IORC Update, 26 August 2024

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The Illinois Ornithological Records Committee (IORC) recently concluded evaluations of 31 records of the occurrence of rare birds in Illinois. IORC accepted 26 of these records and did not accept five.

The records involved are summarized below. 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. The record number is indicated in parentheses, followed by, for accepted records, names of the documenters. If multiple documenters are listed, those understood by IORC to have been the original finders of the bird(s) are listed first and separated from the others by a semicolon. 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

  • Eurasian Wigeon, 10-11 March 2024, Middle Fork River Forest Preserve, Champaign County (2024-008; Alex Lowe-Massi; Sarah Winnicki-Smith).
  • Snowy Plover, 31 May to 7 June 2024, North Unit of Illinois Beach State Park and Johns Mansville Ponds in Waukegan, Lake County (2024-028; John Kuenzli; Susan Lamberts, Carolyn Luecke, Annette McClellan, William McClellan, Valentina Roumi, Beau Schaefer, Adam Sell, Matt Tobin, Gustavo Ustariz, Steve Zehner).
  • Ruff, 27 March 2024, Richton Park, Cook County (2024-009; Jeffrey Stwora, Linda Stwora; Ian Sarmiento, Matt Zuro).
  • Ruff, 30 March 2024, Bellrose Unit of Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Pulaski County (2024-010; Keith McMullen).
  • Ruff, 23-24 April 2024, Greene Valley Forest Preserve, DuPage County (2024-018; Davida Kalina).
  • Ruff, 8 May 2024, Pecatonica, Winnebago County (2024-019; Dan Williams).
  • Pomarine Jaeger, 4 November 2023, Park No. 566, Chicago, Cook County (2023-100; Marky Mutchler, Peter Tolzmann).
  • Black-tailed Gull, 29-31 May 2024, Waukegan Beach, Lake County (2024-025; Matt Tobin; Geoffrey A. Williamson).
  • Short-billed Gull, 29 January 2024, Mel Price Lock and Dam, Madison County (2024-007; Jonah Eckels, Bill Rowe; Samuel Belley, David French, Paul McKenzie, Seth Winkelman).
  • Glaucous-winged Gull, 22 January to 25 February 2024, at North Point Marina in Winthrop Harbor and in Grayslake, Lake County (2024-006; Woody Goss; Nat Carmichael, Nathan Goldberg, Haley Gottardo, Stephen Hurst, Scott Latimer, Dan Michler).
  • Burrowing Owl, 10-13 April 2024, Montrose Point in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, Cook County (2024-011; Kay McNab).
  • Prairie Falcon, 24 October 1993, Sand Bluff Bird Observatory, Winnebago County (1993-079; John Longhenry).
  • Prairie Falcon (1 to 2), 28 October 2023 to 26 February 2024, southwest of Arcola, Coles County (2023-101; Tyler Funk; Ted Hartzler, Christopher Hensel).
  • Prairie Falcon, 26 February 2024, Essex Township, Kankakee County (2024-013; Bob Fisher, Donnalyn Quint).
  • Prairie Falcon, 26 May 2024, Johnsburg, McHenry County (2024-027; Michal Furmanek).
  • Say’s Phoebe, 24 March 2024, Hannaford Forest Preserve, Kane County (2024-014; Kevin Hatcher; Sandeep Biswas).
  • Fish Crow, 23 May 2024, Evanston, Cook County (2024-023; Tamima Itani).
  • Sage Thrasher, 13-14 April 2024, McKee Marsh in Blackwell Forest Preserve, DuPage County (2024-012; Josiah Verbrugge).
  • Lark Bunting, 8-9 July 2024, Park No. 566, Chicago, Cook County (2024-030; Alex Haza).
  • Great-tailed Grackle, 20 December 2023 to 12 March 2024, Monee, Will County (2023-108; Isoo O’Brien; Geoffrey A. Williamson, Susan Zelek).
  • Swainson’s Warbler, 29 April 1990, Sand Bluff Bird Observatory, Winnebago County (1990-039; Lynda Johnson, John Longhenry).
  • Kirtland’s Warbler, 18 May 2024, Montrose Point in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, Cook County (2024-021; Graham Deese).
  • Townsend’s Warbler, 8 September 2001, Sand Bluff Bird Observatory, Winnebago County (2001-064; John Longhenry).
  • Western Tanager, 15 May 2024, Glacial Park, McHenry County (2024-024; Randy Schietzelt).
  • Black-headed Grosbeak, 18-22 July 2024, south of Du Quoin, Perry County (2024-031; Richard Wayman; C. Leroy Harrison, Bob Shelby).
  • Painted Bunting (1 to 3), 3 May to 19 July 2024 (and possibly later), East St. Louis, St. Clair County (2024-026; Joe Gardner, Yvonne Homeyer, Amy Rangel, Christopher Tomera).

Records Not Accepted

  • Smew (5), 3-4 April 2024, Woodstock, McHenry County (2024-016).
  • Limpkin, 14 January 2024, Forbes Biological Station, Mason County (2024-004).
  • Pomarine Jaeger, 28 October 2023, Gillson Park, Wilmette, Cook County (2023-082).
  • White-faced Ibis (2), 22 November 2023, Pyramid State Park, Perry County (2023-099).
  • Eyebrowed Thrush, 20 March to 2 April 2024, Eureka, Woodford County (2024-015).
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