Waukegan Beach, State Line Beach & Illinois Beach South Saturday 5-23-26

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

Well today started out like the last few days by missing another flock
of Whimbrels, this a flock of over 40, hard to miss a flock that big
but I did. Then looked at the lake behind the resort/hotel where Brad
S had seen two Franklin's Gulls but Beau & Maureen said they were
gone. Looked like I was off on another bad day but then things got
better & ended up very well indeed.

Waukegan Beach (6-8 am)

Spent part of my time here looking for the Lark Bunting seen here
yesterday but neither I nor other birders found it. Also looked for
Whimbrels with Eddie K but none flew by at the beach. However, Nat C &
Andy Sigler did see the big flock but they went inland & to the N.W. &
not where I was looking. Did see Killdeer (1), Spotted Sandpiper (4),
Semipalmated Sandpiper (2) & a RUDDY TURNSTONE. With the many Ring
Billed & Herring Gulls were 2 BONAPARTE'S GULLS. D.C. Cormorants &
Barn Swallows were flying by.

Illinois Beach South Unit (8:25-9:15 am)

As mentioned I missed the Franklin's Gulls by the hotel but later
found them off the Deck at the Park Office. Also saw more regular
Gulls, Caspian Terns & about 50 small Terns, more on that later.

North Point Marina/State Line Beach (9:20-10:30 am)

First I tried to find the Neo Cormorant by the fishing pier but did
nor find it. Later I tried again & this time I did find it where Beau
had it earlier.
Then to State Line Beach where I joined Cody P & we looked at two
adult LAUGHING GILLS. Also saw 10 Caspian & 3 Common Terns, a Killdeer
& one Dunlin.
While here I got a call from Jayne L telling us about a possible
Roseate Tern being seen at Illinois Beach where I had seen the
Franklin's Gulls earlier. Along with Andy Sigler I hurried back to
Illinois Beach's South Unit by the main beach.

Moving very slowly as I could not take my wheelchair/walker on the
sand & had to carry my scope I finally was about to look at the Tern
when all the Terns flew away. Landed again & I hobbled over & this
time I did see the possible Roseate Tern but not for long as it flew
away again. But "the third time was the charm" as I finally had long
looks at what was indeed a ROSEATE TERN. Watched the fancy Tern for
another hour or so & called Dave J, Bob E & Andy Stewart to let them
know what we had seen. All three arrived later & saw the Tern.
Must have been 60 birders there to see the Tern.

So what started out like another bad day turned into a very good day.
Slow start, fast finish.

Hard to believe the Laughing Gulls & the Neo Cormorant did not make
Top Bird but they did not. Bird-Of-The-Day will be Illinois's 1st
official record of Roseate Tern (if approved by the Rare Birds
Committee). Runners-Up to the Laughing Gulls & the Neo Cormorant.
Still no awards for the Whimbrels which refuse to let me see them.

Al Stokie
In Lake County today