A Little Columbus Park Review

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Looking back at three visits to Columbus Park with the Oak Park Migration Bird Walkers, plus a little extra visit to the Chicago Portage after the last visit.

On April 25th, spring migration was just sort of beginning with Palm Warblers and Yellow-rumped Warblers predominant.

A Caspian Tern or two will show up at this spot and it’s a delight to see them, particularly when one catches a fish.

Tree Swallows were seen more often earlier. I haven’t seen them at all the past couple weeks.

We had a Pied-billed Grebe that day. I can’t resist trying to photograph them, they are too cute.

A Ruby-crowned Kinglet could still be found.

Wood Ducks are usually seen here, but that doesn’t make them ordinary.

On our next walk, May 9, we had to deal with more leaves. It was a bit tricky finding this Canada Warbler.

A confident-looking Eastern Kingbird posed for me.

This may be the only Black-and-white Warbler I managed to photograph well enough this spring.

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were showing up.

Luckily for us, Black-crowned Night Herons like this spot and we saw at least three that day. This is the same individual at the top of the post. Here the heron was making use of the turtles’ vantage point.

We always see a Great Blue Heron eventually.

Somehow I caught this Baltimore Oriole in flight.

On May 23, I was happy to see a Wilson’s Warbler with his little black cap, and also an American Redstart in flight.

A Caspian Tern wasted no time getting down to business.

Black-crowned Night Herons were available.

A Green Heron emerged in flight from out of nowhere or wherever it had been undetected.

When I went to the Chicago Portage afterward for a little more action, I found two Green Hrtons.

And I had a special visit with another Canada Warbler.

Typing one letter at a time with my left hand is tedious and therefor slows down my thought process, but maybe that isn’t entirely such a bad thing. Thinking of it sort of like a typing meditation. I would be a lot worse off right now trying to write with pen and paper. But I will commit myself to a list in block letters of things I need to get done before my surgery in 10 days.

We are also in the midst of a cooler and at times rainier spell, which is a welcome change from the heat but presents its own challenges. Gardening with my left hand is trickier than I expected, and the jungle is taking over. My favorite pruning shears broke. There are worse things, I know. And some much better things as well. Maybe not so bad to have to think out of the box to solve problems for a change.

Poking Around Palos

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I did something out of the ordinary on Saturday morning. I decided to “chase” a Cerulean Warbler that was being reported for about a week in the Palos region. It turned out to be quite predictable and fortunate. If it were only this simple more often. Cerulean Warblers are rare in this area, and when they are found, they tend to stay high in the treetops. This one had claimed an Eastern Black Walnut tree as his territory as he advertised constantly for a mate.

I had never been to Cap Sauers Holding Forest Preserve, but the Cerulean was just another reason to check out more locations in this vast area. Unlike years ago when I had to get out the map book and study a location, now I can follow my GPS. The first bird I photographed while searching the trees for the singing Cerulean turned out to be a Yellow-throated Vireo.

Then the Cerulean began to appear. I took way too many photos. Here are a few…

I walked in to Cap Sauers a bit and saw a pair of Scarlet Tanagers and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, but it was difficult to photograph them in the density of the forest. I made note of the cooler temperature, however, surrounded by trees, and decided that this was probably a decent place to revisit this time of year. The trail is long and is advertised as the most remote in the entire region, so I will hold onto that thought for further exploration.

A week earlier, I visited McGinnis Slough, my favorite little Palos haunt. There always seems to be something going on there. Even if seeing Great Blue Herons this time of year is predictable, I never get tired of them.

Wood Ducks were present. The Marsh Wrens were calling everywhere, but I could not manage a look at any of them.

Perched on the tree where I have often seen several Wood Ducks later in the season was a Double-crested Cormorant.

I was surprised to see a Viceroy Butterfly.

A Tree Swallow took a break against the blue sky.

I walked back along the grass path to the picnic table lookout over the slough and was greeted by the huge Snapping Turtle below. I asked for permission to sit on the far side of the table. We sat in quiet communion for several minutes. It did not move the whole time, except to shift its weight a tiny bit when I started to think about getting up and leaving.

Here’s one more action shot of the Cerulean Warbler.

Summer weather is upon us. I will still go back in time here for earlier captures from spring migration, but for the most part, the breeders have arrived and are busy taking advantage of various habitats as they perfect the art of survival.

