Submitted by Jennie Strable on Sat, 05/30/2015 - 5:52pm
Event date:
Saturday, May 23, 2015 - 8:00am to 10:30am
Location:
-
Hello to All,
We had a great time birding in the morning in Jackson Park. Although we are limited to a portion of our usual circuit, our count reflects the many sets of eyes and ears that noted the birds that came within our range.
Marian N., Randy S., Karin D. Karin C. Jennie S. and I enjoyed a great lunch at Popolano’s in Chesterton, IN. We then drove to Cowles Bog for an afternoon of birding. Randy did the full circuit of the Bog, while the rest of us walked half way around then back to the trail head. The peace and quiet and dense vegetation reminded me of how Wooded Island felt in the past. We were hoping to see or at least hear the Virginia Rail that has been reported in the bog, but it must have been taking an afternoon nap when we walked by. We were all tuckered out from a full day of birding, but what a great way to spend a day on Planet Earth. Randy’s list appears below the Jackson Park report of sightings.
BIRDERS: 19. Berthold H., Marcus H., Kurt E., Edith H., Bruce M., Chris C. – new birder to Jackson Park, Mary, Eric G., Tobias G., Liz M., Mark W., Jennie S., Marian N., Karin D., Patti T., Renate G., Glyn D., Sylvia D., and Pat D.
TIME: 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. – Jackson Park
2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes State Park
PLACES: Bobolink Meadow and mudflats of East Lagoon in the morning
Cowles Bog in the afternoon
WEATHER: Sunny. Temperature 60 – 72 F., Wind SSE 5 – 14 mph
TOTAL SPECIES COUNT: Jackson Park: 65
Cowles Bog: 56
Jackson Park Report – Group Report includes Mark Webster and Randy Shonkwiler lists.
Double-crested Cormorant – 6
Great Blue Heron – 1
Green Heron – 1
Black-crowned Night Heron – 3
Canada Goose – X
Wood Duck – 6
Mallard – X
Red-tailed Hawk – 1. Sneaky guy. Perched near a Baltimore Oriole nest.
Killdeer – 3
Spotted Sandpiper – 3
Ring-billed Gull – X. Fly overs.
Caspian Tern – 2
Monk Parakeet – 1
Chimney Swift – 15
Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 2
Downy Woodpecker – 1. Female.
Hairy Woodpecker – 1
Northern Flicker – 1
Eastern Wood Pewee – 7
Alder Flycatcher – 2
Willow Flycatcher – 1
Eastern Phoebe – 1
Great Crested Flycatcher – 1
Eastern Kingbird – 4
Warbling Vireo – 9
Red-eyed Vireo – 5
Blue Jay – 2
American Crow – 2
Purple Martin – 7. On and near houses.
Tree Swallow – 1
N. Rough-winged Swallow – 6
Cliff Swallow – 22
Barn Swallow – 25
House Wren – 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 8
Eastern Bluebird – 1. Male. Seen by Liz Moyer and Pat Durkin near NE edge of East Lagoon, at the end of our walk.
Swainson’s Thrush – 3
American Robin – X
Gray Catbird – 8
European Starling – X
Cedar Waxwing – 48. One flock held 30 birds.
Northern Parula – 1
Yellow Warbler – 16
Chestnut-sided Warbler – 3. Great close views of one “lemon beanie” at start of Walk.
Magnolia Warbler – 3
Cape May Warbler – 3. One male and two females.
Blackburnian Warbler – 2. Everyone loves to see Blackburnians
Blackpoll Warbler – 4. One male and three females.
American Redstart – 10
Mourning Warbler – 3
Common Yellowthroat – 2. Females.
Wilson’s Warbler–3. Two males and one female.
Canada Warbler – 3
Scarlet Tanager – 1. Male. Another favorite.
Chipping Sparrow – 1
Song Sparrow – 5
White-crowned Sparrow – 2
Northern Cardinal -1. Others heard.
Indigo Bunting – 2. Male & female.
Red-winged Blackbird – X
Brown-headed Cowbird – 2
Baltimore Oriole – 12
House Finch – 1
American Goldfinch – 5
House Sparrow - 1
Cowles Bog eBird Report – Randy Shonkwiler:
Subject: eBird Report - Indiana Dunes--Cowles Bog, May 23, 2015
Indiana Dunes--Cowles Bog, Porter, US-IN May 23, 2015 2:38 PM - 5:39 PM
Protocol: Transect
3.75 mile(s)
Comments: Other members of my party had E. Bluebird.
54 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 19
Wood Duck 1 fem.
Mallard 4 2 m., 2 fem.
Hooded Merganser 3 2 fem., 1 juv.
Great Egret 1
Green Heron 2
Cooper's Hawk 1 adult
Red-tailed Hawk 1 adult
Common Gallinule 1
American Coot 2
Sandhill Crane 2
Killdeer 6
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1
Mourning Dove 2 1 m.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 male
Red-headed Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Eastern Wood-Pewee 6 males
Alder Flycatcher 1 id based on call note
Willow Flycatcher 2 males
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Yellow-throated Vireo 1 male
Warbling Vireo 3 males
Red-eyed Vireo 5 males
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 1
Tree Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
House Wren 4 males
Marsh Wren 4 males
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
Veery 1 singing male
Wood Thrush 1
American Robin 14 9 m., 5 not det.
Gray Catbird 18 12 m.
Brown Thrasher 3 2 m.
European Starling 1
Cedar Waxwing 2
Common Yellowthroat 15 all males
Yellow Warbler 25 24 m., 1 fem.
warbler sp. 1 Did not see; it was singing Golden-winged song but I can't rule out hybrid with Blue-winged.
Eastern Towhee 1 heard only
Field Sparrow 1 male
Song Sparrow 10 males
Swamp Sparrow 10 males
Northern Cardinal 7 1 m., 6 not det.
Red-winged Blackbird 40 30 m., 6 fem., 4 not det.
Common Grackle 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 2 1 m., 1 fem.
Baltimore Oriole 2 males
House Finch 3 1 m., 2 fem.
American Goldfinch 11 5 m., 2 fem., 4 not det.
X = commonly seen and/or not counted.
This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by a least several or all 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. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed.
Note on 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 more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.
Birders meet in the East parking lot, and walk around the North Lagoon/Basin and across the south steps of the Museum to get to Wooded Island.
The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.
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 east of Darrow Bridge and 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.
Note on 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 lot is the preferred one, as it is located nearest the Darrow Bridge. The southwest parking lot would require that the entire Wooded Island be walked northward, and to cross the North Bridge to reach Darrow Bridge. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 59th to 56th Street.
Best of Birding to All,
Patricia Durkin