August at the Chicago Portage: Finale

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Lisa Rest

Green Heron

I did not make it to the Chicago Portage this past weekend to check on the possibility of hummingbirds again. But maybe it’s still worth commenting on the remaining creatures I encountered on the 17th.

Juvenile Red-Winged Blackbird

It’s that confusing time of year again. Young birds are as big as their parents, but distinguishing them is sometimes difficult, especially in poor light. Often I take a picture I know will be lousy just to blow it up later, adjust the exposure and see if I can figure out what it was I was looking at. As it is, the “sparrowy” looking birds all turned out to be Song Sparrows (except for the Red-Winged Blackbirds). There were several Indigo Buntings too but due to poor light and whatever else they hid themselves within, they did not make the cut.

Juvenile Song Sparrow

Now that you’ve seen both the juvenile Red-Winged Blackbird and the Song Sparrow, see if you can figure out what the bird is below. You could almost make a case for either one, I think.

What’s this?

Then there are the group photos. The birds don’t always cooperate but sometimes the challenge of how many you can fit in the frame takes over.

European Starling Tree

Cedar Waxwing Tree – too far away, really, but good enough for numbers.

Mourning Dove Tree

There was a group congregating in the water too. A family of Wood Ducks getting ready to depart.

Wood Ducks

Shorebird migration is in full force, but the Portage isn’t a hot spot. Still I had the two most likely suspects in attendance.

Solitary Sandpiper

Killdeer

I love the look of juvenile European Starlings. Until they turn mostly black, it’s possible to see they do have eyes.

Juvenile European Starling

Another black bird, but instead of a shiny navy blue head, this juvenile Common Grackle is a rich dark chocolate brown.

Juvenile Common Grackle

The Cedar Waxwing below strikes me as an adult, but chances are some of those in the Waxwing Tree above, if only we could see them, were youngsters.

Cedar Waxwing

Down by the second bridge was a very friendly Eastern Phoebe enjoying flying off his perch for insects,

Eastern Phoebe

Now comes the moment you’ve all been waiting for. The bugs that I cannot identify. This beetle looked to me like it would be easy to find in my Big Beetle Book (not the title) but so far I have been unable to identify it. While I don’t think I’ve discovered a new species, I am beginning to understand this confusion is often the way it is with insects. Period.

Unidentified Beetle

The ladybug could be the most common native species, but I’m not going out on any limb.

I know this is a Ladybug, but what kind I don’t know

More birds–and bugs — pardon me, insects — to come.

Off and Running

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Lisa Rest

Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

I had another post in mind but it is late, I’m leaving shortly for the airport, if not in the middle of the night this time, for our West Texas birding trip. As for the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker above, this is the most yellow I have ever seen!

Hermit Thrush and Fox Sparrow – sort of birds “of a feather” – yes there was snow on the ground last week…

So here are a few pictures taken in downtown Chicago over the past two weeks, as the migrants come through. Specifically the location is Lake Shore East Park.

Brown Thrasher

The Brown Thrasher and the Grackles are likely here for the breeding season.

Fountain Baths

The Common Grackles were ready the moment the fountains went on.

White-Throated Sparrows have been around for weeks, if not in the hundreds like they were when Daley Bicentennial Plaza still existed. Now and then one breaks into song.

I’ll be back in about a week and a half. I’m roughing it, not taking the laptop this time. 🙂

Thanks to all who follow or stop by!

As The Snow Melts

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Lisa Rest

Chicago Portage 3-23-2014

Not quite “As The World Turns” — but the passage of time lately seems about as slowly evolving as a soap opera. And it did snow last night. But there are still signs of spring,

Song Sparrow on the sidewalk at 155 N. Wacker on 3-20-14

Not all the signs of spring are inspiring, such as finding my first dead migrant, the Song Sparrow above, on the sidewalk, but for the most part, there is cause for celebration.

Northern Cardinal, Millennium Park

The first fragile days of spring are upon us and while winter has not yet loosened its grip, the birds are arriving and getting down to business, claiming their territories for nesting. The days are getting longer and the wait for warmer weather is nearly over. I hope.

Red-Winged Blackbird

My first-of-year (FOY) Red-Winged Blackbird (in Illinois) was last Thursday, the same day I found the Song Sparrow, and the same location, 155 N. Wacker. But the bird was backlit and light was poor, so I waited until I went out Sunday to photograph this RWBB at the Portage, where he was joined by at least a dozen more males setting up their territories. A song sample is below.

