The Illinois Ornithological Records Committee (IORC) recently concluded evaluation of 26 records of occurrence of rare birds in Illinois, accepting 20 and not accepting six. For each record, we indicate the species or form, with number of individuals in parentheses if greater than one, followed by date or date range, location, and county. At the end, the record number is indicated in parentheses, followed by, for accepted records, names of the documenters. IORC thanks all the documenters, for accepted and unaccepted records alike, for their submissions. All documentation is maintained in the IORC archives so that there is a permanent record of all these observations. Documentation, regardless of the Committee’s decision, is a valuable part of the record of bird life in Illinois.
Records Accepted
- Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (4), 7 May 2016, Carbondale, Jackson County (2016-038; Henry Detwiler)
- Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (2), 14 May 2016, Oakwood Bottoms, Jackson County (2016-056; Henry Detwiler)
- Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (6), 28 May to 27 July 2016, Springfield, Sangamon County (2016-042; Colin Dobson, Dan Williams). First found by H. David Bohlen.
- Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (4), 2 July 2016, Big Muddy wetlands, Jackson County (2016-057; Henry Detwiler)
- Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (3), 17 August 2016, Lincoln Park, Chicago, Cook County (2016-062; Robert D. Hughes; Joseph W. Lill)
- Tundra Swan, 18 June through 20 November 2016 (and continuing), Lemont, Cook County (2016-047; Linda Padera)
- Neotropic Cormorant, 1-11 July 2016, Horseshoe Lake State Park, Madison County (2016-050; Frank Holmes, Doug Hommert). First found by Keith McMullen.
- Neotropic Cormorant, Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, Fulton County (2016-054; Matthew Cvetas)
- Anhinga, 28 April 2016, Oakwood Bottoms, Jackson County (2016-055; Henry Detwiler)
- Swallow-tailed Kite, 31 July 2016, Evergreen Lake, McLean County (2016-058; Dave Weth)
- Snowy Plover, 30 May 2016, Lake Springfield, Sangamon County (2016-041; Colin Dobson). First found by Jim Mordacq.
- Ruff, 15-17 May 2016, Glacial Park, McHenry County (2016-048; Marty Hackl; Annette McClellan, Dan Williams)
- Ruff, 5-10 July 2016, Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, Fulton County and Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge, Mason County (2016-053; Matthew Cvetas). First found by Kevin Richmond.
- California Gull, 22-23 February 2016, Winthrop Harbor, Lake County (2016-043; Annette McClellan). First found by Andy Stewart.
- White-winged Dove, 2 July 2016, Momence, Kankakee County (2016-052; Susan Zelek)
- White-winged Dove, 25 July 2016, Lake Springfield, Sangamon County (2016-059; H. David Bohlen)
- White-winged Dove, 8 August 2016, River Grove, Cook County (2016-060; Susan Szeszol)
- White-winged Dove, 16 August 2016, Ft. Sheridan Forest Preserve, Lake County (2016-061; Adam Sell)
- Bewick’s Wren, 28 June 2016, Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area, Schuyler County (2016-051; Ted Hartzler)
- Painted Bunting (4), 29 May to 30 July 2016, East St. Louis, St. Clair County (2016-040; Dan Kassebaum, Travis Mahan, Dan Williams). First discovered (the male) by Aaron Gyllenhaal and Ted Wolff.
Records Not Accepted
- Mottled Duck, 15 January 2016, East Fork Lake, Richland County (2016-008)
- Mottled Duck, 24 May 2016, southeast of Jacksonville, Morgan County (2016-046)
- Anhinga, 16 May 2002, Massac County (2002-051T)
- Arctic Tern, 7 June 2016, Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, Fulton County (2016-045)
- Townsend’s Solitaire, 24 May 2016, Lincoln Park, Chicago, Cook County (2016-033)
- Baird’s Sparrow, 23 May 1989, Jackson Park, Chicago, Cook County (1989-151T)