No Date for 2024 as of yet, but likely September 28th.
Some of the best pelagic birding in the Midwest outside of the Great Lakes can be found in Southern Illinois, on Carlyle Lake! Over the last 10 years, numerous 'pelagic species' have been found on the lake on various pelagic birding trips including Eared Grebe, Red-necked and Red Phalaropes, Parasitic Jaegers, Sabine's, Laughing, Franklins, California, Lesser Black-backed and Great Black-backed Gulls, all tern species including Arctic Tern, among the usual species. Most years we can at least see a phalarope, Laughing Gull, and all terns but usually have some other goodies most trips. In 2020 we saw Parasitic Jaeger on multiple trips, and also some goodies like Laughing and Franklin's Gulls as well as Red-necked Phalarope. In 2021, we saw Parasitic Jaeger on one, 3 Sabine's Gulls and Eared Grebe on the other, along with Red-necked Phalaropes on both, large numbers of terns, and Laughing Gull! In 2022 we saw a Sabine's Gull on one and Red-necked Phalaropes, CALIFORNIA GULL, and five other gull species on another!
Below are the pelagic trip reports from the last three years along with a couple pictures from 2022!
Some of the best pelagic birding in the Midwest outside of the Great Lakes can be found in Southern Illinois, on Carlyle Lake! Over the last 10 years, numerous 'pelagic species' have been found on the lake on various pelagic birding trips including Eared Grebe, Red-necked and Red Phalaropes, Parasitic Jaegers, Sabine's, Laughing, Franklins, California, Lesser Black-backed and Great Black-backed Gulls, all tern species including Arctic Tern, among the usual species. Most years we can at least see a phalarope, Laughing Gull, and all terns but usually have some other goodies most trips. In 2020 we saw Parasitic Jaeger on multiple trips, and also some goodies like Laughing and Franklin's Gulls as well as Red-necked Phalarope. In 2021, we saw Parasitic Jaeger on one, 3 Sabine's Gulls and Eared Grebe on the other, along with Red-necked Phalaropes on both, large numbers of terns, and Laughing Gull! In 2022 we saw a Sabine's Gull on one and Red-necked Phalaropes, CALIFORNIA GULL, and five other gull species on another!
Below are the pelagic trip reports from the last three years along with a couple pictures from 2022!
Sabine’s Gull, Fall 2022
California Gull, Fall 2022