We started off at the Explosives Road Trail Where after an hour and a half of walking, we found some Northern Mockingbirds, lots of Grasshopper Sparrows, one Henslow’s Sparrow, and a ton of Dickcissels. Next, we headed to the Iron Bridge Trail. There we found a very nice male Orchard Oriole, a couple Loggerhead Shrikes,... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/06/19/midewin-national-tall-grass-prairie-wbc-trip-report/">Read More</a></div>

March 22: On March 22, me and my family arrived in the Palm Desert, where we would spend the next four days. I was very excited to get out birding because I had 99 birds on my ABA life list, so I was going to try to reach triple digits. Turns out, I didn’t even... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/06/18/lucas-rots-birding-blog-spring-break-2017/">Read More</a></div>

Right as we got out of our car at Montrose Point, we saw tons of birds! Lucas R. and I, who got there 15 minutes early, scanned the entrance to the hedge finding our first migrants and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. At 7, we met up with the rest of the group – to me, it seemed... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/05/22/montrose-point-wbc-trip-report-5212017/">Read More</a></div>

At 3:45 AM Lucas R. and Derek D. started off the day at Rollins Savanna finding only some Canada Geese. Next, they went to IBSP once again finding very little. However, they did find some calling Eastern Whip-poor-wills. After that, they drove down to Montrose Point where I met up with them at 5:45. At... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/05/08/1st-annual-wbc-big-day/">Read More</a></div>

Today after school my Mom got home a bit later and said that she saw a male and female BROWN THRASHER in new plumage! I didn’t go to see it immediately because I went on a run with my Dad. Then I got home and threw on some warmer clothes, and left with my Mom to find... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/04/17/backyard-birding-4-17-2017/">Read More</a></div>

Today, Isoo O’Brien lead us through McClaughry Springs FP and Orland Grassland. We started at McClaughry Springs FP with hopes of finding a Louisiana Waterthrush, Pileated Woodpeckers, and Carolina Wrens. At the beginning of our walk, Isoo already had a couple Carolina Wrens. Isoo led us through the woods as we found a Pileated Woodpecker, Louisiana Waterthrush, a... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/04/16/april-15th-whimbrel-birders-club-trip-report/">Read More</a></div>

Today was an epic day to be birding. I got 5 new lifers! Air Station Prairie We started the day at Air Station Prairie with just me, my mom, and brother. It was very windy, so it did not look promising. As soon as I walk around the corner, I scoped out for Wilson’s snipe... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/04/07/epic-day-for-birding-4-7-2017/">Read More</a></div>

We started today off at Lake Front Park with our Tuesday birding group. At Lake Front Park we got wet, but we found lots of American White Pelicans. Next, we drove to Chain O’Lakes SP. We pulled into a small overlook and found Wilson’s Snipe (a bird that I have not seen in two years),... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/04/04/olivers-birding-blog-chain-olakes-state-park-442017/">Read More</a></div>

I lost my post that I wrote for the first four days so those days may be somewhat incomplete. DAY 1 CARPENTERSVILLE, IL TO LEXINGTON, KY Within the first few minutes of our vacation, we saw two male Ring-necked Pheasants (one was on the Kane county side on the sign and not an eBird rare... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/03/31/olivers-birding-blog-south-carolina-trip-3242017-to-412017/">Read More</a></div>

  Montrose Harbor/Magic Hedge We started the day with me, my Mom, Dad, and brother, Peter. We started by checking out the harbor. There, we immediately saw five or six Horned Grebes, Mallard, Canada Geese, and Red-Breasted Merganser. After a while, a man came up to us saying that he was going to look for an... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/03/21/montrose-harbormagic-hedge-3-19-2017/">Read More</a></div>

Today we met up with Isoo O’Brian and his father at Crabtree Nature Center to look for the continuing Harris’s Sparrow. We met at 8 AM but the nature center did not open until 9 AM so we walked to Crabtree Lake where we found Bufflehead, Hooded & Common Mergansers, Green-winged Teal, and some Ring-necked Ducks... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/03/19/olivers-birding-blog-crabtree-nature-center-and-bakers-lake/">Read More</a></div>

After a fairly short Whimbrel Birders Club walk, I decided that we should check Crabtree NC on the way home. We walked up to the nature center to look for the Harris’s Sparrow that was seen there last week. Outside the nature center, there were 80 to 120 Red-winged Blackbirds with a few grackles mixed... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/03/11/olivers-birding-blog-crabtree-nc-3112017/">Read More</a></div>

Our day started at Air Station Prairie. Right from the start, we saw many Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles. We walked down one of the many paths finding sparrows, American Robins, and an unidentified falcon/Accipiter. From there we drove south to Lake Glenview. At the lake, we found a flock of 15 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/03/11/march-11-wbc-trip/">Read More</a></div>

I was inspired by John James Audubon and his book of paintings, “Birds of America.” I am starting all of the rarest  or most intriguing birds that I have seen. BE NOT AFRAID! I WILL HAVE MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!      