More from the Peak

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Here are some captures from May 20, 21 and 22 – three different locations – at what turned out to be peak migration activity for our region. The first group of photos from May 20 are from the founding location for the Oak Park Migration Bird Walkers, fondly known as Henry’s Alley. We found warblers high in the locust trees where they find insects to feed on. We had some Blackburnian Warblers, for starters. I don’t know how I managed the last photo of the Blackburnian flying out toward the lens, but it seems to be a theme for this post. The Chestnut-sided Warbler at the top of the post was doing the same thing.

Here’s a little group of three familiar warbler species seen on that walk: an American Redstart, a Magnolia Warbler, and a Tennessee Warbler.

The next day at the Chicago Portage, May 21, I got good looks at a Gray-cheeked Thrush.

I saw two orioles, a male Baltimore Oriole, and a first-year male Orchard Oriole who was singing and wouldn’t turn around. But I am always eager to see if an Orchard Oriole pair takes up nesting at the Portage.

I have heard Great-crested Flycatchers pretty consistently, but this visit offered me my only opportunity to see one, so far.

Birds in flight: a Barn Swallow over the water and a Great Blue Heron overhead.

Merlin heard and I saw an Alder Flycatcher.

The greenish back of this Red-eyed Vireo blends in with its surroundings.

I saw a Veery, another thrush species uncommon except during migration.

Then on May 22, in Riverside, I saw another Blackburnian Warbler,

I haven’t seen many Cedar Waxwings yet this year, but I found this one.

American Redstarts: the first two photos are a first-year male and the third appears to be a female.

I found an Eastern Kingbird posing perfectly.

This time I saw only a female Scarlet Tanager.

And another Gray-cheeked Thrush.

A Tennessee Warbler appeared.

I didn’t see many Bay-breasted Warblers well this spring, so it was good to find this one.

Two Common Grackles were getting into something in the river.

I was happy to see a Wilson’s Warbler after hearing them frequently.

One flycatcher often heard but not seen, an Eastern Wood-Pewee.

And here’s one more of the Chestnut-sided Warbler at the top of the post.

I have been to some other places recently, and I may continue to explore as I start planning for carpal tunnel surgery in two-and-a-half weeks. The weather has turned up the temperature and we are getting rain to go with it, so I will be busy gardening too while I still can. I’ll also go back through more photos to highlight a few more species seen this up-and-down spring migration.

Two Days in May

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The long-awaited spring warbler migration got off to a rocky start, with a brief burst of activity while prevailing winds were still trying to make up their minds, and suddenly after a cold spell when the warm air seemed to be back in earnest, the warblers took advantage of the southerly winds and got closer to their destinations without visiting us.

I am here with two mid-May days of heightened activity, and there are one or two more posts coming from this migration, but it’s been rather frustrating unless one managed to visit well-known hotspots. I have to wonder if even those places experienced a bit of downturn.

On May 16, the Oak Park Migration Bird Walkers were at Thatcher Woods. We saw some warblers there.

Northern Waterthrush

As we walked down the steps off the trail that runs along the back of Trailside Museum, we were greeted by a very friendly male American Redstart.

There were several other American Redstarts in various plumages.

The birds were now high in the treetops which made photographing them more challenging. We briefly saw a Black-throated Green Warbler.

There’s no mistaking a Blackburnian Warbler.

A Chestnut-sided Warbler was also spotted by someone else after I kept hearing him sing.

We had a few Magnolia Warblers for good measure.

Beyond warblers, we found a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher with its back to us.

Three days later I was at the Chicago Portage, where I was pleased to see a Great Egret if only briefly. Large waders are infrequent here.

Baltimore Orioles have moved in for the summer. That’s a female on the left.

I found a nearby Red-eyed Vireo.

I had heard Scarlet Tanagers were in town, so I was glad to see a pair.

I found an Orange-crowned Warbler.

I couldn’t resist photographing a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. They are already getting impossible to see in all the leaves, and that will continue most of the summer.

I then found the very engaged Canada Warbler who is also featured at the top of the post. He was singing and showing off his lucky worm.

I saw a Nashville Warbler that day too.

Shortly before I left, I took a quick photo of a Red-bellied Woodpecker. These birds are also harder to see now, so it was nice to catch his color in good light.

I’m going to spread out a little and visit some places I haven’t been to in a while. I went to McGinnis Slough yesterday and I plan to visit what is now called Goose Lake Conservation Area in McHenry County tomorrow as the number of Yellow-headed Blackbirds reported is substantial and there are other birds there too I don’t get to see often. We are experiencing beautiful, cooler weather before a warm up and accompanying rain, so I may as well explore while I can.

