Photo: Eastern Bluebird by John Larson
Hello everyone,
It was a cold and windy morning and the birds had enough sense to stay tucked away and warm, unlike the birders. Cheryl and I agreed that the hardy bird of the day award should go to the 2 Goldfinches that we found at the start of our walk. They were bravely hanging onto the swaying reeds next to the lagoon, finding what little food was there.
The two Tree Sparrows and Song Sparrow were nice finds, as were the 2 to 3 Great Blue Herons who looked like they were quite cold. We agreed with them.
BIRDERS: Eric, Leslie, Cheryl, Mike, Jane, Marian, Karin, Jennie, Steve, Bruce
TIME: 8:00am to 10:00am
WEATHER: upper 30s, cloudy, windy and cold.
Compiler: Cheryl
Canada Goose Number observed: 141
Wood Duck Number observed: 1
Mallard Number observed: 6
Common Goldeneye Number observed: 2
Hooded Merganser Number observed: 5
Red-breasted Merganser Number observed: 27
Ring-billed Gull Number observed: 9
Double-crested Cormorant Number observed: 1
Great Blue Heron Number observed: 2, Possibly 3
Downy Woodpecker Number observed: 2
American Crow Number observed: 4
Black-capped Chickadee Number observed: 2
White-breasted Nuthatch Number observed: 1
American Robin Number observed: 1
House Sparrow Number observed: 7
American Goldfinch Number observed: 2
American Tree Sparrow Number observed: 2
White-throated Sparrow Number observed: 2
Song Sparrow Number observed: 1
warbler sp. (Parulidae sp.) Number observed: 1, Several birders saw this bird for a split second and thought it was an Orange-crowned Warbler based on size and colors. Unfortunately, the bird was not relocated and no pictures were taken. Also, no one successfully observed the face, beak or eyes.
Northern Cardinal Number observed: 1
If you’d like more information about a bird, check out the All About Birds ID guide:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/
Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.
Recordings are not used to attract birds.
The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year-round. Newcomers are warmly welcomed.
Saturday morning walks: Start at 8:00 a.m. and cover a distance of two miles. Birders walk from the meeting spot counterclockwise 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. After crossing the Music Bridge birders walk through the parking lot and around the Columbia Basin (North Lagoon) and return to our meeting spot. In late fall, winter and early spring, the birders check for birds on the lakefront at the Outer Harbor near LaRabida Hospital and the Inner Harbor after the Wooded Island walk.
Meeting Spot: Birders meet on the west shore of the Columbia Basin (North Lagoon). Park on Stony Island Avenue near 59th Street, walk east across the parkland area, then cross Cornell Drive to reach the spot.
Good birding everyone,
Jennie