The Evanston North Shore Bird Club

Field Trips

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Field trips sponsored by the Evanston North Shore Bird Club are open to everyone.  Beginners are encouraged on all ENSBC field trips. What's more, all local field trips are FREE! Car pooling is encouraged on all field trips. Always check the website for possible changes in dates, times, locations, leaders, etc. Contact the individual leader or the Field Trip Chair, Libby Hill at libbyhill@comcast.net if you need more details on specific trips, or are looking for someone to carpool with.

Most local trips are two-hours long and require no reservations.  For trips that might be half-day, all day or even over a weekend. reservations with the leader are required. If you have an idea for a possible future trip, or would like to lead a future trip, please contact libbyhill@comcast.net.

Most of the locations of field trips are on level, well drained ground, but a few take you to some muddy areas, or it may have recently rained and the trails may be waterlogged. A successful birding trip is a well planned trip; please bring along boots and rain gear as necessary, as well as snacks and water or something to drink to make every outing an enjoyable one. A final tip to good Chicagoland birding: a reliable local map is indispensable, whether an actual map or on your iphone.

Carpooling is strongly recommended on ENSBC field trips.

Field Trip: LooneyTrip!

Saturday, April 4, 2020

 

Looney Trip!  Meet at Diamond Lake, Gale Street Inn Parking Lot at 8:00 a.m.Carpooling and lunch out at local eatery. We generally see approximately 100 loons or more.  Ends at approximately 2:00 p.m. Limited group size. Reservations required.  Leader: David Johnson, djohnsoda@comcast.net.

 

FIELD TRIP: Air Station Prairie: Woodcocks

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Come out to see the spectacular aerial displays of the American Woodcock at dusk! The Air Station Prairie in Glenview is a great location for these displays and we may even spot a woodcock on the ground. Parking for the Air Station Prairie is available across the street (Compass Rd) from the ASP Interpretive center on the west side of the lot. Meet on the deck of the interpretive center at 6:45 p.m. Leader: John Leonard

 

FIELD TRIP: Air Station Prarie and Techny North

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

 We will look for early migrants including shorebirds, especially Wilson's Snipe there and at Techny. Meet on the  deck of the interpretive center at 8 a.m. Leader: John Leonard.

 

FIELD TRIP: Skokie Lagoons

Friday, May 1, 2020

These Friday trips pack a great list of warbler species during spring migration. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Erickson Woods Forest Preserve parking lot. Turn north into the parking lot from Willow Rd. just east of the Edens Expressway. Leader:  Lynne Carpenter.

 

FIELD TRIP: Northwestern University Campus

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Saturday mornings at Northwestern University. This area is a stopover for migrants of all kinds heading north in spring.  Meet at 8:30 a. m. Park on the lake side of the upper deck of the south parking lot off of Sheridan Rd. and Clark St., north of Clark St. beach, at 8:30 a.m.  Leaders: Libby Hill. Nancy Halliday (May 2) and other possible dates and leaders TBA..

 

FIELD TRIP: Gillson Park

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Sunday Mornings at Gillson Park.  Sponsored by our partner Go Green Wilmette, Meet at 8 a.m.at the beach by the dog park. Parking is available for non-residents of Wilmette through May. For more information, contact kglennemeier@gmail.com.

 

FIELD TRIP: Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Join us for a morning at Montrose.  Meet at 8:00 a.m. at handicapped parking. Leader: Wayne Svoboda.

 

 

 

 

FIELD TRIP: Ryerson -- NEW TRIP!

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

 New Trip. Meet at 8:00 AM at Brushwood Center Parking lot for Ryerson woods spring migration walk. Leader:  John Leonard


FIELD TRIP: Perkins Woods

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Thursday mornings at Perkins Woods. Look for warblers and other migrants (and also a great display of spring wildflowers. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the corner of Ewing Ave. and Grant St. Park along Ewing Ave.  Leader: John Bates and/or Josh Engel.

 

FIELD TRIP: Skokie Lagoons

Friday, May 8, 2020

These Friday trips pack a great list of warbler species during spring migration. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Erickson Woods Forest Preserve parking lot. Turn north into the parking lot from Willow Rd. just east of the Edens Expressway. Leader:  Lynne Carpenter.

 

FIELD TRIP: Gillson Park

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Sundays at Gillson Park.  Sponsored by our partner Go Green Wilmette, Meet at 8 a.m.at the beach by the dog park. Parking is available for non-residents of Wilmette through May. For more information, contact kglennemeier@gmail.com.