In hopes of finding a large flock of Tree Swallows trapped in the wind like last year, we set off for the Fox River in West Dundee. Well, let’s just say that there were no swallows on the river there! So we traveled north to Carpentersville Dam. Upon first inspection of the river north of the dam,... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/03/08/olivers-birding-blog-carpentersville-dam-382017/">Read More</a></div>

Thirteen young birders and several family members joined guest leader, Andrew Aldrich, for a trip to Starved Rock State Park along the Illinois River on Sunday, March 5th. Despite having been hit recently by a tornado, the surrounding area was as scenic as ever and there were plenty of birds to keep us occupied.  We... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/03/07/march-ilyb-trip-by-matthew-cvetas/">Read More</a></div>

Our first stop at Necedah NWR was the visitors center where highlights were a FOY Titmouse, American Tree Sparrow, and two resting FOY Trumpeter Swans. I noticed a lot of Hawks there too but I could not tell what some of them were. One of them, in particular, looked good for a Golden Eagle but... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/03/07/olivers-birding-blog-necedah-nwr-2262017/">Read More</a></div>

MONTROSE HARBOR Since last weekend, I had heard about a Blue Morph Snow Goose that had showed up. I found out about it on IBET. I was worried that it wasn’t going to be there by the next weekend, but I kept my hopes up. Today my Mom and I went out to look for... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/03/05/montrose-harbor-blue-morphsnow-goose-3042017/">Read More</a></div>

BIRDING I thought we could do some birding before we met Josh, so we started the day off at Northerly Island. At the Northerly Island parking lot, we found that Red-winged Blackbirds have come back in numbers and we found a single Brown-headed Cowbird. We looked over Lake Michigan finding only Common and Red-breasted Mergansers.... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/02/20/a-trip-to-the-field-museum-with-josh-engel/">Read More</a></div>

By Simon Tolzmann MONTROSE HARBOR For my 12th birthday I wanted to go birding. We started the day out at Montrose Harbor/Magic Hedge with just my family. We immediately saw House Sparrows, 1 crow flyover, Rock Doves, and 6 very cooperative Cardinals (3 male, 3 Female). Then we are bombarded with 12 Downy Woodpeckers. Out of... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/02/12/my-birthday-birding-adventure/">Read More</a></div>

Everyone met at North Point Marina for the 16th annual IOS Gull Frolic. Within the first hour, we found some flying Long-tailed Ducks (the third ILYB field trip in a row to have one), Gadwall, and a few flyover Horned Larks. At 10:30 AM, I went inside to see the James Bay shorebird presentation by... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/02/11/olivers-birding-blog-ios-gull-frolic-2017/">Read More</a></div>

After all of the Geese we saw with ILYB on Sunday, we thought we would try to get closer to the flock by going up to Fox River Shores FP. Right as we pulled up to the parking lot, we saw a flock of about thirty Red-winged Blackbirds and as we walked, we heard and... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/02/01/olivers-birding-blog-fox-river-shores-fp-and-carpentersville-dam-212017/">Read More</a></div>

I can take care of myself. I’m an adult. Not just any ordinary adult. I am an adult male Long-Tailed Duck. My grandfather was what you called an “Oldsquaw.” My mother and father told me stories when I was just a hatchling of other beings called Humans. One species of Human called “Native Americans,” found... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/02/01/long-tailed-duck-a-short-story/">Read More</a></div>

I created a survey last weekend to see what everyone thought the top ten birding locations in Illinois are and here are the results: #10 – The Fox River #9 – Mississippi Palisades SP #7t – Waukegan #7t – Calumet #7t – Palos #7t – Fermilab #6 – Jackson Park #5 – Hennepin-Hopper #4 – Carlyle... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/01/29/top-ten-birding-locations-in-illinois-survey-results/">Read More</a></div>

Everyone met at Carpenters Dam with guest leader Scott Cohrs. In the parking lot, Scott heard a Brown Creeper and a Bald Eagle flew over. Once everyone got there, we looked at the river finding a banded Canada Goose (N6Y3) (white numbers on an orange band) and three Greater White-fronted Geese (good spotting by Ethan... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/01/29/fox-river-ilyb-trip/">Read More</a></div>

We had not been to Carpentersville Dam in a week and a half so I wanted to see if anything was there. At the dam, few birds were present (although we did see lots of Canada Geese). We walked down the trail finding some American Tree Sparrows, a pair of Cardinals, and some Chickadees. We... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/01/22/carpentersville-dam-1222017/">Read More</a></div>

We started our day off at Heather Ridge Golf Course to look for a Ross’s Goose. Very few birds were present. We waited for everyone to show up and then headed over to Waukegan Beach. At Waukegan, we found at least three thousand Scaup, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, and Joel Greenberg & Ted Wolff. After... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/01/15/january-2017-wbc-trip-report/">Read More</a></div>

