Photo: Sanderling by Walker Golder/Audubon
Greetings fellow bird lovers,
Since Jennie and Karin were away wading through cranberry bogs or something like that, you are stuck with me this week and the next 2 weeks. Many of you know me but for those who don't, I am Cheryl and have been with the Wooded Island Bird Walk for 2 years now. Once Jennie discovered that I like keeping lists, compiling the data for the group has become my official task and I am happy to make a contribution to preserve the tradition of the walk. I started as a new birder with the group and have had the privilege of learning from some of the best.
What a glorious bright, sunny and birdy morning we had this week. At the start of the walk, it was a cool 58 °F but quickly warmed up with the sunshine. We were honored this week to have an international visitor. Sanjeeve, is visiting from India and was thrilled to see his first Northern Flicker and Ruby-throated Hummingbird. He is in the United States visiting his new grandchild, and expects to join us again. It was interesting to hear of the different birds that he sees and even more interesting, to hear of the birds we have in common. While Sanjeeve was fascinated by our Canada Geese, Mallards and Osprey are both reported in India. Who knew Mallards were universal?
We continue to have the large numbers of Great Blue Herons but are now starting to see the next wave of migrants with the arrival Kinglets, White-throated Sparrows, Palm Warblers, Yellow-rumped and Juncos. We were also thrilled to see another Osprey this week. Our beloved Snowy Blue hybrid was not spotted this week and has not been spotted now since 09/21. If it has left the love confines of Jackson park, then we wish it well. Enjoy the photos of both an immature and adult Cooper's Hawk and a beautiful Black and White Warbler.
BIRDERS: Kristin, Sanjeeve, Becky, Kaumudi, Maria, Rob, Gary, Marian, Eric, Marisa, Lillian, Jim, Bruce, Hal and Joanne (briefly), Prabhu, Liz, Cheryl
TIME: 8:00am to 11:40 am
WEATHER: 58°F at start, light breezes from the West
Compiler: Cheryl
Photographer: Gary
47 Species observed, 262 individuals
Observations
Canada Goose Number observed: 100
Wood Duck Number observed: 14
Mallard Number observed: 19
Pied-billed Grebe Number observed: 1
Chimney Swift Number observed: 7
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Number observed: 1
Spotted Sandpiper Number observed: 1
Ring-billed Gull Number observed: 3
Double-crested Cormorant Number observed: 9
Great Blue Heron Number observed: 13
Great Egret Number observed: 1
Green Heron Number observed: 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron Number observed: 4
Osprey Number observed: 1
Cooper's Hawk Number observed: 2
Belted Kingfisher Number observed: 2
Downy Woodpecker Number observed: 1
Hairy Woodpecker Number observed: 1
Northern Flicker Number observed: 3
Eastern Phoebe Number observed: 3
American Crow Number observed: 1
Black-capped Chickadee Number observed: 7
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Number observed: 2
Golden-crowned Kinglet Number observed: 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch Number observed: 4
White-breasted Nuthatch Number observed: 1
Brown Creeper Number observed: 2
Gray Catbird Number observed: 3
Eastern Bluebird Number observed: 1
Swainson's Thrush Number observed: 3
American Robin Number observed: 2
House Sparrow Number observed: 2
American Goldfinch Number observed: 1
Dark-eyed Junco Number observed: 2
White-throated Sparrow Number observed: 11
Ovenbird Number observed: 1
Black-and-white Warbler Number observed: 3
Nashville Warbler Number observed: 2
American Redstart Number observed: 1
Magnolia Warbler Number observed: 1
Bay-breasted Warbler Number observed: 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler Number observed: 1
Blackpoll Warbler Number observed: 4
Palm Warbler Number observed: 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler Number observed: 10
Northern Cardinal Number observed: 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Number observed: 2
Have a great week everyone. Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.
Best of Birding,
Cheryl
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.