Hello everyone,
My apologies that this report is so late. I’ve been on vacation this week and I’ve been distracted by birds, fresh apples and the beautiful fall weather!
Only the hardy regulars came out today. It was cloudy and chilly but we ended up with some nice birds. Highlights were large flocks of Chimney Swifts, Pine Siskins, White-throated and White-crowned sparrows, two Red-tailed hawks, our first Kinglets and Juncos of the season, and a man riding a unicycle, which is also a rare sighting.
The other highlight of the day for me was when Karin, Marian and I went to Washington Park in the afternoon and found a pair of non-breeding plumaged Northern Pintail! That is certainly not a common find for us!
BIRDERS: Cheryl, Marian, Karin, Eric, Bruce, Marisa, Chris, Liz and Jennie
TIME: 8:00am to 11:15am
WEATHER: Cloudy, mid-40s rising to the mid-50s
Compiler: Cheryl
Canada Goose Number observed: 41
Wood Duck Number observed: 2
Mallard Number observed: 4
Chimney Swift Number observed: 250
Details: Conservative number
Ring-billed Gull Number observed: 11
Double-crested Cormorant Number observed: 5
Great Blue Heron Number observed: 1
Great Egret Number observed: 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron Number observed: 2
Red-tailed Hawk Number observed: 2
Belted Kingfisher Number observed: 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Number observed: 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker Number observed: 1
Downy Woodpecker Number observed: 5
Northern Flicker Number observed: 3
American Crow Number observed: 9
Black-capped Chickadee Number observed: 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet Number observed: 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Number observed: 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch Number observed: 1
White-breasted Nuthatch Number observed: 1
European Starling Number observed: 1
Gray Catbird Number observed: 2
Hermit Thrush Number observed: 2
American Robin Number observed: 23
American Goldfinch Number observed: 3
Dark-eyed Junco Number observed: 3
White-crowned Sparrow Number observed: 11
White-throated Sparrow Number observed: 85
Details: Conservative number, they were everywhere the eye could see
Black-and-white Warbler Number observed: 1
Magnolia Warbler Number observed: 1
Palm Warbler Number observed: 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler Number observed: 15
Northern Cardinal Number observed: 2
passerine sp. Number observed: 50
Details: Large flock flying South
Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.
Recordings are not used to attract birds.
The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Newcomers are warmly welcomed.
Saturday morning walks: Start at 8:00 a.m. and cover a distance of two miles. Birders walk from the meeting spot counterclockwise 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. After crossing the Music Bridge birders walk through the parking lot and around the Columbia Basin (North Lagoon) and return to our meeting spot. In late fall, winter and early spring, the birders check for birds on the lakefront at the Outer Harbor near LaRabida Hospital and the Inner Harbor after the Wooded Island walk.
Meeting Spot: Birders meet on the west shore of the Columbia Basin (North Lagoon). Park on Stony Island Avenue near 59th Street, walk east across the parkland area, then cross Cornell Drive to reach the spot.
Good birding everyone,
Jennie
Photo: Northern Pintail by Sujata Roy/Great Backyard Bird Count