2010 Field Trips
For more information, look for announcements in Wings Over the Prairie and e-mail flashes to the IOS membership. The current IOS Field Trip Chairman is Michael Retter.
Birders looking for Sprague's Pipits at Pyramid State Park in Perry County. This is just one of many field trips sponsored by IOS.
Note: All IOS field trips marked with an asterisk (*) will include a $5 charge for IOS members and a $25 charge for non-members. Make checks out to IOS and give them to your trip leader at the beginning of the trip, unless directed otherwise by the leader. These contributions will be used to fund the Grant Program, which provides up to $1000 to awarded applicants working on a project relating to birds and/or birding in Illinois. IOS proudly supports ornithological projects that advance the knowledge of birds and how they are impacted by environmental changes. Please visit the Grant Program page for more information.
Other field trips may include charges to offset expenses (i.e. the Carlyle Lake Pelagic trip requires rental of pontoon boats and purchase of gasoline).
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Saturday, February 20
Ninth Annual Gull Frolic
The annual IOS Gull Frolic has been held at North Point Marina in Lake County, Illinois for the last 9 years. North Point Marina is perhaps the best place on Lake Michigan to see large numbers of gulls during the colder months of the year, and uncommon species such as Glaucous, Iceland, Thayer's, Great Black-backed, and Lesser Black-backed Gulls are regularly recorded at the Gull Frolic.
Sunday, March 28
Nelson Lake
For the past 10 years, American White Pelicans have been stopping at Nelson Lake in Kane County during their migration north. Over 200 of these birds have been seen at one time at this 150 acre marsh. Nelson Lake also supports good numbers of waterfowl at this time of the year.
Saturday, April 17
Yellow Rails and Greater Prairie-Chickens in Marion County
Yellow Rails are regular migrants through Illinois and the marsh below the dam at Clinton Lake in Marion County is one of the best places to see them. Notable birds form prior trips include Le Conte's Sparrow, Henslow's Sparrow, Smith's Longspur, and American Bittern.
2010 Yellow Rails and Greater Prairie-Chickens Trip List
Friday, May 21 through Sunday, May 23
Annual Spring Birding Weekend
The Annual Spring Birding Weekend was held in the Kankakee/Bradley area.
2010 Annual Spring Birding Weekend Trip List
Saturday, June 12 and Sunday, June 13
Shawnee Weekend
The focus of this trip was southern Illinois specialties, including Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Least Tern, Black Vulture, Mississippi Kite, Chuck-will's-widow, Fish Crow, Blue Grosbeak, Summer Tanager, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Worm-eating, Hooded, Cerulean, Blue-winged, Prothonotary, Pine, and Prairie Warblers.
2010 Shawnee Weekend Trip List
Friday, September 17 through Sunday, September 26
Central and Southern California
This trip has been cancelled.
Saturday, September 25 and Sunday, September 26
Lake Carlyle Pelagic
IOS will once again be offering its Carlyle Lake "inland pelagic" birding trip, this year over September 25-26. The trip will be led by long-time IOS members Keith McMullen, Dan Kassebaum, and Mark Seiffert. As well as the "pelagic", visits to the surrounding woodlands, wetlands and grasslands of Carlyle Lake should garner a trip list well over 100 species.
Sabine's Gull
This two-day trip will begin with woodland birding at Eldon Hazlet State Park, where numerous migrant passerines should be encountered. Warblers, tanagers, orioles, thrushes, and flycatchers are expected. Subsequently, we'll board pontoon boats and scour the waters of Carlyle Lake for Sabine's Gulls and other pelagic species. On previous trips we've encountered both Red-necked and Red Phalaropes, Laughing and Franklins Gulls, and Long-tailed and Parasitic Jaegers. Other possibilities include Eared Grebe and Neotropic Cormorant, and there's always a chance for a complete surprise.
After the three-hour boating tour, we'll break for a picnic lunch at Dam West Beach on Carlyle Lake's west side. Once we compare notes and tally the checklist we'll decide our afternoon birding plans. Dependent upon water levels, Carlyle Lake may have excellent shorebird habitat at the extreme north end on both the east and west sides. If water levels are sufficient and excellent mudflat conditions are present, we'll venture to east side spots such as Whitetail Access Area and East Fork, as well as west side locations like Parking Lot 3 (Speaker Lake) and Tamalco Access. Over a dozen shorebird species may be present, with the possibility of rarer species such as Red Knot, Whimbrel, and Hudsonian and Marbled Godwits. We can expect to see good numbers of waders, too, including Little Blue Heron and Snowy Egret. On past trips, we have seen Glossy and White-faced Ibis.
The evening generally ends with scoping of the lake from Hazlet State Park's Olympic Pavilion. A hatching of midges generally occurs in the evening at this time of year, and the ensuing feeding frenzy of gulls, terns, and swallows is a sight to behold.
The second day will include visits to Hazlet State Park and South Shore State Park in order to search for migrant passerines and any target species which were not encountered from the first day. This will be a half day, ending around noon in order to allow everyone sufficient time for their trip home.
Participants are requested to meet at 6:30 a.m. at the McDonald's in Carlyle, located immediately east of Illinois Route 127 on William Road at Carlyle's north end. This Google Map shows where to meet.
PLEASE NOTE: There is a $30 fee for IOS members and a $50 fee for non-members. These fees are to be paid ahead of time. Included in the fee is $25 for the boat rental and gasoline. The additional $5/$25 goes to IOS for special projects, including studies, internships, and the like. The trip will be limited to 32 participants. To register for the trip and to pay trip fees, please contact Keith McMullen. Checks should be made out to Keith McMullen with the memo line filled out as "IOS Field Trip" and mailed to:
- Keith McMullen
- 1405 DeSoto
- O'Fallon, IL 62269
Hotels are located nearby in Carlyle, Greenville, and Salem.
Sunday, November 21
Black-legged Kittiwake
Miller Beach Lakewatch and Jasper-Pulaski Sandhill Cranes*
Come join us in Northwest Indiana for a day of lakewatching, and ending with the spectacle of thousands of Sandhill Cranes coming to roost at Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area. We'll start lakewatching at 7:30 a.m. at the traditional pavilion spot in Miller Beach's Marquette Park at the end of Montgomery Street. See this Google Map for directions. You'll need a telescope to participate in the lakewatch. We may move to other Indiana Lakefront spots during the day.
The afternoon with the Sandhill Cranes is the family friendly portion of the trip. Those who aren't with us all day should meet us at 3 p.m. at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area Headquarters near Clarks, Indiana. See this Google Map for directions. Be prepared for cold conditions all day. Contact Michael by e-mail or by phone at 309-824-7317 to sign up.