IORC

The Illinois Ornithological Records Committee (IORC) recently concluded evaluations of 21 records of the occurrence of rare birds in Illinois. IORC accepted 13 of these records and did not accept eight.

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

• Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (8), 13 July 2020, Hampshire, Kane County (2020-187; Ryan Oddo).
• Whimbrel (37), 25 May 2025, South Unit of Illinois Beach State Park, Lake County (2025-017; Brendan Rattin).
• Tricolored Heron, 27 to 29 April 2025, Trumpet Road Marsh, Lake County (2025-006; John Sikora).
• Cassin’s Kingbird, 23 May 2025, North Unit of Illinois Beach State Park and nearby Hosah Park, Zion, Lake County (2025-016; Eric Johnson; John Ter Louw).
• Fork-tailed Flycatcher, 26 to 28 April 2025, Horseshoe Lake State Park, Madison County (2025-005; Julie Bryson).
• Say’s Phoebe, 12 April 2025, western Jackson County (2025-009; David Goodward).
• Vermilion Flycatcher, 18 May 2025, Sag Quarries, Cook County (2025-014; Lili Duan).
• Mountain Bluebird, 20 to 24 April 2025, Chicago, Cook County (2025-004; Christopher Holden; Scott Judd, Yonatan Simkovich, Peter Tolzmann, Geoffrey A. Williamson).
• Spotted Towhee, 10 December 2024 to 27 April 2025, Anna, Union County (2024-074; Mark Vukovich).
• Swainson’s Warbler, 25 to 26 April 2024, Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge (Hickory Bottoms), Union County (2024-075; Keith McMullen, Mark Seiffert).
• Kirtland’s Warbler, 15 to 17 May 2025, Polk Bros Park portion of Navy Pier, Chicago, Cook County (2025-012; Woody Goss; Geoffrey A. Williamson).
• Western Tanager, 10 to 11 March 2025, Valmeyer, Monroe County (2025-003; Donna Vogt; Mike Avara).
• Painted Bunting (2), 29 April 2025, Grayville, White County (2025-015; Steve Hartsock).

Records Not Accepted

• Long-billed Curlew (2), late spring/early summer 2024, near IL-173 and I-94, northern Lake County (2024-076).
• Common Redshank, 26 April 2025, Van Patten Woods, Lake County (2025-008).
• Great Gray Owl, 18 April 2023, Hampshire Forest Preserve, Kane County (2023-125).
• Ivory-billed Woodpecker, 10 April 2025, Rockford, Winnebago County (2025-010).
• Prairie Falcon, 29 July 2023, McHenry Prairie Trail southwest of McHenry, McHenry County (2023-124).
• Violet-green Swallow, 29 April 2025, Algonquin, McHenry County (2025-011).
• Cave Swallow, 22 November 2024, Illinois Beach State Park, North Unit, Lake County (2024-065).
• MacGillivray’s Warbler, 29 May 2024, Montrose Point in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, Cook County (2024-077).

The Illinois Ornithological Records Committee (IORC) recently concluded evaluations of 29 records of the occurrence of rare birds in Illinois. IORC accepted 23 of these records and did not accept six. Two of the accepted records (Clapper Rail 2017-090, Short-tailed Shearwater 2024-068) represent first state records of the respective species. In the case of the Short-tailed Shearwater, the record also adds a new family and a new order of birds to the state list.

