ILLINOIS AUDUBON BULLETIN 33 
CRANES, RAILS and SHOREBIRDS. A group of 15 Sandhill Cranes were seen 
flying north over Des Plaines, 21 Sept. (C. Clark); 84 were counted heading south over 
Illinois Beach State Park, 16 Nov. (G. Rosenband); and one was present at Lake Chau- 
tauqua from 29 Oct. thru 12 Nov. (m.ob). Three imm. Yellow Rails “fell into the hands of 
men (one via a cat) in early October” in the Chicago area (L. Balch). Up to three Piping 
Plovers could be found at Lake Chautauqua from 19 July thru 30 Aug. (D. Bohlen, m.ob). 
A single Golden Plover “hung on” at Rend Lake until 8 Nov. (B. Peterjohn). A report from 
Chicago states that there were more sightings of Whimbrel in the area than usual (L. 
Balch). The only migratory note about Upland Sandpipers received was the presence of 
ten near Decatur in mid-August (R. Sandburg). Two Greater Yellowlegs were still present 
at Rend Lake, 8 Nov. (B. Peterjohn). A total of 71 Lesser Yellowlegs was counted in Coles 
Co. 9 Aug. (L. B. Hunt); there was a maximum of 200 during the season at Lake 
Chautauqua (R. Sandburg). There was a high number of sightings of Red Knots in the 
Chicago area (fide C. Clark); one was seen at Lake Chautauqua from 23-26 Aug. (R. 
Sandburg, et al.). A one day maximum of Baird’s Sandpipers was 14 for Beardstown and 
Lake Chautauqua inclusive, 18 Aug. (R. Sandburg, D. Bohlen). For eastern Illinois, the 
one day high of 84 Least Sandpipers, 13 Aug. was considered significant (L. B. Hunt); ten 
were still present at Rend Lake, 15 Nov. (B. Peterjohn), and one lingered there until at 
least 6 Dec. (R. Sandburg, D. Bohlen). The maximum number of Dunlin at one time 
recorded was 600 at Lake Chautauqua, 18 Oct. (D. Bohlen). Several observers found 
Buff-breasted Sandpipers; the high of 21 was recorded 23 Aug. at Lake Chautauqua (D. 
Bohlen); smaller numbers were present there from 16 Aug. thru 20 Sept.; three birds were 
observed at Waukegan, 24 Aug. (C. Clark); three more in Alexander Co., 6 Sept.; others 
were found in Coles Co. in late August and early September (L. B. Hunt). At least four 
Marbled Godwits appeared at Lake Chautauqua, 23 Aug. (m.ob); one was seen at Illinois 
Beach State Park, 31 Aug. (D. Frey, et al.). One Hudsonian Godwit was found at Lake 
Chautauqua, 30 Aug. (D. Bohlen, R. Palmer); none were seen anywhere again until 5 Oct. 
when 2 were found at Lake Chautauqua (D. Bohlen) and three in Bureau Co. (J. 
Hampson); another was reported from south of Chicago, 21 Oct. (T. Cable). Groups of 14 
American Avocets were reported from two locations: Lake Chautauqua, Oct. 26 (D. 
Bohlen, et al.), and Mendota, 27 Oct. (W. Bartlett, et al.); the former group remained as 
late as 8 Nov. (m.ob); five others were present at Rend Lake, 8 Nov. (B. Peterjohn); singles 
were also reported from Illinois Beach State Park, 10 Aug. (E. Coffin) and Kankakee, 19 
July (F. Storms). At least 30 Wilson’s Phalaropes were present at Lake Chautauqua, 30 
Aug. (D. Bohlen, R. Sandburg); one remained there through 28 Oct. (R. Sandburg). A 
total of 15 Northern Phalaropes was observed at Lake Chautauqua during the season (R. 
Sandburg); the one day high was six, 12 &16 Aug. (R. Palmer, D. Bohlen); singles were 
noted in Sangamon Co., 12 Aug. (D. Bohlen); Tinley Park, 17 Aug. (M. Smith); Coles Co., 
8 Sept. (L. B. Hunt); and Decatur, 5 Oct. (R. Palmer). On 23 Sept. one Red Phalarope was 
seen at close range at Lake Chautauqua, (*R. Sandburg); another, an immature, was found 
there on 1 Nov.—the key characteristics were recorded (D. Bohlen); a third was recorded 
at Calumet Park, 30 Nov. (C. Clark). 
JAEGERS, GULLS and TERNS. At least eight Parasitic Jaegers were observed along 
the Chicago lakefront this fall (fide L. Balch). Photographs of a Thayer’s Gull in the 
Mississippi River (both in Missouri and IIlinois) near Alton were satisfactorily identified by 
national experts (T. Barksdale). Franklin’s Gulls were apparently scarce in the Chicago 
area (L. Balch); maximums of 52 on 22 Oct. and 35 on 13 Oct. were found at Springfield 
(D. Bohlen), and Decatur (R. Sandburg), respectively; a peak of five were noted at Rend 
Lake between 1 Sept. and 5 Nov. (B. Peterjohn). Single Black-legged Kittiwakes were 
found at Waukegan, 28 Nov. (D. Bohlen) and Decatur, 3-7 Dec. (R. Sandburg). The only 
records of Sabine’s Gulls were inland: one at Decatur, 11-12 Sept. (*R. Sandburg) and 
another at Rend Lake, 26-28 Sept. (*B. Peterjohn). Two adult Little Gulls were found at 
Evanston, 26 Nov. (R. Sandburg); one was there 28 Nov. (D. Bohlen); in addition, one was 
documented at Rend Lake, 29 Nov. (*M, Morrison). Few Little Terns have been reported, 
the only record received was of one bird found at Lake Chautauqua, 10 Aug. & 26 Aug. (R. 
Sandburg). 
