife waiting any longer, so I started heading back to the car. I glanced back over at the dam and - wait, a small dark duck. I quickly put my binoculars up and was quite relieved that it was the Harlequin! It was too dark for a decent pic, so here's the best I could do:

Harlequin Duck

Elgin Dam, Kane Co, IL

January 12, 2014

I doubt it's the last Harlequin I see in Illinois this year, but it's definitely a nice bird to get out of the way this early. And, to get it for an inland county is truly exciting! Kane County lifer #175.

ABA: 103

Illinois: 67

Will, IL: 53

Kane, IL: 37

Big Morning in Will County

I was already beginning to feel the pressure of the big year endeavor. With an overnight work retreat coming that evening, I was well aware that break was officially coming to an end. Early semester busyness would be upon me in a matter of days, and March would be here in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile, I awoke with only 48 birds for the state. Before school and work started back up, I wanted to secure a nice base of winter birds from which I could build later. While I wasn't sure exactly what number I wanted, I knew 48 was definitely not it.

I began the morning with low expectations. Foggy conditions with a forecast of rain didn't sound promising. At the same time, I couldn't help but think that the birds would just as happy as I was about temperatures in the 30s; perhaps I would encounter some nice activity along the way. Even so, I set the bar low, hoping just to get to 50 by the end of my morning trip. I was headed to Will County, and part of the plan was to learn the Des Plaines Widewaters, which I had not birded before. I figured that if I picked up a couple year birds and felt like I got a grasp of the new area, it would be a success.

I dropped my wife off at work a little after 7:30, and I was off. I stopped by Lambert Nature Preserve real quick on my way out to see if I could pick up a White-throated Sparrow there real quick (I know, the county will be filled with them soon enough, I just thought I'd try here). While I missed White-throated, there was a decent amount of bird activity, and more song in the air than I had heard all week. I took this as a good sign and proceeded south.

I crossed the Will County border with a paltry 128 on my county life list. That's not too bad, considering I had only birded there a handful of times, and never for more than a few hours. But, obviously there were some big gaps to be filled yet. I began by trying for Rough-legged Hawk, which had been seen regularly just south of Green Valley Forest Preserve, but I came up empty. I headed down to Whalon Lake as a turn around spot, not really looking hard. As I wound my way down to the furthest parking area, I got strong Northern Shrike vibes. It's hard to explain. For no apparent reason I immediately started thinking about shrikes, how this area possibly looked good for one, how I could easily go a whole month into the year without getting one for the state. Shrikes are tricky, and in my experience they become more difficult to find the more you look for them. I pulled to the end of the drive, turned around, and spotted a lone bird in a tree. Huh, could it be? I put my binoculars up and sure enough, a Northern Shrike! How uncanny. Sometimes I think that birders develop Jedi-like sensory capabilities over the years, and experiences like this only confirm that theory.

Northern Shrike

Whalon Lake, Will Co, IL

January 10, 2014

As I headed out of the area, and American Kestrel was sitting on a line, and a little further down the road a Great-Horned Owl was sitting out in the open in broad daylight. I made my way towards I-55 and had my first Cooper's Hawk of the day fly over in Bollingbrook. Just like that I was at 50 for the state, and I hadn't even made it to my primary location for the day yet. Maybe it was going to turn out to be a better day than I thought!

Great-horned Owl

Will Co, IL

January 10, 2014

I arrived at McKinley Woods Forest Preserve and found a much different place than I had seen last May with my dad. No Golden-winged Warblers to be found today. The fog wasn't too thick, and the snow covered forest provided a certain serenity that only winter can afford. I don't know why, but I was amazed at just  how beautiful it looked. The birds then joined the scenery to produce my favorite birding moment of this young year. I got out of the car to the sound of the expected woodland residents, singing quite contentedly. The drive down the slope to the lower parking lot is closed off for winter, so I walked the path laid by skis and some off-road bike as the upper region grew quieter. A Bald Eagle, then a flock of Common Mergansers flew over, suggesting open water nearby. Good.