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

• Brant, 12 November 2024, Chicago’s Park No. 566, Cook County (2024-060; Tarik Shahzad; Woody Goss, Demond McDonald).
• Mottled Duck, 7 October to 8 December 2024, Lake Springfield, Sangamon County (2024-049; Nathan Goldberg, Dennis Oehmke). Originally found by H. David Bohlen.
• Harlequin Duck, 18 December 2024 to 28 January 2025, Fox River from Algonquin south to West Dundee, Kane and McHenry counties (2024-069; Paula Mitchell; Geoffrey A. Williamson).
• Anna’s Hummingbird, 17 October 2024 to 14 January 2025, Princeton, Bureau County (2024-051; Scott Harp; Nathan Goldberg, Steve Zehner).
• Clapper Rail, 27 September to 9 October 2017, Waukegan Beach, Lake County (2017-090; Steve Mulhall; Annette McClellan, William McClellan). First state record.
• Purple Gallinule, 4 October 2024, Forest Park, Cook County (2024-058; Valda Vitton; Nathan Goldberg).
• American Golden-Plover, 30 December 2024, northeast of Mermet Lake, Massac County (2024-073; Rhonda Rothrock, Mark Vukovich).
• Pacific Loon (2), 12 November 2024, Lake Michigan off Chicago’s Lincoln Park, Cook County (2024-061; Mike McBrien).
• Pacific Loon, 23 to 24 November 2024, Lake Springfield, Sangamon County (2024-064; H. David Bohlen; Colin Dobson, Alyssa Rod).
• Short-tailed Shearwater, 8 December 2024, Montrose Point in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, Cook County (2024-068; Demond McDonald, Tarik Shahzad, Phillip Stosberg). First state record for the species, genus, family, and order.
• Wood Stork, 12 October 2024, Gulfport, Henderson County (2024-048; Brian Fox Ellis; Tom Doig).
• Wood Stork, 3 to 6 November 2024, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County (2024-056; Keith McMullen). Originally found by Mark Seiffert.
• White-faced Ibis (2), 23 October to 4 November 2024, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, St. Clair County (2024-053; David Becher; Amy Rangel, Mike Thelan, Christopher Tomera).
• Prairie Falcon, 2 November to 26 February 2025, “Magic Stump” area, southwest of Arcola, Coles County (2024-057; Tyler Funk).
• Prairie Falcon, 3 January 2025, Gorham, Jackson County (2025-001; David Goodward).
• Prairie Falcon, 18 January 2025, Venice, Madison County (2025-002; Seth Winkleman).
• Common Raven, 11 November 2024, Chicago’s Park No. 566, Cook County (2024-059; Demond McDonald; Sarah Vogel).
• Cave Swallow, 18 November 2024, North Point Marina in Winthrop Harbor, Lake County (2024-062; Adam Sell).
• Cave Swallow, 22 November 2024, Ft. Sheridan Forest Preserve, Lake County (2024-066; Adam Sell; Stephen Hurst).
• Varied Thrush, 27 October 2024, Schroeder Nature Sanctuary, Heyworth, McLean County (2024-052; Paula Aschim).
• Chestnut-collared Longspur, 22 October 2024, Chicago’s Park No. 566, Cook County (2024-044; Demond McDonald; Matt Zuro).
• Great-tailed Grackle, 1 December 2024 to 26 February 2025 (2024-067; Susan Zelek). Likely the same individual that was involved in record 2024-029 and several other earlier records.
• Summer Tanager, 23 December 2024, Carbondale, Jackson County (2024-072; Jyothi Sastry).

Records Not Accepted

• Long-tailed Jaeger, 17 September 2023, Rainbow Beach, Chicago, Cook County (2023-084).
• White-faced Ibis, 18 September 2024, Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, Fulton County (2024-047).
• White-faced Ibis, 24 to 30 October 2024, Pyramid State Park, Perry County (2024-054).
• White-faced Ibis, 26 October to 1 November 2024, Clinton Lake, DeWitt County (2024-055).
• Cassin’s Vireo, 12 to 19 October 2024, Colored Sands Forest Preserve, Winnebago County (2024-063).
• Swainson’s Warbler, 25 May 2022, Washington County State Recreation Area, Washington County (2022-042).

The Illinois Ornithological Records Committee (IORC) recently concluded evaluations of 14 records of the occurrence of rare birds in Illinois. IORC accepted 13 of these records and did not accept one.

