Out and About the Prairies

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I keep changing my mind about what to make of a post. It seems crazy to have so many options during the slow breeding season, as it were. But slowness gives one more time to reflect, perhaps, as long as one isn’t melting. The return of extreme heat doesn’t help.

I have been to both Goose Lakes these past two Sundays, and I was delighted to have Joann’s company, as we combed the prairies for grassland birds. Climate change is making things trickier for the birds as well. My annual tradition is to visit Goose Lake Prairie on or about the 4th or the 5th of July, to celebrate quiet before or after the noise of fireworks and acknowledge another year gone on the 5th, which was my birthday, or so I’ve been told. Anyway, recovering from the carpal tunnel surgery, I am still using the Sony RX10 and getting more or less used to it.

At Goose Lake Prairie on July 5, we had many Field Sparrows, if more heard than seen.

Common Yellowthroats were still proclaiming their presence,

We saw an Eastern Meadowlark early on, if briefly.

Flying over us, at first a Great Egret and later, a Great Blue Heron.

There’s still nothing quite like an Indigo Bunting in bright sunshine.

This female Northern Cardinal struck a pose.

Toward the end of our trek, we saw Bald Eagle juveniles playing in the distance. There were 3 or 4 but I only managed to barely capture two at a time.

I used to always visit Goose Lake Prairie expecting to see Dickcissels, but this was the first year I didn’t even hear one. We heard chats and a Henslow’s Sparrow, but didn’t see any. There had been a lot of rain and flooding. Still, were fairly comfortable, it was not too hot, and the prairie flowers were in bloom.

One week later we visited Goose Lake Conservation Area, in the opposite direction, hoping to get lucky and see some Yellow-headed Blackbirds, the main attraction there. Although we did see a few, they were too far away, popping up in the reeds which were that much taller than on my last visit on June 2. I was hoping to start seeing some juvenile birds, but things were still pretty quiet. After the long walk along the Hebron Trail, when we finally reached the open grassland, I found a quiet Song Sparrow to photograph.

We were greeted by a large number of swallows, which turned out to be predominantly Bank Swallows with some Barn and.Tree Swallows. Bank and Barn Swallows below.

Two Tree Swallows, including the one at the top of the post.

We had a couple Willow Flycatchers, and an Eastern Kingbird.

We were standing on the platform that provides somewhat of an overlook facing the water, although we could not even see the water for all the reeds. At some point we noticed a Dickcissel struggling with what appeared to be a grasshopper. I had seen three or more Dickcissels back in June when they were perched proudly and singing, but I had almost forgotten they were here when this bird showed up.

Green Herons were flying over periodically.

I was surprised to have the camera almost focus on an American Goldfinch behind leaves.

Here’s one more of some Barn and Bank Swallows.

I should be out walking, but the sun is broiling, the heat is building, and the air is thick and heavy. I just can’t bring myself to start the car to go for a walk. I am also waiting for a FedEx delivery. If the delivery occurs early enough, I may go out this afternoon to swim. I found a pool where I can swim for the rest of the month before I go back to my regular health club, where the pool and the women’s locker room are currently closed for maintenance and remodeling, respectively. I went swimming on Monday at the temporary pool and surprised myself by doing the entire mile after not being able to swim for three weeks. Even swimming in warmer water than usual is refreshing. I hope you are finding ways to endure the heat, wherever you are.

Tadziu Sent Me

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I went out for a walk at the Chicago Portage this morning. That would not be so unusual, except for the fact that I have been staying inside all week due to the heat wave, and using my recovery from carpal tunnel surgery last Wednesday as further incentive to take it easy.

It rained last night, which brought down the overnight temperature, and we are promised more rain – in fact I heard thunder as I started to write this, threw on my gardening clothes loosely and went out to bring in the feeders just in time. I much prefer thunderstorms to fireworks.

My last time out was on June 28, the day my dressing came off my right wrist. I took the Sony RX10 camera with me, just to start getting used to the feel of it after years of neglect. I captured a Mallard swimming in the duckweed and turtles.

I ventured a photo of a distant Ruby-throated Hummingbird and an Oriole that I think might be the Orchard I heard singing so beautifully – that long, black tail doesn’t evoke Baltimore Oriole to me.

Thia morning, I was greeted by a “red carpet” of seeds strewn over the paved trail, and then while walking in on the dirt and gravel trail, I was stopped by a downed tree that had fallen across the trail during last night’s storm.

So I retreated back to the paved trail, stopping to observe one of several Red-winged Blackbirds.

I must have startled a Green Heron along the way.

By the little bridge, two Osprey flew over. I was able to capture only one at a time, but that’s better than nothing.

My greatest reward this morning was standing on the side of the little bridge, listening to an Indigo Bunting that at first I could not see. But he kept singing, and he was in Tadziu’s tree, so I waited patiently to find him. He dropped down to where I could see him and I got several photos, including the one at the top of the post. If I see this bird again, I will try to record a video.

For those of you who do not know of Tadziu, here’s a link to a post from years past that serves as an introduction. For what it’s worth, Tadziu knew every birder I encountered at the Chicago Portage. He presided over his territory for years. He did not return last summer, but one of his offspring did. Now I have to figure out if this is indeed another Tadziu Jr.

https://musicbirdblog.com/2022/06/08/cool-and-cloudy-at-the-portage/: Tadziu Sent Me

I’ll be back with something else. This short post seem appropriate with so much going on these longer days.

