Submitted by Jennie Strable on Tue, 12/15/2015 - 8:21pm

Event date:

Saturday, December 12, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

It was a chilly, foggy morning, but we managed to find some pretty good birds all things considered!  Of course, we found them at the end of our walk, right near the parking lot.

BIRDERS: 4; Eric, Edith, Karin C, Jennie        

TIME:   8:00am to 9:30am     

PLACES:  Bobolink Meadow and the Outer Harbor

WEATHER: 40s, foggy, drizzly           

Below is Eric’s e-bird report for Bobolink Meadow:

Jackson Park, Chicago--Wooded Island/Bobolink Meadow area
Dec 12, 2015
8:00 AM
Traveling
1.00 miles
75 Minutes
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Foggy
Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 1.1.3 Build 30

X Canada Goose -- 150?
1 Mallard
1 Common Goldeneye
2 Red-breasted Merganser
16 Ring-billed Gull
5 Downy Woodpecker -- Heard
6 American Crow -- Heard 
8 Black-capped Chickadee -- Heard and seen
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Brown Creeper
1 European Starling -- Heard
1 American Tree Sparrow
2 Northern Cardinal
2 American Goldfinch

Number of Taxa: 14

Here’s what we saw at the Outer Harbor:

Red-breasted Merganser (about 20)

Bufflehead (1 male and 1 female)

Goldeneye

Mallards

Gulls – many Ring-billed with a couple Herring mixed in

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by a least several or all the birders.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round.Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Note on Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, and the work is not expected to begin until 2017 at the earliest. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot, where metered parking is available. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the eastside of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

Directions:  Exit Lake Shore Drive at Science Drive, which is the stoplight just south of the major 57th Drive intersection by the Museum of Science and Industry.  Turn Left (south) at the at the stop sign at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the southwest end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The East Parking Lot is preferred. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 59th to 56thStreet.

Good birding everyone,Jennie Strable

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Sun, 11/29/2015 - 6:05pm

Event date:

Saturday, November 28, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Hello everyone,

It was a chilly and dreary morning with only four intrepid birders making the trek through the meadow.  I’d like to say that our efforts were made worthwhile by a wonderful, rare sighting, but I’m afraid I can’t say that…it was our usual residents for the most part.  But, we love our resident birds and are always happy to see them!

We also attended Lauren Umek’s tour of the Wooded Island at 10:00am.  The paths and overlooks are complete, the plantings around the edges of the island are finished, and a burn was conducted last week.  The latest estimate of the opening of the Island to the public is next June, after Yoko Ono’s sculpture is expected to be installed.

After that, Pat, Karin C, Karin D, Tracy and I went to Jasper-Pulaski State Wildlife Refuge for our annual visit with the Sandhill Cranes.  Pat led us on a drive on the back roads around the power plant, and we came across a field with hundreds of cranes.  They were eating, flying in and out, and dancing beautifully.  We then went to the overlook in the park and watched thousands of them fly in to socialize for the evening.  What a spectacular sight!  This was Tracy’s first visit to J-P and she was thrilled with the experience.

Here’s the stats for the day:

Weather:  Cloudy, breezy, high 30s.

Birders:  4 on the regular walk:  Bruce, Karin D, Karin C and Jennie

Birds:

• Canada Goose

• American Tree Sparrow

• Female Hooded Merganser

• Mallards

• Red-bellied Woodpecker

• Downy Woodpecker

• Chickadee

• Crow

• Goldfinch

• A few gull flyovers

Jasper-Pulaski:  about 8000 Sandhill Cranes. Unfortunately, no Whoopers were spotted.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round.Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Note on Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the eastside of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The East Parking Lot is preferred. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 59th to 56thStreet.

Best of Birding to all,

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Sun, 11/08/2015 - 10:34am

Event date:

Saturday, October 31, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Well, at least it wasn't snowing.  The weather was cold, drizzly and raw.  Most of the birds had more sense than we did and stayed tucked away where it was warm and dry.  Here's a brief report from a brief walk.

Birders:  4  Eric, Caroline, Leo and Jennie

Time:  8:00am to 9:30am

Weather:  40's, rainy to drizzly, cold, windy

The list below is Eric's e-bird report:

Jackson Park, Chicago--Wooded Island/Bobolink Meadow area
Oct 31, 2015
8:00 AM
Traveling
1.00 miles
90 Minutes
All birds reported? Yes
Comments: Raining.    Possibly heard a distant Blue Jay. 
Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 1.1.3 Build 30

X Canada Goose -- 200-ish? on driving range. None with numbered collars. 
4 Mallard
1 Double-crested Cormorant
2 Great Blue Heron
X Ring-billed Gull
1 Downy Woodpecker -- Heard
X American Crow
X Black-capped Chickadee
1 kinglet sp. -- Heard
1 American Tree Sparrow
5 White-crowned Sparrow
2 White-throated Sparrow
1 Northern Cardinal -- Heard
1 Pine Siskin
X American Goldfinch -- Large flock.  Perhaps 20. 
Number of Taxa: 15

Good birding everyone,

Jennie, filling in for Pat

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Sun, 10/18/2015 - 8:16pm

Event date:

Saturday, October 17, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

The morning started off slow.  We were near the big willow tree at the north end of the Meadow, when Roger F. reported the close knit group of ducks in the East Lagoon.  There they were: the Ruddy Ducks, a harbinger of winter.  It was already worth the effort to get up early to bird on this chilly morning.

Jennie S. spotted three Killdeer on the driving range among the many Canada Geese. About twenty minutes later the entire flock of geese took flight, in noisy unison, over the Meadow. I recall seeing this panic flight once before when a Bald Eagle visited Wooded Island.  Ten minutes later the likely cause of the geese in flight was found perched on a snag on Wooded Island: the Mighty and Feisty Merlin, with the “You Lookin’ at Me?” combative attitude.  The Merlin got into it with a crow. Later it sailed low across the Meadow towards the driving range. My guess is that the Merlin buzzed the birds on the driving range in attempting to snatch a Killdeer. The geese took flight. The Merlin headed back to the driving range hunting for those Killdeer once again.

A Great Blue Heron descended from a tree and landed on a path in the grove of trees north of the Music Bridge. It looked a bit bewildered, made a “drop”. After a minute this pterodactyl lifted off towards the Marina. We waited on the Bridge until this strange landing and takeoff was completed.

Randy S. reported that he saw three sets of deer eyes staring back at him from behind the fence surrounding Wooded Island.

BIRDERS:      14.       (1) Bruce M., (2) Marian N., (3) Katie F. a birder from Oak Park, (4) Leo H., (5) Caroline H., (6) Jennie S., (7) Heather H., (8) Tobias G., (9) Eric G., (10) Roger F., (11) Karin C., (12) Karin D., (13) Pat D. and (14) Encounter with Randy S.

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.         

PLACES:        Bobolink Meadow with views of East Lagoon & east side of Wooded Island.

WEATHER:    Sunny. Cool and breezy. Temperature 42 – 54 F., Wind NNW 10 – 15 mph

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:   27

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by at least several or all of the birders.

1. Canada Goose – 70.

2. Wood Duck – 1. Identification challenge. Was with two male Mallards.  Looked like a hybrid. Much discussion and reference checking ensued.  I think the final decision was that it was a juvenile and/or female Wood Duck in the company of Mallards.

3. Mallard – 2. Males.

4. Ruddy Duck – 7. East Lagoon. In a close group. Males and Females. In winter plumage. Males have cherubic white cheeks. Noticed by Roger F.

5. Pied-billed Grebe – 2.

6. Great Blue Heron – 2.

7. Merlin – 1.

8. Killdeer – 3. On golf driving range amidst a large flock of Canada Geese.

9. Ring-billed Gull – X. A few fly overs.

10. Red-bellied Woodpecker – 1. Reported by Randy S. in the north wooded area.

11. Downy/Hairy Woodpecker – Reported by Eric and Tobias. Randy S. reported both species.

12. American Crow – 3.

13. Back-capped Chickadee – X.

14. Brown Creeper – 1.

15. Wren species – 1.

16. Ruby-crowned Kinglet – X.

17. Hermit Thrush – X.

18. American Robin – 3.

19. Orange-crowned Warbler – 1. South end of Meadow.

20. Yellow-rumped Warbler – X.

21. Field Sparrow – 2. NE corner of Music Bridge.

22. Fox Sparrow – 1. Perched at eye level and ten feet away. Seen by most of the birders.

23. Lincoln’s Sparrow – 1.

24. White-crowned Sparrow – 2.

25. Dark-eyed Junco – X.

26. 26.  Rusty or Brewer’s Blackbird  - 2. It was a special blackbird for sure. Randy S. was with us and was leaning towards probable Brewer’s Blackbird. Larger than a Brown-headed Cowbird with a yellow eye. 

27. 27.  American Goldfinch – X.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round.Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the eastside of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The East Parking Lot is preferred. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 56th to 59th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Sun, 10/18/2015 - 3:20pm

Event date:

Saturday, October 10, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

The noise from heavy equipment was a constant companion for most of the Walk. The work crew was laying the substrate layer for the concrete path around Wooded Island.

A highlight was the escape flight of a Red-tailed Hawk, being pursued by a single American Crow.  This crow struck the raptor several times on the back in flight.  Once the hawk was out of air space, a flock of twenty Cedar Waxwings burst into flight heading south. The hawk was heading north. Birds display such amazing behaviors.

The Red-breasted Nuthatch was a nice find by Eric, as was his ability to locate the vocal Eastern Towhees.

BIRDERS:      13.       Jennie S., Mark N., Sandra N., Tina A. new birder from Beverly neighborhood who read our reports on the Chicago Audubon Society website, Leo H., Caroline H., Roger F., Karin C., Karin D., Berthold H., Eric G., Tracy W., and Pat D.

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.         

PLACES:        Bobolink Meadow with view of the East Lagoon and east side of Wooded Island

WEATHER:    Sunny. Temperature 52 – 67 F., Wind SW 10 – 15 mph

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:  33

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by at least several or all of the birders.

1. Canada Goose – X. A group of six was wearing new neck tags. We seldom see any of the geese who were tagged last year which numbered around 150 birds.  We have not seen “Mother Goose” (white head and neck patches) and her mate since spring. It appears that eradication of a bird deemed a nuance by “those in charge” is effective.  I get a kick out of seeing a flock standing behind a golfer getting ready to swing.  It would be fine with me to transform the underutilized eighteen hole golf course into a full nature preserve. That would take some of the sting out of the destruction of Wooded Island by turning the landscape back to 1893.

2. Wood Duck – 5.

3. Mallard – 1.

4. Pied-billed Grebe – 1.

5. Double-crested Cormorant – 6.

6. Great Blue Heron – 2.

7. Black-crowned Night Heron – 1. Adult.

8. Red-tailed Hawk – 1.

9. Ring-billed Gull – X.

10. Mourning Dove – 2.

11. Chimney Swift – 60.

12. Belted Kingfisher – 1. Female.

13. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 3.

14. Northern Flicker – 2. One was a male.

15. American Crow – 3.

16. Black-capped Chickadee – 2.

17. Red-breasted Nuthatch – 1. Great find by Eric G.  He heard the call and was able to locate the nuthatch at the north end of Bobolink Meadow.

18. Brown Creeper – 1.

19. Golden-crowned Kinglet – X.

20. American Robin – X.

21. Cedar Waxwing – 20 in one flock.

22. Yellow-rumped Warbler – X.

23. Palm Warbler – 3.

24. Eastern Towhee – 2. Together. North end of Bobolink Meadow.

25. Chipping Sparrow – 2.

26. Field Sparrow – 1.

27. Song Sparrow – X.

28. White-throated Sparrow – X.

29. White-crowned Sparrow – X.

30. Dark-eyed Junco – 4.

31. Northern Cardinal – 1.

32. American Goldfinch – 6.

33. House Sparrow – 1.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round.Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the eastside of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The East Parking Lot is preferred. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 56th to 59th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Mon, 10/05/2015 - 11:07am

Event date:

Saturday, October 3, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Hello everyone,

It was a brisk and chilly day, but as Pat often says, bad weather makes for good birding, and overall we had a good day.  The highlights were the Snow Goose, first discovered by Randy a few days ago and still hanging with the Canadas, and a male Eastern Bluebird.

BIRDERS: 8; Tracy, Marian, Kayla, Eric, Tobias, Bruce, Karin C. and Jennie.  Special visits by Randy, Doug, and our favorite golden retriever, Copper. 

TIME: 8:00am to 10:30am               

WEATHER:    Cloudy, chilly and windy, in the low 50s.

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:  34

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron (juvenile)

Canada Goose

Snow Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard

Cooper’s Hawk

Distant flyover of some kind of bird of prey.  To both Eric and I, it had the “jizz” of a bald eagle, but we couldn’t get a good enough view to tell for sure.

Ring-billed Gull

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker.  A lot.  A big flock of Flickers must have been moving through.

Eastern Phoebe

Blue-headed Vireo

American Crow

Chimney Swift

Black-capped Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Wren, possibly Winter

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Eastern Bluebird (male, near driving range)

Gray Catbird

Hermit Thrush

European Starling

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Several flocks of small birds flying over.  Randy tells us they were Pine Siskins.

Northern Cardinal

Eastern Towhee

Lincoln’s Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco (first of season)

American Goldfinch

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by a least several or all the birders.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round.Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Note on Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the eastside of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The East Parking Lot is preferred. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 59th to 56thStreet.

Good birding all,                             

Jennie Strable, filling in for Pat

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Wed, 09/30/2015 - 8:22pm

Event date:

Saturday, September 26, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

Today demonstrated the difference between a hiker and a birder. Both find themselves outside. The hiker is more interested in distance; birders not so much.  We only made it to the middle of Bobolink Meadow after two hours of being outdoors. Birders stay where birds hang out.

We had a really great encounter with two young Peregrine Falcons. They were perched on a Wooded Island tree. One was larger than the other. Females are larger than males in this species. Both wore brownish feathers rather than the adult gray/black and white. They seemed a bit mystified to find themselves on their own.  The female grabbed a snack midair. They then did a wonderful thing: they flew over us and grasped talons when over the driving range. If that was not enough, they flew over us again and did their aerial handshake over the East Lagoon. It was a WOW! moment for us.

Afterward, Karin C., Karin D., Jennie and I had brunch at Sunrise Restaurant in Whiting, IN. We then drove to Gibson Woods in Hammond, IN, so we could bird while sitting in recliners.  The steward told us a rare native wildflower, a Fringed (Blue) Gentian was in bloom. It is a biennial that is 1 – 3 feet tall. The flowers are diurnal, opening up on sunny days. I have read that the flower has “an unearthly beauty that is positively stunning. It is ranked among the most attractive of all wildflowers, and has inspired the words of Emily Dickenson and Henry Thoreau.” Jennie Strable took a photo.

BIRDERS:      14.       (1) Bruce M. who did most of the scope carrying, (2) Patti T., (3) Leo H., (4) Caroline H., (5) Mary N. M., (6) Eric S., (7) Tracy W. took photos for report, (8) Maury B. took photos for report, (9) Maija B., (10) Jennie S. – photographed Fringed Gentian at Gibson Woods, (11) Karin C., (12) Karin D., (13) Randy S. – brief enlightening encounters, (14) Pat D.

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.         

PLACES:        North half of Bobolink Meadow with views of East Lagoon and Wooded Island.

WEATHER:    Sunny. Temperature 65 – 75 F., Mild ESE breeze 5 – 10 mph.

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:   50. Includes Randy Shonkwiler’s list.

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

1. Canada Goose – 125. Counted by Randy Shonkwiler in West Lagoon, through fence.

2. Wood Duck – 2.

3. Mallard – X.

4. Hooded Merganser – 1. Female. Alone. Jilted by her summer romance partner, a Mallard.

5. Pied-billed Grebe – 2.

6. Double-crested Cormorant – 4.

7. Great Blue Heron – 1. Youngster. Miserable looking. Near Music Bridge (photo)

8. Black-crowned Night Heron – 3. Two adults and 1 juvenile.

9. Cooper’s Hawk – 1. Disappeared when the Peregrines landed.

10. Peregrine Falcon – 2. Immatures. (Photos)

11. Spotted Sandpiper – 1.

12. Ring-billed Gull – X. Fly overs.

13. Monk Parakeet – 2. Reported by Randy S.

14. Chimney Swift – 20. Counted by Randy S.

15. Belted Kingfisher – 1. Male. (Photo)

16. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1. Reported by Randy S.

17. Downy Woodpecker – 2.

18. Northern Flicker – 3.

19. Least Flycatcher – 1. Reported by Randy S.

20. 20.  Blue-headed Vireo– 1. Reported by Randy S. Woods. North end of Meadow.

21. American Crow – 5. Finally did park above the Peregrine Falcons, but not a peep out of them.

22. Black-capped Chickadee – X.

23. White-breasted Nuthatch – 4 to 5. Reported by Randy S.

24. Golden-crowned Kinglet – 1. Reported by Randy S. First of Season for Randy.

25. Eastern Bluebird – 1. Reported by Randy S. Still with us. Successful breeding this summer.

26. Swainson’s Thrush – 1. Reported by Randy S.

27. American Robin – X.

28. Gray Catbird – 1. Seen and heard.

29. Brown Thrasher – 2. Together. North end of Meadow. Usual locations: one near the ground and the other up twenty feet in a tree.

30. European Starling – X.

31. Cedar Waxwing – 2. Reported by Randy S.

32. Nashville Warbler – 3. Reported by Randy S.

33. Northern Parula – 1. Immature. Female. Reported by Randy S.

34. Magnolia Warbler – 2. Reported by Randy S.

35. Cape May Warbler – 2. Reported by Randy S.

36. Yellow-rumped Warbler – X. Randy counted 41.

37. Black-throated Green Warbler – 1.

38. Palm Warbler – 12.

39. Blackpoll Warbler – 17. Count from Randy S.

40. Black-and-white Warbler – 1.

41. Ovenbird – 1. Reported by Randy S.

42. Northern Waterthrush – 2. Reported by Randy S.

43. Common Yellowthroat – 2. Reported by Randy S.

44. Song Sparrow – 2. (Photo)

45. Lincoln’s Sparrow – 1. Reported by Randy S.

46. White-throated Sparrow – 21. Reported by Randy S.

47. White-crowned Sparrow – 1. Reported by Randy S.

48. Northern Cardinal – 1.

49. Rose-breasted Grosbeak – 1. Reported by Randy S.

50. American Goldfinch – 3. (Photo)

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by at least several or all of the birders.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round.Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the eastside of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The East Parking Lot is preferred. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 56th to 59th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Chicago Audubon Society Representative

Wooded Island Bird Walks

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Tue, 09/22/2015 - 8:44pm

Event date:

Saturday, September 19, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

First a tree identification correction from Wednesday’s An Evening on Wooded Island report: I thought that the favorite snag along the footpath, southwest of the Rose Garden was the tall snag favored by raptors and woodpeckers. It was informally known as the Hal Cohen’s Snag. Hal went to bat with the Park District to save this twenty foot tall snag.  Sad to report, the Hal Cohen Snag was cut down. The short snag that I photographed (photo attached) was the twelve foot snag along the footpath that was occasionally used as a daybed by raccoons.

It was a good morning for birding. The migrants came out of their hiding places as the sun warmed the earth and the gnats came out.

BIRDERS:      9.         Jennie S., Leo H., Caroline H., Bruce M., Eric G., Tobias G., Karin C., Karin D., and Pat D.

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.         

PLACES:        Bobolink Meadow with views of North and East Lagoons and eastside of Wooded Island.

WEATHER:    Sunny skies after a day and night of rain. Soggy ground and flooded areas in Bobolink Meadow where buried remains of the Nike Missile Base have shallow soil cover. High water levels in the lagoon. Water was lapping over the Music Bridge embankment towards the Lake. Temperature 56 – 64 F. Winds NNW 10 – 12mph.

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:   39

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by at least several or all of the birders.

1. Canada Goose – Flying squadrons.

2. Mallard – X.

3. Hooded Merganser – 1. Female. Summer resident. Alone. Showing white wing feathers.

4. Pied-billed Grebe- 1. Found by Randy S. near the shore at the golf shack.  Dived and came up with a good-sized crayfish. Early lunch.

5. Double-crested Cormorant – 4.

6. Great Blue Heron – 4.

7. Black-crowned Night Heron – 2. Juveniles. Found by Eric &Tobias near Darrow Bridge.

8. Accipter Hawk species – 1. Small. Reported by Eric & Tobias. Chased by crows.

9. Spotted Sandpiper – 1. Bet it is the same feisty one that had a confrontation with a Lesser Yellowlegs a couple of weeks ago. Was occupying same log.

10. Ring-billed Gull – X. Fly overs.

11. Chimney Swift – X.

12. Downy Woodpecker – 1. Female.

13. Northern Flicker – 2.

14. Great Crested Flycatcher – 1. Reported by Eric & Tobias, near Darrow Bridge.

15. Blue-headed Vireo – 1. Spotted by Tobias, and then seen by other birders. Parking lot.

16. Blue Jay – 1. Flyover and calling, “Make way! Here I come!” Or something close to it.

17. American Crow – 2. On hawk patrol.

18. Black-capped Chickadee – X. Heard and seen. Parking lot and North Meadow.

19. Grey-cheeked Thrush – 1. Near shore west of parking lot.

20. Swainson’s Thrush – 5.

21. American Robin – 16. Parking lot puddles near grassy areas. Good worm hunting.

22. Gray Catbird – 2.

23. Nashville Warbler – 1.

24. Chestnut-sided Warber – 1.

25. Magnolia Warbler – 1.

26. Cape May Warbler – 1.

27. Yellow-rumped Warbler – X.

28. Black-throated Green Warbler – 2.

29. Palm Warbler – X.

30. Blackpoll Warbler – X.

31. Black-and-white Warbler – 2.

32. American Redstart – 3.

33. Louisiana Warbler – 1. Found by Eric & Tobias near Darrow Bridge.

34. Wilson’s Warbler – 2.

35. Lincoln’s Sparrow – 1.

36. White-throated Sparrow – 1. Found by Eric & Tobias near Darrow Bridge.

37. Dark-eyed Junco – 1. Found by Eric & Tobias near Darrow Bridge.

38. Northern Cardinal – X. Heard.

39. House Sparrow – X.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round.Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the eastside of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The East Parking Lot is preferred. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 56th to 59th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Fri, 09/18/2015 - 7:35pm

Event date:

Saturday, September 12, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

It was another rainy morning as we left our homes to bird in Jackson Park. Chuck and I waited in our cars for the rain to stop. Jennie walked over and joined us.

It was worth the try to bird, since a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron was reported on Thursday, September 10th, by a birder on IBET (Yahoo Group – Illinois Birders Exchanging Thoughts). I saw the post and called Karin Cassel who was enthusiastic to join the chase.  We quickly found the young rare heron and took photos. But, alas, I know of no other subsequent sightings.  We searched today but only saw juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons. A humble photo of the juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron is attached.

BIRDERS:      3.         Jennie Strable, Chuck Berman and Pat Durkin

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

PLACES:        Bobolink Meadow with views of North and East Lagoons and eastside of Wooded Island.

WEATHER:    Raining at 8:00 a.m.; ended by 8:20 a.m. and remained rain free until 10:30 a.m. Temperature 54 – 61 F. Overcast. Wind from the North 10 – 12 mph.

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:   19

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

1. Canada Goose – X.

2. Mallard – 43. Thirty-one were counted in the North Lagoon by Jennie S.

3. Hooded Merganser – 1. Female. East Lagoon.

4. Double-crested Cormorant – 21. Thirteen were in a flock that flew over the Meadow.

5. Great Blue Heron – 2.

6. Black-crowned Night Heron – 5. Two adults and three juveniles.

7. Ring-billed Gull – X. Fly overs.

8. Mourning Dove – 1. East Parking Lot lamppost.

9. Chimney Swift – X. Moderate numbers.

10. Northern Flicker – 1.

11. American Crow – 2.

12. Black-capped Chickadee – X. Heard.

13. Swainson’s Thrush – 2.

14. Gray Catbird – 1.

15. Yellow-rumped Warbler – 1.

16. Black-throated Green Warbler – 1.

17. Palm Warbler – 4.

18. Song Sparrow – 1.

19. American Goldfinch – X.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round.Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the eastside of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The East Parking Lot is preferred. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 56th to 59th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 11:50am

Event date:

Saturday, September 5, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

For those who enjoy Gene Kelly’s “Singing in the Rain” movie clip, this morning’s Walk offered the opportunity to be the star, with additional thunder in the song track.  We thought that the little cells of quick rain in the South Loop and parts North would be all that was coming down. Not so. Jackson Park and Hyde Park got a heavy downpour for a full hour. We were soaked! Rained out! Come next Saturday morning, we shall return.

BIRDERS:      18 +.    Tao J., Eddie N., Jennie S., Karin C., Jenny B., Bruce M., Cayla M. and Eric H. – new to Bird Walk, Hal C. – Long Time – No See, Rick R., Tracy W., Maury B. and Maija B. – new to Bird Walk, Eric G., Marian N., Mark W. and young Emma W., Pat D.  Honorable mention for Karin D. who made it to the east parking lot, under an oak tree, but whose forward progress was arrested by the thunderstorm.

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. – Called early due to thunderstorm. 

PLACES:        North end of Bobolink Meadow under the protection of an old willow tree along the path near the shore of the East Lagoon.

WEATHER:    Partly Cloudy at the start. Temperature 72 F. Sudden heavy thunderstorm began at 8:30 a.m.

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT: 9

1. Canada Goose – 16. Flew low in formation over the birders.

2. Double-crested Cormorant – 2.

3. Great Blue Heron – 2.

4. Wood Duck – 1. Female. North Lagoon.

5. Mallard – 32. 30 in the North Lagoon.

6. White-breasted Nuthatch – 1. Heard by Hal Cohen. West side of east parking lot.

7. Spotted Sandpiper – 1. The Mayor of the East Lagoon. On a log with Cormorant.

8. Black-capped Chickadee – Heard.

9. American Goldfinch – Heard.

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by at least several or all of the birders.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round.Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the eastside of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The East Parking Lot is preferred. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 56th to 59th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Mon, 08/31/2015 - 8:05pm

Event date:

Saturday, August 29, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

Despite the lingering morning drizzle, three birders showed up. There was a break in the rain after the first half hour, and we were able to make the circuit back and forth walk through Bobolink Meadow in splendid solitude.

Spotty, the feisty sandpiper, had the East Lagoon to itself. It seems to love checking its perimeter.

The Marsh Wren was first heard, and then seen in the Meadow. At one point the wren had a foot on separate grass stems and stared at us.

The Sharp-shinned Hawk reduced the rodent population by one as we looked on.

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird, which looks like a peanut-sized guided missile in flight, attacked a Chimney Swift. The strength of hormones on board seems not proportional to size.

At the end of our Walk, two species of warblers showed up, with a buddy White-breasted Nuthatch.

BIRDERS:      3.         (1) Jennie S who walked to the east parking lot, (2) Eric G. to biked to the east parking lot, and (3) Pat D. who drove to the east parking lot.

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.         

PLACES:        Bobolink Meadow, views of the N. & E. Lagoons & east side of Wooded Island

WEATHER:    Rain during the night. Drizzle stopped at 8:30 a.m. Remained overcast. Temperature 67 – 74 F., Mild breeze SE 5 – 10 mph.

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:  27

1. Mallard – 16.

2. Double-crested Cormorant – 3.

3. Great Blue Heron – 1. Perched in a tree on Wooded Island.

4. Black-crowned Night Heron – 2. One adult and one juvenile on the east retaining wall beneath the Music Bridge.

5. Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1. A good sized Sharpie with coarse brown breast streaks and a squared-off tail. It was perched near Turtle Island and looking down on the ground with great intensity. It suddenly flew to the ground on the Island amidst the vegetation. After a short while it returned to the branch over the water and enjoyed a rodent meal.

6. Cooper’s Hawk – Wooded Island.

7. Spotted Sandpiper – 1. Sans spots. Shoulder notch.

8. Ring-billed Gull – X. Fly overs.

9. Chimney Swift – X.

10. Ruby-throated Hummingbird –3 or 4.

11. Downy Woodpecker – 1.

12. Northern Flicker – 1.

13. Eastern Phoebe – 1. Post molt. Now in fall plumage with a yellow lower belly wash and pale olive gray wash on an off white upper breast. Long tail.

14. Warbling Vireo – 1. Heard.

15. American Crow – 2.

16. Barn Swallow – X.

17. Black-capped Chickadee – Heard.

18. White-breasted Nuthatch – 1. In the company of the warblers in the trees straight west of the parking lot.

19. Marsh Wren – 1. Bobolink Meadow. Singing. Audio and visual sighting.

20. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 1 Heard.

21. Eastern Bluebird  - 2. They’re back! Near willow tree nesting sight.

22. Gray Catbird – X. Heard and seen.

23. Blackburnian Warbler – 1.

24. American Redstart – 1.

25. Song Sparrow – 4.

26. Northern Cardinal – 1 seen. Others heard.

27. American Goldfinch – 2. Juveniles.

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

This is a group report.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round.Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the eastside of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The East Parking Lot is preferred. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 56th to 59th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Mon, 08/24/2015 - 8:15pm

Event date:

Saturday, August 22, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

The highlight of this morning’s Walk was the close up views of a Lesser Yellowlegs.Tracy W. took a wonderful series of photos that are attached above. A local Spotted Sandpiperflew in to lay down the law. Their interaction went something like this:

Photo 1: Lesser Yellowlegs (LEYE) lands along shore of East Lagoon. Thinking: “Nice spot. I’ll fatten up some before moving further south.”

Photo 2: Spotted Sandpiper (SPSA) flies onto the same log occupied by LEYE.

SPSA: “Hey, dude. This is my ‘hood. Don’t make yourself too comfortable.”

LEYE: “Hey, Shorty.”

SPSA:  “The name is Spotty.”

LEYE:  “Whatever. I’m just passing through. Need to rest and fill my beak before moving on.”

Photo 3:  SPSA: “You’re eating up my bugs, fish and tasty crustaceans. Don’t make a pig of yourself.”

LEYE:  “Hey, Shorty, I mean, Spotty, let’s not get into a wing flap over the bounty. I’ll be gone by sundown.”

Photo 4: SPSA takes a moment to reconsider confrontation.

Photo 5: SPSA decides discretion is the better part of valor. “Don’t wear out your welcome. I’ll be back come sundown.” [SPSA exits west in flight.] [LEYE resumes feasting, serenaded by a Song Sparrow.]

BIRDERS:      13.       (1) Bruce M., (2) Marian N., (3) Leo H., (4) Caroline H., (5) Sandra N., (6) Mark N., (7) Jennie S., (8) Tracy W., (9) Karin C., (10) Karin D., (11) Mark W., accompanied by (12) his eight and one half year old daughter Emma, who came prepared with binoculars and Terry Bear packback. Emma is into birds, bugs, buds and butterflies – a perfect set of interests for the Walks, and (13) Pat D.         

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.         

PLACES:        Bobolink Meadow, views of the N. & E. Lagoons & eastside of Wooded Island

WEATHER:    Perfect! Sunny. Temperature 70 – 75 F., Light winds SW 5 – 10 mph

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:  39

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by at least several or all of the birders. Mark Webster shared his list for this report.

1. Canada Goose – 34

2. Wood Duck – 1. Male? In eclipse/molt.

3. Mallard – 16 alive plus 1 mortuum afloat.

4. Northern Shoveler – 1. Female. Big orange spatula bill.

5. Hooded Merganser – 1. Female.

6. Double-crested Cormorant – 4.

7. Great Blue Heron – 5.

8. Green Heron – 1.

9. Black-crowned Night Heron – 1. Juvenile.

10. Cooper’s Hawk – 2. Juveniles. What an air show they provided! Chased by crows. Chasing each other, then occupying same snag at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock.  All action above Wooded Island.

11. Spotted Sandpiper – 1. Feisty.

12. Lesser Yellowlegs – 1. Very close views. Feeding from a short log near the shore at the north end of Bobolink Meadow. This is the log where the confrontation with a Spotted Sandpiper took place. (photos attached)

13. Ring-billed Gull – X. Fly overs. Note: No Caspian Tern today.

14. Herring Gull – 1. First winter. Walking along the path parallel to the east parking lot. Looked confused and lost. Able to fly and did finally relocate to the East Lagoon.

15. Chimney Swift – X.

16. Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 1. Near golf shack.

17. Belted Kingfisher – 1. Heard. Reported by Mark N.

18. Northern Flicker – 1. Heard. Reported by Mark W.

19. Eastern Wood Pewee – 1. Heard. Reported by Mark W.

20. Eastern Kingbird – 4. Two young perched very close to the birders.

21. Warbling Vireo – 1. Great views. In the company of the two Tennessee Warblers. Located in the tree NW edge of Music Bridge.

22. Red-eyed Vireo – 1. Heard. Reported by Mark W.

23. American Crow – 3.

24. Barn Swallow – X. Did not note any Purple Martins but still may be around.

25. Black-capped Chickadee – X. Heard.

26. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – X. Heard.

27. American Robin – X.

28. Gray Catbird – X. Heard.

29. European Starling – X. Fly overs.

30. Cedar Waxwing – 30. A large flock perched overhead at the north end of Bobolink Meadow.

31. Tennessee Warbler – 2. Good Views. Tree NW of Music Bridge.

32. Northern Waterthrush – 1. Reported by Mark W.

33. Eastern Towhee – 1. Heard.

34. Song Sparrow – 2.

35. Northern Cardinal – 2. Males.

36. Rose-breasted Grosbeak – 1. Female. Near golf shack.

37. Baltimore Oriole – 1.

38. American Goldfinch – X.

39. House Sparrow – 1. Female

Butterflies: Monarch and Eastern Tiger Swallowtails were floating/flying/landing on the meadow flowers.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round.Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the eastside of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The East Parking Lot is preferred. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 56th to 59th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Mon, 08/17/2015 - 6:30pm

Event date:

Saturday, August 15, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

 Hello to All,

Shorebird migration began a few weeks ago. As the lagoons fill with water, the mudflats have mostly disappeared. Our chance of seeing unusual shorebirds is slim. The Cedar Waxwing flocks made an appearance. Baltimore Oriole young are showing up.

A big No Show today was Red-winged Blackbirds(RWBB). I remember talking with Paul Clyne about the sudden disappearance of Red-winged Blackbirds in August. They are around, said Paul, but hidden and silent while they go through molting.

There is a wonderful reference on the Internet that you may wish to bookmark.  It is Arthur Cleveland Bent’s (1866 – 1954) “Life Histories of Familiar North American Birds.”  In the chapter on RWBB, Brent noted that “a complete postnuptial molt occurs in August, at which young and old become practically indistinguishable.”

During the fall, Bent notes the following: “After the young of the second brood are strong on the wing, sometime in July, the females and young gather in flocks and feed on the uplands during the day, returning to marshes to roost at night. The adult males form separate flocks and follow the same plan. But early in August, all the redwings seem to disappear, during the molting period, and are not much in evidence until the middle of September or later, all in fresh plumage and ready to migrate.”

http://birdsbybent.netfirms.com/index.html

BIRDERS:      16.       (1) Terry Blows – returning birder from Flagstaff, AZ, (2) Marian N. from Valparaiso, IN, who has become a certified Wooded Island Regular, (3) Bruce M., a fledging Wooded Island Regular, wearing the coolest Eagle Optics dark green tee shirt,blazoned with a gorgeous Ovenbird image, (4) Raman S and his father (5) P. C. visiting from Houston, TX., (6) Leo H. and (7) Caroline H. – faithful Wooded Island Regulars, (8) Sandra N. and (9) Mark N. intrepid world travelers and Wooded Island Regulars, (10) Jennie S., the organizer, and back up reporter, (11) Rick R. – retired sailor, (12) Tracy W. – photographer, (13) Karin C., the heart and soul of these Wooded Island Bird Walks, (14) Karin D. – keen eyed birder, teacher, gardener, (15) Mark W. – Trilobite collector and ID confirmation birder, and (16) Pat D. coordinator and recorder.

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.         

PLACES:        Bobolink Meadow, views of N. & E Lagoons & eastside of Wooded Island

WEATHER:    Sunny. Temperature 72 – 78 F, Light winds NNE 5 – 10 mph.

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:  26

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by at least several or all of the birders.

1. Canada Goose – 25 +

2. Wood Duck – 1. Eye mark confirmed identification.

3. Mallard – 12 +. No sighting of “Blondie”.

4. Double-crested Cormorant – 8.

5. Great Blue Heron – 4. One was perched high in a tree in the Japanese Garden.

6. Green Heron – 1.

7. Black-crowned Night Heron – 1. Another tree perching heron.

8. Cooper’s Hawk – 1.

9. Raptor Species – 1. Very dark body. Perched at the top of a distant snag on Wooded Island. It could have been a falcon species.

10. Sandpiper Species – 2. Likely Spotted but could have been another species.

11. Spotted Sandpiper – 2.

12. Ring-billed Gull – X. Occasional fly overs.

13. Caspian Tern – 1.

14. Chimney Swift – X.

15. American Crow – 3.

16. Purple Martin – X.

17. Barn Swallow – X.

18. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 3.

19. Gray Catbird – X. Heard.

20. American Robin – X.

21. Cedar Waxwing – 48. At least four flocks flying and landing in precision formation. (Who needs to go to the Air & Water Show when flocks of birds are in flight?)

22. Yellow Warbler – X. Heard.

23. Song Sparrow – 1. Others heard.

24. Indigo Bunting – 2. Adult Male & Female. Together. Likely discussing why “Junior”, a.k.a. recently departed Brown-headed Cowbird, had no family resemblance.

25. Baltimore Oriole – 2. Juveniles. On the move.

26. American Goldfinch – 6.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round.Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the eastside of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The East Parking Lot is preferred. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 56th to 59th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Mon, 08/10/2015 - 7:55pm

Event date:

Saturday, August 8, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

Containers for native plants were found near the Music Bridge. Plugs are being planted. The elaborate irrigation system remains idle. The plants could use a drink.

The Beaver made a brief periscope appearance that was spotted by Karin D.

After brunch at Sunrise Restaurant in Whiting, IN Karin C., Karin D. and I checked out Whiting’s beach and new lakefront park and pier. It will be a worthwhile spot to check for winter waterfowl. We did observe two wedding parties.  Youth has such courage.

BIRDERS:      9.         Marian N., Jennie S., Leo H., Caroline H., Mark W. and his father Phil visiting from England, Karin C., Karin D., and Pat D. 

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 10:25 a.m.

PLACES:        Bobolink Meadow, East & North Lagoons, and view of the eastside of Wooded Island.

WEATHER:    Sunny. Temperature 72 F., Wind NE/NW 5 – 10 mph

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:  32

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by at least several or all of the birders. Mark Webster shared his personal list for this report.

1. Canada Goose – 5.

2. Mallard – X. “Blondie” was seen alone in the distance.

3. Double-crested Cormorant – 7. Great fishing for them.

4. Great Blue Heron – 5.

5. Green Heron – 1.

6. Black-crowned Night Heron – 1. Juvenile with nape fuzz. Standing on concrete embankment on the west side of the Music Bridge.

7. Cooper’s Hawk – 1 Juvenile.

8. Spotted Sandpiper – 2. Possibly 3.

9. Ring-billed Gull- X. Fly about.

10. Caspian Tern – 1.

11. Chimney Swift – X.

12. Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 2.

13. Emp. Species – 1.

14. Eastern Phoebe – 1. Juvenile.

15. Eastern Kingbird – 2.

16. American Crow – 1.

17. Purple Martin – X.

18. Barn Swallow – X. 24 juveniles were perched on a single branch over the water, awaiting flight training.

19. Black-capped Chickadee – X. Heard.

20. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 4.

21. American Robin – X.

22. Gray Catbird – 3.

23. European Starling – X. Flocks.

24. Cedar Waxwing – 3.

25. Yellow Warbler – 3.

26. Song Sparrow – 3. Others heard.

27. Northern Cardinal – 2.

28. Indigo Bunting – 2. One adult male with an adult female. A juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird was with them. Oh, well.

29. Red-winged Blackbird – 4.

30. Brown-headed Cowbird – 1. Juvenile.

31. American Goldfinch – X.

32. House Sparrow – 3.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round.Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the eastside of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The East Parking Lot is preferred. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 56th to 59th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Mon, 08/03/2015 - 8:11pm

Event date:

Saturday, August 1, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

Another great summer’s day for a bird walk! Highlights were the Indigo Bunting familytogether is the same small tree at the north end of Bobolink Meadow. The two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds darted around in the same area. Dragonflies filled the air. The Purple Martins have organized an air patrol near their home base.  Many fly in circles when the stealth Cooper’s Hawks hide in the trees around Darrow Bridge.

It has become a habit for go for breakfast after birding Jackson Park. All are welcome to come along. Today we ate at a favorite place in Whiting, IN – Sunrise Café. Then it was off to another favorite spot: Gibson Woods Nature Preserve who watches birds in absolute comfort.

Gibson Woods Nature Preserve comprises 131 acres of undisturbed, high quality dune and swale topography. Think Wooded Island before Olmsted. It was a favorite study site for University of Chicago Professor Henry Cowles and his graduate students. More than 160 species of birds and over 300 species of plants have been identified within the Preserve.

But for us birders, post Wooded Island Bird Walk, the major attraction is the air conditioned room with a wall of windows, and generously supplied feeders just outside the one-way looking glass. There is a microphone outside that conducts bird chatter to observers. But the greatest feature of all, are the half dozen recliners allowing viewers to watch the activity outside in maximum comfort. (Photo attached) The staff is most welcoming and knowledgeable.  I always pay my respects to the 8000 year old skeleton of a Mastodon, in a display case, which was found in northwest Indiana.

Sunrise Cafe, 1342 119th St., Whiting, IN (Great food at a great price! Friendly, efficient service)

Gibson Woods Nature Preserve, 6201 Parrish, Hammond, IN (Closed Monday)

BIRDERS:      16.       Bruce M., Aaron T., Myra T. from NYC, Jennie S., Marian N., Cindy C., Ken J., Karin C., Karin D., Tracy W., Tobias G., Eric G., Chelle G., visiting from the east coast, Leo H., Carolyn H., and Pat D.

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.         

PLACES:        Bobolink Meadow, North & East Lagoons, Views of eastside of Wooded Island.  Extension trip to Gibson Woods Nature Preserve, Hammond, IN.

WEATHER:    Sunny. Temperature 72 F., Winds West 5 – 10 mph.

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:   26.

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

1. Canada Goose – 9. Three collared in East Lagoon. Six in low flight over Meadow.

2. Mallard – 15. “Blondie” looked even paler than last week. Alone.

3. Double-crested Cormorant – 3.

4. Great Blue Heron – 3.

5. Green Heron – 1. Discovered by Glyn D. Partially hidden as it perched on a tree trunk in the East Lagoon. Seen from the Music Bridge.

6. Black-crowned Night Heron – 1. Perched high in a tree in the Japanese Garden.

7. Cooper’s Hawk – 2. Perched near the Purple Martin Nest Boxes.

8. Killdeer – 1. Spotted by Eric and Tobias.

9. Spotted Sandpiper – 1. Called out by Aaron.

10. Ring-billed Gull – 7. North Lagoon on Museum wall.

11. Caspian Tern – 1.

12. Chimney Swift – X. Numbers increased throughout the morning.

13. Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 2.

14. Downy Woodpecker – 1.

15. Eastern Kingbird – 1.

16. Purple Martin – 12. Nestlings poking their heads out of the boxes.

17. Barn Swallow – X.

18. House Wren – 1. Heard.

19. American Robin – 1.

20. Gray Catbird – 1. Heard.

21. European Starling – X. Flocks perched.

22. Song Sparrow – 1.

23. Northern Cardinal – 1.

24. Indigo Bunting – 3. A family unit.

25. Red-winged Blackbird – X.

26. American Goldfinch – 1.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by at least several or all of the birders.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round.Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the East Parking Lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the eastside of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The East Parking Lot is preferred. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 56th to 59th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Mon, 07/27/2015 - 8:28pm

Event date:

Saturday, July 25, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

We had a nice walk back and forth through Bobolink Meadow, and finished before the sun set to bake the earth. 

Wooded Island is still a mess. The paths are gravel and thus unfinished. The Lagoons have more water, but there is a long way to go for a full refill. Two inch PVC irrigation pipes are connected along the shores. Sedge grass is beginning to be planted and the irrigation system must be in place first.

No Shows today were Baltimore Orioles, Green and Black-crowned Night Herons, and Eastern Bluebird. They may still be in the area, but we did not see or hear them. 

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nest was quiet when Jennie checked on it. This is the nest northeast of Darrow Bridge, along the shore of the North Lagoon.

A pale Mallard was spotted in the East Lagoon, with a single companion. Just like “Mother Goose” with the white head patches, this pale duck will become a favorite of the birders, if it remains in the area.

BIRDERS:      14.       Tracy W. – photographer who provided photos of pale Mallard;

                                    Tracy P.; Thea C. Southern Californian student doing nesting research on

                                    Dickcissels in Iowa; Bruce M.; Leo H.; Carolyn H.; Jenny B.; Sandra N.;

                                    Mark N.; Jennie S.; Patti T.; Karin D.; Karin C.; and Pat D.

TIME:                         8:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

PLACES:                    Bobolink Meadow with views of East Lagoon and eastside of Wooded

                                    Island.

WEATHER:                Partly Sunny. Temperature 77 – 88 F., Winds SW 5 – 10 mph.

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:  25

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

1. Canada Goose ~ 6. South end of East Lagoon, wearing neck tagged collars. BTW, we have not seen “Mother Goose” and her mate since late spring. Mother Goose has a white patch on her head and back of her neck. She and her mate produced two offspring late in breeding season last year.

2. Mallard  - 16, plus a new brood in north end of West Lagoon.

3. Double-crested Cormorant – 6. South end of  East Lagoon.

4. Great Blue Heron – 2.

5. Red-tailed Hawk – 2. Spotted on Wooded Island from the Music Bridge. Thought to be juveniles.

6. Spotted Sandpiper – 1. North end of East Lagoon.

7. Ring-billed Gull – 1.

8. Caspian Tern – 1.

9. Chimney Swift – 12.

10. Downy Woodpecker – 1. Heard in trees SW of golf shack.

11. Eastern Kingbird – 2.

12. Purple Martin – 6. Overhead of their white condos.

13. Barn Swallow – X.

14. Black-capped Chickadee – 1. Others heard.

15. House Wren – 1.

16. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 1.

17. American Robin – 2. Gobbling up mulberries near the golf shack.

18. European Starling – X. Flocks of half dozen or more perched on branches.

19. Yellow Warbler – 4. Nice to see them on Heron Island and the edge of Bobolink Meadow. Looks like nesting was successful despite all the commotion.

20. Song Sparrow – 2. They can really belt out their song atop a shrub!

21. Northern Cardinal – 4.

22. Indigo Bunting – 1.

23. Red-winged Blackbird – 1. Others heard.

24. American Goldfinch – 10. “You look marvelous!” as Billy Crystal would say. They are late nesters. The males looked great. To attract them in your garden is reason enough to plant sunflowers and provide thistle seed.

25. House Sparrow – 6. Near golf shack.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by a least several or all the birders.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Noteon Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the east parking lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the east side of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available in the East Parking Lot that is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The east lot is preferred.There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 58th to 56thStreet.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Mon, 07/20/2015 - 7:38pm

Event date:

Saturday, July 18, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Greetings everyone,

The morning started out hot and sunny, but right about the time we were finishing our walk, an unexpected shift in the wind brought a cool lake breeze.  Ahhh!  The lagoon is filling up with water and pretty much looks like a lagoon again.  The sedge grasses that some of us helped to plant are not looking healthy and we wonder if they were planted too soon after the herbicide was sprayed on the area.

One of the highlights of the morning was the sighting of our resident beaver swimming across the lagoon.  He seemed to be headed for the Osaka Garden.  Maybe he’s been hired by Project 120 to help build “Sky Landing”.

Birders: 11  Bruce, Carol, Leo, Tracy, Eric, Karin D., Karin C., Jennie and newbies Eddie and Tao, as well as Miyoko who is visiting from Seattle.

Weather:  Hazy sun, 70s, humid.

The birds:

• Double-crested Cormorant; many in the “Cormorant Tree” again, one in the water with a very large fish.

• Great Blue Heron

• Green Heron

• Black-crowned Night Heron; including one juvenile

• Canada Goose

• Mallard; one with seven small ducklings

• Cooper’s Hawk flyover

• Ring-billed Gull

• Probable Herring Gull – a very large gull flew over so I’m going with Herring

• Caspian Tern

• Downy Woodpecker

• Warbling Vireo

• American Crow

• Purple Martin

• Northern Rough-winged Swallow

• Barn Swallow; including a group perched on the horizontal bar of one of the light poles along the parking lot.  It was pretty cute!

• Chimney Swift

• Black-capped Chickadee

• House Wren

• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, on her nest

• Eastern Bluebird; the male was standing watch in his usual spot near the driving range

• American Robin

• Gray Catbird

• European Starling

• Yellow Warbler

• Northern Cardinal

• Indigo Bunting (heard); as an aside, there’s been an Indigo Bunting in a tree next to the 59th street Metra station that I’ve heard and seen every morning for the past couple weeks.

• Song Sparrow

• House Sparrow

• Brown-headed Cowbird

• Red-winged Blackbird; the bird without face feathers is still on his territory in the meadow.  He looks funny but seems to be healthy otherwise.

• American Goldfinch

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by a least several or all the birders.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Note on Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the east parking lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the east side of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available east of Darrow Bridge and is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The east lot is the preferred one, as it is located nearest the start of the Walk. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 589h to 56th Street.

Good Birding all,

Jennie

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Mon, 07/13/2015 - 8:03pm

Event date:

Saturday, July 11, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Greetings everyone,

I’m happy to report that the east lagoon is looking more like a lagoon these days rather than a barren wasteland.  The abundant rain has really helped to fill it back up.  Although we’re in the quiet summer period, we had some good looks at our favorite residents, saw a couple nests and observed some interesting bird behavior too.

Birders:  11; Tracy, Eric, Bruce, Marian, Leo, Carol, Jackie (a first-timer), Karin C., Karin D., Jennie, and for part of our walk, Paul.

Weather:  Hazy sun, temperatures in the 60s.

Below is the list of species that we saw.  The list is a combination of our group’s sightings and Paul’s e-bird checklist which he kindly sent me.  As many of you know, I’m not a lister, so just keeping the list in Pat’s absence was quite a feat for me, so I didn’t even try and keep counts of individuals.  For those of you with a more scientific view of birding than me, please check out e-bird.  For those of you who, like me, enjoy the beauty and interesting behavior of the birds, I’ve included a few of my observations.

• Double-crested Cormorant.  The more robust lagoons must have brought them back, because they were swimming and were perching in the cormorant tree again!

• Great Blue Heron.  At one point we heard a loud squawk, and saw a Great Blue chasing a Black-crowned Night Heron above the west shoreline of the east lagoon.  I don’t know what that BCNH did to anger the Great Blue, but the Blue made quick work of his rival!

• Green Heron

• Black-crowned Night Heron

• Canada Goose

• Mallard.  Including a mom with 4 ducklings

• Cooper’s Hawk

• Kildeer

• Spotted Sandpiper

• Ring-billed Gull

• Caspian Tern.  One was flying low over the lagoon, skimming water with his bill to get a drink, I assume.  I’ve never seen a tern do that before so that was fun to see.

• Rock Pigeon

• Monk Parakeet (one – they’re becoming a bit of a rarity in Jackson Park these days)

• Black-billed Cuckoo.  Heard in Bobolink Woods

• Downy Woodpecker

• Great-crested Flycatcher

• Willow Flycatcher

• Eastern Phoebe

• Eastern Kingbird

• Warbling Vireo

• Red-eyed Vireo

• American Crow

• Purple Martin

• Northern Rough-Winged Swallow

• Tree Swallow

• Barn Swallow

  • The swallows love to perch in the dead tree on Heron Island.  We may have to change the name to Swallow Island.

• Chimney Swift

• Black-capped Chickadee

• White-breasted Nuthatch

• House Wren.  Many heard, none seen.

• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.  Paul showed us the nest in one of the trees near the Purple Martin houses.  We saw mom sitting on the nest and dad nearby.  Mom did leave for a bit and when she returned she looked like she might have been feeding a chick, but then she settled back down so we’re not sure if one or more chicks have hatched or not. 

• Eastern Bluebird.  Paul showed us this nest too – a cavity in a tree near the driving range.  We saw both mom and dad perched on the dead branch.  Paul saw them go in the nest earlier in the morning, so we’ll be watching for Bluebird babies too!

• American Robin

• Gray Catbird

• European Starling

• Cedar Waxwing

• Yellow Warbler (heard)

• Northern Cardinal

• Indigo Bunting (heard)

• Song Sparrow

• House Sparrow

• Brown-headed Cowbird

• Red-winged Blackbird.  I saw one with almost no feathers on his face.  I’m not sure if he was molting or had some kind of health issue, but he was active and calling so I will assume that he’s OK.

• Baltimore Oriole

• House Finch.  Rather than red on his head and breast, this one looked truly orange.  Maybe it was the light, but many of us agreed that he looked orange.  Did we discover a new species?  J

• American Goldfinch

And,

• Bullfrog (heard)

• Turtle

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Note on Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

Birders meet in the East parking lot, and walk around the North Lagoon/Basin and across the south steps of the Museum to get to Wooded Island.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available east of Darrow Bridge and is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The east lot is the preferred one, as it is located nearest the Darrow Bridge. The southwest parking lot would require that the entire Wooded Island be walked northward, and to cross the North Bridge to reach Darrow Bridge.  There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 59th to 56th Street.

Good Birding everyone,

Jennie

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Thu, 07/02/2015 - 4:23pm

Event date:

Saturday, June 27, 2015 - 8:00am to 10:00am 

Location:

-

Many of our birders were out of town or otherwise occupied because we only had three participants on today’s bird walk.  Too bad the others missed it, because it was a beautiful morning and we had some nice birds.  After our regular walk some of us attended the tour of Wooded Island hosted by Lauren Umek of the Chicago Park District, and I’ve included a brief report and a link to some photos, below.

Birders:  Rodger F., Karin D. and Jennie.  Randy S., Caroline H. and Leo H. were also on the tour, and Karin, Randy and I stayed and helped plant sedge grasses in the area just east of the east lagoon after the tour.

Weather:  sunny, clear, in the 70s.

The birds:

Great Blue Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron

Mallard – one mom with 5 ducklings and another with 10 small ducklings

Hooded Merganser – 2 in Columbia Basin

Spotted Sandpiper

Kildeer – at least 2, very noisy and active

Baltimore Oriole

Warbling Vireo – 2 heard

Eastern Kingbird

Grey Catbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Yellow Warbler

House Wren – 2 heard

Northern Rough-Winged Swallow

Chimney Swift

Tree Swallow

Purple Martin

Barn Swallow

Red-winged Blackbird

Northern Cardinal

Downy Woodpecker

American Robin

American Goldfinch

Indigo Bunting

Song Sparrow

The tour of the Wooded Island was well attended by community members – about 80 people were there and we were taken out in groups of 20.  Overall, the Island did not look as barren as I expected it to.  Although many trees were removed, the vegetation has grown in and it looks pretty lush.  Here’s a few notes on the information that was shared:

• The main path on the east side of the island was moved 4 feet east to avoid running the path over the roots of the old oak trees.  This means that it does not follow the exactly path that was there in 1893, but it’s the same general path.  The main path will be paved in concrete.  The cross-paths will be covered in crushed rock.

• They are waiting to see what plants come in naturally before decided what to plant.  The native vegetation that is planted will be fenced in for two years to protect it.  They will be creating different zones of plants, depending on the area.  Some of the zones will be dune, fringe wetland, sedge meadow and savannah.

• Paths to new overlooks on the water’s edge were added.  There are 9 overlooks now, and more may be added if funds allow.

• Grading was done to make a gradual transition from water to land.  Wetland plants will be planted near the water’s edge.

• There was a disagreement regarding the fate of the old oak tree at the north end of the wooded area of the island.  The Olmstead people wanted it removed so that a path could be created that followed the original path exactly, and the environmental folks wanted the tree to stay (for reasons that are obvious to all of us).  Happily, the environmentalists won, the oak stayed and the center path was moved.

• More turtle habitat is planned for the west lagoon.

Here is a link to my Flickr site with some photos from the Island: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jscatbird/sets/72157655226503332

Good birding everyone,

Jennie

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Mon, 07/20/2015 - 7:37pm

Event date:

Saturday, June 20, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

BIRDERS:      12.       Jennie S., Marian N., Leo H., Caroline H., Bruce M., Eric G., Tobias G., Mary Nell M., Karin C., Karin D., Mary E-F., Chris E-F., and Pat D.

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.         

PLACES:        Bobolink Meadow

WEATHER:    Partly cloudy. Temperature 64 – 78 F., Wind WNW 5mph.

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

1. Canada Goose – X.

2. Mallard – X.

3. Double-crested Cormorant – 1.

4. Great Blue Heron – 2.

5. Green Heron – 1.

6. Black-crowned Night Heron – 1.

7. Killdeer – 1.

8. Spotted Sandpiper – 4. Males doing a strut walk, displaying.

9. Caspian Tern – 1.

10. Monk Parakeet – 2. Pair was perched on light near condo nest.

11. Chimney Swift – X. Flying just above the surface of the water snatching up insects.

12. E. Wood Pewee – 1.

13. Eastern Kingbird – 1.

14. Warbling Vireo – 1. Heard.

15. Purple Martin – X.

16. N. Rough-winged Swallow – X.

17. Barn Swallow – X. Perched on dead tree with fledglings.

18. House Wren – 1.

19. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 2.

20. Eastern Bluebird – 1. Spotted by Eric G. on soccer net crossbar.

21. American Robin – 1. On nest.

22. Cedar Waxwing – 2.

23. Yellow Warbling – 1.

24. Song Sparrow – 1. Singing in the open.

25. Northern Cardinal – 1. Male.

26. Red-winged Blackbird – X.

27. Baltimore Oriole – 2. Male & Female.

28. American Goldfinch – 1.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by a least several or all the birders.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Noteon Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the east parking lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the east side of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available east of Darrow Bridge and is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The east lot is the preferred one, as it is located nearest to the start of the Walk.There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 58th to 56th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Mon, 07/20/2015 - 7:35pm

Event date:

Saturday, June 13, 2015 - 8:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

BIRDERS:      6.         Bruce M., Marian N., Jennie S., Eric G., Tobias G., and Pat D.

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

PLACES:        Bobolink Meadow and East Lagoon

WEATHER:    Cloudy. Temperature 60 – 79 F. Light wind E 5 mph.Average Humidity 88%.

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

1. Canada Goose – 48

2. Wood Duck – 1. Male.

3. Mallard – 17. One male. Two females. Fourteen ducklings.

4. Hooded Merganser – 1. Female.

5. Great Blue Heron – 1.

6. Great Egret – 1. Perched on top of a mature tree on Wooded Island. Thirty feet in the air.

7. Green Heron – 4.

8. Black-crowned Night Heron – 8.

9. Killdeer – 2.

10. Spotted Sandpiper – 1.

11. Caspian Tern – 1.

12. Monk Parakeet – 1.

13. Chimney Swift – 1.

14. Downy Woodpecker – 1. Female.

15. E. Wood Pewee – 1.

16. Eastern Kingbird – 2.

17. Warbling Vireo – 1. Heard.

18. American Crow – 1.

19. Purple Martin – 3.

20. N. Rough-winged Swallow – X.

21. Barn Swallow – 8.

22. House Wren – 1.

23. American Robin – 2. Active nest.

24. Cedar Waxwing – 2.

25. Yellow Warbling – 1. Heard.

26. American Redstart – 1. North woods area.

27. Red-winged Blackbird – X.

28. Baltimore Oriole – 8.  Active nests.

29. House Finch – 1.

30. American Goldfinch – 2.

31. House Sparrow – 1.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by a least several or all the birders.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Noteon Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

Birders meet in the southwest corner of the east parking lot. Wooded Island is closed off by a fence while work in being done. Birders walk through Bobolink Meadow and view the east side of Wooded Island and the East Lagoon.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available east of Darrow Bridge and is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The east lot is the preferred one, as it is located nearest thestart of the Walk. There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 58th to 56th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Thu, 06/11/2015 - 8:35pm

Event date:

Saturday, June 6, 2015 - 8:00am to 10:30am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

The beaver was seen swimming with a leafy branch in its jaws in the North Lagoon.

Turtles were numerous, sunning themselves on logs.

Killdeer were seen occupying a nest on the mudflats. A fledgling was scurrying on the banks. 

European Starlings have nested in the nesting box at the south end of Bobolink Meadow. This is the first time I have seen the box used for nesting. Three hungry mouths poked out of the opening. An adult landed on the top of the box with a long worm in its beak. But it was just too much of a meal for the babies to handle. There was a collective sigh from the birders when the worm was dropped and landed in the tall grass below. Off the adult went to find another meal.

A piece of art by Yoko Ono has been gleefully accepted by the Park District and will be built on the elliptical lawn west of the Japanese Garden. The piece has a name, “Sky Landing” but no design description has been made public. According to Yoko Ono, “I want the sky to land here, to cool it, and make it well again.” Yoko Ono will be on Wooded Island for a ground breaking ceremony this Friday, June 12th.It is an “invitation only” event for special people. Instillation will take place next summer. My hope is that the design will function as a bird perch.

BIRDERS:      16        Mary N. M. and Eric S., Laurens and Marilyn M., Kurt E., Mark N. and Sandra N., Ben S., Ilze G. and Cedric B. visiting from Australia, with their granddaughter Catherine, Bruce M., Karin C., Karin D., Eric G. and Pat D.

TIME: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.         

PLACES:        Bobolink Meadow and East and North Lagoons      

WEATHER:    Partly Cloudy. Temperature 57 – 69 F., Wind NNE 5 – 10 mph

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:  34

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by a least several or all the birders.

1. Canada Goose – X. Saw a half dozen well grown young with parents, walking the mudflats.

2. Wood Duck – 4. Two male. Two female.

3. Mallard – 4. One set of parents had nine ducklings in tow.

4. Blue-winged Teal – 1.

5. Double-crested Cormorant – 2. Fly overs.

6. Great Blue Heron – 2.

7. Green Heron – 1.

8. Black-crowned Night Heron – 6.

9. Cooper’s Hawk – 1. Flew over the Meadow toward Wooded Island.

10. Killdeer – 2 plus a fledging! Saw an adult sitting on a nest created in a shallow of the mudflat.

11. Spotted Sandpiper – 4.

12. Ring-billed Gull – X. Occasional fly overs.

13. Monk Parakeet – 1. Near the nest at the golf shack. Lots of empty apartments in the nest.

14. Chimney Swift – 1.

15. Hairy Woodpecker – 1.

16. E. Wood Pewee – 1.

17. Willow Flycatcher – 1. In the meadow. Calling out “fitz-bew!”Loud & clear.

18. Great Crested Flycatcher – 1. Heard by Eric G.

19. Warbling Vireo – 1.

20. Purple Martin – 2.

21. Tree Swallow – 1. Exchanged its arrival cape of green for one of blue.

22. N. Rough-winged Swallow – X.

23. Cliff Swallow – X. Numerous nests can be seen in the edges and corners of the 63rd St. Beach House, all on the east side, safe from wind and rain.

24. Barn Swallow – X.

25. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 1.

26. European Starlings – X.

27. Yellow Warbler – X. Nesting.

28. Song Sparrow – 1. Heard.

29. Swamp Sparrow – 1. Seen and heard.

30. Northern Cardinal – X.

31. Red-winged Blackbird – X.

32. Brown-headed Cowbird – 2.

33. Baltimore Oriole – 2. On nest.

34. American Goldfinch – X.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Noteon Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

Birders meet in the East parking lot, and walk around the North Lagoon/Basin and across the south steps of the Museum to get to Wooded Island.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available east of Darrow Bridge and is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The east lot is the preferred one, as it is located nearest the Darrow Bridge. The southwest parking lot would require that the entire Wooded Island be walked northward, and to cross the North Bridge to reach Darrow Bridge.  There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 59th to 56th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Tue, 06/02/2015 - 8:18pm

Event date:

Saturday, May 30, 2015 - 8:00am to 10:30am 

Location:

-

Hello to all,

Although the weather was dreary and drizzly, three hardy birders ventured out to see what interesting species we might find.  And, the day turned out better than we expected, especially  weather-wise, as the cold front moved in immediately after we finished at 10:30am.

The highlight of the morning was the tree full of Cedar Waxwings.  They were moving in and out of the leaves so quickly that we couldn’t get a count, but there had to be at least 25.  The “miss” of the morning was any shorebird other than Kildeer, which is a change from the last few weeks.

Birders:  3.  Jenny B., Rodger F. and Jennie S.

Time:  8:00am to 10:30am

Place:  Bobolink Meadow and area by the parking lot

Weather:  Cloudy, on and off light rain and drizzle, temperature in the 60s.

The birds:

Mallard - many

Canada Goose - many

Wood Duck - 7 males in beautiful full breeding plumage with one female in one spot.  A pair in another spot.

Baltimore Oriole -- many, including one female sitting on a nest

Cedar Waxwing -- a tree full! 

Eastern Kingbird – 2

Eastern Phoebe

Warbling Vireo - at least 4

Kildeer - 3

Black-crowned Night Heron - 4

Green Heron - at least 3

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Yellow warbler -at least 3

Goldfinch - many

House Wren - 2 heard

Caspian Tern - at least 2

Ring Billed Gull - several flyovers

American Robin - many

American Crow - a few flyovers

Red-winged Blackbird

Downy Woodpecker

Barn Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Purple Martin

European Starling

Gray Catbird

Song Sparrow

House Sparrow

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Note on Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

Birders meet in the East parking lot, and walk around the North Lagoon/Basin and across the south steps of the Museum to get to Wooded Island.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available east of Darrow Bridge and is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The east lot is the preferred one, as it is located nearest the Darrow Bridge. The southwest parking lot would require that the entire Wooded Island be walked northward, and to cross the North Bridge to reach Darrow Bridge.  There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 59th to 56th Street.

Best of Birding to All,

Jennie

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Sat, 05/30/2015 - 5:52pm

Event date:

Saturday, May 23, 2015 - 8:00am to 10:30am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

We had a great time birding in the morning in Jackson Park. Although we are limited to a portion of our usual circuit, our count reflects the many sets of eyes and ears that noted the birds that came within our range. 

Marian N., Randy S., Karin D. Karin C. Jennie S. and I enjoyed a great lunch at Popolano’s in Chesterton, IN. We then drove to Cowles Bog for an afternoon of birding. Randy did the full circuit of the Bog, while the rest of us walked half way around then back to the trail head. The peace and quiet and dense vegetation reminded me of how Wooded Island felt in the past.  We were hoping to see or at least hear the Virginia Rail that has been reported in the bog, but it must have been taking an afternoon nap when we walked by. We were all tuckered out from a full day of birding, but what a great way to spend a day on Planet Earth.  Randy’s list appears below the Jackson Park report of sightings.

BIRDERS:      19.       Berthold H., Marcus  H., Kurt E., Edith H., Bruce M., Chris C. – new  birder to Jackson Park, Mary, Eric G., Tobias G., Liz M., Mark W., Jennie S., Marian N., Karin D., Patti T., Renate G., Glyn D., Sylvia D., and Pat D.

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. – Jackson Park

                        2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Cowles Bog, Indiana Dunes State Park     

PLACES:        Bobolink Meadow and mudflats of East Lagoon in the morning

                        Cowles Bog in the afternoon

WEATHER:    Sunny. Temperature 60 – 72 F., Wind SSE 5 – 14 mph

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:   Jackson Park:  65       

                                                Cowles Bog:  56

Jackson Park Report – Group Report includes Mark Webster and Randy Shonkwiler lists.

1. Double-crested Cormorant – 6

2. Great Blue Heron – 1

3. Green Heron – 1

4. Black-crowned Night Heron – 3

5. Canada Goose – X

6. Wood Duck – 6

7. Mallard – X

8. Red-tailed Hawk – 1. Sneaky guy. Perched near a Baltimore Oriole nest.

9. Killdeer – 3

10. Spotted Sandpiper – 3

11. Ring-billed Gull – X. Fly overs.

12. Caspian Tern – 2

13. Monk Parakeet – 1

14. Chimney Swift – 15

15. Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 2

16. Downy Woodpecker – 1. Female.

17. Hairy Woodpecker – 1

18. Northern Flicker – 1

19. Eastern Wood Pewee – 7

20. Alder Flycatcher – 2

21. Willow Flycatcher – 1

22. Eastern Phoebe – 1

23. Great Crested Flycatcher – 1

24. Eastern Kingbird – 4

25. Warbling Vireo – 9

26. Red-eyed Vireo – 5

27. Blue Jay – 2

28. American Crow – 2

29. Purple Martin – 7. On and near houses.

30. Tree Swallow – 1

31. N. Rough-winged Swallow – 6

32. Cliff Swallow – 22

33. Barn Swallow – 25

34. House Wren – 2

35. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 8

36. Eastern Bluebird – 1. Male. Seen by Liz Moyer and Pat Durkin near NE edge of East Lagoon, at the end of our walk.

37. Swainson’s Thrush – 3

38. American Robin – X

39. Gray Catbird – 8

40. European Starling – X

41. Cedar Waxwing – 48. One flock held 30 birds.

42. Northern Parula – 1

43. Yellow Warbler – 16

44. Chestnut-sided Warbler – 3. Great close views of one “lemon beanie” at start of Walk.

45. Magnolia Warbler – 3

46. Cape May Warbler – 3. One male and two females.

47. Blackburnian Warbler – 2. Everyone loves to see Blackburnians

48. Blackpoll Warbler – 4. One male and three females.

49. American Redstart – 10

50. Mourning Warbler – 3

51. Common Yellowthroat – 2. Females.

52. Wilson’s Warbler–3. Two males and one female.

53. Canada Warbler – 3

54. Scarlet Tanager – 1. Male. Another favorite.

55. Chipping Sparrow – 1

56. Song Sparrow – 5

57. White-crowned Sparrow – 2

58. Northern Cardinal -1. Others heard.

59. Indigo Bunting – 2. Male & female.

60. Red-winged Blackbird – X

61. Brown-headed Cowbird – 2

62. Baltimore Oriole – 12

63. House Finch – 1

64. American Goldfinch – 5

65. House Sparrow - 1

 Cowles Bog eBird Report – Randy Shonkwiler:

Subject: eBird Report - Indiana Dunes--Cowles Bog, May 23, 2015

 Indiana Dunes--Cowles Bog, Porter, US-IN May 23, 2015 2:38 PM - 5:39 PM

 Protocol: Transect

 3.75 mile(s)

 Comments:     Other members of my party had E. Bluebird.

54 species (+1 other taxa)

 Canada Goose  19

 Wood Duck  1     fem.

Mallard  4     2 m., 2 fem.

 Hooded Merganser  3     2 fem., 1 juv.

 Great Egret  1

 Green Heron  2

 Cooper's Hawk  1     adult

 Red-tailed Hawk  1     adult

 Common Gallinule  1

 American Coot  2

Sandhill Crane  2

Killdeer  6

 Spotted Sandpiper  1

 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  1

 Mourning Dove  2     1 m.

 Ruby-throated Hummingbird  1     male

 Red-headed Woodpecker  1

 Red-bellied Woodpecker  3

 Downy Woodpecker  4

 Eastern Wood-Pewee  6     males

 Alder Flycatcher  1     id based on call note

 Willow Flycatcher  2     males

 Great Crested Flycatcher  2

Yellow-throated Vireo  1     male

 Warbling Vireo  3     males

 Red-eyed Vireo  5     males

 Blue Jay  2

 American Crow  1

 Tree Swallow  3

 Barn Swallow  4

 White-breasted Nuthatch  2

 House Wren  4     males

 Marsh Wren  4     males

 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  4

Veery  1     singing male

 Wood Thrush  1

 American Robin  14     9 m., 5 not det.

 Gray Catbird  18     12 m.

 Brown Thrasher  3     2 m.

 European Starling  1

 Cedar Waxwing  2

 Common Yellowthroat  15     all males

 Yellow Warbler  25     24 m., 1 fem.

warbler sp.  1     Did not see; it was singing Golden-winged song but I can't rule out hybrid with Blue-winged.

 Eastern Towhee  1     heard only

 Field Sparrow  1     male

 Song Sparrow  10     males

 Swamp Sparrow  10     males

 Northern Cardinal  7     1 m., 6 not det.

 Red-winged Blackbird  40     30 m., 6 fem., 4 not det.

 Common Grackle  4

 Brown-headed Cowbird  2     1 m., 1 fem.

 Baltimore Oriole  2     males

 House Finch  3     1 m., 2 fem.

 American Goldfinch  11     5 m., 2 fem., 4 not det.

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by a least several or all the birders.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Note on Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

Birders meet in the East parking lot, and walk around the North Lagoon/Basin and across the south steps of the Museum to get to Wooded Island.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available east of Darrow Bridge and is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The east lot is the preferred one, as it is located nearest the Darrow Bridge. The southwest parking lot would require that the entire Wooded Island be walked northward, and to cross the North Bridge to reach Darrow Bridge.  There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 59th to 56th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Thu, 05/21/2015 - 8:40pm

Event date:

Saturday, May 16, 2015 - 8:00am to 11:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

It happens every exuberant spring migration day. Birds are everywhere, and so are the birders.

The group, on even a slow day, is hard to corral; which is not wanted nor desired. Besides, who has ever managed to get a predominant group of Hyde Parkers to sing in unison, except perhaps for the University Choir? Birds were everywhere! 

Great looks were afforded to all. No one saw every single species that made an appearance. Randy S. would come close to that high mark.  Oohs and Aahs were heard from every cluster of birders. We had a scope and our binoculars and over a dozen sets of eyes and the birds did not disappoint. They were there waiting for us to check out their fine spring feathering and hear their delightful songs. This was a day to rejoice and we did!

Of local note, this was the weekend that a male Kirtland’s Warbler stayed at Montrose Harbor. The last report from Montrose of this species was in 1996.

This coming Saturday, May 23rd, a group of us plan to make a trip to Cowles Bog in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore area. We plan to have a bite to eat after a morning of birding in Jackson Park. Depending on the number joining this extension trip, we may eat at Sunrise Café in Whiting, IN or at Popolano’s in Chesterton, IN, if there is a larger group. Everyone is invitedto join the trip. Randy Shonkwiler is coming, but he may be absorbed looking at butterflies and other insects. But Randy can multitask so birds will be on his agenda too. If you can arrange transportation, it should be a great adventure.

BIRDERS:      15+.     Jennie S., Marian N., Bruce M., Patti T., Roger F., Mark W., Karin C., Karin D., Maddie, David B., Berthold H., Marcus H., Hal C., Eric G., and Pat D.

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.         

PLACES:        North & East Lagoons. Bobolink Meadow

WEATHER:    Overcast. Light rain at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Temperature 64 – 68 F. Wind from the South 3 – 9 mph.

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT: 89

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by a least several or all the birders. In addition to my own notes, I have included the field notes of Mark Webster and Randy Shonkwiler. The species count is for birds reported throughout the day around Wooded Island/Bobolink Meadow.

1. Canada Goose – X.

2. Wood Duck – 7.

3. Mallard – X.

4. Blue-winged Teal – 1. Male

5. BUFFLEHEAD – 1. Female remaining in area.

6. Green Heron – 5.

7. Black-crowned Night Heron – 4.

8. Red-tailed Hawk – 1.

9. Peregrine Falcon – 1.

10. Semipalmated Plover – 3.

11. Killdeer – 4.

12. Spotted Sandpiper – 8.

13. Solitary Sandpiper – 8.

14. Semipalmated Sandpiper – 3.

15. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER – 1.  Seen by three Field Museum ornithologists in the late afternoon, along the mudflats in front of the Japanese Garden.

16. Pectoral Sandpiper – 1.

17. Dunlin – 1.

18. Ring-billed Gull – X. Fly overs.

19. Caspian Tern – 3.

20. COMMON TERN – 3. North Lagoon. Usually a beach bird, and not common.

21. Chimney Swift – 30.

22. Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 1.

23. Belted Kingfisher – 1.

24. Red-bellied Woodpecker – 1.

25. Northern Flicker – 1.

26. Eastern Wood Pewee – 1.

27. ALDER FLYCATCHER – 1.

28. WILLOW FLYCATCHER – 2.

29. Trail’s Flycatcher – 4.

30. LEAST FLYCATCHER – 9.

31. Eastern Phoebe – 1.

32. GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER – 3.

33. Eastern Kingbird – 6.

34. BLUE-HEADED VIREO – 1.

35. Warbling Vireo – 9.

36. Red-eyed Vireo – 3.

37. Blue Jay – 6.

38. Purple Martin – 5.

39. Tree Swallow – 2.

40. N. Rough-winged Swallow – 6.

41. Cliff Swallow – 15.

42. Barn Swallow – 25.

43. House Wren – 2.

44. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 8.

45. Veery – 3.

46. Swainson’s Thrush – 4.

47. American Robin – X.

48. Gray Catbird – 28.

49. European Starling – X.

50. Cedar Waxwing – 6.

51. Tennessee Warbler – 7.

52. Nashville Warbler – 3.

53. Yellow Warbler – 4.

54. Chestnut-sided Warbler – 4.

55. Magnolia Warbler – 10.

56. Cape May Warbler

57. BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER – 1.

58. Yellow-rumped Warbler – 15.

59. Black-throated Green Warbler – 5.

60. BLACKBURIAN WARBLER – 2.

61. Palm Warbler – 9.

62. Bay-breasted Warbler – 3.

63. Blackpoll – 4.

64. Black-and-white Warbler – 2.

65. American Redstart – 23.

66. PROTHONOTARY WARBLER – 1. Singing. Some of us viewed the perched warbler through a scope which really added to the sighting.

67. Ovenbird – 1.

68. Northern Waterthrush – 8.

69. MOURNING WARBLER – 1.

70. Common Yellowthroat – 6.

71. Wilson’s Warbler – 10.

72. CANADA WARBLER – 1.

73. Chipping Sparrow – 3.

74. Savannah Sparrow – 2.

75. Song Sparrow – 4.

76. Lincoln’s Sparrow – 7.

77. White-throated Sparrow – 6.

78. White-crowned Sparrow – 80.

79. Northern Cardinal – 1. Others heard.

80. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK – 3.

81. BOBOLINK – 1. Male. Actually found in Bobolink Meadow! Reported by Liz Moyer and Randy Shonkwiler in the afternoon.

82. Red-winged Blackbird – X. Male & Female.

83. Common Grackle – 3.

84. Brown-headed Cowbird – 3.

85. ORCHARD ORIOLE – 1.

86. Baltimore Oriole – 15.

87. House Finch – 1.

88. American Goldfinch – 5.

89. House Sparrow – 1.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Noteon Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

Birders meet in the East parking lot, and walk around the North Lagoon/Basin and across the south steps of the Museum to get to Wooded Island.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available east of Darrow Bridge and is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The east lot is the preferred one, as it is located nearest the Darrow Bridge. The southwest parking lot would require that the entire Wooded Island be walked northward, and to cross the North Bridge to reach Darrow Bridge.  There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 59th to 56th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Fri, 05/15/2015 - 8:15pm

Event date:

Saturday, May 9, 2015 - 8:00am to 8:30am 

Location:

-

Many thanks to all of you who came out in less than ideal weather to help with the annual Spring Bird Count!  We had a total of 103 species in Jackson Park, which included Wooded Island, Bobolink Meadow, the lakefront, and the golf course area.

And a huge thank you to Lauren Umek from the Chicago Park District for leading a team onto the barricaded Wooded Island to do a count.  This valuable information will allow us to have complete comparative data from before, during and after the restoration.

Birders:  20:  Marian, Valerie, Michael, Hal, Joanne, Bruce, Eric, Tobias, Pat, Jenny, Mark W, Lauren, Jane, Mark N., Sandra, Laura, Randy, Karin C., Karin D., Jennie.

Time:  8:00am to 10:30am for the main group.  Hal and Randy stayed later.

Weather:  Cloudy, drizzle.  The temperature started at a pleasant 60 degrees and dropped to about 50 degrees with an increasingly brisk north wind.

Here is the official final count:

ILLINOIS SPRING BIRD COUNT, MAY 9, 2015– Cook County Report Form

SPECIES

#

SPECIES

#

SPECIES

#

Canada Goose

78

Sora

Ruby-thr.Hummingbird

1

Mute Swan

Common Moorhen

Belted Kingfisher

Wood Duck

8

American Coot

9

Red-headed Woodpecker

2

Gadwall

Sandhill Crane   @

Red-bellied Woodpecker

1

American Wigeon

Black-bellied Plover

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

1

Mallard

57

Am. Golden Plover

Downy Woodpecker

8

Blue-winged Teal

8

Semipalmated Plover

Hairy Woodpecker

1

Northern Shoveler

3

Killdeer

3

Northern Flicker

1

Northern Pintail

Greater Yellowlegs

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Green-winged Teal

Lesser Yellowlegs

1

E. Wood-Pewee

4

Redhead

Solitary Sandpiper

30

Acadian Flycatcher

Ring-necked Duck

Willet               @

Willow Flycatcher

Lesser Scaup

Spotted Sandpiper

17

Least Flycatcher

7

Bufflehead

1

SemipalmatedSandpiper

Eastern Phoebe

1

Hooded Merganser

Least Sandpiper

26

Gr. Crested Flycatcher

Red-Breasted Merganser

1

Pectoral Sandpiper

Eastern Kingbird

1

Ruddy Duck

Dunlin

1

White-eyed Vireo

Ring-necked Pheasant

Short-billed Dowitcher

Bell’s Vireo

Common Loon

Wilson’s Snipe

Yellow-throated Vireo

Pied-billed Grebe

Am. Woodcock

Blue-headed Vireo

Double-Cr. Cormorant

Wilson’s Phalarope

Warbling Vireo

5

American Bittern

Bonaparte’s Gull

Philadelphia Vireo

1

Great Blue Heron

1

Ring-billed Gull

288

Red-eyed Vireo

2

Great Egret

Herring Gull

5

Blue Jay

4

Little Blue Heron

Caspian Tern

86

American Crow

28

Green Heron

6

Common Tern

5

Horned Lark

Black-cr.Night-Heron

5

Forster’s Tern

6

Purple Martin

2

Yellow-cr. Night-Heron

Black Tern          @

Tree Swallow

6

Turkey Vulture

Rock Dove

1

N. Rough-wing. Swallow

40

Osprey

Eur.Collared-Dove @

Bank Swallow

Bald Eagle           @

Mourning Dove

Cliff Swallow

2

N. Harrier

Monk Parakeet

Barn Swallow

49

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Black-billed Cuckoo

Black-capped Chickadee

5

Cooper’s Hawk

2

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Tufted Titmouse

Red-shouldered Hawk

E. Screech-Owl

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Broad-winged Hawk

Great Horned Owl

White-breasted Nuthatch

Red-tailed Hawk

Barred Owl        @

Brown Creeper

American Kestrel

Com. Nighthawk

Carolina Wren

Peregrine Falcon   @

1

Whip-poor-will  @

House Wren

6

Virginia Rail

Chimney Swift

37

Sedge Wren

SPECIES (p-2)

#

SPECIES (p-2)

#

SPECIES (p-2)

#

Marsh Wren

Pine Warbler

Lincoln’s Sparrow

4

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

3

Prairie Warbler   @

Swamp Sparrow

7

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

17

Palm Warbler

35

White-throated Sparrow

42

Eastern Bluebird

1

Bay-breasted Warbler

1

White-crowned Sparrow

22

Veery

12

Blackpoll Warbler

1

Northern Junco  @

Gray-cheeked Thrush

4

Cerulean Warbler

Northern Cardinal

18

Swainson’s Thrush

24

Black & White Warbler

4

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

7

Hermit Thrush

2

American Redstart

8

Indigo Bunting

2

Wood Thrush

3

Prothonotary Warbler

Dickcissel

American Robin

55

Worm-eatingWarbler @

Bobolink

Gray Catbird

44

Ovenbird

4

Red-winged Blackbird

39

N. Mockingbird    @

Northern Waterthrush

9

Eastern Meadowlark

Brown Thrasher

2

Louisiana Waterthrush

Western Meadowlark **

European Starling

67

Kentucky Warbler @

Yellow-headed Blackbird

American Pipit

Mourning Warbler

Common Grackle

19

Cedar Waxwing

3

Common Yellowthroat

10

Brown-headed Cowbird

22

Blue-winged Warbler

Hooded Warbler

Orchard Oriole

Golden-winged Warbler

1

Wilson’s Warbler

5

Baltimore Oriole

20

Tennessee Warbler

3

Canada Warbler

Purple Finch

Orange-crowned Warbler

Yellow-breasted Chat

House Finch

2

Nashville Warbler

3

Summer Tanager

1

American Goldfinch

20

Northern Parula

2

Scarlet Tanager

10

House Sparrow

57

Yellow Warbler

23

Eastern Towhee

3

Additional species

 **

Chestnut-sided Warbler

1

Chipping Sparrow

5

**

Magnolia Warbler

3

Clay-colored Sparrow@

**

Cape May Warbler

1

Field Sparrow

**

Black-thr. Blue Warbler

1

Vesper Sparrow

**

Yellow-rumped Warbler

20

Savannah Sparrow

1

**

Black-thr. Green Warbler

4

Grasshopper Sparrow

**

Blackburnian Warbler

5

Henslow’s Sparrow

**

Yell-throated Warbler @

Song Sparrow

7

**

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Note on Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

Birders meet in the East parking lot, and walk around the North Lagoon/Basin and across the south steps of the Museum to get to Wooded Island.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available east of Darrow Bridge and is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The east lot is the preferred one, as it is located nearest the Darrow Bridge. The southwest parking lot would require that the entire Wooded Island be walked northward, and to cross the North Bridge to reach Darrow Bridge.  There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 59th to 56th Street.

Good birding everyone!

Jennie

Tags

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Sun, 05/03/2015 - 8:31pm

Event date:

Saturday, May 2, 2015 - 8:00am to 10:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

“Spring  - an experience in immortality”, wrote Henry David Thoreau.  Imagine Henry strolling through Eternal Spring with Dorothy Parker, who thought, “Every year, back comes Spring, with nasty little birds yapping their fool heads off and ground all mucked up with plants.” Perhaps both shades were with us on our Walk this morning. Henry would have the greater fan club.

A beaver was seen by Karin Cassel near Turtle Island. Then most of the other birders spotted it too before it submerged.

An apparent errant racing pigeon was seen napping in a tree at the north end of Bobolink Meadow. Its feathers were gray upon gray. An inch long green bangle was on one foot.

We stopped to talk with two of the work crew who were minding a pump near the Music Bridge. They said that the lagoons will be allowed to refill naturally in a few weeks. The gates underneath the Music Bridge will be opened. The workmen had heard about the birder, Carl who got stuck, up to his waist, in the muck, and was saved by his tripod. Carl was attempting to photograph a Yellow Warbler earlier this week. He gingerly stepped toward an Island. The mudflat gave only an inch underfoot, until it suddenly gave way up to his waist. After extricating himself from the muck, Carl valiantly continued to bird, caked in drying mud. His spirit, if not his action of walking on mudflats, is an example to us all.

BIRDERS:      20.       Bruce M., Miriam N. from Indiana, Alan S. and his son Ben from Evanston, first time birders to Wooded Island, Tonya P. and her daughter Amber from the Beverly neighborhood, also first time birders to Wooded Island. Both Amber and Ben show signs of budding naturalists. They seemed to thoroughly enjoy their time in the field, and sharing sightings with the other birders. Mary Nell M. and Eric S., who will be leading the Washington Park Bird Walks during migration, Jennie S., Eric G., Mark W., Dave K. and Lindsey K., Jenny P. and Dom F., Simon R., David B., and Pat D. We met Randy Shonkwiler at the end of our Walk. He and Mark Webster exchanged sightings.

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.         

PLACES:        Bobolink Meadow back and forth. Mudflats of East Lagoon.

WEATHER:    Sunny. Temperature 59 – 63 F. Light variable winds.

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:  57

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by a least several or all the birders. Mark Webster and Eric Ginsburg contributed their sightings for this group list.

1. Canada Goose – X. Pairs are still around. Numbers are few. Limited nesting sites during restoration.

2. Wood Duck – 1. Male

3. Gadwall – 1. Male. North Lagoon/Basin.

4. Mallard – X.

5. Blue-winged Teal – 7. Male & female.

6. Bufflehead – 1. Female. In proximity of male Hooded Merganser.

7. Hooded Merganser – 1. Male. Handsome fellow. Can’t blame the female Bufflehead for being befuddled.

8. Double-crested Cormorant – 1. Fly over.

9. Black-crowned Night Heron – 1. Perched in a maple in the Japanese Garden.

10. Osprey – 1. Fly over of Darrow Bridge. Reported by Mark W.

11. Red-tailed Hawk – 1. Juvenile. Perched in a tree north and adjacent to the Bobolink Meadows cluster of pine trees.

12. American Coot – 2.

13. Spotted Sandpiper – 1.

14. Solitary Sandpiper – 6. Not “solitary” today on the mudflats.

15. Lesser Yellowlegs – 4.  Rare for lagoons, but the mudflats bid them welcome.

16. Pectoral Sandpiper – 1.

17. Least Sandpiper – 1.

18. Ring-billed Gull – X.

19. Caspian Tern – 2. Diving in the waters of the 59th St. Marina.

20. Monk Parakeet – X. Heard.

21. Chimney Swift – 1.

22. Belted Kingfisher – 1.

23. Downy Woodpecker – 2.

24. Northern Flicker – 2.

25. Emp. Species – 1. Possible Least Flycatcher.

26. Eastern Phoebe – 1.

27. Warbling Vireo – 2.

28. Blue Jay – 30. Two flocks flew into the woods from the south. Not common in Jackson Park. Seen in migration.

29. American Crow – 2. Not around to harass the Red-tailed Hawk.

30. Purple Martin – X. At their houses. Seen in flight nearby.

31. Tree Swallow – X. Small flock.

32. N. Rough-winged Swallow – X.

33. Cliff Swallow – 2.

34. Barn Swallow – X.

35. Black-capped Chickadee – 2.

36. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 4. Others heard.

37. Hermit Thrush – 5.

38. American Robin – X.

39. European Starling – X. Fly overs.

40. Nashville Warbler – 1.

41. Yellow Warbler – 4.

42. Palm Warbler – 2.

43. Northern Waterthrush – 3.

44. Chipping Sparrow – 1.

45. Savannah Sparrow – 1.

46. Song Sparrow – X.

47. Swamp Sparrow – 1.

48. White-throated Sparrow – X. Small flocks.

49. White-crowned Sparrow – 1. Singing.

50. Northern Cardinal – 3.

51. Red-winged Blackbird – X. Muddy from walking the mudflats.

52. Common Grackle – X. Small flocks.

53. Brown-headed Cowbird – 1. Others heard.

54. Baltimore Orioles – 2. Their rich orange bounced off the morning sun.

55. House Finch – 1.

56. American Goldfinch – 1. In breeding splendor.

57. House Sparrow – 1. Took up residence in a Purple Martin condo. Evection forthcoming.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Noteon Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

Birders meet in the East parking lot. Wooded Island is inaccessible due to a high screened chain linked fence around the entire area. The lagoons continue to be drained. The mudflats have attracted shorebird species rarely found in the lagoon areas.  Despite these limitations, birders continue to see birds while walking back and forth in Bobolink Meadow.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available east of Darrow Bridge and is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The east lot is the preferred one, as it is located nearest the Darrow Bridge. The southwest parking lot would require that the entire Wooded Island be walked northward, and to cross the North Bridge to reach Darrow Bridge.  There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 58th to 56th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Sun, 04/26/2015 - 3:59pm

Event date:

Saturday, April 25, 2015 - 8:00am to 10:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

It was one of those rainy mornings when staying at home and enjoying another cup of coffee seemed the best option. But since the rain was not heavy, I knew that birders would be showing up in the east parking lot. So I packed up my birding bag and drove out of the garage.

I live in the South Loop area, on Prairie Avenue, which is the first residential street west of Soldier Field. As I was pulling out of the garage, I noticed two of our resident American Crows perched quietly on a bench in my neighbor’s yard. They were silent and looking intently down atspring greenery. I followed their gaze. A Sora slowly walked out of the leaves. It crossed the driveway and sheltered in a doorway. The crows followed but never made a sound. Attached are a couple of photos. It was a good omen for the day to come.

Mark W., Jennie S., Jenny Y. and I sat in the car for a while and devised a route for our Walk. Edith H. was already checking out the East Lagoon. We decided to walk back and forth through Bobolink Meadow.

Wooded Island and the East and West Lagoons are now inaccessible. An expensive high chain link fence has enclosed Wooded Island and the East and West Lagoons.  It was announced in the local paper that access would not be allowed until the fall. Draining of the lagoons continues. There is a stench arising from the West Lagoon.

After two hours we were soaked.  Nothing too unusual was sighted. Due to the rain the birds were not very active.

Jennie S. and I had breakfast at Salonica’s with Karin D. and Karin C. It was around noon when we finished. I wanted to do some car birding and invited them along. After a brief pause, Karin C. said, “Sure.” Then Karin D. decided that home chores could wait and she would come along too. Jennie S. had an event to attend in the afternoon, and took a pass, since our end time was not predictable.  I assured all that this experience would likely prove to be nothing more than a pleasant waste of time. Jennie S. is now convinced that when she cannot join in a rambling road birding trip, we are sure to find a rarity. And we surely did; x 2!

The highlight of our road trip was finding not one but two Snowy Egrets, a single bird in two locations on the southeast side of the City. Their bright golden feet were unmistakable.

We thought that was enough for a great day of birding serendipitously. I checked my emails and found that Carl G., who we met at the start of our Walk, went to the 63rd St. Beach and found a Piping Plover at 9 a.m. We decided to give locating the plover ourselves a try. Thanks to the quick eyes of Karin D. the plover was seen scampering over the sand. All three of us were able to see it hunkered down from 30 feet away.  I endorsed the plover over to Glyn Dawson, who provided me with a photo.

What a day! Lessons learned:

1. Bad weather = good birding.

2. Timing is everything.

3. Just go outside and see what you can see.

We have an alternate route planned for our Walks that will take us through the Meadow and along the lakefront and back to the east parking lot. We will continue the Walks while the restoration work is being done, and report on conditions. After forty years of organized bird walks, they will continue. Birders always show up. Always.

BIRDERS:      5          Jennie S., Mark W., Jenny Y., Edith H., and Pat D.

TIME:                         8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m./3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

PLACES:                    Bobolink Meadow, 63rd Street Beach.

Extension trip to:

• Wolf Lake (William Powers Conservation Area) -Entrance at Avenue O & 126th St, Chicago, IL

• 126th Marsh -Entrance road is marked by a red and white sign “Peco”sign on the north side of 126thStreet. The cross road on 126th Street is 2924 E. The entrance is three-tenths of a mile east of Torrence Avenue in Chicago. After turning into the parking lot, keep to the right and follow Indian Creek, as it directs you north. The Creek empties into a Lake Michigan turning basin.

• Indian Ridge Marsh – Along the north side of 122nd Street, between Torrence Avenue on the east and the railroad tracks on the west, in Chicago.

WEATHER:    Cloudy, cold and windy with continuous light rain. Temperature 40 – 43 F. Wind ENE 15 – 15 mph. It was a wet wintry-type morning. We were drenched. 

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:   48

Jackson Park:  38

                                                Beyond Jackson Park Additions:  10

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

This is a group report. Mark Webster contributed his lists for the Bobolink Meadow area and for his late afternoon stop at 63rd Street Beach in search of the Piping Plover.

Bobolink Meadow/North Lagoon/Soccer Field – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

1. Canada Goose – X.

2. Wood Duck – 7. Five males and two females.

3. Gadwall – 2. Male/Female pair.

4. Mallard – X.

5. Blue-winged Teal – 8.

6. Red-breasted Merganser – 6. Three males. Three females. North Lagoon/Basin.

7. Double-crested Cormorant – 1 perched. A few fly overs.

8. Black-crowned Night Heron – 1.

9. Solitary Sandpiper – 1.

10. Ring-billed Gull – X. Large group on the soccer field.

11. Caspian Tern – 2

12. Mourning Dove - 1.

13. Monk Parakeet – 2.

14. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 1.

15. Downy Woodpecker – 2.

16. Northern Flicker – 1. Female.

17. N. Rough-winged Swallow – 8.

18. Cliff Swallow – 2.

19. Barn Swallow – 3

20. American Crow - 1.

21. Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 5.

22. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 4.

23. Hermit Thrush – 1.

24. American Robin – X.

25. European Starling – X. Several small flocks.

26. Yellow-rumped Warbler – 1.

27. Song Sparrow – 10.

28. Swamp Sparrow – 3.

29. White-throated Sparrow – 70.

30. Dark-eyed Junco – 4.

31. Northern Cardinal – X.

32. Red-winged Blackbird – X.

33. Meadowlark – 1. Flew from driving range to Meadow grasses. Species type unknown.

34. Brown-headed Cowbird – 3. Male/Female pair together.

63rd Street Beach – 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

1. Piping Plover – 1. Rare. Found at 9 a.m. by Carl G. whom we met at the start of our Walk. He reported finding several birds more than we did in Bobolink Meadow and on the mudflats. Two Piping Plovers were seen in the early afternoon. Karin C., Karin D., and I saw the bird around 3:45 p.m. when it scampered ten yards in front of us, seeking shelter in a dip in the sand from the strong east wind off the Lake. I showed Glyn Dawson the plover. He was took an excellent photo, which is attached to this report, with his permission. But, alas, birders who showed up after 4 p.m., including Mark Webster, were not able to relocate the bird.

2. Osprey – 1. Reported by Mark.

3. American Kestrel – 1. Reported by Mark.

4. Caspian Tern – 20. On the beach.

5. Ring-billed Gull – X. Abundant.

6. American Coot – 1.

7. Red-breasted Merganser- X. Abundant out on the Lake.

8. Double-crested Cormorant – X. Abundant. Large flocks of 30 or more birds would take off from the Lake and fly a few hundred yards and land again a fifty yards from shore.

Wolf Lake (William Powers Conservation Area): 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Rain. Car-birding.

1. Canada Goose – X.

2. Mute Swan – 4. One appeared to be on a nest on the Indiana side of State Line Road.

3. Mallard – 3.

4. Blue-winged Teal – 10.

5. Bufflehead – 2. Male & Female. Indiana side.

6. Red-breasted Merganser – 2. Male & Female.

7. Ruddy Duck – 9. In a tight raft at the north end of Wolf Lake, east of the RR tracks.

8. Double-crested Cormorant – 1.

9. Great Egret – 1. Arrived as we were leaving.

10. American Coot – 44. Illinois/Indiana sides combined.

11. Killdeer – 3. Flew along State Line Road and near our car. Their beautiful reddish orange rump feathers were seen in flight as they came near the car.

12. Ring-billed Gull- X.

13. Belted Kingfisher – 1. Female.

14. American Robin – X.

15. Northern Cardinal – 1. Male.

16. Red-winged Blackbird – X.

17. Common Grackle – 1.

126th Street Marsh: 1:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Rain. Car-birding.

1. Snowy Egret – 1. “Golden slippers” seen. White overall. 24 inches in length. Rare find. Posted immediately on IBET.

2. Great Egret – 2. Nearby and in flight. 39 inches in length.

3. Great Blue Heron – 1. Nearby. 43 inches in length.

Indian Ridge Marsh and Ponds: 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Rain tapering off. Car-birding.

1. Snowy Egret – 1. OMG! Another one! So near the car that the “golden slippers” were easy to see. Then it flew up on a branch above the other herons. Posted a second time on IBET.

2. Great Egret – 8.

3. Great Blue Heron – 2.

4. Black-crowned Night Heron – 1.

5. Double-crested Cormorant – 2.

6. Mallard – X.

7. Blue-winged Teal – 11. Pond on the southwest corner of Torrence Ave. & 122nd St.

8. Northern Shoveler – 4. Males. Pond on SW corner of Torrence Ave. & 122nd St.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Noteon Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

Birders meet in the East parking lot, and walk around the North Lagoon/Basin and across the south steps of the Museum to get to Wooded Island.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available east of Darrow Bridge and is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The east lot is the preferred one, as it is located nearest the Darrow Bridge. The southwest parking lot would require that the entire Wooded Island be walked northward, and to cross the North Bridge to reach Darrow Bridge.  There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 58th to 56th Street.

Best of Birding to Al

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Sun, 04/19/2015 - 3:52pm

Event date:

Saturday, April 18, 2015 - 8:00am to 10:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

There was no access to Wooded Island during the week while the work crews were busy cutting down more full growth trees on and round the Island. The lagoons are still not completely drained. The tall chain-linked fence continues to be erected along the soccer field. Eventually the fence will completely block access from the driving range golf shack to the South Bridge. The fence has been completed along Cornell Drive and east to Darrow Bridge.

The crews were not working this Saturday. People found the fence unlocked at the north end.There are blockades at the south end, which can be by passed without much difficulty.

The entire oblong asphalt path on the Island has been removed. The Island itself is stripped bare except of a few trees. (Photo of birders on path sans asphalt)

Despite all the destruction and blockades, birders continue to gather together every Saturday morning, to see what we can see. Many new birders to Wooded Island came today. Despite all the anticipated difficulties, we managed to have a great time together.

As the group gained access to Wooded Island from the south end, Marian of Indiana scouted ahead and found the fence on the north end opened. This meant that we did not have to retrace our steps through Bobolink Meadow.

A highlight was seeing so many pairs of Rusty Blackbirds. They look rusty in their post breeding fall plumage. Today I called them “Iron Blackbirds” non-oxidized.

BIRDERS:      23.       Mark L., Jenny B., Dom F. new to Wooded Island Walks, Renate G., Bruce M., Marian N. from Indiana, Julie M. from St. Paul, MN who took public transportation to join us, Diana, Jennie S., Mary Nell M. and Eric M., Ben H. and Christina H. new to Wooded Island Walks, Patti T., Tessa and Patrick M with baby Hazel, new to Wooded Island Walks, Eric G., David B. new to Wooded Island Bird Walks, Karin C., Karin D., and Pat D. We met Randy Shonkwiler at the north end of Bobolink Meadow and shared sightings.

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.         

PLACES:        Wooded Island, Bobolink Meadow & Lagoons

WEATHER:    Sunny. Cool. Brisk north wind 10 – 15 mph. Temperature 49 – 52 F.

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:  55

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by a least several or all the birders.

1. Canada Goose – X.

2. Wood Duck – 4.

3. Gadwall – M/F. West Lagoon.

4. Mallard – X.

5. Blue-winged Teal – 4.

6. Northern Shoveler -3.

7. Green-winged Teal – 4. M/F pairs. West Lagoon.

8. Bufflehead – 1. Female. East Lagoon. Should be moving on soon.

9. Red-breasted Merganser – 7. Two male, five female/immature. North Lagoon.

10. Pied-billed Grebe – 3.

11. Double-crested Cormorant – 2. Fly overs.

12. Green Heron – 1. Flew to Heron Island.

13. Black-crowned Night Heron – 1. Fly over near Heron Island. No place to roost.

14. Cooper’s Hawk – 1. Perched by the Purple Martin Houses, which was a reliable source of prey for this wily predator. Bets are it is the same Cooper’s Hawk who mastered its trick last year.

15. American Coot – 4.

16. Killdeer – 1. Sandbar in West Lagoon.

17. Spotted Sandpiper – 1. Traveling with the Solitary Sandpiper. West Lagoon shore. Was not sporting the breeding spots on the front, but had the white notch at the shoulder, and flew with rapid shallow wing beats.

18. Solitary Sandpiper – 1. West Lagoon.Taller by an inch of its traveling companion. I saw the white eye ring.

19. Ring-billed Gull- X.

20. Herring Gull – 3.

21. Caspian Tern – 1. Not staying around the lagoons for long. Just checking. Not enough water to dive.

22. Belted Kingfisher – 1. Possibly 2.

23. Red-bellied Woodpecker – 1. Wooded Island. Near Rose Garden area.

24. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 3.

25. Northern Flicker – 5.

26. Eastern Phoebe – 2.

27. Eastern Kingbird – 1. Along the southeast side of Wooded Island. Eric G. noted that this is one day earlier than the Extreme Early Spring Date recorded in Paul Clyne’s Checklist. (Photo)

28. American Crow – 1.

29. Purple Martin – 3. Near white houses.

30. Tree Sparrow – 1.

31. N. Rough-winged Swallow – X. Around the Music Bridge.

32. Barn Swallow – 2.

33. Black-capped Chickadee – 4.

34. Brown Creeper – 2.

35. Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 5.

36. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 2.

37. Hermit Thrush – 2.

38. American Robin – X.

39. European Starling – 18.

40. Pine Warbler – 1. Near the NE corner of Darrow Bridge.

41. Palm Warbler – 1. Seen from the North Bridge looking NE.

42. Northern Waterthrush – 1.

43. Eastern Towhee – 1. Female. Wooded Island.

44. Field Sparrow – 1.

45. Savannah Sparrow – 1. Soccer Field in small shrub area.

46. Song Sparrow – 1.

47. Swamp Sparrow – 2.

48. White-throated Sparrow – 1.

49. Dark-eyed Junco – 2.

50. Northern Cardinal – 2.

51. Red-winged Blackbird – X. Female have arrived.

52. Rusty Blackbird – 8. Mostly in M/F pairs on mudflats. This species has experienced a significant population decline. It requires wooded wetlands for breeding and wintering. There is a special working group dedicated to tracking this species: rustyblackbird.org.

53. Brown-headed Cowbird – X.

54. House Finch – 1.

55. House Sparrow – 1.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Noteon Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

Birders meet in the East parking lot, and walk around the North Lagoon/Basin and across the south steps of the Museum to get to Wooded Island.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available east of Darrow Bridge and is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The east lot is the preferred one, as it is located nearest the Darrow Bridge. The southwest parking lot would require that the entire Wooded Island be walked northward, and to cross the North Bridge to reach Darrow Bridge.  There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 58th to 56th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin

Submitted by Jennie Strable on Mon, 04/13/2015 - 8:26pm

Event date:

Saturday, April 11, 2015 - 8:00am to 10:00am 

Location:

-

Hello to All,

The number of bird species and birders increase each week. Early spring is a good time to see migrants because the leaves have yet to immerge and there are far fewer trees to check during this “death phase” of the massive restoration. A second attempt is being made to drain the lagoons. 

It was a good day for sparrows.  Randy found a Vesper Sparrow.I snapped a phone photo of a Northern Rough-winged Swallow. The white bellies of a few Tree Swallows were noticeable in low flights.

A Beaver was seen swimming in the shallow water of the East Lagoon, holding an Evection Notice in its paws. Three turtles were catching some rays in the lagoons. Their future is in doubt once the lagoons are drained and heavy equipment is used along the shores. Two men with metal detector equipment were searching Wooded Island for treasures from the 1893 World Exposition.A skeleton of a large Carp was found along the path in Bobolink Meadow. (photo attached)

BIRDERS:      16.       Bruce Mc., Jennie S., Mary Nell and Eric M., Marian N. from Indiana, Patti T., Jenny B. – new to Wooded Island, Eric G., Raman S., Renate G., Karin C., Karin D., Marilyn and Laurie M., Kyle J. from Arkansas, and Pat D. We met Paul Clyne in the Japanese Garden, at the start of our Walk, and Randy Shonkwiler in the grove north of the Music Bridge, at the end of our Walk. Both Paul and Randy shared their sightings.

TIME:             8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.         

PLACES:        Wooded Island, Bobolink Meadow, Lakefront and Outer Harbor   

WEATHER:    Sunny. Cool at the start of the Walk. Temperature 40’s to upper 50’s F. Winds WSW 5 – 10 mph.

TOTAL SPECIES COUNT:  59

X = commonly seen and/or not counted.

This is a group report, with many birders contributing to the list. Most of the birds were seen by a least several or all the birders. Paul Clyne and Randy Shonkwiler shared their checklists for this report.

1. Canada Goose – 21. “Mother Goose” with the white head and neck was swimming in the North Lagoon.

2. Wood Duck – 5. East Lagoon.

3. Mallard – 17.

4. Blue-winged Teal – 8. Six in the East Lagoon and two in the West Lagoon.

5. Northern Shoveler – 6. East Lagoon.

6. Greater Scaup – 5. Outer Harbor & Lagoons.

7. Common Goldeneye – 1. Outer Harbor.

8. Hooded Merganser – 1. Lagoons.

9. Red-breasted Merganser – 11. Seven females and one male in the North Lagoon. One in the Marina and another three in the Outer Harbor.

10. Common Loon – 2. Fly overs. Spotted by Paul Clyne

11. Pied-billed Grebe – 10. Four in North Lagoon; three in East Lagoon; one in Marina and two in the Outer Harbor.

12. Horned Grebe – 5. Lagoons and Outer Harbor.

13. Double-crested Cormorant – 12. Fly overs in small flocks.

14. Black-crowned Night Heron – 1. In same tree and on same branch as last week, at the southeast end of Wooded Island.

15. Cooper’s Hawk – 2. Chasing each other in flight and from tree to tree.

16. American Kestrel – 1. Wooded Island. Renate G. thought that the tail said Merlin in flight. I saw the “helmet” on its head. Randy S. reported a Kestrel in the area.

17. American Coot – 3. Lagoons. I saw rafts of more than twenty off of the beach on Friday.

18. Killdeer – 1. East Lagoon shoreline.

19. Ring-billed Gull – X.

20. Herring Gull – 1.

21. Mourning Dove – 1.  Reported by Paul Clyne on Wooded Island.

22. Monk Parakeet – 4.  Reported by Randy Shonkwiler in the Wooded Island/Bobolink Meadow area.

23. Belted Kingfisher – 2. Male and female pair. Very vocal. Lagoons.

24. Red-bellied Woodpecker – 1. Wooded Island. Reported by Randy S.

25. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 16.

26. Downy Woodpecker – 3.

27. Hairy Woodpecker – 1. Female. Wooded Island. Reported by Randy S.

28. Northern Flicker – 6.

29. Eastern Phoebe – 8.

30. American Crow – 16. Wooded Island/Bobolink Meadow & Outer Harbor.

31. Tree Swallow – 5. Fly overs.

32. N. Rough-winged Swallow – 4. Two at Music Bridge and two at the turnaround near LaRabida Hospital. (photo attached)

33. Black-capped Chickadee – 5

34. Winter Wren – 1. Wooded Island area. Reported by Randy S.

35. Golden-crowned Kinglet – 4.

36. Ruby-crowned Kinglet – 4.

37. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 2. Males. Wooded Island.

38. Hermit Thrush – 12.

39. American Robin – 128.

40. Brown Thrasher – 2. Reported by Paul C. and Randy S.

41. European Starling – 11.

42. Yellow-rumped Warbler – 21.

43. Eastern Towhee–7. Wooded Island and Music Bridge.

44. American Tree Sparrow – 1.

45. Chipping Sparrow – 2.

46. Vesper Sparrow -1. Found by Randy in grove north of the Music Bridge.

47. Fox Sparrow – 7.

48. Song Sparrow – 18.

49. Swamp Sparrow – 4.

50. White-throated Sparrow – 1. Wooded Island.

51. White-crowned Sparrow – 1. Outer Harbor. Reported by Randy S.

52. Dark-eyed Junco – 33.

53. Northern Cardinal – 11.

54. Red-winged Blackbird – 49.

55. Common Grackle – 17.

56. Brown-headed Cowbird – 16.

57. House Finch – 3.

58. American Goldfinch – 4.

59. House Sparrow – 10.

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Recordings are not used to attract birds.

This report will be recorded on eBird as a group report for the Wooded Island Bird Walks.

The Walks are free and open to one and all. They are held year round. Birders always show up near Darrow Bridge at the start times. Newcomers are warmly welcomed. 

Noteon Darrow Bridge: Darrow Bridge has been barricaded by the Department of Transportation. No one can cross. A high black metal iron fence has been erected on all four sides. It appears that the fence will remain in place until Darrow Bridge is completely rebuilt, which could be more than a year. The Bridge has been deemed unsafe.

Birders meet in the East parking lot, and walk around the North Lagoon/Basin and across the south steps of the Museum to get to Wooded Island.

The Walks start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Please note: The Wednesday morning Walks have been decommissioned. An informal group often meets, but the start time varies and the distance traveled can be curtailed.

Metered parking is available east of Darrow Bridge and is accessible from South Lake Shore Drive at 57th Street (labeled Science Drive on a small blue street sign). There is a Stop Light at 57th Street. Make a turn at the Stop Light towards the Museum. Turn Left (south) at the intersection of Science Drive and Columbia Drive. Go through the parking lot to the west end.

Note on Parking and Lots: While restoration is ongoing, heavy equipment has taken over half of the east parking lot, off of South Lake Shore Drive, and half of the southwest parking lot which has an entrance off of Hayes Drive (63rd St.) and just east of Cornell Drive. Birders will be able to find metered parking in both lots. The east lot is the preferred one, as it is located nearest the Darrow Bridge. The southwest parking lot would require that the entire Wooded Island be walked northward, and to cross the North Bridge to reach Darrow Bridge.  There is also unmetered parking along Stony Island Avenue from 58th to 56th Street.

Best of Birding to All,                    

Patricia Durkin