Vermilion Flycatcher: Christian (Central) – On September 29th, a Vermilion Flycatcher was photographed near Lake Sanchris in Christian County.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Sangamon (Central) – A Black-bellied Whistling-Duck was photographed at Lake Springfield in Sangamon County in mid-September.
Neotropic Cormorant: Cook (North) – An Neotropic Cormorant was back at Rainbow Beach in Cook County for the third year in a row, spotted on September 16th.
Parasitic Jaeger: Cook (North) – Several Parasitic Jaegers were seen along the Lake Michigan lake front on September 9th in Cook County.
Long-tailed Jaeger: Cook (North) – Long-tailed Jaegers were photographed at Gillson Park and Montrose on September 8th in Cook County, representing northern Illinois’ first and second records, respectively.
White-faced/Glossy Ibis: Putnam (North) – On September 3rd, an immature White-faced/Glossy Ibis was at Dixon Waterfowl Refuge in Putnam County.
Despite high water conditions, field trip participants were able to observe more than 100 species over the course of the IOS Shorebirding Weekend, including more than 15 species of shorebirds. Expert field trip leaders made the most of the situation and scoured the Illinois River area for birds with willing participants benefiting from their efforts.
Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge, which typically holds thousands of shorebirds this time of year when mudflats are exposed, instead was alive with big numbers of waterfowl taking advantage of the high water condition including Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, and American White Pelicans. Raptors were well represented by Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Cooper’s Hawk, several Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, and American Kestrel. Swallows filled the air over the crossdike with all five species represented with especially large numbers of Bank, Tree, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows.
Scott Ellis by Matthew Cvetas
At lunch, participants retreated to the cool environs of the Dickson Mounds State Museum. Arriving at the museum, a surprise Barred Owl was heard cackling mid-day near the parking lot. Inside, attendees were treated to lunch and a great shorebird ID talk by Geoff Williamson.
On Sunday, one field trip took a pontoon boat out on Thompson Lake at Emiquon Preserve where huge groups of swallows were gathered. Small numbers of Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs were seen along the lake edges along with a summering group of Snow Geese. An American Golden-Plover gave great views from the boat. While navigating, at one point, the boat got stuck in a shallow spot. Thanks to a few volunteers, the group was able to get back to the boat launch safely, where we wrapped up the weekend.
Hi there and welcome to my first monthly IOS newsletter post. My name is Demayne Murphy and I started photographing birds a couple of years ago, primarily at Montrose Point’s Magic Hedge in Chicago.
I have been a birder, however, for over 25 years. I almost chose not to venture into the world of avian photography, as I was reluctant to change my birding experience — something I have always treasured — particularly for its meditative qualities. And indeed it has changed the way I view birds and other wildlife. But I can report that while the experience is somewhat different now, I do feel it is enriched by the focus that photography brings. So if you find yourself considering photography as a new adventure for yourself I hope that my posts will speak to you.
My goal is to bring you some quick and easy tips that will make your life as a burgeoning photographer a little simpler. The web abounds with tens of thousands of photography web sites, from individual photographers who usually offer their own tips and techniques, to learning sites geared to teaching you everything you need to know and more. And if you are at all like me, you may have explored some of these sites and found it all completely overwhelming.
No experience necessary
I myself have no prior experience in photography. And of course the stunning images available online may only intimidate you further — thinking nothing you can manage will ever compete. So while I cannot say that I have created any of these stunning images yet, I can say that the process has become so enjoyable that I find myself continually motivated to persevere and grow as an artist.
What I really want to say in this first missive is just get out there!! If you find yourself intrigued, just give it a try. The only thing you really need to do initially is find out if this art form is for you. If not, you’ve tried something new; check it off your bucket list. But if you do find yourself positively thrilled by the experience, as I did, then a whole new world awaits you.
And make no mistake, photography is an art, not just a technical skill. There is tremendous scope for individual expression and innovation. You may just open a door that changes your life.
What about gear?
So what about gear you ask? A dangerous question to ask a photographer, unless you have loads of time for the answer. Let’s keep it really short and simple right now. You don’t have to buy anything. Consider renting a camera and a lens for a week or two. Below are links to a reputable company that will rent you the camera and lens I use. This combination combines the speed and the reach you will need.
I have no affiliation with the company or with Canon, other than having used both myself. And yes, you can shoot with Nikon or Sony or Fuji etc… and everyone has an opinion about which are the best. But rather than get bogged down with that in this exploratory phase, I encourage you to just give this tried-and-true combination a test run. Next month I’ll talk about some basic camera/lens settings to get started with.
