Category Archives: Chicago Portage Woods

More Fall Scenes from the Chicago Portage

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Here’s something a bit more current, even though I hardly went out for walks last week. I have started to get back into my regular routine. Anyway, here are some photos in reverse chronological order for a change. First are some from October 21st. A grey squirrel seemed to have perfected a walnut chin grip.

I managed to get a few barely passable photos of a rather cooperative Golden-crowned Kinglet. This is the same individual at the top of the post.

After that, I got some better views of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Then I noticed a young Cooper’s Hawk in the distance.

On October 16, there were some American Goldfinches.

I saw a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

The moon made an appearance.

A Golden-crowned Kinglet emerged, this one being a little easier to capture.

And I encountered a deer on the way out past the little bridge.

The camera caught a distant Tennessee Warbler.

Then back on October 14, I first saw a Hermit Thrush on the chain-link fence that separates the Chicago Portage from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District property, and then agan later on a branch.

I found a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

I caught a glimpse of a White-throated Sparrow.

A Red-winged Blackbird flew overhead.

It was still easy to get a few looks at Yellow-rumped Warblers.

I took note of a pensive-looking American Goldfinch.

A female Downy Woodpecker was mining a large tree trunk, and then I saw a male Downy Woodpecker closer.

I found a Nashville Warbler irresistible.

And I also found a lingering Tennessee Warbler.

With my house guest gone Thursday, I have been trying to get my life back together. I wonder if it has been a bit more challenging as the days grow shorter and temperatures cooler. Luckily my indoor birds are here to remind me what needs to be done every day at a minimum.

For what it’s worth, on Saturday morning, I picked up and then unloaded a total of 510 pounds of birdseed, my annual stock-up-for-winter from the Chicago Bird Alliance (formerly Chicago Audubon Society) Annual Birdseed Sale. I began to muse, as I always do, about how much longer I will be physically able to do this task, but then, as if an immediate answer to my question, I soon discovered that all the lifting and carrying had somehow provided me with a rush of energy that was enough to continue doing the physical tasks of two big cleanups, first of the dining room, and then the living room, removing the indoor birds’ dirty curtains and huts and replacing with clean ones. In essence, I accomplished in one day what I would normally have scheduled to do in three, and I am none the worse for wear. Indoors, the birds seem to have accepted their fate of having to start all over again building nests in the huts, too. Now, if we can all just get used to the “earlier” evenings descending into darkness. The birds yelled at me last night when the dining room light, which is on a timer, went off. I had been napping after dinner on the futon. Their message was clear: It’s late and we want to go to sleep. Turn off the radio and the living room light and say goodnight.

Something Else from the Chicago Portage

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I fully intended to do this post a week and a half ago, while we were still romancing the idea of a warm fall migration season. I’ll still be looking back, but I’ve been busy with the upcoming choir concert and the impending arrival of a house guest – something that doesn’t happen all that often when you live with birds, not that anything in their lives will change – and as life becomes evermore complicated, I find I have an intense determination to simplify things. I’m sorry that doesn’t seem to have made its way into my writing.

So here are some photos from the end of September at the Chicago Portage. The 28th and the 30th, to be exact. I almost wrote the end of December. Our weather has finally and suddenly taken a chilly turn.

There weren’t many birds on the 28th. Perhaps the least common was the Rose-breasted Grosbeak below.

Red-winged Blackbirds started to show up here and there in preparation for joining flocks moving south.

And Common Grackles were amusing themselves with the abundance of huge walnuts.

I caught a glimpse of an American Redstart. Actually, this is the most common view of this species in any season.

And on my way out, a White-tailed Deer crossed the path.

On September 30, I first noticed a Yellow-rumped Warbler on the bridge by Harlem.

Then as I looked out from the bring into the shallow stream covered in duckweed, I saw a Muskrat. I had somehow managed to get out of the house a bit earlier that morning, and I suspect that I might have been keeping Muskrat hours.