Early May at the Chicago Portage

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In spite of life’s challenges, confirming existence itself, not to mention sometimes extreme ups and downs in the weather, spring migration continues to inspire hope and reassurance that not everything is over yet. A lot has been happening, lately with a lot of singing, at the Chicago Portage.

On May 2, the Baltimore Orioles were arriving, perched far away. I was leading my annual auction walk for the Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation. We stopped along the trail to listen to the orioles and several other singers, many of which we could not see, but the birdsong was entertainment in itself.

A Cooper’s Hawk flew over.

At one point later in the walk, an Eastern Warbling Vireo came right down in front of us and started gathering nesting material.

On May 5 before I left for the Portage again, I took a photo of one of the White-Crowned Sparrows that had been spending a few weeks in my backyard.

It was rather quiet at the Chicago Portage when I got there, but I was delighted to see a Wood Thrush sitting in a tree right beside the unpaved trail.

Then I found a Black-throated Green Warbler.

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were everywhere. They still are omnipresent, but less visible as they are busy nesting.

On May 12, I saw a Northern Waterthrush.

An Osprey flew overhead, and a Great Egret made an appearance.

I was able to get a better view of a male Baltimore Oriole.

I was very happy to see a Blue-headed Vireo.

I caught glimpses of a Barn Swallow and a Northern Rough-winged Swallow.

On May 14, I found an enthusiastically singing Northern House Wren.

The Green Heron at the top of the post was back.

I saw a Veery and a Swainson’s Thrush.

I managed to capture a couple Eastern Warbling Vireos.

A Bald Eagle flew over rather distantly, but was still easy to capture with the 400mm lens.

I’d forgotten about this flycatcher which Merlin seems to think is a Least Flycatcher.

Chestnut-sided Warblers were all over the preserve that day. I wish I’d thought to record them as they were singing like crazy.

I found a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

It’s been a little harder to see White-breasted Nuthatches lately. I suspect they are very busy.

Indigo Buntings are arriving. I expect to see them a lot more frequently the next week or two.

Every migration season is unique or so it seems, with the appearance of certain predominant species varying. We seem to have a boom in Canada Warblers this spring and I will be back with them and others in my next post.

I am feeling hopeful and much better since my diagnosis of carpal tunnel was confirmed – add in some arthritis – and I expect to get a date for the outpatient surgery soon after the holiday weekend. It’s tremendously encouraging to know relief is on the horizon. And while I’m still being careful and trying to avoid pain, I am finding it just a little easier to type. That’s a relief in itself.

After the Rain

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I started this post over a week ago – after a lot of rain caused some significant flooding along the river – before my daily routine took a hit. It’s been a challenging two weeks. However, things are slowly but surely starting to look up. I’m having a hard time typing at the moment, which I will try to explain later, so this post will be mostly photographs. Now if I can just remember what I was doing to begin with.

On May 1, some Solitary Sandpiipers were busy in the flooded area in Riverside called Swan Pond.

Barn Swallows were also busy over the flooded area.

A Red-tailed Hawk made an appearance.

On my next visit, May 4, things were perhaps a little calmer. I was surprised to see only two goslings with this Canada Goose.

Even a Rock Pigeon seemed a little stunned to be taking it all in.

I never know when I will see a White-breasted Nuthatch, so I became interested in this one.

There were still a number of White-throated Sparrows.

I sometimes think the Northern Cardinals feel like they’re being overlooked as the migrants start coming through.

On May 11, I found a Northern House Wren enjoying a worm snack. These birds are more often heard than seen.

A Great Blue Heron was not too far away.

I managed a photo of a Northern Waterthrush which is a better depiction of how you typically see them than it is of the bird itself.

Palm Warblers were abundant, as usual.

On May 13, I found another House Wren near the top of a tree by the river.

I got a decent look at a Magnolia Warbler. The winds were still coming from the north and we weren’t feeling that big warbler push yet. But Yellow-rumped Warblers like the one below the Magnolia, for comparison, have been around for weeks.

I observed some interesting courtship behavior with two Tree Swallows.

An Osprey flew over to check things out. I wonder if the water in the river was still too high to make fish visible.

I found a first year male American Redstart.

Here’s one more Palm Warbler in action.

