Submitted by Jennie Strable on Sun, 10/30/2016 - 5:35pm
Event date:
Saturday, October 29, 2016 - 8:00am
Location:
-
Hello to All,
Wooded Island is now open. Access is from the north and south bridges. Darrow Bridge remains heavily barricaded. We now walk around the Columbia Basin (North Lagoon) to reach the North Bridge onto Wooded Island. The Japanese Garden had only one entry and exit point, under the cedar gate.
Birding was slow. Migrating ducks have yet to show up. Spying, close up, on the Cooper’s Hawk snacking on a bird, with a Hermit Thrush nearby, frozen in place was the highlight. The Red-tailed Hawk was flying low over the south end of Wooded Island near the golf shack.
BIRDERS: 11 (1) Caroline H., (2) Karin D., (3) Jennie S., (4) Eric G., (5) Ira S., (6) Gary M., (7) Tracy W., (8) Elaine F., (9) Raman S., (10) Karin C., (11) Pat D.
TIME: 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
PLACES: Wooded Island, Columbia Basin, Soccer Field and Bobolink Meadow
WEATHER: Mostly Cloudy. Temperature 65 – 69 F., Winds WSW 10 – 20 mph, Humidity 79%, Dew Point 60 degrees
TOTAL SPECIES COUNT: 22
X = commonly seen and/or not counted.
Canada Goose X
Great Blue Heron 6
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Juvenile
Cooper's Hawk 1 Hiding on branch SE of South Bridge. Caught a bird.
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Ring-billed Gull X Occasional fly overs.
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 9
American Crow 1
Black-capped Chickadee X Heard.
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Winter Wren 2 Japanese Garden
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Hermit Thrush 1 Frozen in place. Cooper's Hawk nearby.
American Robin 6
European Starling 4
Fox Sparrow 1 North woods of Bobolink Meadow.
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Northern Cardinal 6
American Goldfinch X Heard.
House Sparrow X Heard. Japanese Garden.
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 recorded 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. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be several years away. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.
The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot.
Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.
Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the 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.
Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both 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