Another Yellow-rumped Warbler was in the duckweed.

Then, I caught a new view of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. I have never seen the red under the wings before!

The camera found an Indigo Bunting or two.

I got lucky with Lincoln Sparrows and took far too many photos of them. This was the first individual I saw.

I saw a Song Sparrow across the water.

Then I found another interesting Song Sparrow that almost looked strongly striped like a Fox Sparrow, while its belly was unstreaked. It’s sometimes amazing to me how varied individuals in this species can be.

Yellow-rumped Warblers can look quite different too.

I found a Downy Woodpecker working hard on a tree limb. The first photo is blurred by how fast she was drumming.

Another Yellow-rumped Warbler was fading into the leaves.

Here’s the second Lincoln’s Sparrow. This might also be the same one at the top of the post. I was sitting on the picnic table close to the water when the sparrow popped up on a nearby log.

I watched a Red-bellied Woodpecker grab something to eat.

And then, when I returned to the bridge near Harlem, I found an Ovenbird foraging in the leaf litter. It was then joined by a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

I caught another view of the Ovenbird after that.

Palm Warblers have been somewhat scarce this fall. I was used to seeing them everywhere in previous years.

Here’s another Palm Warbler, and a Yellow-rumped Warbler below it. The Palm Warbler has yellow underneath its tail, and you can’t always see the yellow on the other’s rump.

Well, that’s about it for the moment. I have lots more to share, I just have to find the time and the mental space to do so. It feels good to be sitting here with some coffee after singing this morning in choir while the temperature fell and it rained steadily. It’s easier to be inside under those circumstances. It looks like we will be much cooler now than we have been, but not freezing yet. I am thankful for the rain on the new plants I put in the ground last week. And I’m looking forward to digging into a challenging week ahead, with rehearsals, arrivals, laughter, tears, more birds, more music, more reasons to keep going.

Fall Migration at the Chicago Portage

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For the most part, it’s been a sluggish fall migration season, but I have been glad to see the birds when they show up. Here are some photos from three September visits to the Chicago Portage: September 18, September 23 and September 25. I have been there thrice since. It’s a challenge to keep up with even this.

September 19 started out with a Song Sparrow, a Gray-cheeked Thrush and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

A look across the creek

I caught a Gray-cheeked Thrush in flight and stopped to check out some milkweed beetles. Then had one more look at the thrush,

A Downy Woodpecker caught my attention

And then a Black-and-White Warbler emerged. I grew hopeful.

Soon, I saw an American Redstart, and I had a brief look at a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Next, a Tennessee Warbler emerged, matching the green leaves.

Another, more yellow Tennessee warbler was also present.

A Blackpoll Warbler volunteered.

And another American Redstart that looks like a first-year male.

I had a brief encounter with a Red-eyed Vireo.

Here’s another American Redstart. This is the second-year or better male at the top of the post.

On 9-23, it was cloudy, but I took my chances. It actually started raining in earnest about an hour after I got there and I had to leave. That was the last time we had some rain. In any even, I first saw a Chestnut-sided Warbler.

I found a Cedar Waxwing and a Downy Woodpecker on the same twig.

I found another first-year male American Redstart.

I was happy to find an Ovenbird. I’ve seen these birds a few times over the past couple of weeks. I even had one briefly in my yard.

I got distant views of a Black-throated Green Warbler.

And as I gave in to the steady rain shower, I found a Box Elder Bug on Snakeroot.

On 9-25, things were quieter still, with a Gray-cheeked Thrush…

a Rose-breasted Grosbeak,,,

and a Yellow-rumped Warbler. The sight of a Yellow-rumped Warbler usually indicates we are nearing the close of fall warbler migration.

I found a Magnolia Warbler.

A Gray Catbird barely emerged from the foliage.

And my last photos were of an Eastern Wood-Pewee.

