Submitted by Jennie Strable on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 7:38pm
Event date:
Saturday, May 5, 2018 - 8:00am
Location:
-
Hello to All,
It was a very nice morning, weather wise, for the annual Illinois Spring Bird Count. Everyone seemed relaxed and enjoying their time outdoors. There was a major migration of Blue Jays through the Park. Other than during migration, we seldom see or hear Blue Jays along the lakefront.
BIRDERS: 18
TIME: 7:45 a.m. to 12 noon
PLACES: Wooded Island, Bobolink Meadow, East and North Lagoons
DISTANCE: Two miles
WEATHER: Sunny. Temperatures in the 60’s to low 70’s. Mild breeze.
TOTAL SPECIES COUNT: 71 + 1 Other Taxa (one of those troublesome flycatchers)
1. Canada Goose 26
2. Wood Duck 3
3. Blue-winged Teal 2 A pair were in the little waterway between Turtle Island and the islet just west of T. I.
4. Mallard 9
5. Red-breasted Merganser 1 Lingering bird in East Lagoon. "One is a lonely number."
6. Pied-billed Grebe 1
7. Double-crested Cormorant 211 A huge flock of 200 flew in close groups from SW to NE over the east parking lot. Small numbers seen during the walk.
8. Great Blue Heron 5
9. Green Heron 1 In flight. Landed near Darrow Bridge, East Lagoon side.
10. Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 On southern shore of Wooded Island.
11. Cooper's Hawk 1
12. Spotted Sandpiper 4
13. Ring-billed Gull 7
14. Herring Gull 1
15. Caspian Tern 2
16. Mourning Dove 2 Reported by E. G.
17. Belted Kingfisher 1
18. Downy Woodpecker 3
19. Northern Flicker 2
20. Peregrine Falcon 1 low flight from NE to SW over West Lagoon.
21. Empidonax sp. 1 Reported by E. G.
22. Eastern Phoebe 2
23. Eastern Kingbird 2
24. Philadelphia Vireo 1 Japanese Garden. Seen by two observers ( K. D. & P..D.) at close eye level range.
25. Warbling Vireo 4
26. Blue Jay 15 Large spring migration. Otherwise, a rare sighting in Jackson Park, other than during migration periods. Mostly silent.
27. American Crow 8
28. Northern Rough-winged Swallow 2
29. Purple Martin 18 At Houses. Not all chambers are open. Male & Female.
30. Tree Swallow 1
31. Barn Swallow 7
32. Black-capped Chickadee 1
33. House Wren 1
34. Winter Wren 1
35. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4
36. Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
37. Eastern Bluebird 1 Reported by B. Seen near center of Wooded Island.
38. Veery 1 Spotted by J. S. Quite thrush. Faint breast markings.
39. Swainson's Thrush 3
40. Hermit Thrush 1
41. American Robin 13
42. Gray Catbird 9
43. European Starling 7
44. Northern Waterthrush 3
45. Black-and-white Warbler 3
46. Common Yellowthroat 10
47. American Redstart 2
48. Cerulean Warbler 1 Only one birder observed the blue warbler. (R. S.) He was waiting for the group of birders at the SW corner of Darrow Bridge, the exact spot where this rare warbler was first sighted three days ago, and photographed. The group lingered near the spot but could not relocate the Cerulean Warbler.
49. Bay-breasted Warbler 2 Japanese Garden. North side of pavilion. Seen by many birders. Identified by E. G.
50. Blackburnian Warbler 1 Bright colored male in the canopy near the golf shack. Seen by several birders.
51. Yellow Warbler 8
52. Blackpoll Warbler 1
53. Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
54. Palm Warbler 59
55. Yellow-rumped Warbler 9
56. Black-throated Green Warbler 3
57. Chipping Sparrow 3
58. White-crowned Sparrow 11
59. White-throated Sparrow 6
60. Song Sparrow 5
61. Swamp Sparrow 1
62. Eastern Towhee 2
63. Scarlet Tanager 1 East parking lot trees.
64. Northern Cardinal 3
65. Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
66. Indigo Bunting 1
67. Baltimore Oriole 4
68. Red-winged Blackbird 6
69. Brown-headed Cowbird 8
70. Common Grackle 1
71. American Goldfinch 15
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: 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