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

• Pomarine Jaeger, 28 September 2024, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County (2024-043; Christopher Tomera).
• Parasitic Jaeger, 23 September 2024, North Avenue Beach in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, Cook County (2024-044; Mike McBrien).
• Parasitic Jaeger, 27 September 2024, Chicago’s Park No. 566, Cook County (2024-039; Tarik Shahzad).
• Long-tailed Jaeger, 22 September 2024, Lake Michigan offshore from Chicago, Cook County (2024-038; Henry Meade, Tarik Shahzad, Phillip Stosberg, Peter Tolzmann, Geoffrey A. Williamson).
• Wood Stork, 18-20 September 2024, Clinton Lake, DeWitt County (2024-035; Ann Anderson; Peter Weber, Steve Zehner).
• White Ibis, 20 September 2024, Niota, Hancock County (2024-037; Steve Huggins).
• Sharp-shinned Hawk, 22 June 2024, Dunham Forest Preserve, DuPage County (2024-033; Kyle Wiktor).
• Say’s Phoebe, 30 September 2024, Montrose Beach Dunes in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, Cook County (2024-040; Mark Kolasa).
• Say’s Phoebe, 3 October 2024, Illinois Beach State Park, South Unit, Lake County (2024-046; Carolyn Lueck).
• Sage Thrasher, 25 September to 28 October 2024, Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, DuPage County (Bonnie Graham, Ann Haverstock, Glenn Perricone, Geoffrey A. Williamson). Originally found by Dan Weeden.
• Great-tailed Grackle, 11 July to 31 August 2024, Monee, Will County (2024-029; Pat Andersen, Diane Hicks).
• Kirtland’s Warbler, 18 September 2024, Montrose Point in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, Cook County (2024-036; Connie Smith; Joshua Wright).
• Townsend’s Warbler, 25 September 2024, Marky Mutchler; Demond McDonald, Randy Shonkwiler).

Records Not Accepted

• Mottled Duck, 31 August 2024, Eldon Hazlet State Park, Clinton County (2024-032).

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).

The Illinois Ornithological Records Committee (IORC) recently concluded evaluations of 25 records of the occurrence of rare birds in Illinois. IORC accepted 15 of these records and did not accept 10.

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

• King Eider, 21 November 1936, Henry, Marshall County (1936-002; J.A. King).
• Limpkin, 17 October 2023, Lake Springfield, Sangamon County (2023-092; H. David Bohlen).
• Limpkin, 8 December 2023, Lake Springfield, Sangamon County (2023-115; Jarod Hitchings, Dennis Oehmke).
• Limpkin, 12 January 2024, Borah Lake, Richland County (2024-005; Anna King).
• American Golden-Plover, 16 December 2023, Rend Lake, Jefferson County (2023-111; Keith McMullen).
• Parasitic Jaeger, 14 October 2023, Gillson Park, Wilmette, Cook County (2023-076; William Pixler, Peter Tolzmann).
• Short-billed Gull, 8-11 January 2024, Lock & Dam 14 on the Mississippi River, Rock Island County (2024-003; Steve Freed; Brandon Caswell).
• White Ibis, 17 November to 19 December 2023, Emiquon Preserve, Fulton County (2023-109; Forbes Biological Station).
• Say’s Phoebe, 1-9 January 2024, Danville, Vermilion County (2024-001; Rob Kanter).
• Bohemian Waxwing (1200),  30 November 1919, Beach, Lake County (1919-002; Colin Sanborn, Herbert L. Stoddard). Specimen record.
• Pine Grosbeak, 17 November 1906, Beach, Lake County (1906-002; J.F. Ferry). Specimen record.
• Pine Grosbeak, 22 November 1933, Chicago, Cook County (1933-001; E.B. Baker). Specimen record.
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 16 December 2023, Rend Lake, Franklin County (2023-110; Keith McMullen).
• Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon’s), 19 November to 19 December 2023, north of Rockford, Winnebago County (2023-112; Barbara Williams).
• Black-throated Gray Warbler, 7-14 January 2024, Elgin, Cook County (2024-002; Bob Andrini).

Records Not Accepted

• Cinnamon Teal, 29 August 2023, Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area, Grundy County (2023-056).
• Parasitic Jaeger, 6 September 2023, Chicago, Cook County (2023-049).
• Parasitic Jaeger, 6 September 2023, Gillson Park, Wilmette, Cook County (2023-055).
• Parasitic Jaeger, 12 September 2023, Burnham Park, Chicago, Cook County (2023-052).
• Parasitic Jaeger, 17 September 2023, Rainbow Beach, Chicago, Cook County (2023-058).
• Parasitic Jaeger, 18 September 2023, Burnham Park, Chicago, Cook County (2023-116).
• Parasitic Jaeger, 23 September 2023, South Shore Cultural Center, Chicago, Cook County (2023-117).
• Parasitic Jaeger, 27 September 2023, Gillson Park, Wilmette, Cook County (2023-118).
• Parasitic Jaeger, 14 October 2023, Jackson Park, Chicago, Cook County (2023-075).
• Audubon’s Oriole, 8 May 2011, Half Day Forest Preserve, Lake County (2011-044).

