Who’s migrating today?
Directions:
From downtown Highwood, turn east on Walker Ave., then north on Patten Rd. to parking lot just south of the bridge. The lot is small. You can also park on street. Observe street signs, if any.
This single location field trip includes steps & walking. There is wheelchair & disability access to the paved ravine trail & lakefront from a different parking location. Contact leader.
Learn More About Openlands Lakeshore Preserve
Local magnet for migrating songbirds and more.
Directions:
From Waukegan Rd., turn west on Everett Rd. in Lake Forest, drive to the end (St. Mary’s Rd), and turn left (south) into the parking lot.
Leader: Joe Rockey (224) 875-8851
This field trip to our a nearby state park is a great migratory stopover for southbound migrants. Plus, as a bonus, we will look for wetland species.
Limit 20. Member Priority. Register (required) at renabird3@gmail.com
Directions:
From I-94 tollway, exit IL-173/Rosecrans Rd, turn left on Rosecrans, drive 13 mi, turn left on Wilmot Rd.. then left into park.
Meet at overlook on way to Goldfinch Trail lot. The overlook is a pullout on your right as you travel the entrance road into the state park. Important: please squeeze into this pullout, pulling forward as far as possible and parking on both sides of the pullout. Do not stop on or block the entrance road.
Grassland species plus sparrows, waterfowl and hawks.
Directions:
From I-90 westbound, exit north on Roselle Rd. Turn left/west at Central Road, drive 1.5 miles and turn right/north into “Grassy Ridge Meadow” lot.
Multiple sparrow species. Fall surprises here have included Harris’ Sparrow and Pine Siskins. We’ll also be looking for late songbirds, early waterfowl, migrating raptors and whatever else we can find in this diverse habitat of savanna, wetlands, woodlands and prairie.
Directions:
From Rt. 60, take Rt. 43 north to Westmoreland Dr./Middlefork Dr. Turn left to the parking lot
Leader: Joe Rockey (224) 875-8851
NEW!
Fall ducking in Palos Preserves begins at McGinnis Slough in Orland Park. From there we will visit multiple sites in the area.
Directions:
Take I-294 to I-55 NORTH. Exit I-55 at exit 279A, LaGrange Road/US 45 South). Drive 13 miles on LaGrange Road/ US-45 south to 167th St., and turn right (west). Look for the entrance to the parking lot on the left/south side of the street. .
Multi-stop trip begins at Glencoe Beach overlook. From there we will head north and various stops along Lake Michigan.
Directions:
The Glencoe Beach Overlook is directly east of downtown Glencoe on Park Avenue. There are no bathrooms. There is a Starbucks in downtown Glencoe on Lake Ave for relief and refueling.
Leader: Jeff Sanders (847) 675-7172 Day-of-trip contact: Rena Cohen (847) 971-1107.
No. We’re not having a field trip on New Year’s Day. Although maybe….
January birding can yield great winter specialties such as Snow Buntings, Lapland Longspurs, Horned Larks and Rough-legged Hawks. But the seasonal weather determines everything. We will communicate this Flash birding event, if it happens, via our Lake Cook Audubon email list. To insure you are on this notification list, subscribe here.
19th annual Illinois Ornithological Society event.
Pre-registration required. Watch the Lake Cook Audubon email or visit www.illinoisbirds.org for details. Attendance is limited to first 150 registrants. Members of Illinois Ornithological Society get advance opportunity to register.
Our annual search for migrating loons and other waterfowl will be a multi-stop tour that begins at Diamond Lake in Mundelein and proceeds to other lakes in the area based on scouting reports.
This is mostly a car driving field trip and not much walking for the entire morning. Bring a spotting scope if you have one.
Directions to Diamond Lake:
From Rt. 22, take Rt. 83 north to Diamond Lake Rd., turn right, and drive ½ mile to the Gale Street Inn parking lot on the right.
Afternoon birding for waterfowl on Lake Glenview, dinner at Whole Foods, and American Woodcock watching at Air Station Prairie at dusk. If you only want to join us for Woodcock viewing, arrive at Air Station Prairie at 7PM. Dress for ticks which are possible along the paths at Air Station Prairie.
For dinner we will gather at Whole Foods located near the corner of Willow and Waukegan Roads in the Willow Festival shopping center on the north side of Willow Road. Whole Foods has an extensive hot and cold prepared foods selection, a comfortable area to eat with seating for about 70 people and rest rooms.
Directions:
Meet at Glenview Park District Park Center. Turn East onto Chestnut from Patriot Blvd. Travel to the southeast corner of the development. You will see Lake Glenview and parking lot adjacent.
NEW!