There’s still a lot more to report and I hope to get ahead of it soon. There are a lot of other things going on this month, but I will still be birding every morning that I can.

Fall Warblers at the Chicago Portage

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I’ve had some luck with warblers at the Chicago Portage this fall migration season, and now that we should be in the middle of peak warbler migration, it seems only fitting to do this post. Here are warblers and a few others from September 9, and then a week later on the 16th. It’s been a matter of coming across a mixed flock. But sometimes one bird close to the trail will alert me to more activity down the road.

On September 9, I encountered this Blackpoll Warbler.

I caught a glimpse of a Black-throated Green Warbler.

Cape May Warblers were the Bird of the Day. You may occasionally see that they also have yellow on the rump, but they should not be confused with Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Another individual Cape May is below…

and yet another. This bird is at the top of the post.

I caught a distant glimpse of a Black-and-White Warbler behaving like a nuthatch, gleaning insects from the tree bark,

Below is an American Redstart which appears to be a female. I say that because sometimes they are confused with first-year males, but the shade of yellow is generally paler and less orangey on the female.

Other birds noted on the 9th – a European Starling and a Cedar Waxwing.

And I briefly saw a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The first photo isn’t in focus but it includes the more representative field mark.

Then on September 16, I had a bird that defied description until I figured out it had to be a Pine Warbler. At first I thought it was a Blackpoll, but it didn’t quite fit and I could not find any photos with pinkish feet. Pine Warblers can be confused with just about anybody in the fall. In this case, the wing bars won me over.

I caught a glimpse of a Black-throated Green Warbler, again.

Bay–breasted Warblers came in several different options.

Here’s another individual.

I had a Blackpoll Warbler that day as well.

Other birds that day, nothing spectacular. An American Goldfinch, of which there are many this time of year, and a Double-crested Cormorant flying over the river in the distance.

I also had some unusual looks at the features of a Red-bellied Woodpecker. You can see the “red” belly in the second photo.

I will be back with more fall warbler photos among others, as we seem to be approaching the “now-or-never” part of fall warbler migration. Due in large part to unusual weather and dramatic temperature variations, it seems more birds have kept going than stopped to refuel, at least around here. But I read Bill Hilton’s post yesterday and he is experiencing the same lack of migrants in North Carolina, and even he is stumped by it. He suggests that it’s probably too early to draw any conclusions and to see how the migration patterns sort out in a few more years. Birding will always be looking for the next bird…

Unexpected Leanings

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On my visit to the Chicago Portage Thursday morning, I expected to see very little, and most of the walk, at first, met my expectations. I captured a Mourning Dove flying by.

A Ruby Meadowhawk posed for me on a hairy stem of something,

And then I saw a warbler very briefly, which turned out to be a Blue-winged Warbler.

I next photographed a juvenile Indigo Bunting.

Goldfinches were busy and perhaps too challenging to photograph. But I challenge you to find the American Goldfinch in this photo.

Here’s one more American Goldfinch, in flight.

I followed a yellow Tennessee Warbler. They come in two different colors, yellow and blue. I have only yellow ones in this post.

I could not help but notice a dead tree full of Northern Flickers. There are 9 of them in this photo,

I saw a nice Bay-breasted Warbler.

I was looking at some moving leaves near the trail, but I couldn’t see any birds in them. I looked up and saw that a Red Squirrel was causing the leaf action by dropping bits of chewed nut.

I heard and then caught a brief look at a Swainson’s Thrush.

Then, as if on cue, I started seeing some warblers foraging in low-growing vegetation, which made them easier to photograph. I first found a young male American Redstart.

And then there were one or two Magnolia Warblers.

A Nashville Warbler was in the mix.

Another Bay-breasted Warbler appeared.

Another American Redstart, Nashville Warbler and Tennessee Warbler below,

The American Redstart below is a female.

Here’s two more Bay-breasted Warblers. I included the first photo because it’s so different. I can’t recall ever studying the thighs of a Bay-breasted Warbler before. The last photo is a different individual.