The Illinois Ornithological Records Committee (IORC) recently concluded evaluations of 20 records of the occurrence of rare birds in Illinois. IORC accepted 19 of these records and did not accept one. Among the accepted records are two additions to the official state list: Broad-tailed Hummingbird and European Goldfinch. Broad-tailed Hummingbird was accepted on the basis of an individual observed in Champaign County during November. European Goldfinch was accepted based on an argument that this introduced exotic species is now established with a viable breeding population in the state.

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

• Cinnamon Teal, 14 October 2023, Lake Springfield, Sangamon County (2023-096; H. David Bohlen).
• Broad-tailed Hummingbird, 7-10 November 2023, Champaign, Champaign County (2023-087; Deanna Uphoff; Nathan Goldberg, C. Leroy Harrison, Yusuf Jassim, David B. Johnson, Alyssa Rod, Steve Zehner). First state record.
• Purple Gallinule, 5 November 2023, Chicago, Cook County (2023-089).
• Limpkin, mid-May 2023, Springfield, Sangamon County (2023-094; Paul Countryman).
• Limpkin, late October to 26 November 2023, Lockport, Will County (2023-095; Cindy Alberico, Nancy Buis, Ryan Jones, Jayne Leone).
• Limpkin, 6-7 November 2023, Chicago, Cook County (2023-088).
• Limpkin, 11-12 November 2023, Riverview Farmstead Preserve, Will County (2023-091; Sajo Naik).
• Limpkin, 11-27 November 2023, Oswego, Kendall County (2023-097; Ingrid Croall, Jackson Croall).
• Limpkin, 13-19 November 2023, East Fork Lake, Richland County (2023-102; C. Leroy Harrison).
• Limpkin, 16 November 2023, Carpenter-Gurgens Park, Springfield, Sangamon County (2023-093; Joe Coffey).
• Limpkin, 23 November to 2 December 2023, along Fox River in Oswego, Kendall County (2023-106; Scott Johnson).
• Limpkin, 3 December 2023, Lake Petersburg, Menard County (2023-104; Jim Herkert).
• Limpkin, 11-12 December 2023, Poplar Creek Forest Preserve, Cook County (2023-107; Katie Scott; Lisa Pool).
• Pomarine Jaeger, 11 November to 6 December 2023, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County (2023-090; Dan Kassebaum; Nathan Goldberg, C. Leroy Harrison, Ryan Jones, Alyssa Rod, Bode Thompson).
• Ferruginous Hawk, 6-7 November 2023, Chicago, Cook County (2023-086; Santo Locasto; Aaron Gyllenhaal).
• Prairie Falcon, 6 December 2023, Fairmont City, St. Clair County (2023-105; Stacia Novy).
• Great Crested Flycatcher, 23-24 November 2023, Mt. Morris, Ogle County (2023-098; Mary Bacon; Dan Williams).
• European Goldfinch, 7 June 2021, Waukegan, Lake County (2021-043; Danielle Leone). First state record.
• Great-tailed Grackle, 26 November 2023, Belleville, St. Clair County (2023-103; Josh Carter).

Records Not Accepted

• Red-shouldered Hawk (extimus), 4 August 2023, Pyramid State Park, Perry County (2023-041).

