Hello to All,
The skies of late October and early November are remarkably endearing in beauty. The rumbled blanket of clouds bellowed to let a pale gold but radiant sun peer down upon us. It is a scene worthy of a painter with the eye and skills of Winslow Homer.
Although our species count is low, we did see two rare species for this time of year: A Gray Catbird and a Nashville Warbler.
Birding Beyond Jackson Park:
After brunch at Medici’s, Karin D and I traveled to Hammond, Indiana to look for a number of Tundra Swans reported at ease in Lake George. Our first look out was on the south side of Lake George (129th St, just east of Calumet Ave.) We saw several hundred American Coots and many Mute Swans. But the bulk of the swans that looked like they may be Tundra were congregated on the north side of Lake George. With Karin’s encouragement and curiosity, we found our way to an observation platform located at the dead end of Lake Avenue and 122nd St. There we had very close view of five Tundra Swans and a good number of Mute Swans.
Although the Tundra Swans was our ‘target” bird, they were expected finds this time of year. What was totally unexpected was a small white egret making its way toward us. No…it couldn’t be…damn, it’s much smaller than a Great Egret. Damn, Damn…it has a small total black bill. Damn, damn, damn…it has greenish legs ending in yellow feet! YES! The Golden Slippers of a SNOWY EGRET!! I emailed Walter M. immediately but he did not see my message until after dark. I texted Dave G. Although I submitted our sightings for Lake George that night on eBird, my check list, linked under my name, included the Snowy Egret. But the Snowy Egret was not listed on the front page of recent bird sightings. Strange…It is a Rare Bird Sighting. Two days later the SNOWY EGRET was reported by another better known birder and it showed up on the front page under his name. No photo was provided by either him or us. Not fair. Attribution and recognition is warranted and not to be skipped over.
BIRDERS: 10. (1) Gary M., (2) Steve B., (3) Jennie S., (4) Erin C., (5) Fran H., (6) Brandan W., (7) Johnathan S., (8) Wellington S., (9) Karin D. and (10) Pat D
TIME: 8:00 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.
PLACES: Wooded Island, Lagoons, Soccer Field & Bobolink Meadow
DISTANCE: 2 miles
WEATHER: Misty at 8:00 a.m. Sunny by 9:00 a.m. Temperature 39 F., Wind West 8 mph
TOTAL SPECIES COUNT: 18
1. Canada Goose 191
2. Wood Duck 4 Birders saw a juvenile with a fish in its mouth in the North Lagoon!
3. Hooded Merganser 1 Male. East Lagoon.
4. Ring-billed Gull 5
5. Double-crested Cormorant 18
6. Great Blue Heron 6
7. Cooper's Hawk 1 Small size. Bobolink Meadow.
8. Downy Woodpecker 3
9. Northern Flicker 2
10. American Crow 3
11. Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
12. White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Staying near its nest site in the oak grove east of the North Lagoon.
13. Gray Catbird 1 Heard and seen by birders in the center of Wooded Island. Listed on eBird Rare Bird Alert for Cook County.
14. Hermit Thrush 5
15. Dark-eyed Junco 11
16. White-throated Sparrow 5
17. Nashville Warbler 1 Seen at close range in Bobolink Meadow. All yellow body. Eye Ring. Gray head. Earned listing on eBird Rare Bird Alert for Cook County.
18. Northern Cardinal 1
This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by at least several or all of the birders.
Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.
Recordings are not used to attract birds.
This report will be documented on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.
The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Newcomers are warmly welcomed.
Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. The fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be several years away. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.
Saturday morning walks: Start at 8:00 a.m. covers a distance of two miles. Birders walk counterclockwise around the Columbia Basin (North Lagoon) onto Wooded Island. Exiting Wooded Island at the south end, the birders walk along the soccer field and enter the south end of Bobolink Meadow. The Meadow’s path leads to the Music Bridge and back to the East Parking Lot. In late fall, winter and early spring, the birders check for birds on the lakefront and Outer Harbor near LaRabida Hospital, and the Inner Harbor.
Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive. There is a Stop Light at Science Drive. This Stop Light is approximately 200 yards south of the major intersection with signs for Museum of Science and Industry. Make a turn at the 57th Street and Science Drive Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.
Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot.
Parking and Lots: The East Parking Lot is preferred. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 56th to 59th Street.
Best of Birding to All,
Patricia Durkin
Chicago Audubon Society Representative
Wooded Island Bird Walks