And I hope the experience surprises and delights you. See you out there!
IOS is pleased to announce this year’s Carlyle Lake Pelagic Field Trip to be held, Saturday, September 22, 2018. This trip includes the popular three-hour pelagic aboard comfortable pontoon boats.
Sabine’s Gull by Barbara Williams
As in past years, we’ll meet at McDonald’s off IL 127 in Carlyle at 6:30 AM. This is a full-day field trip, ending around 7:30 PM. We’ll begin with a scan of the lake from Dam West Beach before heading to Eldon Hazlet State Park to search for migrant songbirds. We’ll bird the Hazlet area all morning before breaking for lunch. Lunch will be fast food or bring your own. We’ll gather at the Dam West picnic area where we’ll be able to search for more birds from the excellent shade provided.
After lunch, depending on water levels, we’ll search for shorebirds and waders, likely visiting Whitetail and James Hawn Access areas.
The boat trip begins at 3:30 PM from Dam West Marina. The late afternoon/early evening hours can be excellent for feeding gulls, terns and others. We hope to find SABINE’S GULL which has eluded us on the past three field trips! It’s also possible to tally RED and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, EARED and PIED-BILLED GREBES, five or six Gull species and potentially any of the three JAEGER species!
Bring plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen, bug spray, mud boots and your hat.
Those planning on staying Saturday night may wish to join us for a group dinner at a nearby restaurant. Recommended hotels are available in Carlyle, Greenville, Salem and Vandalia.
There is a fee associated with this field trip to cover the costs of pontoon rental, gasoline, and other expenses. The fee is $30 for existing IOS members and $50 for non-IOS members. The $50 fee for non-members includes the field trip registration and a one-year IOS membership and benefits, including four issues of the Meadowlark, A Journal of Illinois Birds, a quarterly publication of IOS.
This field trip is limited to 32 participants with IOS members receiving first priority. Trip registration and payment shall be made through the Pay Pal using the form below (credit cards accepted). This trip is very popular and will fill up fast. IOS will not make refunds but will allow substitutes if you sign up for the trip and cannot attend. It will be your responsibility to notify the trip leader of your substitute. If you cannot provide a substitute, the trip leader will take the 1st name on the waiting list.
If you have any questions about the trip, feel free to contact the trip leader, Keith McMullen or by phone +1-618-560-9450.
Black-bellied Whistling Duck: Shelby (South) – On August 29th, a Black-bellied Whistling Duck was spotted on the southwest side of Lake Mattoon in Shelby County.
White Ibis: Lake (North) – An immature White Ibis was photographed near the Fox River at Chain O’ Lakes State Park on Aug 22nd in Lake County.
Brown Pelican: Clinton (South) – An immature Brown Pelican was discovered at Carlyle Lake off on Aug 18th near the Bond/Fayette/Clinton County line.
Roseate Spoonbill: Jefferson (South) – On August 18th, an immature Roseate Spoonbill was seen at Rend Lake in Jefferson County.
Great-tailed Grackle: Lake (North) – A female Great-tailed Grackle was photographed at Spring Bluff Forest Preserve in Lake County on August 5th.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Cook (North) – On July 26th, a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck was observed at Paul Douglas Forest Preserve in Cook County.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Lawrence (South) – An eBird first for Lawrence County, two Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were seen on a private pond in Pinkstaff on July 22nd.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Clinton (South) – On July 14th, a small flock of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were photographed at Carlyle Lake – Whitetail Access, in Clinton County.
White Ibis: Randolph (South) – An immature White Ibis was present at Kaskaskia in Randolph County on July 11th.
Neotropic Cormorant: DuPage (North) – On July 10th, a Neotropic Cormorant returned to the same location as last year in Roselle, Dupage County.
Brown Pelican: Jasper (South) – On July 1st, a Brown Pelican was found at Newton Lake in Jasper County.
Anhinga: Johnson (South) – An Anhinga was spotted soaring over Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Johnson County on June 21st.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Cook (North) – On June 20th, a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck was photographed at Flick Park in Cook County.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Iroquois (Central) – An eBird first Iroquois County Black-bellied Whistling-Duck was observed June 17th near Watseka.
White-winged Dove: Kendall (North) – On June 15th, a White-winged Dove made an appearance in Oswego, Kendall County.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Coles (Central) – A Black-bellied Whistling-Duck was photographed on June 12th at the former Mattoon Sand and Gravel Quarry area in Coles County.