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

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

• Purple Gallinule, 9 May 2010, Minonk wastewater treatment plant, Woodford County (2010-035; Matthew Winks).
• Purple Gallinule, 26 September 2023, Moline, Rock Island County (2023-061; Steve Freed).
• Purple Gallinule, 3-6 October 2023, Banner Marsh, Peoria County (2023-068; Linda Foster).
• Limpkin, 24 September 2023, Grass Lake, Chain O’ Lakes State Park, Lake County (2023-063; Bridget Kiernan).
• Limpkin, 25 September 2023, Amboy Marsh, Lee County (2023-059; James Hampson, Alyssa Rod, Diana Rod).
• Limpkin, 26 September to 10 November 2023, Westlake Lake and Nature Area, Winnebago County (2023-060; Randy Grover; Dan Williams).
• Limpkin, 28 September to 11 November 2023, McGinnis Slough, Cook County (2023-064; Elizabeth Simkins).
• Limpkin, 28 September to 4 November 2023, Sylvan Island, Rock Island County (2023-065, Steve Freed).
• Limpkin, 30 September to 21 October 2023, Kickapoo State Recreation Area, Vermilion County (2023-069; Jen Mui; Michael Ward).
• Limpkin, 12 October to 25 November 2023, Lake Charleston, Coles County (2023-073; Ron Bradley, Amy Lynch).
• Limpkin, 16 October to 13 December 2023 (and possibly later), Mellody Farm Nature Preserve, Lake County (2023-074; Maureen Marsh).
• Limpkin, 24 October to 27 November 2023, Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve, DuPage County (2023-079; Nicola Germann).
• Limpkin, 26 October 2023, East Moline, Rock Island County (2023-077; Steve Freed).
• Limpkin, 29 October 2023, Bloomington, McLean County (2023-085; Heather Smith).
• Limpkin, 4 November 2023, Cleveland, Henry County (2023-081; Evan Lopez).
• Whimbrel, 4 November 2023, Fox Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area, Richland and Wayne counties (2023-083; C. Leroy Harrison, Bob Shelby).
• Franklin’s Gull (1500), 7 October 2023, Hennepin Canal Park and Lock 32, Rock Island County (2023-071; Steve Freed).
• Roseate Spoonbill, 19-23 September 2023, Savanna, Carroll County (2023-062; Mark Roberts; Anne Straight).
• Roseate Spoonbill, 23 September to 11 October 2023, Fox Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area, Richland and Wayne counties (2023-057; Leroy Harrison; Bob Shelby).
• Cassin’s Kingbird, 30 September 2023, Montgomery, Kendall County (2023-066; Ryan Jones).
• Rock Wren, 2 November 1970, Normal, McLean County (1970-002; H. David Bohlen).
• Rock Wren, 8-11 October 2023, Kress Creek Farms Park, West Chicago, DuPage County (2023-067; Haley Gottardo; C. Leroy Harrison, David B. Johnson, Henry M. Meade, Geoffrey A. Williamson).
• Varied Thrush, 29 October 2023, south of Monee, Will County (2023-080; Susan Zelek).
• Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, 29-30 October 2023, Northwestern University Lakefill, Evanston, Cook County (2023-078; Collin Porter; Tamima Itani, David B. Johnson, Geoffrey A. Williamson).
• Great-tailed Grackle, 11 October 2023, north of Monee, Will County (2023-072; Diane Hicks; Pat Andersen).

Records Not Accepted

• Anhinga (4), 7 October 2023, Carol Stream, DuPage County (2023-070).

The Illinois Ornithological Records Committee (IORC) recently concluded evaluations of 25 records of the occurrence of rare birds in Illinois. IORC accepted all of these records.

