Yesterday on private prop i spotted a long eared while driving down a long
drive.  It was in a white pine ten foot off ground area was old ag field with
over grown cedar and buckthorn with a few pines mixed in and some hardwood
stands.  Was able to get out with out flushing.  Hope to get permission to bird
the area more.   On a side  note i was working so am i a pro birder or just
another unfocused employee.
Sean Redman
Lake county

Hello!  Had a random day off today (thanks, Lincoln!) and I'm sure you will all
be shocked to hear I spent it birding.  It was pretty much business as usual
until I got to Shabbona Lake around 4pm.  The lake itself is mostly frozen save
for a stretch of open water filled with diving ducks, but there were hundreds of
CANADA GEESE, I estimated about 1500, on the ice.  Mixed in was a tight flock of
14 (fourteen) ROSS'S GEESE, mostly in the water, with 2 resting on the ice.
 They were easily told apart from a group of 4 SNOW GEESE nearby.  I don't know
how unusual this is but I have never seen more than 1 Ross's Goose at a time.
 There were also 32 CACKLING GEESE present.  By the time I packed up my scope
around 5, all but a few dozen Canadas had left.  Complete checklist with photos
of the ROGOs here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12940357


Andrew Aldrich
Aurora, IL (Will Co.)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi all,

I wrote up a blog post about the Ross's Goose and a special surprise
bird. To read more, click here:

http://birdingbynumber.blogspot.com/2013/02/mardi-gras-birding.html

Hope you enjoy it!

Aaron Gyllenhaal
Oak Park, IL

This afteroon a young Golden Eagle flew over the BP gas station just off I-65
and rte. 28 near Fickle, Indiana.  It was heading west, so maybe it will turn up
somewhere in Illinois tomorrow. I posted one distant flight shot at
 
http://www.pbase.com/image/148761030
 
Carolyn Fields
Cook County

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi All,   Just writing to let you know our trip to England, with my family has
been a mess. We were having a great time until last night when we  got mugged
and lost all my cash,credit card cellphone It has been a scary experience, I was
hit at the back of my neck with a club. Anyway...... I'm still alive and that's
whats important. I'm financially strapped right now and need your help. I need
 you to loan me some money, I'll refund it to you as soon as i arrive home.Write
me back so i can tell you how to get it to me.
Thanks,Margie

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Josh Engel reports that the Ross's Goose is by the martin houses on the west
side of Montrose harbor in Chicago, Cook Co.

Matthew Cvetas
Evanston, IL

Hello, again.  I counted 38 SNOW GEESE at Lake Renwick this morning.  They were
pretty close to the route 30 pull off.  Mostly blue, with about 13 white.  A few
appeared to be immature birds that were mostly white with the dusky wash on the
head.  I only noticed a few CACKLING GEESE.  There was a domestic Graylag (white
with tan barring, no grin patch) as well.  CANADA GEESE were in the 3500 range.
 It was hard to see some of the birds that were pretty far back.  Hope I didn't
miss anything good...

The COMMON GOLDENEYE x HOODED MERGANSER hybrid is still present, in the only
open water visible from this pull off (across from the Pioneer Lanes sign).  

Also of note, 13 GREAT BLUE HERONS were perched in the trees on the islands.
 Several were standing in old nests.  I've been seeing 1 or 2 at a time lately,
so this is the first big push I've noticed (although they've been present in
good numbers along the Fox all winter).


Andrew Aldrich
Aurora, IL (Will Co.)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50140880n
<http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50140880n&tag=api> &tag=api



John Adams

Jefferson Park, Cook County



__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature
database 8005 (20130213) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

http://www.eset.com



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

There is an article in the February 13 issue of the Chicago Tribune, page 4,
written by Nancy Stone on the meeting last night over the plans for the Nature
Preserve at Rosehill Cemetery.

Carol Nelson
Chicago
Cook County

Donnie Dann spotted a 2nd year Bald Eagle at Independence Grove today (2/13 at
0800, Libertyville, Lake Cty) on the ice near the open water. The eagle stayed
about 15 minutes before flying off.

The following were seen in the open water area:  10 Mute and 2 Trumpeter Swans;
about 20 each Goldeneye, Redhead, and Coot; 8 Gadwall,
8 Common and 3 Hooded Mergansers, and 2 Ring Necked Ducks. Plus many Canada
Goose and several Mallards.