Neotropic Cormorant: Madison (south) – A Neotropic Cormorant was seen on June 3rd at Horseshoe Lake State Park in Madison County.
On May 12, IOS sponsored a field trip to Mississippi Palisades State Park and nearby wildlife areas near Savanna (Carroll County) along the Mississippi River in northwest Illinois. As the weekend approached, cold weather and rain were forecast, with overnight lows in the 40s and daytime highs only reaching the low 50s. As leader, I hoped that the rain and thunderstorms would miss us, or at least give the group a chance to see some birds before the weather forced us into shelter. The weather worked out better than I had hoped. Even though it was cold and damp, the wind died down from Friday and the rain stopped just before dawn on Saturday.
The Mississippi River was running very high and a lot of low-lying areas were flooded and closed, such as Thomson Causeway, Diehl Road, the marsh along the entry road to Lost Mound, and all of the flood bottom agricultural fields bordering the river on the west side of IL 84 north of Savanna. The flooding prevented us from getting access to some of the areas we hoped to visit.
We birded Mississippi Palisades SP, the public areas of the Lost Mound unit of the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge (including Army Depot Road), Spring Lake (also a part of the NWR south of Savanna), Ayers Sand Prairie Nature Preserve and vicinity, a subdivision south of Savanna that has feeders and Purple Martin nest houses, and Doty Road.
The group saw 25 species of warblers, a nice total that included Cerulean (great looks for all!), Kentucky (another great look!), multiple Yellow-throated, and Hooded (another great look!), and a very cooperative male Summer Tanager. 23 of the warbler species were seen at Palisades. We also found all 7 species of woodpeckers in the park, completing a woodpecker slam with 3 sapsuckers.
After the state park we moved on to Lost Mound. On the way, we had a pair of Trumpeter Swans in a flooded field along IL 84. On Army Depot Road, we found a nice variety of dabbling ducks, including a drake American Wigeon. We were unsuccessful in locating the Cattle Egret that was in the marsh the day before. At Lost Mound, we had 6 Northern Mockingbirds, Lark and Grasshopper Sparrows, our only Blue Grosbeak and Dickcissel of the day, and a spectacle of 250+ Cedar Waxwings feasting on Cedar berries.
Satisfied with our Lost Mound results, we headed for lunch in Savanna. While most of us were eating lunch, Cindy and Ethan Brown scouted Doty Road. That road often has mudflats for shorebirds, but not that day. High water flooded the low spots. Ethan found a Short-billed Dowitcher at a distance, the only shorebird highlight of the day.
After lunch, we drove to Spring Lake. On the scouting day, we walked the entire 4 mile circumference of the levee system. Because of the forecast thunderstorm, we limited the trip to a hike to the overlook on the east levee and some scoping from the parking area. We were pleased to find 3 Common Gallinules from the overlook. Other species included another pair of Trumpeter Swans, multiple Sora, a Least Bittern and distant looks at Black and Forster’s Terns. Several Marsh Wrens were singing from the cattails. We avoided walking out one of the secondary levees to look for a male Yellow-headed Blackbird seen there the day before because we found a pair of Sandhill Cranes on it with a very young colt. Because of the high water in the lake, there was no place that the adults could move the chick that would not involve a direct confrontation with birders. We agreed to leave the crane family undisturbed.
Ayers Sand Prairie had one of the most wanted birds of the trip-Loggerhead Shrike. We found it fairly quickly thanks to Davida’s keen hearing. She heard it singing from inside a cedar as their car passed by. The bird emerged and flew to several shrubs and a fence line, giving terrific flight views.
Leaving the shrike, we headed for the subdivision with Purple Martins and Eurasian Tree Sparrows, finding both quickly and in adjoining properties. The Martins completed a swallow sweep.
The day ended for most of the group on Doty Road, where we were unable to find Ethan’s dowitcher, but we added Lesser Yellowlegs and Least Sandpiper.
Davida and Dale Kalina and Ted Wolff decided to return to Lost Mound in the evening to look and listen for some night birds. They recorded 3 Woodcocks, 2 Whip-poor-wills and 2 Henslow’s Sparrows.
Including the 3 species found by the evening group , the trip list was 138 species, a pretty respectable total considering that there was no shorebird habitat.