Scenes from Riverside

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The heat wave has begun. I was contemplating a walk by the river this morning, but at 7:00 AM it was already uncomfortably hot in my backyard, which is always cooler anyway because of all the trees… so I have reluctantly decided to stay inside. The thought of starting the car to drive for a walk seems like adding insult to injury. And, as good as I feel right now, I need to remind myself that I am still recovering from surgery.

So this is the first of a few retrospective posts featuring earlier walks by the Des Plaines River. I’ll start with an Indigo Bunting I found in Swan Pond on May 18.

On May 25, I happened to focus upon a Red-winged Blackbird as he was photo-bombed by a Mourning Dove,

On May 29, I took note of some late Mallard ducklings, two Double-crested Cormorants, and a Ring-billed Gull.

An Osprey also flew over.

And I was drawn to a Common Grackle in iridescence.

A doe calmly stared me down.

The month of June began inauspiciously. From June 1, a Double-crested Cormorant, a well-camouflaged Killdeer, a Song Sparrow and a Least Flycatcher.

I’m skipping ahead to June 22 when Cedar Waxwings were busy catching insects off the river.

I will be back with more selections, seeing as how I have conscripted myself to basically staying indoors these next few days. We are promised the beginning of a cool-down on Friday with forecasts for rain, of course. But I should not complain. I am healing well. I am managing to take care of my indoor birds and get some things done around the house. There are glimmers of promise as my wrist feels better and I turn less blue.

A Visit to the Hebron Trail

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I went up to what is now officially called Goose Lake Conservation Area in McHenry County on June 2, to see and hear the Yellow-headed Blackbirds that return every spring. I had to psych myself up for a drive that was even longer than the usual hour-and-a-half, due to the extra weekday traffic. But it was worth it, even if the birds were still quite far out from the observation deck. I envisioned returning later this month before my surgery, but decided to get some extra rest instead. Now that July looms ahead as a vast recovery experiment, maybe I can think about returning in a couple weeks.

My first photo was of an Eastern Bluebird. I think this is my first of this species this year.

Next I found a couple usual suspects, a Common Yellowthroat and a Song Sparrow, although there were fewer of the sparrows that morning.

I don’t have to ignore Red-winged Blackbirds all the time…

The Dickcissels were nice to see and hear.

I never ignore an American Crow.

When I could finally spot male Yellow-headed Blackbirds, they were extremely far away even for the 400mm extension of the lens, but I managed to get a few images. I always hope for closer encounters and I am betting they might be easier later in the season as the offspring fledge.

I can usually count on Willow Flycatchers here. These two were a bit hidden.

I found a Northern Yellow Warbler as well. I have heard them elsewhere, but this is the first one I’ve been able to photograph.

There were several Indigo Buntings singing.

Here’s one more Common Yellowthroat.

Well, I had my carpal tunnel release surgery yesterday, my surgeon said it went well, and I am feeling quite good this morning. It’s harder than ever to type with the dressing that won’t come off for three days, but I hope to play a little piano this afternoon and see what it’s like to move my car to the other side of the street for tomorrow, if not actually drive somewhere. I will know more about possibly swimming after I get the stitches removed in two weeks. Recovery is so far proving interesting. As long as I can take care of the birds, all is well. They are my best therapists.

The Portage Lately – and Ottawa Trail North

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It’s been an up-and-down spring. As we approached the summer solstice, I found myself craving shorter days so I don’t feel quite so guilty about resisting an earlier rise. This is a mix-up featuring a few takeaways from several visits to the Chicago Portage and one visit to Ottawa Trail North.

On May 24, I found an Eastern Wood-Pewee and an Olive-sided Flycatcher. I had been seeing the latter species over a couple weeks during migration and this was likely my last encounter.

On May 26, I noticed an American Robin busy gathering nesting material, a Green Heron and an Indigo Bunting. Notice how much darker the bunting’s color is when compared to the bird at the top of the post. It’s all about the light with these guys as their feathers are actually all black, but the reflection as blue is in the available sunlight.

On May 28, I found an Eastern Phoebe, a Red-eyed Vireo and a Tree Swallow.

On June 4, the two Green Herons who have been showing up lately got into some interesting interactions.

On June 9, I spotted a Black-crowned Night-heron and the two Green Herons.

Other birds on June 9 were a bit more subdued. A Brown-headed Cowbird female, a singing Eastern Wood-Pewee, and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

That brings me to Ottawa Trail. We had a terrific storm on June 10 and when I got to the Portage on the 11th, it was closed because so many trees had come down and crews had to deal with all the fallen. Here’s a couple photos I took with my phone on my next visit.

Ottawa Trail North can be an interesting spot if you walk along the levy which abuts the Des Plaines River. You’re up high which gives a different perspective of the river and also great open views of the sky. The first thing I noticed was two Great Egrets in the trees across the river. They were at quite a distance, but I haven’t seen any of these birds in Riverside lately so I was delighted to see them here. I then found they had flown down into the marshy area below the levy, where I usually see Green Herons.

I got nice views of a Red-tailed Hawk.

I noticed a Common Grackle, a Green Bottle Fly on thistle and a White-tailed Deer doe cooling off by the river.

I found the Green Herons well-camouflaged in the marsh. I didn’t see the second one in front until I uploaded this cropped photo.

As I was walking back, I barely caught a Blue Jay flying away.

House Sparrows don’t get enough credit for their ventures into the wilderness.

I am about to hear more about my surgery appointment, and I seem to be in the mood to get more rest ahead of it, as many things as I want to accomplish beforehand. Rain was graciously in the forecast today which allows me some time to get household chores done. I hope to be back soon.

P.S. Somehow I missed the image selection for the top of the post in Facebook, my apologies to FB readers if I don’t figure out how to fix it.

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.