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.
Cerulean warbler what a great bird. I have only seen one in my life. Well the Yellow-throated Vireo is nice but who cares. You saw and got great pictures of the Cerulean. Congrats!
Bob, I’ve been telling people to go see it – it’s worth the trip. I thought that maybe I had only seen one once before in Michigan years ago. According to one birder who showed up a bit later with my friend Joann who happened to be on the same wavelength that morning, this bird was in the same spot advertising for a mate last year.
Although the bird is small and he was in the very top branches, he basically stayed true to his location, crossing 104th over to the Teason’s Woods side on occasion – where thankfully there is a parking lot!
Someone once said that it is better to travel hopefully than to arrive, but I think actually seeing the bird you have come to see is pretty satisfactory.
It was really an extraordinary experience. It’s not as if the Cerulean was a vagrant or totally unexpected, but still it was highly unusual, and then for it to be in the same location for an entire week, well… the bird itself has traveled hopefully.
And on a smaller but more frequent scale, I am thinking of how often I go to my local places with the expectation or hope that I might see a bird that would likely be there, but knowing that birds move almost constantly and that might not be the case. Then, when that bird does indeed show up, I am just as thrilled as it has made my day.