Submitted by Jennie Strable on Fri, 09/18/2015 - 7:35pm
Event date:
Saturday, September 12, 2015 - 8:00am
Location:
-
Hello to All,
It was another rainy morning as we left our homes to bird in Jackson Park. Chuck and I waited in our cars for the rain to stop. Jennie walked over and joined us.
It was worth the try to bird, since a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron was reported on Thursday, September 10th, by a birder on IBET (Yahoo Group – Illinois Birders Exchanging Thoughts). I saw the post and called Karin Cassel who was enthusiastic to join the chase. We quickly found the young rare heron and took photos. But, alas, I know of no other subsequent sightings. We searched today but only saw juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons. A humble photo of the juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron is attached.
BIRDERS: 3. Jennie Strable, Chuck Berman and Pat Durkin
TIME: 8:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
PLACES: Bobolink Meadow with views of North and East Lagoons and eastside of Wooded Island.
WEATHER: Raining at 8:00 a.m.; ended by 8:20 a.m. and remained rain free until 10:30 a.m. Temperature 54 – 61 F. Overcast. Wind from the North 10 – 12 mph.
TOTAL SPECIES COUNT: 19
X = commonly seen and/or not counted.
Canada Goose – X.
Mallard – 43. Thirty-one were counted in the North Lagoon by Jennie S.
Hooded Merganser – 1. Female. East Lagoon.
Double-crested Cormorant – 21. Thirteen were in a flock that flew over the Meadow.
Great Blue Heron – 2.
Black-crowned Night Heron – 5. Two adults and three juveniles.
Ring-billed Gull – X. Fly overs.
Mourning Dove – 1. East Parking Lot lamppost.
Chimney Swift – X. Moderate numbers.
Northern Flicker – 1.
American Crow – 2.
Black-capped Chickadee – X. Heard.
Swainson’s Thrush – 2.
Gray Catbird – 1.
Yellow-rumped Warbler – 1.
Black-throated Green Warbler – 1.
Palm Warbler – 4.
Song Sparrow – 1.
American Goldfinch – X.
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 more than a year. 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. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the eastside of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.
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