Since nothing ever goes as planned with the weather, it seemed like a good idea to visit Orland Grassland, which had been on my mind for a week or two, while the heat wave was in remission on Friday morning. I got out early enough to arrive there by 8:15 AM and started walking on the paved trail that surrounds the entire preserve. I had no idea what I was doing. Well, I did, but once I got nearly halfway it seemed ridiculous to turn back, so I walked the whole five mile perimeter with cyclists and rollerbladers whizzing by. I will plan to visit a foot trail or two next time.

But now that we are in the midst of a weeklong heat wave with heat indices around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which I realize is nothing compared to some other parts of the world but it’s still disturbing, especially when combined with air quality alerts and no rain, maybe it’s just as well I got a 5-mile walk in. I won’t be walking much this week. I clipped off all my hair yesterday morning before I went swimming, though, as it seemed practical.

So on Friday morning, I started following the direction of a group of young runners who had been congregating in the parking lot when I arrived.

I soon saw the sign below.

If I had gone in the opposite direction along LaGrange Road, I might have been better off. I would have immediately seen the last sign below which indicated that I was starting at the parking lot. Instead, the first sign I saw was not until I had walked the entire width of the parcel along 167th Street. As I continued around each corner, I took photos of each sign until I finally got back to where I had started. Luckily, ir wasn’t too hot, but my toes were starting to complain after walking all that distance on blacktop in hiking boots.

So what birds did I see? My list had 41 species but many of them were heard only. I was dismayed that I did not see or hear (and Merlin didn’t hear either) a Henslow’s Sparrow, but now I’m thinking if I go back and do one or two of those inside foot trails I will likely have better luck. I could not find a close singing-but-well-hidden White-eyed Vireo, and I have just about given up on Yellow-breasted Chats.

The first bird I saw clearly was a male Orchard Oriole. The bright sunshine did not help, however.

And soon I saw an Eastern Kingbird.

The quintessential grassland bird that proclaims its presence is the Dickcissel, and there were many of them. This first one was rather distant, as were most, but I liked his surroundings.

I had to pay attention to dragonflies, like the Common Whitetail pair below.

The Common Green Darner below was a focusing challenge for the camera as it blended in with its perch.

And there were at least two 12-Spotted Skimmers perched high on branches like the one below.

I will never quite understand why butterflies are attracted to gravel and blacktop like this Red Admiral.

A Great Egret flew by,

Indigo Buntings were abundant.

I spotted a Common Grackle and what looks like a fledgling. I’m sorry if I distracted them with my attention: I seem to have caught them in mid-sentence.

There were some Cedar Waxwings.

A male Northern Cardinal was hard to ignore, even if he was too far away.

You know it’s a long walk when I’m interested in a House Sparrow with a cicada.

And a couple Mourning Doves…

As I was walking my last leg along LaGrange Road, I spotted this Double-crested Cormorant in the distance.

I got closer to an Indigo Bunting I heard singing nearby.

A Great Blue Heron was being chased by a Red-winged Blackbird that didn’t fit in the frame.

A Tree Swallow was a bit closer.

And I heard a Willow Flycatcher at one point and then saw him.

But in the end it all came down to Dickcissels.

I probably won’t be doing a lot of birding this week, conditions being what they are. It’s disconcerting to have my routine interrupted. But I should at least view this as one of many exercises in adaptability we are faced with as climate change continues. Anyway, now I’m glad I did the five miles. My knees aren’t complaining at all, I have seen Orland Grassland from the perimeter and, when the weather improves, I can go back to it with improved orientation. I want to visit my other grassland sites as well. Oh, and a sort of postscript – this parcel is now considered Orland Grassland North as the next parcel, somewhat smaller, to the south of 179th Street in Tinley Park has been designated Orland Grassland South. What could have been more endless suburban development is being restored for wildlife. The more contiguous habitat, the better for the birds and all of us.