Field Trips - November 2009

Sunday, November 08, 2009 - 08:00 AM

Miller Beach, Indiana

Leader: Karen and Bob Fisher - 630-985-2956 or Kfisher928 [at] aol [dot] com

Join DuPage Birding Club and COS members as we look for Loons, Grebes, Scoters, & hopefully, Jaegers and unusual gulls! Last year we had both Sabine’s and Little Gulls along with a Black-legged Kittiwake.

Directions: Take I-94 east through Gary, Indiana, past I-65 (note that northbound I-65 is currently closed for construction), to IN-51 (Ripley St.). Take IN-51 north to US-20. Go west on US-20 about 1.5 miles to Lake St. Turn right and follow Lake St. north to the beach parking lot. There is a McDonald’s on the corner of Lake St. and Hwy 12 with a bathroom. There are no facilities at the beach. Some COS and DBC members will meet at the McDonald’s and depart from there at 7:45 am. Scopes are very useful here. Also, dress much warmer than expected as the wind can be very chilling.


Note: DBCers who wish to carpool, meet at the Bolingbrook Park and Ride just south of I-55 off of Rt.53. (Left at Old Chicago Dr.) before 6:30 a.m Sunday morning.

Saturday, November 14, 2009 - 07:00 AM

Sat., Nov. 14, 7 a.m. Gillson Park/Lake County

Leader: Geoff Williamson - geoffrey [dot] williamson [at] comcast.net or 773-935-8439

Join COS for a lake-watch at Gillson Park, where migrating waterfowl and many resting ducks and other water birds are reasonably close to shore.

Expected species include diving ducks, loons and grebes, possibly including Red-throated Loon, Red-necked Grebe and Long-tailed Duck. We will also keep an eye out for any unusual gulls and any late-migrating passerines. The field trip will visit other nearby lake front spots to search the lake for water birds, and depending on conditions, we might add other north shore lake front stops to the itinerary. Dress for extreme cold weather, as the wind off the lake can be brutal. Bring a thermos of a hot beverage and plan to drink it to keep your body temperature up. A spotting scope is very helpful for this trip.

Directions: Gillson Park is located at Lake Michigan at the end of Lake Ave. in Wilmette.

Meet at the lake house in the park. From the Edens Expresssway northbound, exit at Lake Ave.

and go east. From the Edens southbound, exit at Skokie Rd., go south to Lake Ave., turn left and go east. Coming from DuPage, from I- 294, exit at Dempster eastbound. After about 1-1 2 miles, turn left (north) at Greenwood Ave. After another 2 miles, turn right (east) on East Lake Ave. and take it to its end at Gillson Park.