 

FIELD TRIP: Jackson Park and Lakefront – Wooded Isle

Sunday, May 10, 2020

We will be looking for migrating passerines at this park. Meet at 7:00 a.m. Park south of the Museum of Science and Industry after driving on the east side of the building. Leader: Dick Young. 

 

FIELD TRIP: Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Join us for a morning at Montrose.  Meet at 8:00 a.m. at handicapped parking. Leader: Wayne Svoboda.

 

FIELD TRIP: The Grove, Glenview

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Expect warblers and other passerines.  Meet at 8:00 a.m. at The Grove: east side of Milwaukee Ave., just south of Lake Ave., in the second parking lot that leads to the Interpretive Center. Leader: Nancy Halliday.

 

FIELD TRIP: Perkins Woods

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Thursday mornings at Perkins Woods. Look for warblers and other migrants (and also a great display of spring wildflowers. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the corner of Ewing Ave. and Grant St. Park along Ewing Ave.  Leader: John Bates and/or Josh Engel.

 

FIELD TRIP: Skokie Lagoons

Friday, May 15, 2020

These Friday trips pack a great list of warbler species during spring migration. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Erickson Woods Forest Preserve parking lot. Turn north into the parking lot from Willow Rd. just east of the Edens Expressway. Leader:  Lynne Carpenter.

 

FIELD TRIP: Kankakee Sands, Morocco, Indiana

Saturday, May 16, 2020

4th Annual Trip. Near Morocco, Indiana, this 8,000-acre prairie and wetland restoration was originally part of the 500,000-acre Grand Marsh of the Kankakee River.  The site is owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy, which describes it as a “birders paradise” with over 200 species recorded since restoration began in 2001. The destination is a two-hour drive from Evanston and carpooling is recommended and may be arranged through the trip leader. Expect Red-headed woodpeckers and other migrants. Details TBA.  RSVP to Leader: Mark Vaughan, markvaughan60201@gmail.com.

 

FIELD TRIP: Gillson Park

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Sundays at Gillson Park.  Sponsored by our partner Go Green Wilmette, Meet at 8 a.m.at the beach by the dog park. Parking is available for non-residents of Wilmette through May. For more information, contact kglennemeier@gmail.com.

 

FIELD TRIP: Perkins Woods

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Thursday mornings at Perkins Woods. Look for warblers and other migrants (and also a great display of spring wildflowers. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the corner of Ewing Ave. and Grant St. Park along Ewing Ave.  Leader: John Bates and/or Josh Engel.

 

FIELD TRIP: Skokie Lagoons

Friday, May 22, 2020

These Friday trips pack a great list of warbler species during spring migration. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Erickson Woods Forest Preserve parking lot. Turn north into the parking lot from Willow Rd. just east of the Edens Expressway. Leader:  Lynne Carpenter.

 

FIELD TRIP: Northwestern University Campus

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Saturday mornings at Northwestern University. This area is a stopover for migrants of all kinds heading north in spring.  Meet at 8:30 a. m. Park on the lake side of the upper deck of the south parking lot off of Sheridan Rd. and Clark St., north of Clark St. beach, at 8:30 a.m.  Leaders: Libby Hill. Nancy Halliday (May 2) and other possible dates and leaders TBA.

FIELD TRIP: Gillson Park

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Sundays at Gillson Park.  Sponsored by our partner Go Green Wilmette, Meet at 8 a.m.at the beach by the dog park. Parking is available for non-residents of Wilmette through May. For more information, contact kglennemeier@gmail.com.

 

FIELD TRIP: Perkins Woods

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Thursday mornings at Perkins Woods. Look for warblers and other migrants (and also a great display of spring wildflowers. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the corner of Ewing Ave. and Grant St. Park along Ewing Ave.  Leader: John Bates and/or Josh Engel.

 

FIELD TRIP: Gillson Park

Sunday, May 31, 2020

Sunday mornings at Gillson Park.  Sponsored by our partner Go Green Wilmette, Meet at 8 a.m.at the beach by the dog park. Parking is available for non-residents of Wilmette through May. For more information, contact kglennemeier@gmail.com.

 

FIELD TRIP: Plum Creek Forest Preserve

Saturday, June 6, 2020

 7h Annual trip! Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the forest preserve parking lot on the east side of Burnham Rd., about 1 mile south of Sauk Trail.  Look for grassland and shrubland birds that are otherwise rare so close to Chicago, Henslow's and Grasshopper Sparrows, Dickcissel, Yellow-breasted Chat, and White-eyed Vireo all breed there. Leader: Josh Engel. Limit of 10, RSVP to Josh at josh@redhillbirding.com,