Here’s one more lovely Tennessee Warbler.

I must have been in a trance when I started photographing the fascinating scene of action below, because I had no memory of seeing all these birds until I went through my photos later. Northern Flickers and American Kestrels were jockeying for position in the same tree. I apologize for the tiny images but it’s really the only way to show what was going on.

Always up for action, two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds got into it.

More action occurred when a Northern Flicker took after one of the American Kestrels.

Here’s a closer look at one of the kestrels. This is the same bird at the top of the post. The other Kestrel sat perched quietly in the tree the whole time.

And here are two Northern Flickers.

So that was my unexpectedly busy morning at the Chicago Portage. It probably didn’t hurt that there was plenty of sunshine and warmer temperatures. But we are getting really dry again. There’s a chance for rain tomorrow morning, which would interfere with a scheduled walk at Thatcher Woods, but personally I am hoping for rain.

Fall Warblers and Others

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The fall warblers are trickling in. Here are a few warblers to get started with from morning walks in Riverside and the Chicago Portage. On August 27 in Riverside, I saw a female American Redstart.

Also present was a Cedar Waxwing. I included the middle photo because if you look closely at the yellow tip of the tail, it appears to have a serrated edge.

I caught a Chimney Swift and a Double-crested Cormorant in flight.

A Great Blue Heron and a Great Egret were available for long views.

On September 1 at the Chicago Portage, I briefly saw a Blackburnian Warbler.

I also had a Cape May Warbler, but only got a glimpse-and-a-half.

The next day, September 2, at the Chicago Portage, I had only a Nashville Warbler.

But I did get an interesting photo of a young Hairy Woodpecker.

And I made the acquaintance of a Chickweed Geometer Moth.

Back again on September 4 at the Chicago Portage, I had an American Redstart that could be a young male.

I then saw a Bay-breasted Warbler.

And I got some fair looks at a Magnolia Warbler or two.

I also had Tennessee Warblers.

I caught a glimpse of a Gray-cheeked Thrush.

And a Field Sparrow sat still for a moment.

Also that day, Bob and I saw a Broad-winged Hawk and a Cooper’s Hawk. They were both in the air at the same time, and then the Cooper’s Hawk made a return solo visit.

Broad-winged Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk

In Riverside on September 5, I saw the Chestnut-sided Warbler who is also at the top of this post.

I also had an American Redstart, again, a young male.

Great Egrets were here and there..

On my walk through Riverside Lawn, I came across a Green Heron perched by the river close to where I was walking.

And I heard and then saw a Northern Waterthrush.

I just had a very interesting morning at the Chicago Portage, so I think I will be back with that recap as soon as possible before I go back a little bit to the five days in between. Anything can happen during fall migration, even when it’s least expected.

While We’re Waiting

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While we’re waiting for fall passerine migration to properly distract us, here are some photos from the last month taken in various places. Well, it was almost August – starting withJuly 31 a the Chicago Portage.

Butterflies and flowers made an impression on me. I saw a Silvery Checkerspot Butterfly, a blossom on a Cup Plant growing near the bridge closest to Harlem, and a Zebulon Skipper Butterfly.

I noticed a very young American Robin.

And a fawn made a brief appearance.

Indigo Buntings were starting to wind down.

I managed to capture a couple Barn Swallows in flight.

Then Indigo Bunting juveniles began to show up, like the one below.

Two more butterflies, an Eastern Comma and a Monarch.

A Turkey Vulture flew overhead.

And an Osprey made a brief, if distant, appearance.

On August 26, nearly a month later, at the Chicago Portage, I noted a Downy Woodpecker.

I saw a Tennessee Warbler.

I also caught glimpses of a Blackburnian Warbler and another Tennessee Warbler.

The Common Grackle below looks like a young bird.

And I had nice looks at a female Baltimore Oriole, who is also featured at the top of the post.

