Submitted by Jennie Strable on Mon, 08/13/2018 - 8:04pm
Event date:
Saturday, August 11, 2018 - 8:00am
Location:
-
Hello to All,
The bird of the day was a discovery by Jennie S. of a solitary Black-billed Cuckoo. The bird was perched in a small tree along the east side of the foot path that runs down the center of Wooded Island. Steve B. was able to see the bird well too. Marian and I finally caught sight of the cuckoo when it flew off, but not a good enough look to count it on our own list. Marian and I were talking rather than bird watching, which contributed to our miss.
BIRDERS: 7. (1) Gary M., (2) Marian N., (3) Jennie S., (4) Steve B., (5) Eric G, (6) Tobias G, and (7) Pat D.
TIME: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
PLACES: Wooded Island, Lagoons & Bobolink Meadow
DISTANCE: 2 miles
WEATHER: Sunny. Temperature 78 – 82 F. Wind NW 5 -9 mph
TOTAL SPECIES COUNT: 35 (+2 other taxa)
Canada Goose 26
Wood Duck 11
Mallard 4
Mallard (Domestic type) 1 Swimming with Mallards. White on chest and face. Large bill.
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Blue Heron 3
Green Heron 3 1 in Japanese Garden. 2 near Turtle Island.
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Japanese Garden
Cooper's Hawk 2 Near 57th and Stony Island per Eric G.
Ring-billed Gull 4
Caspian Tern 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1
Black-billed Cuckoo 1 Quietly perched near the interior of a small tree, located in the center of Wooded Island. Flew off.
Chimney Swift 17 Numbers increased over East Lagoon towards the end of our walk.
Downy Woodpecker 3
Eastern Phoebe 1
Eastern Kingbird 9
flycatcher sp. (Tyrannidae sp.) 1
American Crow 1
Purple Martin 4
Barn Swallow 21
Cliff Swallow 2
Black-capped Chickadee 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6
American Robin 13
Gray Catbird 2
European Starling 33
Cedar Waxwing 2
Common Yellowthroat 2 South end of Bobolink Meadow. Heard by Eric G.
Yellow Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 4
Indigo Bunting 4 Heard along Soccer Field shore.
Baltimore Oriole 3
Red-winged Blackbird 1
American Goldfinch 6
House Sparrow 5
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 documented 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. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. The fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be several years away. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.
Birders meet on the east side of Darrow Bridge.
Saturday morning walks: Start at 8:00 a.m. covers a distance of two miles. Birders walk counterclockwise around the Columbia Basin (North Lagoon) onto Wooded Island. Exiting Wooded Island at the south end, the birders walk along the soccer field and enter the south end of Bobolink Meadow. The Meadow’s path leads to the Music Bridge and back to the East Parking Lot. In late fall, winter and early spring, the birders check for birds on the lakefront and Outer Harbor near LaRabida Hospital, and the Inner Harbor.
Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive. There is a Stop Light at Science Drive. This Stop Light is approximately 200 yards south of the major intersection with signs for Museum of Science and Industry. Make a turn at the 57th Street and Science Drive 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.
Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot.
Parking and 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
Chicago Audubon Society Representative