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

• Limpkin, 20 May 2023, Oswego, Kendall County (2023-040; Scott Johnson, Ryan Jones).
• Limpkin (1 to 2), 30 June to 9 July 2023, Heron Pond, Johnson County (2023-026; P. Switzer).
• Limpkin, 13 July 2023, Clinton Lake, DeWitt County (2023-027; Ann Anderson).
• Limpkin, 16 July to 27 August 2023, Mermet Lake, Massac County (2023-028; Anne Parmley; Wendy Griggs).
• Limpkin, 24 July to 9 October 2023, Skokie Lagoons Forest Preserve and Chicago Botanic Gardens, Cook County (2023-031; Jenny Heckathorne; Jeff Bilsky, Matthew Cvetas, Tom Lally, Fran Morel, Amanda Tichacek, Geoffrey A. Williamson).
• Limpkin, 26 July 2023, Section 8 Woods, Pulaski County (2023-032; Timothy Rye).
• Limpkin (2), 27-29 July 2023, Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area, Cass County (2023-033; Ted Hartzler).
• Limpkin (1 to 2), 5-21 August 2023, Nygren Wetlands, Winnebago County (2023-035; Dan Williams).
• Limpkin, 13 August 2023, Lake Pana, Shelby County (2023-037; Tom Colin; Travis Mahan).
• Limpkin, 13 August 2023, Carlyle Lake, Clinton County (2023-038; Paige Niepoetter).
• Limpkin (1 to 2), 16 August to 21 September 2023, Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge, Mason County (2023-042; Matt Misewicz, Dan Williams).
• Limpkin, 27-28 August 2023, Lake Arispie, Bureau County (2023-043; Brad Grover).
• Limpkin, 28 August to 4 September 2023, along Sangamon Creek north of the town of White Heath, Piatt County (2023-044; Nathan Beccue).
• Limpkin, 28-30 August 2023, Galena River, JoDaviess County (2023-046; Tony Moline).
• Limpkin, 30 August to 18 September 2023, Horseshoe Lake, Alexander County (2023-047; Tina Pryor).
• Limpkin, 13-14 September 2023, McHenry Dam, McHenry County (2023-053; Richard Hugel, Janusz Kubik).
• Limpkin, 17 September 2023, along the Kishwaukee River, Winnebago County (2023-054; John Defenbaugh).
• Ruff, 15 August 2023, Nygren Wetlands, Winnebago County (2023-039; John Longhenry, Dan Williams).
• Ruff, 4-11 September 2023, Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge,Mason County (2023-048; Travis Mahan; Matt Misewicz).
• Long-tailed Jaeger, 30-31 August 2023, Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge, Mason County (2023-045; Bruce Vinkler; Julie Gidwitz, Matt Misewicz).
• White Ibis, 9-11 September 2023, Lacy Ditch, Fulton County (2023-050; Steve Zehner).
• Roseate Spoonbill, 25 July 2023, Carlyle Lake, Fayette County (2023-030; Keith A. McMullen).
• Roseate Spoonbill, 6 August to 25 September 2023, at Dixon Waterfowl Refuge, Putnam County, at Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge, Mason County, at Lacy Ditch, Fulton County, and at Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, Tazewell County (2023-034; Anthony Jones; Pete Fenner, Scott Harp, David B. Johnson, Dan Williams, Susan Zelek).
• Roseate Spoonbill, 9 August 2023, at Techny Basin, Cook County and Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Lake County (2023-036; Taylor Bozman, Woody Goss).
• American Redstart, 4 December 2021, Waukegan, Lake County (2021-127; Jeffery Sole, James Wheat).

The Illinois Ornithological Records Committee (IORC) recently concluded evaluations of 10 records of the occurrence of rare birds in Illinois. IORC accepted seven of these records and did not accept three.

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

• White-winged Dove, 18-21 April 2023, Bloomington, McLean County (2023-011; Beverly Beauford; Michael McKinley).
• Limpkin, 12 April 2023, Kaskaskia River valley south-southwest of Vandalia, Fayette County (2023-008; Tyler Kimes).
• Limpkin, 3 May 2023, Mermet Lake, Massac County (2023-015; Matt Eisenhauer).
• Snowy Plover, 16 May 2023, Montrose Point in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, Cook County (2023-018; Tarik Shazad, Simon Tolzmann).
• Ruff, 14-29 April 2023, eastern Boone County north of Garden Prairie and southern McHenry County north of Huntley (2023-009; Dan Williams; Vicki Buchwald, Michal Furmanek, Geoffrey A. Williamson).
• Kirtland’s Warbler, 7 May 2023, Chicago Botanic Gardens, Glencoe, Cook County (2023-014; Anna Tendero; Andrea Tolzmann).
• Townsend’s Warbler, 27 April 2023, Big Marsh, Chicago, Cook County (2023-012; Raymond Huey).

Records Not Accepted

• Eastern Wood-Pewee, 10 January 2023, Brownstown, Fayette County (2023-007).
• Great-tailed Grackle, 12 May 2023, Hartford, Madison County (2023-017).
• MacGillivray’s Warbler, 2 September 2021, Forbes State Park, Marion County (2021-125).

The record of Crested Caracara from Fulton County in February 2023 (2023-004), recently accepted, is the first accepted record of this species for Illinois. This is the 455th species on the official Illinois State List of Birds.

Crested Caracara, 10 Feb 2023 in Fulton County. Photo by Leroy Harrison

This individual was initially found by Kevin Blodgett on 4 Feb 2023 at Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge and was observed again by him and Randy Smith on the 6th. It was last seen in the area on 10 Feb 2023. IORC is aware of anecdotal reports that possibly indicate the bird’s presence near this area in early January 2023, but not verifiable details were received by IORC.