While yesterday morning’s bird walk was canceled due to some well-needed thunderstorm activity, it seemed like a good opportunity to look at what we’ve seen so far since we started this season’s walks back on August 30.
On 8/30, we were at Thatcher Woods in River Forest,.The first bird I noticed was a Ruby-throated Hummingbird quite far away. It could very well be a young male with just a feather or two at the throat changing color and the absence of white on the tail.
A Green Heron was fishing in the lagoon by the museum,
A Merlin came into view.
And a Common Nighthawk flew overhead.
I caught glimpses of a Bay-breasted Warbler and a Black-throated Green Warbler.
We had looks at an American Kestrel.
On September 3, we met in Henry’s Alley. We saw a Ruby-throated Hummingbird here, too – this one is definitely a juvenile male with more red on the throat – and an American Redstart that appears to be a female.
We didn’t see too many more birds that morning, but this Cooper’s Hawk may be the reason why.
On September 6 at Columbus Park, we saw a Blackpoll Warbler. You can see the distinguishing orange feet well in the first photograph.
We had a Red-breasted Nuthatch.
I photographed an American Goldfinch and a Northern Cardinal, both in Fall Drab.
I’m sorry it’s not easy to see this Cape May Warbler. Try clicking on the photos to get a better view.
We also saw a Black-and-White Warbler.
There were a few Red-eyed Vireos, like the one below. I will spare you the flycatcher photos – there were almost too many, and they were often barely identifiable.
But there were one or two early Palm Warblers. This one was easiest to see.
On 9/10, we were back in Henry’s Alley, with a young Red-bellied Woodpecker.
We had another Red-breasted Nuthatch, which is also at top of this post.
And for comparison, a White-breasted Nuthatch.
We were excited to see an Olive-sided Flycatcher. This bird posed nicely for us.
We had another disheveled-looking Northern Cardinal.
And a fairly good look at a Downy Woodpecker.
That’s about it for now. I am relaxing after playing for two services at Unity Temple this morning. I was asked to fill in while our accompanist is taking time off and our music director is traveling. I have been practicing for the last two weeks and my indoor birds have been generally very supportive. They weren’t wild at first about the second hymn I was trying to learn and let me know when they all yelled at me, but I think they came to like it a bit more when I could play it more convincingly. Other than the service music, I chose to play the Gigue to the G Major French Suite by Bach for opening music, Oriental by Granados for the special music before the sermon, and Dr Gradus ad Parnassum from Debussy’s Children’s Corner Suite for the closing music. It was fun, and I am still trying to calibrate the balance of energy in the sanctuary. Since I play more often for birds than for people, it was an almost other-worldly experience.
There is water enough to bathe in as this female Red-Winged Blackbird was finding out.
Tennessee Warblers and Orange-Crowned Warblers often get confused in the spring but these two made it easier for me.
I almost thought I had missed all the Indigo Buntings but there were still a few youngsters left.
The Des Plaines was so low, this Great Egret was wading out into it quite a ways from the shoreline.
After hearing and rarely seeing Eastern Wood-Pewees all summer, it was nice to get good looks at this one.
This will be brief, as was my last warbler flock experience.
There was no noticeable activity elsewhere that morning, and it’s been slow ever since. A strange, fitful migration season. But I am grateful for whatever birds I have seen and hope they are making safe trips to their winter homes.
I wonder if the Common Grackle below could be a molting adult, without its long tail.
Magnolia Warblers have been coming through for weeks.
On the 29th I saw this presumably female Wilson’s Warbler, below, at Lake Shore East Park, and am glad I had pictures to prove it to ebird – apparently it’s late in the season to see a Wilson’s. Others reported seeing them too, in the area.
Down by the Chicago River last week, a Ring-Billed Gull enjoys his perch on one of the last remaining rotting pilings. And the only bird in the Boeing garden nearby was what appears to be a Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher below, after checking Crossley’s pictures as a reference, but empidonax flycatchers are hard to nail down unless they say something and this guy was silent.
I’m looking forward to cataract surgery on my right eye tomorrow morning, because that’s the eye I use to focus the damn camera lens with, so I’m hoping for future sharper images!!