I was going to go back to September photos, but between hosting my friend for two weeks and various social commitments, I have been too tired to complete any narratives. And now that the pressure is off, I have succumbed to a rhinovirus which is likely nothing more than the so-called common cold, but even my Zebra Finches yell at me when I start coughing.

So how about a quick review of some Yellow-rumped Warblers seen recently, and then I will try to get back to the regular program. Here are some captures from October 2 and October 5 in the Swan Pond and Riverside Lawn areas by the Des Plaines River.

The arrival of Yellow-rumped Warblers always heralds the end of warbler migration. My theory is that they have less of a distance to travel to their winter grounds, and so they wait longer to get going. They always arrive in great numbers, so after a while, you can recognize them immediately. They also have a distinctive chip note, so you can hear them before you see them.

You won’t always see the yellow rump for which they are named, and it can be confusing, especially in the sping, when the males are brighter and have yellow on their heads and sides as well. But here is how they look in the fall. And for me, that broken eye-ring is a dead giveaway.

Then in Swan Pond, I saw some more Yellow-rumps foraging low in the vegetation. Note the heavy striping on the bird in the lower photograph. There is always room for individual variation. Chances are this was a younger bird.

More Yellow-rumped Warblers appeared on the 5th.

Of course, there were other birds. Of note on the 2nd, I first saw a Great Egret not far from the Hofmann Tower.

Then, later by the swinging bridge, a Great Egret and a Double-crested Cormorant.

The cormorant is notable for its pale chest. This indicates a juvenile, according to Sibley.

I saw an Eastern Phoebe by the bridge.

And walking around, I noticed Bald-faced Hornet Nest and a Differential Grasshopper. I credit Google for these IDs…

On my way back to the car, I found a Common Nighthawk sleeping in a tree.

I had covered up the air conditioner and taken the living room fans to the basement days ago, but then we got walloped with hot weather for today and possibly tomorrow, which forced me to turn them all on again.

I promise to be back with more from the fall migration season soon. It’s good to take a break from sneezing.