McKinley Woods Forest Preserve, Will Co, IL

January 10, 2014

I went downhill towards the river bottom only to be greeted by the most bird activity I had experienced all week. Tufted Titmouse (titmice? titmouses? The debate will go on forever, I prefer using the singular to denote the plural, whatever) were chattering all over. A Carolina Wren sounded off. Some tapping drew my attention to a nearby tree. It belonged to a Downy, but what had joined the Downy garnered my interest. A little birding sliding up the trunk, Brown Creeper! Then another, and another, and another. Before I knew it, I had six (!) Brown Creepers in the same field of vision, all in one tree! From there I could see a river full of mergansers, so I headed that direction. I quickly found the first of several Red-breasted Mergansers on the day. I continued scanning and found two Pied-billed Grebes, a few Common Goldeneyes, and a handful of Hooded Mergansers. There's something about getting all three mergansers in one place that always makes me grin. This made me optimistic about my initial shot at the widewaters area, so I started heading back toward the car. As I ascended the hill, a couple Golden-crowned Kinglets sang out, putting the cap on what was officially my first flurry of birds on the year. I gave a fist pump and was on my way.

Great-blue Heron

McKinley Woods Forest Preserve, Will Co, IL

January 10, 2014

Red-breasted Merganser (left; note tiny bill and small size compared to Common)

McKinley Woods Forest Preserve, Will Co, IL

January 10, 2014

In watching this little guy, I realized this would be a good species with which to practice the different feather groupings. So detailed, so distinct:

Brown Creeper

McKinley Woods Forest Preserve, Will Co, IL

January 10, 2014

My first new stop was at Moose Island/Four Rivers Environmental Education Center. As I pulled up, I knew I would get great looks at the river, and I was hoping for swans. As I scanned the river with my binoculars, I could see swans to the north near the bend of the river. A look through the scope confirmed that there were good numbers of Mute Swans. But I could also see a couple swans with black bills. I was unfortunately too far to identify them, but a quick check of the map told me my next stop would get me a better look. I headed that direction, figuring I at least had Tundras coming my way. I had two more Red-breasted Mergansers here. As I left that area, a nice flock of American Goldfinches, House Finch, Black-capped Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, and American Tree Sparrows, and another Brown Creep gave me a nice departure.

I approached the widewaters area, trying to get a decent view of the river. This endeavor was momentarily derailed by a flock of Wild Turkeys meandering through a field. Ha! This was probably my biggest surprise for the day. It's not that turkeys are improbable, they just weren't on my radar at all. Nice! K, on to the river.

Wild Turkeys

Des Plaines Widewaters, Will Co, IL

January 10, 2014

I found a spot to pull off, set up the scope, and began scanning the swans, which were now much closer and far easier to pick through. I counted 19 Mute Swans, most of which were swimming in the river. Then, there was a flock of 32 smaller swans on the ice straight out from me. The occasional head would pop up, the first few being clear Tundras, with the eye "pinched off" from the black of the bill. I quickly got on a Trumpeter, which had its head up long enough for me to see the head shape and the black extending all the way to the eye. All three swans in one place, excellent! In the photo below, the bird standing to the left is a Tundra. The one sitting just to the right of center is a Trumpeter. Even though you can't see the faces well (or at all) in this shot, you can still see the obvious difference in bulk:

Tundra and Trumpeter Swan

Des Plaines Widewaters, Will Co, IL

January 10, 2014

I kept scanning the flock. Most of the swans were smaller bodied, and my best guess that 29 of them were Tundras, though I could only get a firm ID on 10 of them. I found two more Trumpeters sitting at the edge of the flock; they're pictured below. Note to self - MUST get better at digiscoping. At least you can kinda see the black extending to the eye on this one's face:

Trumpeter Swans

Des Plaines Widewaters, Will Co, IL

January 10, 2014

Other waterfowl many American Coots, Gadwall, Bufflehead, Redhead, Red-breasted Mergansers (yet again), and a single Lesser Scaup. A Northern Flicker, shortly followed by a Belted Kingfisher. THe year birds were just pouring in. On the way out of the area, two Cackling Geese in a flock of Canadas gave me ABA 100 for the year. I was quite content, and felt like I had begun to get a feel for the widewaters area.

I couldn't afford to be out all day, so I decided to make just one more stop at Rock Run Rookery (exciting to say and spell for an alliteration geek such as myself), another new location for me. A White-throated Sparrow greeted me at the entrance of the park. And my first Song Sparrow for Will for the day popped up. There was a little open water in the ponds, packed with Common Mergansers. A Northern Harrier eating its prey alongside a Herring Gull was a funny sight. Three American Black Ducks gave me another year tick. And, yet another Red-breasted Merganser (this time a male) was in the river.

And with that, I headed home. The morning had far exceeded my expectations, and I was able to take a deep breath as 18 year birds put me in a much better place to begin the semester. Now its a matter of knocking off the other three geese, a few owl species, and gulls as I get a chance over the next couple months. I'll keep my fingers crossed on next year being a good finch winter. Good birding!

ABA: 102

Illinois: 66

Will Co, IL: 53 (all today!)