Submitted by Jennie Strable on Sun, 10/21/2018 - 2:51pm
Event date:
Saturday, October 20, 2018 - 8:00am
Location:
-
Hello to All,
The gate to the parking lot was closed. Randy & I gained access by coming along the road in front of the Museum. Gary & Steve parked near the golf shack and walked through Bobolink Meadow. The group came together on the walk around the North Lagoon.
Randy was our complier. With his keen hearing and concentration, our species count notched up.
We found four Wooly Bears. As winter forecasters, their black and orange pattern predicts a mild winter.
BIRDERS: 8 (1) Randy S., (2) Gary M., (3) Steve B., (4) Karin D., (5) Jennie S., (6) David P., (7) Catherine G., (8) Pat D.
TIME: 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
PLACES: Wooded Island, Lagoons, Soccer Field & Bobolink Meadow
DISTANCE: 2 miles
WEATHER: Sunny. Temperature 37 – 45. Wind WNW 11 – 41 mph
TOTAL SPECIES COUNT: 35
Canada Goose 55
2. Bufflehead 2. A male & female were together in the East Lagoon. First sighting of fall migration.
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 2
Cooper's Hawk 2
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Brown Creeper 1
House Wren 2
Winter Wren 4
Golden-crowned Kinglet 19
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5
Hermit Thrush 6
American Robin 60
Gray Catbird 1 Clearly heard cat like call. The average fall departure date in Jackson Park, according to Paul Clyne's checklist, is 22 October.
European Starling 20
American Goldfinch 6
Fox Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco 40
White-crowned Sparrow 5
White-throated Sparrow 50
Song Sparrow 7
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 2
Eastern Towhee 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 13
Northern Cardinal 3
House Sparrow 1
Eastern Bluebird – Seen by Gary M. & Steve B. near the golf shack.
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