Photo: Eastern Bluebird by John Larson

Hello everyone and Happy Spring Migration,

The day couldn't have been more perfect. Warm weather, the sun was shining, lots of birders and more importantly, lots of bird species. The southern winds sure helped bring our feathered friends back to Jackson Park. We ended the walk with 60 species! Again, we had many "first of year" sightings including the Purple Martins, Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, Orchard Orioles, Palm Warblers and Northern Waterthrush. Spring was definitely in the air as we observed lots of courting going on and even saw a Robin sitting on a nest already. The new birders that participated on Saturday were a bit overwhelmed at first by all of the excitement and enthusiasm of the group veterans but quickly joined in the birding frenzy. The Cherry Blossoms were blooming so by the time we finished, the park was quite crowded by the Columbia basin and the Japanese Garden. Those of us who were the stragglers at the end of the walk made sure to get our own picture in front of the trees!🌸

Leslie was practicing with her new camera so please enjoy her pictures. We were fortunate that she was able to get a photo of the female/ immature male Orchard Oriole. Both of them were observed by many of the group. The male was so handsome with such rich chestnut-colored underparts. The second one is either a female or immature male. Some members observed a black bib which would make it an immature male but that is not obvious in the photo. The bib was just in the throat area and did not extend to the chest as shown in some guides. Rob felt that there was another yellow bird in the area, and while Leslie has a photo of another yellow bird, all you can see is the back. Expert opinions welcome!

BIRDERS: Kaumudi, Cheryl, Leslie, Marian, Julia, Pam, Rick, Karin, Tracy, Marisa, Rob, Ricardo, Gary, Kashawna, Mark, Jeff, Lillian, Jim, Laura, Katie, Meryl, Barbara, Cathy, Christina and Renate. Joined later by Liz, also helped at times by Randy

TIME:   8:00am to 11:45am   

WEATHER: Sunny, 62 at start, light southerly winds, some gusting near the end

Compiler: Cheryl   

Photographer: Leslie  

Canada Goose Number observed: 9

Wood Duck Number observed: 7

Blue-winged Teal Number observed: 2

Northern Shoveler Number observed: 5

Mallard Number observed: 8

Red-breasted Merganser Number observed: 8

Pied-billed Grebe Number observed: 3

Mourning Dove Number observed: 3

Killdeer Number observed: 1

Ring-billed Gull Number observed: 5

Caspian Tern Number observed: 4

Double-crested Cormorant Number observed: 45

Great Blue Heron Number observed: 2

Green Heron Number observed: 1

Black-crowned Night-Heron Number observed: 4

Turkey Vulture Number observed: 2

Cooper's Hawk Number observed: 1

Red-tailed Hawk Number observed: 1

Belted Kingfisher Number observed: 1

Downy Woodpecker Number observed: 4

Northern Flicker Number observed: 3

American Kestrel Number observed: 1

Eastern Phoebe Number observed: 1

American Crow Number observed: 2

Black-capped Chickadee Number observed: 2

Northern Rough-winged Swallow Number observed: 2

Purple Martin Number observed: 18

Tree Swallow Number observed: 2

Barn Swallow Number observed: 6

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Number observed: 7

Brown Creeper Number observed: 5

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Number observed: 5

House Wren Number observed: 2

European Starling Number observed: 3

Gray Catbird Number observed: 5

Brown Thrasher Number observed: 4

Eastern Bluebird Number observed: 2

Swainson's Thrush Number observed: 2

Hermit Thrush Number observed: 4

American Robin Number observed: 41

House Sparrow Number observed: 1

House Finch Number observed: 2

American Goldfinch Number observed: 5

Chipping Sparrow Number observed: 3

Field Sparrow Number observed: 1

Fox Sparrow Number observed: 1

White-crowned Sparrow Number observed: 2

White-throated Sparrow Number observed: 4

Song Sparrow Number observed: 2

Eastern Towhee Number observed: 3

Orchard Oriole Number observed: 2

Red-winged Blackbird Number observed: 47

Brown-headed Cowbird Number observed: 6

Common Grackle Number observed: 6

Northern Waterthrush Number observed: 2

Common Yellowthroat Number observed: 3

Yellow Warbler Number observed: 3

Palm Warbler Number observed: 3

Yellow-rumped Warbler Number observed: 1

Northern Cardinal Number observed: 2

I have enjoyed filling in for Jennie while she is gone and can't wait to see what birds blow in next Saturday.

Best of Birding to all,

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.