Photo: Red-breasted nuthatch by Tim Bowman
Hello everyone,
It was a lovely fall morning. There was a huge flock of Chimney Swifts flying about over the east lagoon, apparently getting ready to take off for their journey south. The warblers are still here and we were pleased to spot a gorgeous male American Restart with colors as bright as in the spring.
It was also a day with many herons and egrets, including 3-4 juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons.
A Merlin was perched in a tree by the north bridge and we got some great looks. It was soon displaced by a Red-tailed Hawk. The hawk was quickly spotted by some annoying crows who harassed it continuously. We had a soaring Cooper’s Hawk that we first thought was a Northern Harrier because of the white rump patch. It turns out that Cooper’s Hawks can fluff up their white undertail coverts to the point where it looks like they have a white rump patch. Why do they do this? Who knows, but it’s certainly an interesting bird fact.
BIRDERS: Mark C., Kristin, Nathan, Roger, Leslie, Cheryl, Marian, Mike M., Catherine, Jeff, Paul, Meghan, Sandy, Tyler, Renate, Dennis, Pam, Jennie and welcome to Maggie, Miquel, Elise, Brian M., Mike W., Karen, Brian L., Akshay and Michelle.
TIME: 8:00am to 12:00pm
WEATHER: Sunny, low 60s but warming quickly
Compiler: Cheryl
Canada Goose Number observed: 125
Wood Duck Number observed: 10
Mallard Number observed: 11
Chimney Swift Number observed: 71
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Number observed: 1
Ring-billed Gull Number observed: 9
Great Blue Heron Number observed: 6
Great Egret Number observed: 3
Green Heron Number observed: 3
Black-crowned Night-Heron Number observed: 6
Cooper's Hawk Number observed: 1
Red-tailed Hawk Number observed: 1
Belted Kingfisher Number observed: 1
Red-headed Woodpecker Number observed: 2
Downy Woodpecker Number observed: 2
Northern Flicker Number observed: 5
Merlin Number observed: 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee Number observed: 1
American Crow Number observed: 3
Black-capped Chickadee Number observed: 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Number observed: 1
European Starling Number observed: 9
Gray Catbird Number observed: 4
Gray-cheeked Thrush Number observed: 1
Swainson's Thrush Number observed: 2
Hermit Thrush Number observed: 1
American Robin Number observed: 1
House Finch Number observed: 1
American Goldfinch Number observed: 7
White-throated Sparrow Number observed: 6
Black-and-white Warbler Number observed: 2
Tennessee Warbler Number observed: 1
Orange-crowned Warbler Number observed: 1
American Redstart Number observed: 2
Cape May Warbler Number observed: 5
Magnolia Warbler Number observed: 3
Blackpoll Warbler Number observed: 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler Number observed: 1
Black-throated Green Warbler Number observed: 2
Northern Cardinal Number observed: 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Number observed: 2
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.
Good birding everyone,
Jennie
This outing qualifies as a prerequisite for participating in Chicago Audubon's Birding Gear Exchange Program. Please check in with the trip leader the day of the event.