Bill Saylor
Mundelein
Lake Cty

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-west-ridge-nature-preserve-0213-\
20130213,0,3442193.story

"... Carolyn Marsh, a bird conservationist,
added that fishing, biking and canoeing would scare away wildlife — not
preserve it.
"This area is much too small for all of these structures and all of
this furniture in there," Marsh said at the meeting. "If you're getting
funds for wildlife, then I would really urge you to make it as passive
as possible, have benches so people can sit and not have speeders
(bicyclists) in there."
Any way we can help?
Cynthia StaplesChicago


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

It was written by Ellen Hirst. Nancy Stone is the photographer.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hey all,

I headed over to Canterbury Park in Libertyville this morning just after
sunrise, and despite the slowness of the birding, I did find some good
birds. Highlights were a NORTHERN SHRIKE that was extremely vocal (possibly
the same bird from last winter), my FOY HORNED LARK (flyover), and my FOY
Red-winged Blackbird. My search was originally for Savannah Sparrows and
Eastern Bluebirds, but I'm pretty satisfied with these two FOY's.

That's all for now,

Nick Minor
Libertyville, Lake Co.
nmbirder14@...
scienceofbirds.blogspot.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hey all,

I headed over to Canterbury Park in Libertyville this morning just after
sunrise, and despite the slowness of the birding, I did find some good
birds. Highlights were a NORTHERN SHRIKE that was extremely vocal (possibly
the same bird from last winter), my FOY HORNED LARK (flyover), and my FOY
Red-winged Blackbird. My search was originally for Savannah Sparrows and
Eastern Bluebirds, but I'm pretty satisfied with these two FOY's.

That's all for now,

Nick Minor
Libertyville, Lake Co.
nmbirder14@...
scienceofbirds.blogspot.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

It is SW of the beach house

Wes Serafin



From my HTC Sensation 4G on T-Mobile. The first nationwide 4G network



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Wed. Feb 13th @ Noon

Munching on grass near concession building, in the company of its' next best
friends, Canada Geese, one of which could benefit from the services of an
orthopod.

Looks content and well nourished.

Is under the protection of an ever changing guard of photographers and birders;
plus a winged escape if that proves necessary.

Patricia Durkin
Chicago

Sent from my iPhone

There was a Snowy Owl this morning along Crego  on the west side between Lee and
Miller roads in Dekalb.   


Ari  Shavit Dekalb county.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48495663@N07/8471748462/in/photostream


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

My sister and I were at Montrose Harbor around 10:00am and saw the Ross's
Goose feeding on a grassy area just west of the Hedge.  It flew off and
then relocated to the north of the Hedge,  east of the road in the field
with the flock of canada geese. It is a lifer for both of us beginning
rookies!
We then went to Rosehill to see if we could find the Evening Grosbeaks.
Did not see them, but had many crows, 2 American Robins, 1 Great Blue
Heron, and a coyote.
Thanks to all who have been guiding our way by posting sightings.
Jill F
Glenview, Illinois


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I just returned from a quick trip to Montrose, and after not finding the Ross'
goose on the grass where others had located it this a.m., saw it through the
scope of another birder from the north side of the harbor. It was sitting on the
ice, and hidden, except for the tail, by Canada geese. After a few minutes it
got up and walked east on the ice and we got a good view; I had to leave and
don't know if it's still in the same area.
 
Jill Niland
Chicago

 
From: Jill K Fink <jillkfink@...>
To: ILbirds@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 1:22 PM
Subject: IBET Re: Ross' Goose at Montrose

 
My sister and I were at Montrose Harbor around 10:00am and saw the Ross's
Goose feeding on a grassy area just west of the Hedge. It flew off and
then relocated to the north of the Hedge, east of the road in the field
with the flock of canada geese. It is a lifer for both of us beginning
rookies!
We then went to Rosehill to see if we could find the Evening Grosbeaks.
Did not see them, but had many crows, 2 American Robins, 1 Great Blue
Heron, and a coyote.
Thanks to all who have been guiding our way by posting sightings.
Jill F
Glenview, Illinois

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

A female-plumaged WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was east off of the Shedd Aquarium in
Monroe Harbor this afternoon.  I saw it about 1:45, and it was seen by
other museum folk about a half hour later.

Doug Stotz

--
Douglas Stotz
Conservation Ecologist/Ornithologist
Environmental and Conservation Programs
Field Museum of Natural History
1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60605

Phone: (312)-665-7438
Fax:      (312)-665-7433
e-mail:  dstotz@...


