It was a little chilly and quite gloomy last Sunday morning after the rain overnight, but I went for a walk anyway at the Chicago Portage, getting there early enough to encounter no other humans for quite a while. From the parking lot, I caught a European Starling leaving the statue where the starlings are nesting in the throat and the sleeve of the cloak. A male Baltimore Oriole was messing around in the grass between the start of the paved trail and the fence.

It was quiet walking to the bridge near Harlem, where I stopped to take a look and see if there was any activity. I found an Eastern Phoebe.

The Merlin app said it heard an Olive-sided Flycatcher. I found this intriguing as I had seen the species with the Oak Park Migration Bird Walkers at Thatcher Woods the day before. As if by command, I soon found the Olive-sided perched on a twig not too far from the trail. It didn’t vocalize, but it was unmistakable. After taking way too many photos of this very cooperative bird, I tried to move just a bit farther left to get a better frontal view, but that was when the Olive-sided decided it had seen enough of me and left. Still, I will treasure this close encounter with a bird I have rarely seen, and hope to call upon my memory of it in the future to more quickly identify the next one I might see.

Next, I found what appeared to be a fledgling Red-winged Blackbird – already! It has none of the color associated with the female so I think this is indeed a very young bird.

Also, well-hidden by vegetation, I found a Song Sparrow.

And then, as if in defiance of the weather and the late date and everything else, I encountered a flurry of activity high in the tree tops along the dirt trail that runs parallel to the chain link fence separating the Chicago Portage from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD). It has occurred to me while I’m sitting here writing that a map would be helpful. I was unable to find a drawn map, but I managed to take a screenshot from Google Maps of the Chicago Portage and some of its surrounding area, which I have inserted below. The “Portage Creek” and “Portage Trail” labels show the preserve and its location next to the Des Plaines River, the MWRD, train tracks and surrounding development. That little purple crown is next to the parking lot.

Peering up into the treetops, I managed to make the camera see what looks like a female Bay-breasted Warbler.

Then I found a female Blackpoll Warbler.

A male Bay-breasted Warbler came into view.

And another Blackpoll Warbler.

A female Yellow Warbler was not too shy.

I found yet another Blackpoll Warbler.

Then a Red-eyed Vireo appeared overhead.

I caught a brief look at a Gray-cheeked Thrush by the chain link fence.

And then I started to see a Canada Warbler.

A Gray Catbird was sitting in the barbed wire, which somehow seems appropriate for this species.

There was yet another Bay-breasted Warbler.

And one of those interesting-looking first-summer male American Redstarts.

I briefly saw a female Blackburnian Warbler. By the way, here’s a thought about why the female warblers are all showing up late. For the most part, the male warblers have already gone farther north to establish their territories. I suspect the females want everything in place before they have to get down to the hard work of choosing a mate, nest-building and egg-laying.

Then I caught up with the Canada Warbler, up close and personal. I have seen some other individuals over the last week or two and their images might eventually make it to this page, but this was the longest look I got this season of a particular individual, and I am grateful (after being greedy).

I had a brief and rather distant view of a male Indigo Bunting. I haven’t seen a female yet but I suspect several have arrived for the summer.

Briefly, a Least Flycatcher. I heard this one, too, with i’s “cheh-BECK” call.

Another Yellow Warbler turned up.

I have seen some deer lately.

This looks like a young Great-crested Flycatcher. Already!

Another first-summer male American Redstart was singing.

And a Swainson’s Thrush made an appearance.

As if all that were not enough, on my way out along the newly paved section of trail that hugs the marsh, I found a male Orchard Oriole. This is exciting, so even though the photos aren’t completely clear, I’m adding them all anyway.

So far this week, nothing has compared to Sunday. Things have slowed down quite a bit. As it happens, I was supposed to get up early and over to Columbus Park this morning to join Henry and the Oak Park Migration Bird Walkers at 7:00 AM, but the walk was called because of rain. As it has been usual lately, the rain is not a downpour but a steady drizzle-to-droplet routine that will be over this afternoon. I am embracing the extra rest – my cold or whatever it is seems to be diminishing, however gradually – and it has been fun writing this post, this morning. I’m going swimming shortly, and I’ll be back again.