American Goldfinches were foraging in the duckweed, as usual.

I caught a glimpse of a Warbling Vireo.

And here are just a couple photos from a visit on August 17 to Deadstick Pond and Big Marsh with Joann and Steve. We spent most of our time trying to identify shorebirds which I never got halfway-decent photos of, so here are a few other things.

It was possible to get a couple Killdeer photos.

And I have a hard time ignoring Caspian Terns.

It’s always good to see a Green Heron.

A look at a juvenile Barn Swallow.

And I got a rare look at a not-so-rare bird – a Northern House Wren.

Good looks at a juvenile Common Yellowthroat…

And there was a juvenile Indigo Bunting.

For the most part, birds are moving around in flocks. I have managed to see a few stragglers here and there over the past few days, but fall passerine migration, and more specifically warbler migration, has barely begun. There are reasons for optimism, however. Tomorrow’s forecast is for rain, possibly stormy weather, and with winds from the north, cooling down. I’m hoping for a little fallout at the Chicago Portage on Thursday. We shall see.

Cedar Waxwings at the Chicago Portage

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Although I have seen a Cedar Waxwing here and there over the last couple months, I’m just now starting to see them in numbers as they organize feeding flocks comprised of adults and juveniles. A lot of other species are doing the same sort of thing, but none have been quite so obvious as the waxwings over the last week or so.

These photos are from two visits to the Chicago Portage, August 14 and August 18. While things have been generally quiet and slow, there always seems to be something to look at.

Before I left the house on the 14th, I noticed a Monarch Butterfly on my Joe Pye Weed.

When I got to the Chicago Portage, standing overlooking the bridge closest to Harlem, I noticed a small duckweed-adorned turtle.

American Robins have been less frequent, although I still see a few. They’re congregating elsewhere, but they’ll be back. Here’s a young one I spotted.

The Cedar Waxwings I saw that day were on the young side too. You can tell by the streaked breast.

One field mark often clinches it for me: that yellow tip of the tail.

On the insect-side of things, below, a female Twelve-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly, one of several Pearl Crescent Butterflies, and an orb-weaver spider web.

The Indigo Buntings were still singing, if somewhat less enthusiastically.

I caught a glimpse of a White-tailed Deer.

On the woodpecker side of things, a Northern Flicker, a Red-bellied Woodpecker and a Downy Woodpecker.

Barn Swallows were flying overhead

On the 18th, when I walked in, I was greeted by a feast of green.

Cedar Waxwings were present, but in distant groups.

Most of the birds were far away in the bare branches of the treetops, like these Northern Flickers.

Two Blue-winged Teal flew in over the water.

And then by the bridge near Harlem again, I found an American Goldfinch…

and one of the Blue-winged Teal.

Here’s another Monarch Butterfly. I hope to keep seeing them, even if they’re only one or two at a time and here and there.

I’ve been swimming elsewhere this week while my pool is receiving its annual cleaning. Meanwhile, the temperature and air quality are heavenly compared to previous weeks, so it’s pleasant enough to go for a walk even if there aren’t a lot of birds to see. It will be more comfortable working in my backyard jungle too.

It was very, very quiet – even quieter than it has been – at the Chicago Portage this morning. Hardly a peep out of anyone, and even fewer birds to see. Sort of reminds me of a too-long intermission when you’re just waiting for the next act.

Here’s a quick summary of this morning’s characters. A sort of post post-script, if you will.

Mourning Dove on the bridge near Harlem
Warbling Vireo
American Goldfinch
Two Great Egrets flying in the distance
A Blue Dasher Dragonfly
Another Monarch Butterfly capturing my attention
A juvenile Indigo Bunting
A Northern Flicker and an American Robin
A juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker

I’ve been to and have plans to visit other places. I’ll be back soon.