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

By the Martin houses at 3 pm   Then flew with the Canadas towrds the santuAry


Joan Norek


Sent with Verizon Mobile Email


---Original Message---
From: "Jill Niland" <bwwarbler@...>
Sent: 2/13/2013 2:09 pm
To: ILbirds@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: IBET Re: Ross' Goose on ice at Montrose

I just returned from a quick trip to Montrose, and after not finding the Ross'
goose on the grass where others had located it this a.m., saw it through the
scope of another birder from the north side of the harbor. It was sitting on the
ice, and hidden, except for the tail, by Canada geese. After a few minutes it
got up and walked east on the ice and we got a good view; I had to leave and
don't know if it's still in the same area.   Jill Niland Chicago 
   From:
Jill K Fink <jillkfink@...> To: ILbirds@yahoogroups.com  Sent: Wednesday,
February 13, 2013 1:22 PM Subject: IBET Re: Ross' Goose at Montrose     My
sister and I were at Montrose Harbor around 10:00am and saw the Ross's Goose
feeding on a grassy area just west of the Hedge. It flew off and then relocated
to the north of the Hedge, east of the road in the field with the flock of
canada geese. It is a lifer for both of us beginning rookies! We then went to
Rosehill to see if we could find the Evening Grosbeaks. Did not see them, but
had many crows, 2 American Robins, 1 Great Blue Heron, and a coyote. Thanks to
all who have been guiding our way by posting sightings. Jill F Glenview,
Illinois  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] 


 [Non-text
portions of this message have been removed]

Hello Bird People,

So far I have unable to find any of the White Winged Scoters I have looked
for so I decided to move out of Cook Co & visit Lake Co today. I was joined
by Jeff Sanders & after a slow start we did very well indeed even though I
still didn't find a W.W.Scoter. (But I will eventually.) We covered
Waukegan Harbor & Beach, Lyons Woods, IBSP North Unit, North Point Marina,
Taco Bell, Van Patton Woods &, saving the best for last, Independence
Grove. Highlights are seen above in the subject line so here are the
details:

Waukegan Harbor & Beach

The harbor is completely frozen & with no open water there are also no
ducks. Therefore my duck count contest will have to wait until another
time. There were about 50 Ring Billed & Herring Gulls (mostly Ring Billed)
on the ice but none of the better gull species. Waukegan Beach looks frozen
as well & all the parking lots are a big mass of ice which kept us from
parking there today. Our one highlight for this area was when 2 EUROPEAN
GOLDFINCH flew into the small pine trees by the harbor parking lot near
Government Pier. Very flashy looking birds!

Lyons Woods

Turned out to be a good place to hear birds but not to see them. We only
saw Downy Woodpecker (1), Chickadee (2), Starling (2) & Cardinal (1) but we
heard both Red & White Breasted Nuthatches & a small flock of WHITE WINGED
CROSSBILLS which I tried & failed to make come out with my ipod but they
refused although they did chatter back to my calls.

North Unit IBSP

We drove through here & only saw one bird but it was a good one, a NORTHERN
SHRIKE seen just to the east of the Hawk Watch shelter. I seldom find this
bird except during Hawk Watch season.

North Point Marina

There is open water in the harbor mouth area but the rest is frozen over.
There were only about 200 common gulls here today but maybe tossing bread
will bring in more for the Frolic on Saturday.
Birds seen here were Canada Geese (c.150), Mallard (4), Canvasback (1-M),
Redhead (75-80), Greater & Lesser Scaup (5-6), Goldeneye (10-12),
Bufflehead (3-M), Hooded Merg (1-F),
Common Merg (c.70 including in Lake Michigan), R.B.Mergs (9-10) & Coots
(30-25). We saw 6-7 Horned Larks on the snow covered State Line Beach & had
Tree Sparrows, Junco's & House Sparrows along the roadsides.

Van Patton Woods

Here we looked for more Crossbills but found none. Did see one hunting Red
Tailed Hawk, a Chickadee & heard a Blue Jay.

Independence Grove (Good Stuff)

One open water area filled with waterfowl & some gulls including some good
species including:
Mute Swan (9), TRUMPETER SWAN (2), Canada Geese (c.225), Cackling Goose (1
seen by Jeff only), WHITE FRONTED GEESE (5)(hard to see after they went to
sleep), Mallard (2), Gadwall (8),
Redhead (c.30), Ring Necked Duck (2-M), Lesser Scaup (5), Goldeneye (c.25),
Hooded Merg (1-M), Common Mergs (c.20) & among the 20-25 R.B.& Herring
Gulls Jeff picked out one adult
FRANKLIN'S GULL in full breeding plumage. To get even with Jeff for finding
that gull I then located the White Fronted Geese & reminded him that I also
found the Shrike. But he then reminded me that he found the European
Goldfinch so it was sort of a stand off for finding good birds. I had 36
species for the day but some were top notch. The White Fronted Geese are
quite hard to find in Lake Co (& even harder in Cook Co) & finding a
Franklin's Gull in February is also a good find.