So now to a brief (?) story about my situation, such as I can barely type it. I received two citations from the city concerning my property. One was for too many bird feeders and the other was for what was termed yard waste, which was simply the dead stalks leftover from last year’s growth which I have been advised by naturalists not to remove until the temperature is a consistent 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Even though we have warmed up considerably over the past few days, the extended forecast is still for some overnight temps in the 40’s. The bees and butterflies and other pollinators need the old growth and the soil to remain undisturbed while they use it for shelter during the winter.

I began to clean up what I could and decided to completely remove the feeder pole. I also wanted to meet with the person who had inspected my property before my court date, so I went to City Hall, got his card and left him a voicemail. I subsequently had a terrible sleepless night and woke up with a swollen right hand and wrist. I’ve been wearing a brace to sleep for a couple years as what I am sure is carpal tunnel syndrome has now gotten progressively worse.

So I met with the inspector a couple days later and he made note of my improvements, but I still had to pay fines. However, given the rising price of birdseed, this could be a blessing in disguise. I am viewing this as an opportunity to test the native landscape. As for my right hand, I am looking forward to an appointment with a hand surgeon this week. I also have to find a better way to process photos. Lots to think about. More than I can handle typing with my left hand for the moment. I have been teaching my left hand to be more independent with household chores. I could start learning some new Bach pieces just practicing the left hand parts…

I hope to return soon with less drama and more birds.

Spring, Starting All Over Again

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It’s been a busy month at the Chicago Portage and I can’t seem to get caught up. So I’m going to do a quick spree through some memorable photos. The weather has been up and down and it feels like spring migration is likewise in fits and starts. We are still feeling the effects of a lot of April rain. Here we go…

Two Wood Ducks flew over on April 12.

Two days later, I saw a Muskrat, an Osprey, a Golden-crowned Kinglet and a Chipping Sparrow.

On April 16, I got good looks at a White-throated Sparrow and a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

On April 20, I caught a moment between two Brown-headed Cowbirds.

A Golden-crowned Kinglet was practicing its acrobatic skills.

And there was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet whose crown I nearly saw.

I am already not paying much attention to Red-winged Blackbirds, but this one was tempting in flight.

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are coming back.

Here’s another beautiful male Yelloiw-rumped Warbler.

And on April 23, I managed some action photos of the male Belted Kingfisher, also at the top of the post, who has shown up more frequently.

I am a little or a lot worn out, depending on the moment, from a very busy weekend with both mornings starting out at 4:30 AM. Sunrise getting earlier makes it a little easier. We are still experiencing cooler temperatures which are frustrating my attempts to keep up with the surge of green going on in the front and back yards. I try to remind myself I will soon be complaining about the heat. More Spring to follow…

Our First Spring Migration Bird Walk at Columbus Park

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We were scheduled to start our Saturday walks at Thatcher Woods, but the flooding from recent downpours will make walking, not to mention parking there, prohibitive for quite a while. So we went to Columbus Park. It was a chilly and windy morning, but we saw a lot of birds anyway. I found it especially nice to have good views of a Pine Warbler, the bird at the top of the post.

We always start off walking across the big lawn to the edge of the water to see what’s up. There were Wood Ducks and a Black-crowned Night-heron, for starters.

There was also a very chilly-looking Tree Swallow.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets are still happening.

This Brown Creeper was not daunted by the weather,.

White-throated Sparrows are to be expected.

Here are a couple more photos of the Pine Warbler.

Palm Warblers are comparatively easy to see, so maybe that’s why we tend to pass them over later in the season, but I still find them beautiful.

I caught the Black-crowned Night-heron relocating to another spot.

It was a treat to see two Greater Yellowlegs toward the end of the walk.

For what it’s worth, we had some Yellow-rumped Warblers.

We got nice looks at a Great Blue Heron and a Pied-billed Grebe.

As spring always tests my memory for vocalizations I haven’t heard for months, I invariably learn something new. I now recognize the chattery calls of female Red-winged Blackbirds, in addition to the various vocalizations that the males produce.

I will be back with more spring migration photos as the birds start showing up. For the moment, my focus is on preparing for and playing in the annual Spring Music Festival this Saturday night with Linda Rios on flute and Ray Holdsworth and Kate Burch on percussion. I’m looking forward to playing and also to hearing the other performers, especially those I have never heard before. It will be a fun evening for all.

More Lakes to Look At

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Onward to small lakes in northern Cook County. On April 4, we joined a Chicago Ornithological Society outing to five small lakes off the Des Plaines River. Beginning at Axehead Lake, we saw more Common Loons, Lesser Scaup, some Bufflehead.

At Lake Opeka, we saw an interesting Common Loon that was not in breeding plumage.