Chicago Portage 3-23-14

All I could see was frozen water, but several pair of Canada Geese saw nesting spots. The pair below, in particular, proclaimed their territory quite loudly. You can hear them by clicking the arrow below the picture.

Canada Geese

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Common Grackle

Adding to predictable spring arrivals, the Red-Bellied Woodpecker (although Red-Bellieds have wintered here for the most part) at the Portage on Sunday and the Common Grackle at Millennium Park on Friday.

American Crow

Crows have been here all winter too, of course, but they seem to have a little more spring in their flight.

American Crow with peanut

Even the commonest Rock Pigeon is all decked out for rebirth. I learned to tell Blue Bars from other color morphs years ago when I tried to monitor Chicago Loop Pigeons for Cornell’s citizen science project. But I found it hard to keep up with them, and then the crows distracted me…

Blue Bar Rock Pigeon

Here’s our noisiest goose couple again. I like the way everything seems to be leaning to the right…

I hope to be back with more from Belize very soon.

Bathers

Posted on September 19, 2013 by Lisa Rest

One thing about the fountains at Lake Shore East Park – they provide an irresistible temptation to bathe for the birds. At least for the Common Grackles that have been hanging out there in numbers.

The first video is from September 4 and the second one is from yesterday, September 18, exactly two weeks later. On the 4th a House Sparrow joined in but I didn’t manage to get him in the video. Yesterday a Gray-Cheeked Thrush responded to the temptation of flowing water.

Gray-Cheeked Thrush

At first I thought this was a Swainson’s Thrush but on closer review it turned out to be Gray-Cheeked which is much more unusual.

Apologies for the construction noise accompanying the second video! They’re building another high-rise apartment building across from the park.

A few more bathing stills…

The last is with the House Sparrow before I started the video recording.

Come on in, the water’s fine!

From the Ridiculous to the Sub Lime…Green?

Posted on July 18, 2013 by Lisa Rest

McGinnis Slough parking lot, immature American Robin

Sunday I was looking forward to visiting my local haunts. The plan was to visit McGinnis Slough and then go to the Chicago Portage. I got to the Slough, started unpacking the trunk of the car and realized I didn’t have my binoculars with me. This was doubly frustrating as I saw and heard a Red-Shouldered Hawk and caught a glimpse of a Yellow-Billed Cuckoo. I couldn’t even see this Cedar Waxwing when I took its photograph.

Cedar Waxwing, McGinnis Slough

Undeterred, I decided to venture forth anyway with the scope and camera. But as I started walking north along the mowed path, I was soon greeted by swarms of deer flies. Or they could have been horse flies, if there is a difference I am unaware of it. The more I swatted at them, the more they dug in. Bug spray seemed to attract them even more.

I cannot recall this having ever happened before at McGinnis, but I guess conditions were just right for hungry flies. It had been a few days without rain and temperatures were increasing. As I retreated rather hastily toward my car, it occurred to me I could invest in protective clothing for these unpredictable but miserable situations. I figure I already look nerdy with my pants tucked into my socks to ward off ticks, so why not go one step further and surround myself with netting the flies can’t get through?

Common Grackle, Chicago Portage

Leaving McGinnis in such a hurrry gave me the opportunity to go home, trade my scope for binoculars and set out for the Portage. I got there about 8:20 a.m., still fairly early, although the heat was increasing. I got a few pictures of the usual suspects. Oddly enough, nothing was biting me.

Eastern Kingbird

The Northern Cardinal below saw me, flew toward me, perched and started singing. He must have wanted to distract me from his nest.

Northern Cardinal

Still short on butterflies, this Tiger Swallowtail is missing its tail.

Tiger Swallowtail

I showed the picture below briefly to the Insect Guy (I don’t know his name, but I’ve run into him before at Portage, he takes pictures of insects) while it was still on my camera and he said it was a Jewel Wing but I’m not so sure after looking in my little field guide, so I am not identifying it.

Unknown Damsel Fly

I caught a glimpse of a few Wood Ducklings as they swam back into the reeds.

Wood Ducklings

Everybody was fairly cooperative, as long as they felt safe behind one twig or another…

American Robin

Shortly after the Insect Guy and I stopped to talk on the trail, he suddenly called my attention to a Red-Tailed Hawk carrying a rabbit to a tree behind me.

Red-Tailed Hawk with rabbit

Red Tail 1I2A0184

The heat and humidity have turned the duckweed thick and split-pea-soup green. On my way out, one of the Green Herons that spends its summer hunting inhabitants of this soup was sitting perched close enough for me to get a few pictures.