As we pulled into our driveway I noticed a Bald Eagle perched on our neighbor’s tree and as I scanned it I found 5 more. I ran inside to grab my camera to photograph them and while I was outside I saw a Merlin and a Red-tailed Hawk flyover along with a Brown Creeper, some Cedar... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/01/08/our-house-182017/">Read More</a></div>

Join us at Heather Ridge Golf Course on January 15th to look for the continuing Ross’s Goose. After Heather Ridge Golf Course we will head north to the south unit of IBSP there we will search for Scoters, Bald Eagles, and other Waterfowl. Once we are done scanning the lake at the south unit we will... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/01/07/january-2017-wbc-trip/">Read More</a></div>

     NOT A WBC TRIP      We started our day off at the Otto Parking lot finding three Eagles, lots of Goldeneye (including the leucistic) and Mallards, and hundreds of Canada Geese. After a short stop there, we drove up to the Dam finding that there were still very few Gulls. Although we... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/01/07/carpentersville-dam-172017/">Read More</a></div>

We started the day off at 8 AM. As we got to Crabtree NC, we found that our group was not there. In my head, I was thinking “where are they, did I not read the email correctly?” So I checked my email and it said that they were meeting at 9. We walked some... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/01/03/crabtree-nc-and-carpentersville-dam-132017/">Read More</a></div>

We joined Eric L., Jim P., and Irene & Dan W. for the Waukegan CBC at the Lake Forest area. We met at the Jewel-Osco parking lot in Lake Forest at 6:45 AM. In the parking lot, we found some flyover Mallards (first bird of the year for me), Crows, and some Chickadees. After everyone... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2017/01/02/waukegan-cbc-lake-forest-area/">Read More</a></div>

       NOT A WBC TRIP       I wanted to go out today to try out my new 200-500 mm lens. Once we got to the overlook, we found that some of the gulls had dispersed because some of the ice had melted. The only notable Gull species we found today were... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2016/12/26/carpentersville-dam-12262016/">Read More</a></div>

NOT A WBC TRIP     We started out again at the Otto parking lot finding twenty Eagles. Then, we drove up to the Dam where we spent a longer time scanning through the Gulls then last time. We were rewarded with six Thayer’s Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, and the second winter Iceland Gull. After... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2016/12/24/carpentersville-dam-12242016/">Read More</a></div>

NOT A WBC TRIP Target species : Barrow’s Goldeneye, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Thayer’s Gull, Iceland Gull Unexpected birds : 26 Bald Eagles, leucistic Common Goldeneye, and 2nd year Iceland Gull (not the regularly seen 1st year) We started the day off at the Otto parking lot. There we found ten Eagles in one tree and eleven others... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2016/12/21/carpentersville-dam-12212016/">Read More</a></div>

NOT A WBC TRIP Target species : Barrow’s Goldeneye, Iceland Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, and Thayer’s Gull Unexpected sepcies : Redhead and possible California Gull Along the way to the dam, we stopped at the Otto parking lot to find eight Bald Eagles flying around. After a short stop there, we drove up to the Dam... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2016/12/14/carpentersville-dam-12142016/">Read More</a></div>

NOT A WBC TRIP I got a ebird RBA that said there was a Iceland Gull at Carpentersville Dam, found by Eric Secker. So, we decided to try for it. We searched through hunderds of Ring-billed and Herring Gulls and after about 30 minutes of looking, we found a adult THAYER’S and later a 1st... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2016/12/12/carpentersville-dam-12122016/">Read More</a></div>

NOT A WBC TRIP We met with our Tuesday birding group at 8am. We waited by the feeders for about thirty minutes with no luck finding the Harris’s Sparrow. We decided to walk to Carbtree Lake, finding about a hundred and fifty Canada Geese, four Hooded Mergansers, and one mystery Duck. We headed back to... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2016/12/06/crabtree-nature-center-12616/">Read More</a></div>

Not a WBC trip We went looking for a Barrow’s Goldeneye or rare Gulls at the Fox River just south of the dam at 9 am. There, we only found one lone Common Goldeneye, a few domestic and wild Mallards, Canada Geese, and a few Herring Gulls (one was a 3rd year Gull with a black... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2016/12/05/carpentersville-dam-12516/">Read More</a></div>

 Not a WBC trip When we were walking to the pier we spotted thousands of ducks (mainly Red-breasted Mergansers and Scaup). Once we got to the pier we saw Sully G. who had the PURPLE SANDPIPER on the rocks just before the flat concrete starts. Then Joel G. came (looking more for Cave Swallows then the... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2016/11/20/waukegan-beach/">Read More</a></div>

We started the day off at Rainbow Beach with 13 birders. The first 30 minutes were spent looking by the parking lot. There was not much there other than about a hundred Coots, Red-breasted Mergansers, and Horned Grebes. After that, we started to hike through the grasses to if there was anything hiding among the... <div class="link-more"><a href="https://whimbrelbirders.org/2016/11/15/november-2016-trip-report/">Read More</a></div>