Submitted by Jennie Strable on Tue, 06/02/2015 - 8:18pm

Event date:

Saturday, May 30, 2015 - 8:00am to 10:30am 

Location:

-

Hello to all,

Although the weather was dreary and drizzly, three hardy birders ventured out to see what interesting species we might find.  And, the day turned out better than we expected, especially  weather-wise, as the cold front moved in immediately after we finished at 10:30am.

The highlight of the morning was the tree full of Cedar Waxwings.  They were moving in and out of the leaves so quickly that we couldn’t get a count, but there had to be at least 25.  The “miss” of the morning was any shorebird other than Kildeer, which is a change from the last few weeks.

Birders:  3.  Jenny B., Rodger F. and Jennie S.

Time:  8:00am to 10:30am

Place:  Bobolink Meadow and area by the parking lot

Weather:  Cloudy, on and off light rain and drizzle, temperature in the 60s.

The birds:

Mallard - many

Canada Goose - many

Wood Duck - 7 males in beautiful full breeding plumage with one female in one spot.  A pair in another spot.

Baltimore Oriole -- many, including one female sitting on a nest

Cedar Waxwing -- a tree full! 

Eastern Kingbird – 2

Eastern Phoebe

Warbling Vireo - at least 4

Kildeer - 3

Black-crowned Night Heron - 4

Green Heron - at least 3

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Yellow warbler -at least 3

Goldfinch - many

House Wren - 2 heard

Caspian Tern - at least 2

Ring Billed Gull - several flyovers

American Robin - many

American Crow - a few flyovers

Red-winged Blackbird

Downy Woodpecker

Barn Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Purple Martin

European Starling

Gray Catbird

Song Sparrow

House Sparrow

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,

Jennie