Listing Through Life

limnodromus (marsh runner) griseus (grizzled)

Friday, May 15, 1981 — 7:15 am

Hoffman Estates, Illinois — Poplar Creek Forest Preserve — Bode and Barrington Roads

The Short-billed Dowitchers were preening on mud flats in the middle of the slough. One started wading in the water, then flew to another mud flat and began foraging again. It rapidly jabbed its bill up and down in the mud and water. When it glided in to land, I could see the long, white wedge that extended up its back.

The Dowitchers were bird number 26 for the day. I kept at it until 6:00 p.m. and saw a total of 90 birds, 10 short of my goal but pretty good for a beginner.

calidris (speckled water bird) alpina (alpine)

Friday, May 15, 1981 — 7:10 am

Hoffman Estates, Illinois — Poplar Creek Forest Preserve — Bode and Barrington Roads

At 7:00 a.m. I had already seen 22 species, and two of them were lifers. I left Hanover Park and drove north toward Crabtree. On Barrington Road I noticed a flooded field in a forest preserve. I pulled over and scoped things out.

There were a number of small mud flats in the slough, and a number of shorebirds foraging in the mud and water. The Dunlin was standing on one of the small flats, but every so often it did forage around a little bit.

calidris (speckled water bird) minutilla (very small)

Friday, May 15, 1981 — 6:30 am

Hanover Park, Illinois — field near Hanover Park water tower

When the Wilson’s Phalaropes flew out of sight, I moved in closer to identify the other, smaller sandpipers that were foraging in the mud along the edge of the flooded area in a muddy, weedy field. They were very tiny and difficult to see well. I had my scope and got close enough to see the yellow legs. Occasionally they would fly across the puddle to another spot.

phalaropus (from phalaris, coot, and pous, foot) tricolor (three colors)

Friday, May 15, 1981 — 6:30 am

Hanover Park, Illinois — field by Hanover Park water tower

I had heard from another birder about a lot of shorebirds near the water tower. I didn’t know how to get to the water tower, but I could see it in the distance. I headed up one street and down another until I found it. The tower was in a housing development, but across the street was a farm, surrounded by muddy fields. I put on my boots and walked up over a little rise. There was a large flooded area in a weedy field. I could see some sandpipers foraging around the edges, and I moved in for a better look. Four Wilson’s Phalaropes flew in and landed at the water’s edge. Through my binoculars, I could see one swimming around while the other three preened and splashed. Just as I found them in my scope, they took off and disappeared from sight.

polioptila (from polios, gray, and ptilon, feather) caerulea (blue)

Saturday, May 2, 1981 — 1:00 pm

Barrington, Illinois — Crabtree Nature Center

I was walking the path through the woods along Bulrush Pond near the blind. I heard a high-pitched song coming from high in the trees. I spotted the Gnatcatcher flitting very rapidly branch to branch high overhead. It paused every few seconds to give its song, a short, buzzy trill or occasionally three buzzes with the middle one on a different pitch.