One of Those May Days

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The trees were just leafing out. The warblers were arriving. There were too many photographs. Here are just a few of those photos from that day. And in the process of going through them, I found another species I had not reported, for a total of 45 at the Chicago Portage.

I am just going to post a few and in the process get mentally ready for how different some of these birds will look when they come back through very soon. Some of them will look like barely sketched in versions of their former selves. Nothing like a new set of feathers to wear in.

American Goldfinch

What makes this a Nashville Warbler? It helps to have more than one view, but sometimes you don’t…

A Black-and-White Warbler is easier to identify.

Not a warbler, but an adult White-crowned Sparrow. I expect to see more juveniles in fall migration, which is later in the season for most sparrow species. The juveniles will not have white crowns yet.

A female Rose-breasted Grosbeak took me by surprise.

Black-throated Green Warblers will always be amongst my favorites.

Yellow-rumped Warblers won’t look anything at all like this flashy-looking fellow. Sometimes I have to rely on their distinctive tails and eyes.

Here’s the bird I didn’t notice I had that day: a Philadelphia Vireo.

And here’s a more-common Warbling Vireo for comparison.

Also that day, a Northern Flicker investigating a former nest hole, and a Baltimore Oriole just being attractive.

So much for this blast from the past. I won’t have time for too many more of these, which will banish all the unexplored spring photos to external storage. I doubt I will ever have a reason to review them, much like all the tapes and manuscripts stored in boxes, not to mention digital recordings, but it still seems too hard to simply throw them away. I suspect there will soon be better things to look forward to than reflecting upon too much accumulated stuff, and I can let go of these thoughts for another year.

We had some storm activity last night with a lot of rain, which has nearly knocked over just about every tall plant. I have only been outside this morning to empty collected water and inspect the damage. I’m not sure how much I want to let stay. The female hummingbird came into the yard earlier as if to see whether anything had changed, but she did not stop at a feeder, so I am taking that as a request for new sugar water. If I go back outside to work in the yard a bit, I will be well-sprayed to ward off the mosquitoes and midges. At least we have cooled off for a while and the air quality is good for a change. Summer is winding down.

Meanwhile Back at the Portage

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It’s been pretty quiet at the Chicago Portage lately, but that’s not surprising.

On August 5, I first noticed an Eastern Kingbird flying off with a cicada.

A Blue Jay was in flight too. Looks like it was on the cloudy side.

American Goldfinches still like hanging out in the duckweed.

Butterflies and dragonflies are having a good time, I think.

I think this is a Hobomok Skipper
Female Pondhawk

Normally Gray Catbirds are quite elusive, but this one wanted to do a photo shoot.

Back down on the ground, I saw an interesting caterpillar.

American Dagger Moth Caterpillar

Sort of along the same color scheme, a turtle covered in duckweed stuck its head up from its shell.

I found a young Northern House Wren.

And I caught a very brief view of a Muskrat.

I had a singing Indigo Bunting, for good measure.

Hackberry Emperor butterflies seem to like bridges and walls.

I was taking not great photos of a young Northern Flicker at a distance, when it suddenly left, upside down.

Two days later, on August 7, things were even a bit quieter. I focused on a bee checking out the prairie coneflowers.

And I found a Pearl Crescent Butterfly.

Pearl Crescent

A Blue Jay looked pensive and very blue behind the leaves.

Then, an Osprey flew over, carrying a strange-looking object. It doesn’t appear to be prey, but perhaps nesting material. But who’s nesting in August?

A short while later, another Osprey came flying through with a branch. I’ll never know. I think it might be nest repair, after the kids fledged and tore it up. Getting it ready for next year?

I found a juvenile European Starling and a female Red-winged Blackbird.

A juvenile American Robin flew at a distance.

Here are two Indigo Buntings, a female or more likely an immature bird, and a male.

And an Eastern Comma Butterfly for good measure.

I still have to make more room on the hard drive so I will try to be back again sooner. A new wave of extreme heat and subsequent rain should make that even more possible.