Listing Through Life

podiceps (foot) nigricollis (from niger, black, and collum, neck)

Monday, March 31, 1980 — 5:00 pm

Evanston, Illinois — Northwestern University — Lake Michigan

I heard about the Eared Grebe on the Audubon hotline and dragged my friends out after work to look for it. Northwestern University has constructed a campus on landfill that extends 200 yards or so into Lake Michigan for about half a mile along the shore. A twisting lagoon separates the landfill from the buildings.

The grebe was floating in the lagoon. I was able to get within 25 feet and get a good look. It was alone at first, but as we watched, it swam over near four Buffleheads and drifted with them the remainder of the time we were there. All five birds tucked their heads into the feathers on their backs and floated motionlessly in the center of the lagoon. This made for real dull birding. And as the grebe was in winter plumage, it wasn’t terribly exciting-looking even when its head was visible.

aythya (seabird) marila (embers of charcoal, black)

Monday, March 24, 1980 — 5:00 pm

Wilmette, Illinois — Gillson Park — Lake Michigan

From day one, I wanted to be a good birder. I determined not to put any bird on my list unless I was positive about the identification. Although there are a few birds that I would have liked a better look at, I’ve always been careful.

I spent an entire half hour studying these ducks. I would have stayed longer, but it was getting dark and my friends wanted to leave. The ducks were swimming in the harbor, often within thirty feet or so of the concrete embankment on which I stood. I agonized over them. I inspected every feather. I begged them to fly so I could see the diagnostic wing stripe. But they just swam slowly about as if they didn’t care what I thought they were.

I finally saw one male fly a short distance (after I flushed it), and got a pretty good look at the stripe extending most of the way down the wing. I concentrated on this bird, and by the time we left I felt confident it was a Greater Scaup. It had a round head, very white sides, and in the fading light I made out a greenish sheen on the head feathers.

mergus (a diver) serrator (one who saws, a sawyer)

Monday, March 24, 1980 — 4:00 pm

Wilmette, Illinois — Gillson Park — Lake Michigan

At Gillson Park, my friends and I parked on the street, as we always did. (Wilmette is an exclusive suburb, and you aren’t allowed to park in their city parks without a resident sticker.) As we walked toward the lake, we spotted Red-breasted Mergansers swimming and diving in the harbor. I knew what they were and ran down to the edge of the water to get a better look. I didn’t need to run. They passively swam around the harbor for the entire hour we were there and paid us no attention whatsoever.

The harbor is no wider than 60 yards across at its widest point, and I got a great look at these very pretty birds.

anas (duck) discors (discordant)

Saturday, March 22, 1980 — 8:30 am

Barrington, Illinois — Crabtree Nature Center

My wife and I were in the blind on Crabtree Lake when we spotted this Blue-winged Teal swimming nearby. Shortly thereafter, we saw it fly past the blind, giving us a great view of its blue and green wings in flight.

anas (duck) clypeata (furnished with a shield)

Saturday, March 22, 1980 — 8:15 am

Barrington, Illinois — Crabtree Nature Center

This pair of Northern Shovelers were swimming in Crabtree Lake. As I watched, they took off and flew low over the water until they passed from our sight. Later, I saw them, or another pair, standing on a bar in the center of the lake near the island.