Photo: Eastern Bluebird by John Larson

Hello everyone,

We always say that bad weather equals good birding, and that was the case today.  A lone male Northern Shoveler was paddling around, along with a large number of Red-breasted Mergansers.  Four Common Mergansers were included in the raft of ducks and they are always fun to watch.

The driving range was covered with gulls – there must have been something really good to eat out there.  And, a Hermit Thrush greeted us in the meadow – a lovely surprise.

BIRDERS: Eric, Mike, Cheryl, Marian, Leslie, Jennie, Marisa, Rob

TIME:   8:00am to 10:00am   

WEATHER: High 30s, cloudy, drizzle to rain

Compiler:  Cheryl       

Canada Goose   Number observed: 19

Wood Duck   Number observed: 16

Northern Shoveler   Number observed: 1

Mallard   Number observed: 8

Common Goldeneye   Number observed: 1

Common Merganser   Number observed: 4

Red-breasted Merganser   Number observed: 48

Mourning Dove   Number observed: 1

Ring-billed Gull   Number observed: 266

Herring Gull   Number observed: 1

Red-tailed Hawk   Number observed: 1

Downy Woodpecker   Number observed: 2

Hairy Woodpecker   Number observed: 1

American Crow   Number observed: 4

European Starling   Number observed: 10

Hermit Thrush   Number observed: 1

American Robin   Number observed: 27

American Tree Sparrow   Number observed: 1

Dark-eyed Junco   Number observed: 10

Song Sparrow   Number observed: 2

Red-winged Blackbird   Number observed: 28

Common Grackle   Number observed: 5

Northern Cardinal   Number observed: 6

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