Orland Grassland is the sister preserve to Orland Grassland South, where Lake Cook chapter has birded in late April for the last several years. We will be looking for early migrants with possibilities including Henslow’s Sparrow and Smith’s Longspur.
Directions:
Take I-55 to Exit 279A, Route 45-LaGrange Rd. south; turn west on 167h St., Then left/south into grassland parking lot.
First wave of passerine arrivals gets us in the swing of spring migration. This is the first of two spring field trips to Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, everyone’s favorite Chicago birding hotspot.
Directions:
From Lake Shore Dr. take the Montrose Ave. exit. Continue east toward the lake. Turn right at the Bait Shop (Montrose Harbor Dr.) and park on the street along the bend in the road. We will meet at the entrance to the sanctuary.
2020 Vision on the River
May 1-3, 2020
Illinois River Valley
Emiquon/Chautauqua Area
Details at Illinois Audubon as they are available.
Early Spring arrivals may include warblers, vireos, Black-crowned Night Heron and a possible King Rail.
Directions:
Take Willow Rd./Palatine Rd. west, turn north into preserve (Stover Rd.) one mile west of Barrington Rd. Meet at the Nature Center building parking lot.
Leader: Maureen Marsh (352) 317-5130
Contact Adam Sell (847) 910-7813) adamwardsell@gmail.com or Beau Schaefer (847) 337-3602 adamwardsell@gmail.com for Lake County assignments.
Contact Alan Anderson for Cook County assignments (casresearch@comcast.net or (847) 390-7437).
Warblers and vireos, oh my! One of the jewels of Chicago birding. Early spring migrants.
Directions:
Enter LaBagh on Cicero north of Foster. We will meet in Picnic Grove #3.
(Do NOT go to the Irene Hernandez Picnic Grove lot on Foster)
NEW!
Bird on Des Plaines River in Libertyville.
Local magnet for migrating songbirds and more. One of Lake County’s best migratory warbler locations.
Directions:
From Waukegan Rd., turn west on Everett Rd. in Lake Forest, drive to the end (St. Mary’s Rd), and turn left (south) into the parking lot.
Leader: Maureen Marsh (352) 317-5130
Spring migration is at its peak. Last year’s early May walk here was highlighted by a Cerulean Warbler at eye level as well as many other migrants.
Directions:
From Deerfield Rd., turn north on Riverwoods Rd., drive to Ryerson entrance on left and turn left at first driveway to Brushwood Center.
Leader: Rena Cohen (847) 971-1107
An underbirded migrant hotspot with good possibilities for many warblers, vireos, flycatchers and other passerines.
Directions:
Preserve is located on north side of Rte. 173 just east of Hwy. 41. Turn into the preserve, take the first road on the right to the parking lot.
More migrant fun.
Directions:
Chicago Botanic Garden entrance is on Lake/Cook Road between Green Bay Rd. and the Edens Expressway/US 41. Meet at Visitors Center.
Arrive early or carpool with Garden members to ensure free parking. There is a steep parking fee for non-members but kiosk is not generally staffed before 7AM.
Woodland trail loops around through multiple habitats that can be filled with songbirds, savanna birds and water birds. Last year’s walk here included Hood Warbler and a Brewster’s Warbler, which is a hybrid Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warbler.
Directions:
Preserve is on Wadsworth Rd., just east of US 41. Park at Canoe Launch entrance.
Spring migration is winding down, but late migrants like Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Mourning Warbler can be here at this time along with other spring beauties.
Directions:
From Lake Shore Dr. take the Montrose Ave. exit. Continue east toward the lake. Turn right at the Bait Shop (Montrose Harbor Dr.) and park on the street along the bend in the road. We will meet at the entrance to the sanctuary.
Leader: Dave Antieau (312) 937-1974
NEW!
Great spot for lingering migrants and nesters, including tanagers, warblers, vireos, flycatchers and more.
Directions:
The entrance is on Blanchard Road, just west of Sheridan Road, north of Bowen Park and south of Yorkhouse Road.
Target birds include Prothonotary, Yellow-throated and Pine Warblers along a looped trail.
Directions:
From I-294, exit Rt. 176 and go west 17 miles to River Rd. Turn north, drive 2.5 miles to entrance on left, meet at south end of parking lot.
Great Salt Lake, mountain and sage/juniper birding with local experts can yield up to 150 species including standouts like Flammulated Owl, Cassia Crossbill, Black Swift, Lewis’s Woodpecker and the incredible Phalarope spectacle on the Great Salt Lake.
Contact renabird3@gmail.com for a detailed itinerary.
Lake Cook Audubon’s “long distance” field trips generally fill early. Members have priority. If you are interested, you should contact Rena now.