ee Ce be eNerisel) Io lal LN 19 
150 at Jacksonville, 30 March (J. Anesi) and 70 at Lake Sangchris, 6 April 
(D. Bohlen, V. Kleen); 15 were at Barrington, 26 March (R. Mongomery) 
and one lingered in Mason County until 5 May (D. Bohlen). A good-sized 
group of dabbling and diving ducks remained at an intermittent lake known 
as Nigger Lake in Mason County east of Havana, well into May. Many 
reporters suggested that Wood Duck populations were above normal. The 
very rare Surf Scoter (three, including one male) was discovered far inland, 
near Pekin, 13 April (R. Bjorklund); the only other reported was a single 
in Lake Michigan (near Wilmette) where it would more likely occur (L. 
Balch). Red-breasted Mergansers remained at Lake Sangchris until at least 
the end of May (D. Bohlen). 
HAWKS through GALLINULES. A wandering Mississippi Kite was 
far out of normal range in the Chicago area 12 May and later (W. Krawiec). 
A single Swainson’s Hawk was documented in Macon County, 4 May (R. 
Sandburg). Very few Ospreys were reported—all observations of this species 
should be reported in the future. Two Peregrine Falcons were documented: 
an adult in Mason County, 27 April (D. Bohlen) and a first year bird in 
Skokie Lagoons, 5 May (G. Rosenband). A King Rail had arrived at Lake 
Sangchris in central Illinois by 6 April—rather early (D. Bohlen, V. Kleen). 
Three Yellow Rails were reported this spring: singles at Lake Sangchris, 2 
April (D. Bohlen); Ogle County, 4 May (M. Swan); and Rock Island County, 
1 June (EK. Fawks). An adult Purple Gallinule was found in the LaRue 
Swamp Ecological Area of Union County, 9 May (R. Madding). 
SHOREBIRDS. Three Piping Plovers had arrived in the Chicago area 
by 18 April (T. Gatz, fide L. Balch). American Golden Plovers arrived early 
in Mason County, 16 March (D. Bohlen, V. Kleen); one individual was still 
there 30 May (D. Bohlen). The uncommon Willet was reported from south- 
ern Pulaski County (1), 6 April (J. Haw); Boone County, 28 April (L. 
McMaster); Illinois Beach State Park, 29 April (fide L. Balch); Sangamon 
County (19), 1 May (D. Bohlen); McHenry County (5), 3 May (M. Russell); 
and Mercer County (1), 4 May (P. Petersen). White-rumped Sandpipers 
arrived at their normal time in mid-May and appeared in greater numbers 
than usual; one individual was still present in Mason County, 15 June (D. 
Bohlen). Baird’s Sandpipers were also reported as more common than 
usual. Isolated groups of 7 and 8 Hudsonian Godwits were documented 18 
May at both a southern Cook County location (A. Duke, et al.) and Mason 
County (D. Bohlen), respectively; a Jone individual was seen at Dalton City 
the same day (R. Palmer). A group of three American Avocets in McHenry 
County, 22 April had increased to 15 by the next day (D. Fiske). An odd- 
plumaged adult Northern Phalarope was in a Jacksonville pond 11 May 
(many observers). 
GULLS and TERNS. An adult Laughing Gull was well-observed and 
documented by many observers at Lake Chautauqua, 11 May. Franklin’s 
Gulls in spring are rare but there were a few Chicago area reports of this 
species (fide L. Balch). The arrival by 10 April of Forster’s Terns in Kane 
Co. was noteworthy (R. Montgomery); three were in Springfield, 12 April 
(D. Bohlen). 
CUCKOOS through SWALLOWS. Both species of Cuckoos were rela- 
tively late in arriving and there were only three reports of the Yellow-billed 
Cuckoo in the entire Chicago area during this migration. Four Chuck-will’s- 
widows were heard as far north as Harristown, 15 May (R. Palmer); only 
one was located there 17 May (R. Sandburg). A lone Western Kingbird was 
