Photo: Eastern Bluebird by John Larson

Greetings fellow bird lovers,

The brave and hardy birders who took the chance that they would stay dry this past Saturday and the walk would proceed, were rewarded with a phenomenal show of birds. Mind you, they didn't exactly stay dry as the showers started half way through, but it didn't downpour, so we continued. The goal was to equal last week's species count but Rob upped the ante and said that we had to beat it! We had no problem as the trees were alive with the sound and sight of warblers. A large chunk of time was spent right by the Columbia Basin as there were birds everywhere you looked. One tree was just full of White-crowned Sparrows.

Some of the species from last week have moved on only to have their place taken by new arrivals. The new species this week include Cedar Waxwings, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Northern Waterthrush and the beloved Baltimore Oriole. The Grosbeaks were particularly abundant as we kept spotting them as we moved further along the Island. Steve even joked that if he went to Montrose in the afternoon, he would probably spot the same birds! Unfortunately, none of the photographers were able to get a decent picture. Steve did get a picture of our Spotted Sandpipers which turned out to be Solitary Sandpipers. I guess I was a little too quick making that call as they were flying away. OOPS! The most confusing bird of the day was an immature Grackle in the Japanese Garden. We quickly called it an Inverted Cowbird and were perplexed for a while. Marisa's photo did show a hint of iridescence that was not visible from a distance.

BIRDERS: Kaumudi, Cheryl, Leslie, Marian, Karin, Kristin, Marisa, Rob, Mark, Jeff, Renate, Megan, Nick, Glyn, Bruce, Steve, and Mike J.  Joined later by Liz. 

TIME:   8:00am to 11:45am   

WEATHER: Cloudy at start with a temperature of 53°F, light winds from thr ESE, Light, but steady rain starting halfway through the walk. 

Compiler: Cheryl   

Canada Goose Number observed: 16

Wood Duck Number observed: 2

Northern Shoveler Number observed: 1

Mallard Number observed: 5

Red-breasted Merganser Number observed: 2

Pied-billed Grebe Number observed: 1

Chimney Swift Number observed: 7

Killdeer Number observed: 2

Spotted Sandpiper Number observed: 2

Ring-billed Gull Number observed: 7

Caspian Tern Number observed: 2

Double-crested Cormorant Number observed: 6

Great Blue Heron Number observed: 3

Cooper's Hawk Number observed: 1

Belted Kingfisher Number observed: 1

Downy Woodpecker Number observed: 2

Northern Flicker Number observed: 1

Least Flycatcher Number observed: 1

Empidonax sp. Number observed: 1

Eastern Phoebe Number observed: 1

Eastern Kingbird Number observed: 2

Warbling Vireo Number observed: 1 vireo sp. Number observed: 1

Blue Jay Number observed: 3

American Crow Number observed: 2

Black-capped Chickadee Number observed: 1

Northern Rough-winged Swallow Number observed: 21

Purple Martin Number observed: 8

Tree Swallow Number observed: 14

Barn Swallow Number observed: 18

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Number observed: 7

Golden-crowned Kinglet Number observed: 1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Number observed: 5

House Wren Number observed: 1

European Starling Number observed: 6

Gray Catbird Number observed: 6

Gray-cheeked Thrush Number observed: 1

Hermit Thrush Number observed: 1

Wood Thrush Number observed: 3

American Robin Number observed: 17

Cedar Waxwing Number observed: 3

House Sparrow Number observed: 5

House Finch Number observed: 2

American Goldfinch Number observed: 2

Chipping Sparrow Number observed: 2

White-crowned Sparrow Number observed: 31

White-throated Sparrow Number observed: 12

Song Sparrow Number observed: 2

Swamp Sparrow Number observed: 2

Eastern Towhee Number observed: 2

Orchard Oriole Number observed: 1

Baltimore Oriole Number observed: 2

Red-winged Blackbird Number observed: 11

Brown-headed Cowbird Number observed: 4

Common Grackle Number observed: 5

Northern Waterthrush Number observed: 2

Black-and-white Warbler Number observed: 1

Common Yellowthroat Number observed: 7

Yellow Warbler Number observed: 3

Palm Warbler Number observed: 5

Yellow-rumped Warbler Number observed: 12

Black-throated Green Warbler Number observed: 2

Northern Cardinal Number observed: 4

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Number observed: 8

Thanks so much for your kind words last week. I know that Jennie is back so I turn the reins back to her for the next newsletter. Until the next time....
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.