Category Archives: Chicago Portage Woods

Two More Days Trickling In

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It’s been a busy week. While the days are getting shorter, fall weather is suspiciously in exact sync with the calendar, and evidence of passerine migration has picked up on the ground, making for some long-awaited encounters. But first, here’s how the Chicago Portage appeared on September 15, looking back at the bridge near Harlem.

Of course the Portage attracts creatures more than birds. But below the young doe, two year-round residents were present: a Hairy Woodpecker and a female Northern Cardinal.

And then, I started seeing Blackpoll Warblers. A lot of them must have come through our flyway, because I have been seeing them consistently and in numbers. However confusing they may look in the fall, with no “black” poll to relate to, they consistently have orange-to-pink colored feet which always distinguishes them from everybody else. And after a while, maybe, you start to notice what their face looks like, or the way their feathers are arranged, and you can sense their identity before the confirming feet.

Below, a glimpse of a Gray-cheeked Thrush, and a juvenile Indigo Bunting.

I never turn down a Magnolia Warbler.

Then the Black-throated Green Warbler, also at the top of the post, appeared. I especially appreciated his effort to make sure I saw his black throat.

Two days later, on September 17, I observed an American Goldfinch still feeding a fledgling.

I saw Blackpoll Warblers again.

There were several Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Most seemed to be juveniles, except for what appears to be an adult female in the top right of the first photo below.

I was surprised to see a Lincoln’s Sparrow.

This was the last time I saw a Green Heron.

A Magnolia Warbler brightened up the leaves.

And then, I heard and saw a couple Yellow-Rumped Warblers. This one was a bit too far away to capture well, but they are often among the last warblers to be seen in the fall.

I was still seeing Bay-breasted Warblers.

I caught a brief glimpse of a Chestnut-sided Warbler.

And another Indigo Bunting.

Blue Jays have been very vocal and not so difficult to see, now that breeding season is over.

So with the weather cool and autumn-like, the subtle signs accumulate. I went out back to fill and hang feeders this morning and encountered a bee still asleep in a flower. I am back to wearing jeans and long-sleeved t-shirts. It’s been hard to come by seasonal weather for quite a while, but I am gratefully reminded that fall has always been my favorite time of year.

Fall Warblers Come Trickling In

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Nothing like a rainy day to give me some extra time for a long overdue blog post. I’ve been trying to find some fall migrants in between weather events. The only problem with seeing just a few individuals is that if they are very cooperative, I take too many photos of them. Such was the case with a few birds on September 8 at the Chicago Portage.

The first birds I saw were juvenile “regulars” – a Gray Catbird dealing with feather management, and a Song Sparrow.

There was quite a display of Chicken-of-the-Woods on a fallen log.

Then I found a couple Bay-breasted Warblers.

I later found the Cape May Warbler that is at the top of the post. It was having a fine time gleaning galls from the undersides of hackberry leaves.

I was also happy to see a Green Heron that day.

Two days later, it was overcast and I only saw a few warblers, but I didn’t get many photos usable for anything except identification purposes. But I did see two lovely juveniles: a young Indigo Bunting, an American Robin, and I’m throwing in a likely adult American Goldfinch.

Last was a Blue Jay in flight. I think the Sony excels at this with its 600mm zoom.

Seeing as how tomorrow’s forecast is much like today’s with a lot of rain, I should be back that much sooner with more warblers and other migrants. I am also getting ready for a friend coming to stay a couple weeks, so maybe the rainy weather is good timing.

They’re Coming Back

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On the first day of September, I found eight fall warbler species at the Chicago Portage. I did not manage to get decent photographs of them all, but I was surprised to see how many the Sony did actually capture. I still find the camera to be quite temperamental, but with the extreme heat we have been experiencing, I intend to keep using it when it seems more practical.

This will be a very short post with some of the more engaging photos. I found most of the birds closer to the more northerly entrance to the preserve, so I will have to keep checking that area which, up until now, has been pretty quiet.

Here are some Tennessee Warblers.

I have been seeing American Redstarts off and on for about a week. Sometimes, of course, I saw only their tails.

I am always delighted to see Bay-breasted Warblers.

The big surprise was a Canada Warbler. This must be a first-year bird because it barely has a “necklace.” But the blue-gray color of the back and that bold eye-ring give it away.

The Chestnut-sided Warbler at the top of the post is also below.

Not another warbler, but there were a few Eastern Wood-Pewees – flycatchers – that morning.

