Hello to All,

Our winter sparrow, the Dark-eyed Juncos returned to Jackson Park. A few summer residents remain.  The Great Egret has been around for a few weeks longer than usual. Randy recorded several Winter Wrens who flash by so quick that they remind me of a mouse with trimmed wings. Every week brings its departures and arrivals, both birds and birders. A slow stroll with fellow birders is good for body and soul.

BIRDERS:      11.       (1) Steve B. recently returning from a trip to Alaska, (2) Randy S. who needed to get home by 11 a.m. to watch the Ohio vs Wisconsin football game.  Randy is a born and bred Buckeye. Randy’s attendance always bumps up our species count. (3) Cheryl M., (4) Lisa F., (5) Joyce G., (6) Kristen S., (7) George G., (8) Cathy F., (9) Mary Nell M. - former Hyde Parker returning for a weekend, (10) Erin C. who escaped Hyde Park for Andersonville neighborhood discovering its many restaurants one at a time, and (11) Pat D.

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.         

PLACES:        Wooded Island, Lagoons, Soccer Field (soccer games going on) & Bobolink Meadow.

DISTANCE:    2 miles

WEATHER:    Cloudy. Temperature 47 to 52 F. Wind East 9 to 32 mph

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:  35

1.     Canada Goose  520     A large flock outnumbered the golf balls left on the driving range.

2.     Wood Duck  3

3.     Mallard  1     Male. East Lagoon.

4.     Hooded Merganser  1     Male. Spotted by Randy S. in the East Lagoon at 8 a.m. Flew away.

5.     Pied-billed Grebe  1     Possibly two per Randy S.

6.     American Coot  1     Alone in the SE corner of the East Lagoon, across from the golf shack.

7.     Ring-billed Gull  11

8.     Double-crested Cormorant  25     Fly overs and perched on branches over water.

9.     Great Blue Heron  3

10.  Great Egret  1

11.  Belted Kingfisher  1     Reported by Randy S.

12.  Downy Woodpecker  2

13.  Northern Flicker  1     Reported by Randy S.

14.  American Kestrel  1     Flew across Bobolink Meadow and claimed a high perched on Heron Island.

15.  American Crow  10

16.  Black-capped Chickadee  2

17.  Golden-crowned Kinglet  5

18.  Ruby-crowned Kinglet  7

19.  White-breasted Nuthatch  1     Heard and seen in the oak grove, east of the North Lagoon, where successful nesting occurred this summer.

20.  Brown Creeper  1     West central side of Wooded Island.

21.  Winter Wren  6     Reported by Randy S.

22.  European Starling  40     Reported by Randy S.

23.  Hermit Thrush  4

24.  American Robin  23     Paler backs than our locals.  Robins in migration.

25.  American Goldfinch  4

26.  Field Sparrow  1     Reported by Randy S.

27.  Fox Sparrow  2

28.  Dark-eyed Junco  11     NE area from Darrow Bridge.

29.  White-crowned Sparrow  3

30.  White-throated Sparrow  15

31.  Song Sparrow  5

32.  Eastern Towhee  1     On west central side of Wooded Island.

33.  Orange-crowned Warbler  1

34.  Yellow-rumped Warbler  5

35.  Northern Cardinal  8

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

Wooded Island Bird Walks