Photo: Eastern Bluebird by John Larson
Hello everyone,
It’s that time of year when we’re in between late fall and full-on winter, where the summer birds have migrated south and the winter birds, especially the wintering ducks, have not yet arrived. It was definitely a slow morning, bird-wise, with the exception of the flocks and flocks of Canada Geese.
The highlight of the morning was a pair of Hooded Mergansers sleeping in the middle of the East lagoon. They were close enough to the shore that we had great views with our binoculars. Such beautiful birds! The only other special sighting was a Mourning Dove. Although it’s not an unusual bird, it’s pretty unusual for us to see one on our walk.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
BIRDERS: Eric, Kristin, Cheryl, Jennie, Karin, Mike, Rob, Lillian, Jim, Jane, Becky
TIME: 8:00am to 10:00am
WEATHER: cloudy, high 30s, light wind
Compiler: Cheryl
Canada Goose Number observed: 431
Wood Duck Number observed: 9
Mallard Number observed: 10
Hooded Merganser Number observed: 2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Number observed: 1
Mourning Dove Number observed: 1
Ring-billed Gull Number observed: 3
Great Blue Heron Number observed: 4
Belted Kingfisher Number observed: 1
Downy Woodpecker Number observed: 5
American Crow Number observed: 3
Black-capped Chickadee Number observed: 5
American Robin Number observed: 6
House Sparrow Number observed: 15
Dark-eyed Junco Number observed: 6
Northern Cardinal Number observed: 1
If you’d like more information about a bird, check out the All About Birds ID guide:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/
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