12 THEA UD UB OUNe BP User ie 
NOTES ON VARIOUS SPECIES 
LOONS — Two unidentified loons were observed off Howard Street (7800 
North) on Oct. 12, and a flight of nine Red-throated Loons was seen the 
same day at Miller Beach, Indiana. (CS, RV and BB). Sixteen Red-throated 
Loons were observed off the Adler Planetarium on Oct. 16 (IS and BB). 
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT — Unusually abundant along the Chi- 
cago lake front; observed almost daily from Sept. 20 through Oct. 12. (CS, 
IS, EB, JW and BB). One of the largest flights was observed on Oct. 10, 
when 23 were seen near Navy Pier Park (BB). 
HERONS, IBIS — A Glossy Ibis was believed to be seen flying over Powder- 
horn Marsh in extreme northwest Indiana on Aug. 21. (LB and HB). Since 
separation of glossy and white-faced ibises by sight alone in autumn is 
impossible, the exact identity of this bird will never be known. Larry is 
very familiar with the ibises and has photographed them, so that there is 
no doubt that he saw either one or the other. 
SWANS, GEESE and DUCKS — The Chicago Weather Bureau radar men- 
tioned a large flight of waterfowl on Oct. 29. The observer described the 
flight as enormous and numbering thousands upon thousands. Pilots on the 
same day reported seeing large flocks of geese throughout the Chicago area, 
up to northern Lower Michigan. (I was working at the Weather Bureau’s 
Gowntown office that day, with access to all of these reports.) 
WHISTLING SWANS — Flight of fourteen observed Oct. 10 near Navy 
Pier Park. (BB) 
CANADA GOOSE — Large flights observed Oct. 10 (BB) and Oct. 29 
(pilots in the area). 
EUROPEAN WIDGEON — A female seen at the Northwestern University 
fill on Oct US) andeBB): 
GREATER SCAUP — First noted on Lake Michigan Sept. 25. (BB). Other 
observers had reported Lesser Scaups as early as the last week in August 
on interior ponds. Large concentrations of scaup, mostly greater, were 
oberved on Lake Michigan from Oct. 12 through the end of the month. 
Various estimates include 7,000-8,000 off Howard Street (7800 North) on 
Oct. 12 (CS, RV and BB). More than 10,000 off Belmont Avenue (3300 North) 
Oct. 27 (VS, RV and BB). More than 25,000 were estimated by offshore 
observers on Oct. 29. (Sanitary District employees). Catherine Schaffer 
(also on Oct. 29) stated that the scaup were so thick on the lake that an 
estimate was impossible. 
SCOTERS — A probable Surf Scoter was observed at Miller Beach, 
Indiana, Oct. 12 (CS, RV and BB). We did not see the head markings on 
this bird, but the dark wings indicated a Surf Scoter as opposed to the much 
rarer Common Scoter. The first White-winged Scoters along the Chicago 
lake front were noted Oct. 16 (BB). 
HAWKS — The hawk flight of Sept. 14 consisted of more than 200 broad- 
wings and several each of the common buteos. The flights of Oct. 10 pro- 
duced 31 Marsh Hawks, one Osprey, and a few each of the Cooper’s and 
Sharp-shinned Hawks. 