One more bird – either a female Orchard Oriole or Baltimore Oriole. I am leaning toward Orchard, but too lazy to prove it to eBird…

So the activity has fallen off over the last few days of extreme heat. The air was so thick this morning I barely managed to walk the Portage for a little less than an hour. But the weekend looks to be cooler with the winds coming from the north, so maybe we will see more migrants. I’ll be back soon with a collection of RIverside sightings.

August Recap from the Chicago Portage

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It’s time to seriously think about fall. The fall migration bird walks have begun, anticipating the birds gracefully bringing us into the autumnal season as they have in the past. August at the Chicago Portage has been quiet, the summer breeding birds having all but left and the migrants from the north starting to pass through. Here’s a little compilation of some birds I managed to see and photograph at the Chicago Portage with the smaller camera.

Starting with August 4, the Bird of the Month has to be an American Goldfinch. They have been everywhere.

On August 8, I got a rare view of a Muskrat.

Indigo Buntings were abundant, the adults were getting ready to leave.

On August 18, I encounted a White-tailed Deer doe and one of her fawns.

Eastern Wood-Pewees have been constant all summer. I will miss their sweet little songs cascading through the woods.

I’m always happy to see a butterfly. This is a Hackberry Emperor.

On August 20, I saw a juvenile Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher and a few Cedar Waxwings.

I found a juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Turkey Vultures were on the move.

I saw my first fall warblers that day, with a couple Blackburnian Warblers easiest to photograph.

On August 22, right by the little bridge near Harlem Avenue, I was joined by a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird who was enjoying a patch of Jewelweed.

On August 23, I saw a Black-and-White Warbler and a Blackburnian Warbler.

A Northern Flicker was checking the “flicker” tree, perhaps to see if anyone was left behind.

I saw Eastern Wood-Pewees again.

On August 25, I saw a juvenile Indigo Bunting.

And again on August 27, another late Indigo Bunting.

I took note of a Pearl Crescent butterfly.

Northern Flickers will continue to be quite visible throughout the fall.

And just when I had given up on seeing any more birds, this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk flew right overhead and I complied. I have found the Sony RX10 to be great at focusing on birds in flight against a clear background. I am glad I finally got some good use out of this camera. I may have to learn how to use my Canon set up all over again…

Flights of Fancy at the Chicago Portage

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I’ve been getting more and more used to handling the smaller camera, and it’s been a good time to do so with the slower, quieter breeding season. Compared to the Canon camera and lens, the Sony images feel crisp and flat, but I sometimes think it’s the Sony and not me getting better focusing on a bird in flight, maybe easier than getting it to focus on a bird sitting still.

Having said that, here’s a Red-winged Blackbird sitting still. Red-wingeds were ubiquitous in early July, but I strain to see or hear one lately.

Osprey seemed more prevalent earlier too.

Here’s a White-tailed Deer doe I saw behind foliage.

Indigo Buntings have been pretty consistent declaring their territories.

On July 4, somehow the camera focused on the bird and the twigs in front of it.

I saw a well-perched Indigo Bunting that day too.

Then, on July 7, I had a male Red-winged Blackbird in flight, and a female in the mulberry. As I mentioned earlier, I haven’t seen hardly any Red-winged Blackbirds the last week or two. I’m sure they’re still around, but just when it seems like you can ignore them, they vanish. I am sure we are about to see them in large mixed flocks of foraging blackbirds soon.

I was pleased to see an Eastern Comma butterfly. But only just one.

That day several Northern Flickers were hanging out around one well-used dead nesting tree.

A Chipmunk seemed curious.

Northern Rough-winged Swallows gave me several opportunities to track their flights.

The bird striking a reflective pose below is a female Brown-headed Cowbird. I can only imagine what is going through her mind as other species raise her offspring.

The Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are quiet now and hardly discernible, but I found one that day.

And for a moment, I spotted a juvenile Warbling Vireo. As more and more juvenile birds emerge and start exploring their world, things will get more exciting for us humans observing them too.

Standing on the bridge near Harlem, I have often been able to spot a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird perched high on a bare branch overlooking the stream. This is a very tiny bird that is so far away I usually only grab a photo as a momentary record of my sighting, but I was impressed that the camera managed to pick up the color on his throat.

The Green Heron below is the same one at the top of the post.

Today it rained all morning and we are promised more precipitation this afternoon with a possibility of thunderstorms. So I have no good excuses to not at least try finishing this post. It’s also been a good day for doing laundry, eliminating some clutter, and I might cook something while it’s cooler in the kitchen and I consider where to go looking for birds tomorrow.

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.

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.

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.

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.