We had a great group who all contributed to finding and sharing birds with the others. I particularly thank Cindy and Ethan Brown for all of their great scouting help on Friday and for finding a lot of birds (Ethan has great hearing!) for the group, and to the entire group for their excellent birding skills and good humor and company. I had a great time birding with them in one of my favorite areas of the state.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Williamson (South) – A pair of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks was spotted on a private farm pond in Herrin, Williamson County, on May 22nd.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Cook (North) – A single unconfirmed Black-bellied Whistling-Duck was seen at Wolf Road Woods Forest Preserve in Palos, Cook County, on May 10th.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Gallatin (South) – On May 6th, Ron Bradley photographed two Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks in Gallatin County.
White-winged Dove: Cook (North) – A White-winged Dove flew by an observer at St. Mihiel Woods Forest Preserve in Tinley Park, Cook County, on May 5th.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: Cook (North) – Nine Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were present at North Pond in Chicago, Cook County, on May 4th.
Western Tanager: Cook (North) – A Western Tanager was discovered at North Pond in Chicago, Cook County, on May 4th.
Plumbeous Vireo: Will (North) – Jon Grainger photographed a potential state first Plumbeous Vireo at Knoch Knolls Park in Naperville, Will County, on May 2nd.
Brown Pelican: Richland (South) – Leroy Harrison discovered a Brown Pelican at East Fork Lake in Richland County, on April 27th.
A few years back, I was looking for a LeConte’s Sparrow that had been reported at Prairie Green in Kane County. I never did see the bird, but periodically would hear a long, downslurred, tinny call. Could I know this was a LeConte’s Sparrow, and not another species like Savannah Sparrow? As I researched this, I found almost zero information regarding the vocal behavior of our Ammodramus sparrows. So I decided to explore this behavior myself, and purchased a Sennheiser ME66 shotgun microphone and an adapter for my iPhone. Since then recording has become a passion and an obsession, and I strive to record every sound I hear in the field. Of course, you do not actually need to purchase an expensive recording set to do the same. You can still obtain surprisingly good recordings with your phone, especially with the right tools and technique.
When recording bird sounds, you want control over the gain and the quality. The built-in voice recorders on your phone encode audio as MP3 files, which results in a smaller file size but also lower quality. For the iPhone, Audio Memos Pro can be configured to record to WAV files, and gives control over both the sound quality and the gain level. For Android, Cornell has recommended an app like RecForge II, and Nathan Pieplow recommends SpectralPro Analyzer.
Once you have your phone configured to record properly, you may want to add an external microphone if you already have one. The team at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology tested several smaller external microphones, but found they do not make enough of a difference to make them useful. The exception to this is using a shotgun or parabolic microphone, which was quite effective as my initial setup. However, be aware that if you do so, you will likely need to disable voice activation on your phone, which can be difficult to do completely.
Beyond equipment, you can employ a number of techniques to improve the quality of your recordings. Sound quality is largely a function of distance. You can boost the recorded volume of the bird’s song or call by 6dB by halving the distance between the microphone and the bird (a significant improvement). So the first step to ensuring a good recording is getting as close to the bird as you can without disturbing it. Next, try to position your phone’s microphone so that unwanted noise from cars or other birds is minimized. Further, longer recordings are always more valuable than shorter ones, since birds often switch between different songs and calls. As a rule, I try to leave the recorder running until the bird stops vocalizing (unless, of course, the bird is agitated by my presence). Finally, to reduce fatigue, keep your arm down at your side. It may be tempting to extend your arm to get closer to the bird, but the added reach is too small to noticeably affect the recording.
After a recording session you have the option to leave your recording as is, or edit it lightly to reduce interference. Recordists vary in their opinions on editing. Some adamantly oppose all modifications, while others will lightly amplify or filter their recordings as needed. That said, there are not many places in Illinois where you can escape background noise, especially if you live in the northeast portion of the state. Between normal commuter traffic, airline traffic from two major airports, and the fact that more trains pass through Chicago than any other major US city, it is nearly impossible to obtain a recording free from heavy background noise. As such, I dampen the noise in the first kHz of most of my recordings, with the exception being recordings of low-pitched vocalizations like heron grunts. Such filtering is easy with free tools like Raven Lite or Audacity. There are several online guides available to help you use these filters.
With spring migration underway, there will be many opportunities for you to record both songs and calls. It is worth getting into the habit of regularly recording the sounds you hear now. So when that singing MacGillivray’s Warbler shows up at your local forest preserve, you won’t walk away realizing you could have recorded its song but in your excitement completely forgot to do so.
