Illinois & Indiana 
INDIANA LAKEFRONT: 
A = Hammond Lakefront Sanctuary 
B = Miller Beach 
C = Dunes SP & Beverly Shores 
D = Mich. City Harbor 
NDIANA 
James D. Hengeveld 
Keith A. MclVIullen 
Geoffrey A. Williamson 
T he fall was slightly drier and cooler 
than average, particularly at the begin- 
ning and end of the period. The rem- 
nants of Hurricane Ike passed through the Re- 
gion between 13 and 15 September, bringing 
much precipitation but little avian cargo. 
However, several rarities were among the 
many birds brought by a strong cold front that 
pushed through the Region in mid-November. 
Unusual was a second consecutive fall in- 
vasion by winter finches, particularly White- 
winged Crossbills; Snowy Owls irrupted for 
the first time in seven years. The season’s nu- 
merous rarities included Black-bellied 
Whistling-Duck, Brant, Magnificent Frigate- 
bird, Roseate Spoonbill, Swallow-tailed Kite, 
Gyrfalcon, Mountain Plover, Curlew Sand- 
piper, Burrowing Owl, and Cave Swallow. 
Abbreviations: Bev. Sh. (Beverly Shores, 
Porter, IN); Carl. L. (Carlyle L., s. IL); 
C.B.C.M. (Chicago Bird Collision Monitors); 
Dunes (Dunes S.E, Porter, IN); Eagle Cr. (Ea- 
gle Creek Park, Indianapolis); FMNH (Field 
Museum of Natural History); Goose Pond 
(Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area, Greene, 
IN); Greene Valley (Greene Valley Forest Pre- 
serve, DuPage, IL); I.B.S.P. (Illinois Beach S.P.); 
Mich. City (Michigan City Harbor, La Porte, 
IN); Miller (Miller Beach, Lake, IN); Monroe 
(L. Monroe, Monroe, IN); Montrose (Montrose 
Point in Chicago’s Lincoln Park). 
WATERFOWL THROUGH PELICANS 
The Region experienced a good waterfowl 
flight. The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck 
found in the summer at Goose Pond re- 
mained there through 29 Oct, when it was 
shot by a hunter (fide LWS). An amazing 15 
were reported 9 Nov from Mason, IL; 5 of 
these were shot (ph. JSf). An ad. Greater 
White-fronted Goose at Forsythe Park, Lake, 
IN 13 Sep provided the state’s earliest record 
(KJB, SRB, JKC, JCK), and two days later, 3 at 
Miller (JKC, JJM, JCK, KJB) represented only 
the 3rd Sep record for Indiana. Excellent 
numbers of Cackling Geese moved through 
Illinois, highlighted by an impressive 7500 
tallied 26 Nov in Ogle (DFS). Causing quite a 
stir was a juv. hrota Brant first sighted 26 Oct 
at Chicago’s Calumet Park (tWJM) and ob- 
served and photographed by many at several 
Chicago lakefront locations into Dec. At least 
7 Harlequin Ducks occurred along L. Michi- 
gan, including a cooperative female 25 
Oct-16 Nov at Waukegan (DW, AFS, RE et 
al.) and an amazing 4 flying past Wilmette, IL 
30 Nov (RDH et al.). A remarkable state-high 
181 Black Scoters were tallied between Miller 
andjeorse Park, East Chicago, IN 1 Nov (KJB, 
JKC, JJM et al); 3 were inland at Monroe 14 
Nov (DRW). A fine count of 
15 Black Scoters was made 8 
Nov from I.B.S.P. (RDH). Surf 
and White-winged Scoters 
were reported in fair numbers, 
nearly all from lakefront loca- 
tions. Part of a fine flight of 
Long-tailed Ducks, 3 were 
seen at I.B.S.P. 1 Nov (RDH), 
and 11 were at Portage Lake- 
front Park, Porter, IN 27 Nov 
OJM); single inland birds were 
seen in Indiana on Morse Res., 
Hamilton 9 Nov (DG), on L. 
Lemon, Brown 10-11 Nov 
(EMH, JDH), and at Brookville 
Res., Union 13 Nov (WHB), 
and in Illinois in Carroll 10 
Nov (AS) and at Carl. L. 27 
Nov (DMK, MS). 
Only a single Ruffed Grouse 
was reported in Indiana during 
the period. A record-high total 
of Red-throated Loons in Indi- 
ana included a flyby at Miller 1 
Oct (JCK) that was the earliest 
ever reported for fall and a to- 
tal of 58 between Dunes and 
Bev. Sh. 29 Nov OJM); 8 were 
tallied in Lake, IL 27 Nov 
(AFS, DFS). Inland birds included singles at 
Carl. L. 11 Nov (DMK), at Eagle Cr. 16 Nov 
(LP), at Brookville Res., Franklin, IN 26 Nov 
OyS et al), and on Monroe 29 Nov (DRW). 
Two Pacific Loons were reported this season: 
at Carl. L. 24-31 Oct (REF, DMK, MS, KAM) 
and at Clinton L. 13-15 Nov (KBR, GSL et 
al). An early Common Loon flew past Miller 
6 Sep (RJP, JKC), and a large aggregation of 
1200 was detected from Bev. Sh. 12 Nov 
(JCK). Two Horned Grebes at Miller 6 Sep 
(BJG) were record early for the Indiana lake- ] 
front. Two Red-necked Grebes flew in during i 
a Miller lakewatch 1 Nov (EMH, JKC, JJM, |! 
KJB et al); single Red-neckeds were reported ' 
at Bev. Sh. 1 (BJG) & 29 Nov OJM, JCK). An 
Eared Grebe in basic plumage was at Miller ! 
13 Sep OKC, SRB, JCK, KJB), and a tardy in- j 
dividual was spotted 18 Oct at the O’Fallon i 
S.T.P., St. Clair, IL (KAM, DMK, MS). 
Two Magnificent Frigatebirds graced the 
Region. The first was photographed 4 Sep in 
Vemilion, IL (MFC), headed for the Indiana 
border, while an ad. male seen flying eastward 
at the Port of Indiana, Porter 27 Sep (PBG) lat- , 
er passed a group at Mich. City who had been ' 
alerted to the bird’s approach (BJG, KJB, JKC, 
LP et al). Large numbers of American White 
Pelicans continue to move along the major 
river systems in Illinois; reports from three 
different Indiana locations were noteworthy. 
HIROHS THROUGH CRAHES 
The 11 American Bitterns tallied at TNG 
Kankakee Sands, Newton 2 Aug QBH) were 
part of a record fall total for Indiana. Quite 
impressive were 5500 Great Egrets reported 
20 Sep in Jackson, IL (CAT, TLK). A Snowy 
Egret 26 Oct at Montrose (VP, JDW, ph. NL) 
provided the latest fall record for n. Illinois. 
An incredible count of 1480 Cattle Egrets was 
made 17 Aug at Moredock L., Monroe, IL 
(EWW, WSS). Quite tardy were singles noted 
Representing Indiana's first inland record for the month of August, this third-cy- 
cle Lesser Black-backed Gull remained on Lake .Monroe southeast of Bloomington 
17-24 (here 24} August 2008. Photograph by Michael S. Brown. 
82 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
