North Park Village Nature Center—Birding Report 5/28/22
Yesterday was our ninth and sadly the last Saturday spring migration walk. But it couldn’t have been lovelier outside, and we had the largest group of the year (forty or more). As usual the newcomers were warmly welcomed by the regulars and all the Chicago Audubon loanable binoculars were put to good use. Generally, the birds we saw today were summer birds, but were no less wonderful for that.
Even before we entered the park, some folks were watching a loud, chattering House Wren.
Photo by Ted G.; see more at tedglasoe.com
Strangely, we saw very little at our first stop overlooking the pond––Grackles, a distant Red-winged Blackbird, a fly-over Great Blue Heron, but no ducks or herons on the water. A skulking Ovenbird was heard in the underbrush.
Doubling back, a glowing male Northern Cardinal was a welcome sight. Walking a bit north on the bridge trail, we spotted a Ruby-throated Hummingbird on its perch. We’ve seen a hummingbird here in the past few weeks. A few folks watched a Warbling Vireo on a nearby tree as a Blue Jay screamed overhead. Then the whole group marveled at an Indigo Bunting singing gloriously from high atop a distant tree.
Photo by Jorge G.; follow at https://twitter.com/yorickgarcia
Walking once more on the trail east, another House Wren announced its presence from atop its house (we hear you!) A Great-crested Flycatcher then flashed its brown and yellow feathers in the sun. We tried to locate the Gray Catbird chattering in the dense underbrush. As we rounded the bend of the hill trail, we saw another Hummingbird silhouetted on the big, dead tree, a Downy woodpecker soon joining it. More Warbling Vireos were heard in the big cottonwood trees on the hill where a Baltimore Oriole was working on its flossy, hanging nest. Farther along, the birders at the front of the group saw a Green Heron on the pond. Another group on the boardwalk saw an Oriole’s bright orange breast at the pinnacle of a distant tree.
Those who took the path around the marsh got to see one of only three warblers we saw today—an American Redstart. We heard Yellow Warblers at several points throughout the morning as well as a Canada Warbler. At the far end of the boardwalk literally within arm’s length was a female Red-winged Blackbird on its nest, its upturned tail giving it away.
Views from the bridge yielded no great sightings. A flycatcher hawked around the lower levels of the brush while another Baltimore Oriole was working the leaves of a nearby tree, this one an immature male. Goldfinches made an appearance now as a solitary Mourning Dove sat motionless on a dead branch. We really tested the range of our binoculars to spot a female Wood Duck at the far end of the pond.
Once in the woods, we watched a lovely Red-bellied Woodpecker. We heard the improvising notes of a Red-eyed Vireo and then caught glimpses of it hanging acrobatically from leafed-out branches. A Northern Flicker and a Hairy Woodpecker gave us a total of four woodpeckers for the day. Another Indigo Bunting was a welcome sight on the way to the Savannah Trail where we heard the wheezy calls of a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher. We’d also been hearing an Eastern Wood Pewee and were finally treated to several good looks at it. Intriguingly, the haunting call of a Black-billed Cuckoo was heard as we walked back to the Nature Center. In the very last few steps, some birders spotted our familiar Red-tailed Hawk atop the cross on the church steeple way across the pond. As the very last group sighting of the season that must mean something! More poignantly still, we later got word that a deer we’d seen earlier had given birth to a fawn.
Photo by Ted G.; see more at tedglasoe.com
In the Nature Center Chicago Audubon president Judy Pollock had already set up the coffee and baked goods (thanks so much, Judy!). This along with Gary’s fantastic homemade brown-butter cookies was a great way to end our season. We made our count and wished each other well. Only 12 weeks until we can all meet again on September/October Saturday mornings at North Park for the fall migration!
Thanks for a great season everyone and best luck in your summer birding. Perhaps we’ll have an impromptu walk at a nearby park sometime during the summer, so watch for an email! Safe travels and be well.
Bird Species: 43
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mourning Dove
Black-Billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ring-billed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Great-crested Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Least Flycatcher
Warbling Flycatcher
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Yellow Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Canada Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting