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Wooded Island Bird Walk

  • Wooded Island, Jackson Park Meet at the west side of the Columbia Basin Chicago, IL, 60637 United States (map)

Photo: Sora by Margaret Gompper

Hello everyone,

We had several celebrity bird sightings this week. We started out with a Cackling Goose amongst the Canada Geese in the Columbia Basin. Kudos to Mark, Eric and Gary who took the time to sift through all those geese to discover the special one. We see Cackling Geese regularly in the winter but we don’t often have them in the fall.

Another celebrity bird in residence was a gorgeous male Black-throated Blue Warbler spotted on the center path. He was nice enough to perch out in the open and give us some good looks. Leslie was lucky enough to spot a male Baltimore Oriole who must like here since his buddies have already left. He is welcome to stay as long as he wants!

An extra-special celebrity bird was a Golden-winged Warbler in the former rose garden. Cheryl did some research on our visitor and discovered that Golden-winged Warblers are in severe decline. Here’s an article from Cornell with more information:

https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/golden-winged-warbler-conservation-strategy-and-resources/#:~:text=They%20have%20one%20of%20the,of%2066%25%20since%20the%201960s.

Other sightings of note were a Belted Kingfisher, a large number of Wood Ducks, and a nice variety of warblers. An adorable raccoon was in its tree cavity nest. It looked peeved that we disturbed its nap.

BIRDERS: Jen, Mike, Jennie, Nathan, Cheryl, Eric, Mark W., Kristin, Gary, Leslie, Roger, Mark C., Paul, Dennis, Tracy, Marisa, Jane, Bruce and Mark and Sandra N. visiting from New York City.

TIME: 8:00am to Noon           

WEATHER: Sunny, 60s

Compiler: Cheryl

Photographers: Marisa, Eric, Gary    

  1. Cackling Goose   Number observed: 1

  2. Canada Goose   Number observed: 115

  3. Wood Duck   Number observed: 11

  4. Mallard   Number observed: 17

  5. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)   Number observed: 1

  6. Chimney Swift   Number observed: 7

  7. Ruby-throated Hummingbird   Number observed: 3

  8. Ring-billed Gull   Number observed: 5

  9. Herring Gull   Number observed: 2

  10. Double-crested Cormorant   Number observed: 2

  11. Great Blue Heron   Number observed: 5

  12. Great Egret   Number observed: 2

  13. Green Heron   Number observed: 4

  14. Red-tailed Hawk   Number observed: 1

  15. Belted Kingfisher   Number observed: 1

  16. Hairy Woodpecker   Number observed: 2

  17. Northern Flicker   Number observed: 2

  18. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher   Number observed: 1

  19. Warbling Vireo   Number observed: 3

  20. Red-eyed Vireo   Number observed: 1

  21. American Crow   Number observed: 2

  22. Black-capped Chickadee   Number observed: 2

  23. White-breasted Nuthatch   Number observed: 1

  24. Gray Catbird   Number observed: 3

  25. Swainson's Thrush   Number observed: 1

  26. American Robin   Number observed: 1

  27. House Finch   Number observed: 1

  28. American Goldfinch   Number observed: 11

  29. Chipping Sparrow   Number observed: 1

  30. White-throated Sparrow   Number observed: 7

  31. Baltimore Oriole   Number observed: 1

Observed by one member of the group who is experienced. Solid bright orange breast without any markings ruling out AMRE but smaller than AMRO. Documented latest fall sighting for Jackson Park is 09/28/84.

  1. Golden-winged Warbler   Number observed: 1

  2. Black-and-white Warbler   Number observed: 1

  3. Tennessee Warbler   Number observed: 4

  4. Orange-crowned Warbler   Number observed: 2

  5. Nashville Warbler   Number observed: 3

  6. Common Yellowthroat   Number observed: 2

  7. American Redstart   Number observed: 4

  8. Cape May Warbler   Number observed: 2

  9. Magnolia Warbler   Number observed: 4

  10. Bay-breasted Warbler   Number observed: 1

  11. Chestnut-sided Warbler   Number observed: 2

  12. Blackpoll Warbler   Number observed: 6

  13. Black-throated Blue Warbler   Number observed: 1

  14. Palm Warbler   Number observed: 5

  15. Pine Warbler   Number observed: 1

  16. Northern Cardinal   Number observed: 5

 

If you’d like more information about a bird, check out the All About Birds ID guide:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/

Corrections, additions and comments are welcome.

Good birding everyone,

Jennie

Later Event: September 21
Bemis Woods Bird Outing