For that reason Bird-Of-The-Day will be a tie between the Franklin's Gull &
the White Fronted Geese. Runners-Up will be the European Goldfinch (so what
if they don't count on our lists) & the Shrike.
And a good time was had by all.

Al Stokie


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The goose is sitting in the harbor right now as of 4:15!

Nathan Goldberg
Chicago, IL
Cook County


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Birders,
A Thayer's or two (or more?) was at Diversey late morning today. It's unusual
for me to see them when the weather is nice, but I'm not going to complain.  A
few shots and more details at the link.
http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=52429.0
Also, a non-bird picture link. This is for Al Stokie and is what I did with my
old lens yesterday.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/happy_peasant/8469065429/in/photostream
And this link is a short video of some Goldeneyes doing courtship displays from
a few days ago. I don't have any luck when I try and put videos on the IBF site
for some reason.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/happy_peasant/8470029332/in/photostream/
Steve Spitzer
Chicago - Cook


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Ari's snowy owl was just where he reported him earlier today, although
farther out in the field and on the ground.  On Crego Rd. just south of
Miller Rd. about 1 mile south of Afton Forest Preserve.   We also saw a
huge flock of lapland longspurs farther north on Crego just south of Gurler
Rd.  There was 1 snow bunting with them.  There were 2 red-winged
blackbirds at my feeders this afternoon, along with the hoary redpoll.

Karen Lund
Genoa, DeKalb County
catbirder813@...


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I took few photos of Montrose Ross's Goose this morning and I noticed its bill
has a rathern big "grin patch" lie Snow Goose.  I wonder anyone noticed it. 
According to Sibley's Ross's X Lesser Snow Goose hybrid illustrated this patch.

Plese take a look my photo at Surfbirds web:

www.surfbirds.com/gallery/display.cgi?galley=gallery20



Kanae Hirabayashi
Chicago, IL, USA
kanahira@...

Greetings everyone. We're going to be conducting our 2nd annual Gull Sit at
North Point Marina this Sunday, February 17th. The objective is pretty simple:
to count gulls in the harbor between sunrise and sundown. If you'd like to
participate, please email me back and we'll assign you a time slot that works
for you. There will be observers present throughout the entire day and so no one
person will be out there counting "alone".
 
Thanks in advance!
 
Amar Ayyash
Frankfort IL
 
PS, just a reminder for those registered for the Gull Frolic, start time is 8:00
am. 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello bird fans!
There were at least 3 male BUFFLEHEAD on the south side of the Bridge at North
Ave. along with a female and 15-20 COOTS scattered around.
This was Yesterday at about 4:00. ,  Also last Sat. I could see abot 50-75 ducks
north of the Diversey bridge from the bus,.!,could confirm GOLDENEYE only at
about 25 mph.
  Its good to see more wildlife frequenting the Chicago River in recent  years.

Howard Blum ,Lakeview Chicago

For what it's worth, I just posted a photo to Flickr of my one and only
ornithological record in any state I've lived in. Earliest fall Ross's Goose in
Wisconsin (couple of years ago). Just posting this for the sake of
comparison because the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology recognized this as a
Ross's, and there's *maybe* a slight hint of a grin patch...
 
See: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14463444@N07/8471423997/
 
Bernie Sloan

From: Kanae Hirabayashi <kanahira@...>
To: ILbirds@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 6:38 PM
Subject: IBET Question on Ross' Goose at Montrose

 
I took few photos of Montrose Ross's Goose this morning and I noticed its bill
has a rathern big "grin patch" lie Snow Goose. I wonder anyone noticed it.
According to Sibley's Ross's X Lesser Snow Goose hybrid illustrated this patch.

Plese take a look my photo at Surfbirds web:

www.surfbirds.com/gallery/display.cgi?galley=gallery20

Kanae Hirabayashi
Chicago, IL, USA
mailto:kanahira%40rcn.com




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I found the Ross's Goose, as most people have, at the north end of Montrose
Harbor. The goose was standing near some Canada Geese, slipping on the ice,
flying off, returning and doing it all over again after a short while. When I
left, it took off with some Canada Geese.
Thanks to Jerry Goldner who was photographing there when I drove by after
unsuccessfully looking for the goose in the wrong location. I can't help it,
but...it was a wild goose chase.

Link to some photos:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ILbirds/photos/album/124951995/pic/list