A Double-crested Cormorant flew by.

And so did an Osprey, eventually. It’s always exciting to see the return of these birds.

And a Great Blue Heron swept by my lens. On the return trip, it was carrying a fish.

In the woods, we found a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

And Yellow-rumped Warblers were just starting to appear.

The big surprise was seeing a Greater White-fronted Goose at Beck Lake. It’s a bit smaller than a Canada Goose. We rarely see this bird.

I couldn’t resist this flotilla of Red-breasted Mergansers.

Onward to Busse Woods, with more lakes on April 11. I can hardly believe I have managed to ignore all these wonderfully birdy places in Cook County. And there are so many more… A singing Song Sparrow welcomed us that morning.

Red-breasted Mergansers were a little closer, then later, I forget what flushed a lot of them but I was happy to document their take-off.

We saw Horned Grebes in breeding plumage both days, but with better light and closer views, they were really spectacular looking here. The bird at the top of the post is also one of them.

Mute Swans flew in.

We had a beautiful Vesper Sparrow, another less-common species.

American White Pelicans were in flight over the lakes.

I caught this Double-crested Cormorant in a pensive moment.

A Swamp Sparrow observed us.

Another Great Blue Heron flew past.

This Osprey was in much better light than the one the week before. I believe there is a nest platform somewhere in the area.

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were here too. I love the way the plumage compliments the catkins of an Eastern Cottonwood. I also realize I never noticed these flowers before.

I managed to catch a quick Caspian Tern in flight.

For the record, Yellow-rumped Warbers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets were seen and have been more frequent the last few days.

We have been experiencing colder temperatures, lots of wind and more rain, the exact opposite of last year. Everything is going crazy in my yard, but I will have a hard time again with clean-up as the overnight temperatures are not yet safe (50 degrees Fahrenheit or above). In anticipation of warmer weather, my first bumblebee appeared in the front yard on Wednesday or Thursday, and I was telling Linda about it as we sat on the front porch waiting for her ride home. As if on call, the bumblebee came to visit us, very sweetly hovering in front of us as if to say hello before it took off. I have encountered bees when the garden is in full bloom and they are always friendly, but this was a very special moment. I feel sometimes like I am living in a bubble or an oasis that provides not just sustenance for wild creatures and plants, but also some sort of spiritual connection between us. Life’s simplest pleasures far outweigh the manufactured ones for me.

Catching Up at the Chicago Portage

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Spring is coming to the Chicago Portage. The buds are starting to open up on the trees. Hints of green shoots are everywhere. Birdsong is constant. One recent arrival is the Hermit Thrush at the top of this post.

Going back to March 24, a pair of Blue-winged Teal stopped by.

Golden-crowned Kinglets have been consistent.

On March 26, I was pleased to see a very active female Belted Kingfisher. I have been seeing a male over the past few weeks, so I’d like to think this is a pair.

I found a White-breasted Nuthatch in a sneaky spot.

The Blue-winged Teal were still around, hanging out with a Canada Goose and some turtles.

By April 7, Yellow-rumped Warblers started to appear here and there.

I was surprised to find a pair of Pied-billed Grebes.

I’ve missed Black-capped Chickadees for a little while, but now they seem to be returning.

American Goldfinches are rapidly becoming more colorful.

An Eastern Phoebe has been around for a few weeks. Sometimes I only hear him, so I can’t resist taking his picture when I can see him.

On April 9, shortly after I entered the preserve, I saw this Cooper’s Hawk surveying everything imperiously from a distance. I later encountered a woman who told me she saw a Cooper’s Hawk and its “baby” a few days earlier, sitting on top of the pavilion. The woman said she knew it was the hawk’s offspring because it was smaller and still had its pin feathers. So maybe this bird is half of the pair I first saw several weeks ago around a nest and they did actually have success. I often checked the nest for activity, but it was up high and so well-hidden I never managed to see much of anything.

Two Tree Swallows flew over the water.

The Mallard pair was still ensconced on their favorite log.

One Pied-billed Grebe was present, but very far away. I sat down on a log close to the water and watched it from afar for several minutes. It then came swimming my way as if to see what I wanted, and then after it checked me out, it turned around a flew off.

I had another curious Golden-crowned Kinglet that day.

Two Turkey Vultures were flying around as I left. I managed to capture one of them.

I have more to share, and the race has just begun… At least it starts to feel like a race. Linda the flutist and I are also getting ready for the Spring Music Festival. So many finish lines!