Green Heron 1I2A0283

And then he decided he’d had enough of my attention…

Green Heron 1I2A0290

and landed in a tree where he could blend in.

Green Heron21I2A0297

The weather is beastly hot outside as I finish writing this from the confines of the cold air conditioned office, but we are promised cooler temperatures this weekend after some rain tomorrow. I am looking forward to it!

Brief Warbler Interruption

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Lisa Rest

Black-and-White Warbler, Millennium Park

Please pardon this brief interruption.While I’ve been trying to get through other pictures for another post, I’ve been birding as usual on my infrequent lunch hours, interrupted by rain… (lots of it – maybe I should not have danced so hard through the drought?).

Chicago Loop in the rain

Yesterday on the way back from Millennium Park where I had basically seen nothing “new” and it started to rain again…I was carrying my 40D, an umbrella and the peanut bag, I had forgotten I had the camera on another setting for the rain pictures on the way in… and who should show up but my first-of-year Black-and-White Warbler, looking very bedraggled and wet, behaving like a Brown Creeper scaling the tree trunks, but definitely not a Brown Creeper.

B&W Warbler Millennium IMG_4934_1

In spite of the umbrella and the wrong setting a got a picture or two of the warbler anyway.

B&W Warbler Millennium IMG_4950_1

And here are a couple other volunteers from the park.

Common Grackle with nesting material

American Robin

Hope Spring(s) Eternal

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Lisa Rest

Carolina Wren, Chicago Portage

However deceiving the weather may be, the birds are on schedule. I checked on the Portage and McGinnis Slough last Sunday morning. A grey, chilly day, with a forecast of some snow in the arfternoon. But this lovely singing Carolina Wren was my reward at the Portage. He was a bit too far away to get the clearest image, but he kept on singing.

Song Sparrow, Chicago Portage

And of course a Song Sparrow announced his presence.

Portage Goose IMG_3102_1

And a Canada Goose blowing in the wind.

Mallard IMG_3043_1

However common Mallards, the males are beautiful this time of year.

Robin Portage IMG_3173_1

And an American Robin for good measure.

Portage IMG_3017_1

The Portage was just barely waking up.

McGinnis Slough

So I went to check McGinnis Slough.

Bufflehead

Most of the waterfowl was, as usual, far away, but I managed a picture of this male Bufflehead.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

One of two Red-Bellied Woodpeckers checking out this tree stump.

Grackle IMG_3082_1

Many Grackles, this one caught in flight.

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

And my first warbler of the year – predictably a Yellow-Rumped Warbler, but still very nice to see.

City Migrants

Posted on April 14, 2012 by Lisa Rest

I started writing this post last month: The repeat visitors were starting to stream in. Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles breed in Millennium Park. The males were lining up their territories and showing up for peanuts. They’re going to be regulars all summer for peanuts.

Male Red-Winged Blackbird

These two grackles had a singing competition that got a little out of hand.

This month I have started to see migrants on my way in to the office, outside a skyscraper at the southeast corner of Wacker Drive and Madison. The address is also the name of the building: One South Wacker. First, there was a Hermit Thrush last week.

Hermit Thrush

Then there was a Winter Wren that would not pose for a picture.

On Friday there was a Song Sparrow that fooled me in the shadows with his elusive behavior. I thought he was a Lincoln’s Sparrow because he’s not too heavily streaked. He also has a lot of grey on his face. But his malar striping is too strong and the submoustachial is white. He doesn’t have any golden wash over his breast either. So I guess he’s just a Song Sparrow. Pretty little guy though. And I’ll still be thrilled to see a Lincoln’s later this year.

Song Sparrow

A welcome cooldown…

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Lisa Rest

We’ve had some well-needed rain. The cloud cover persisted all day except for a brief peek of sunshine late in the afternoon. No matter. Spring was going on in the yard full blast.

I planted two of these purchased from the Arboretum years ago and I can't remember what they are. I'll have to look them up, along with the weeds that are overtaking the yard already.

Courtship is a popular pastime. In the city, couples abound, holding hands, kissing on park benches. In my yard, this male house finch was trying to convince a female that he’s the right guy,

and she was listening for a while…

but then she was resisting…

and in the end seemed to have her doubts.

A robin grabbed a worm right out of the wet ground and then was not sure what he wanted to do with it.

A dark-eyed junco landed in the hawthorn without batting an eyelash. I’ve had one of those thorns go right through a heavy shoe sole. Juncos seemed a bit incongruous during last week’s string of 80-degree days since we associate juncos with winter around here, but they may not necessarily disappear completely until mid-May.