Tag Archives: Tagged Canada Goose

June Mornings in Riverside

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The Des Plaines River has been really low, exposing a lot of rocky islands. We were advised of enough rain yesterday to earn a flash flood warning for the area, so it will be interesting to observe the water levels fluctuating between rain and more hot, dry weather. In the meantime, here is a little roundup of scenes from several morning walks, beginning with June 2. Two Killdeer were on the rocks across from the Hofmann Tower which has also been a favorite gathering place for Ring-billed Gulls. The photo sequence below looks like the Killdeer were making more Killdeer. Check out the way the male has stuck out his chest and neck feathers in the third photo: it looks very boastful to me.

A Bald Eagle flew in the distance that morning.

Common Grackles have been quite fond of the rocky shores.

The light was perfect for a Baltimore Oriole.

Then on June 6, the only bird I managed to photograph well was a Warbling Vireo. They’re usually hard to capture, so I’ll take it.

On June 9, a Great Egret was by the wall across from Hofmann Tower, where the dam used to be.

A Ring-billed Gull flew by.

Common Grackles were on rocks emerging from the water.

I often see a Double-crested Cormorant in flight down the river.

I managed to capture a Cliff Swallow.

This Common Grackle almost made me think of a Great-tailed Grackle.

I saw two Chimney Swifts.

And this turtle took a striking pose.

I photographed another Double-crested Cormorant swimming. He looks like he’s smiling with that yellow gape. But I never see the double-crest. I wonder if it takes two cormorants to see the double-crest.

I managed to see a Northern House Wren, which doesn’t happen too often for such a common bird.

I found another Warbling Vireo…

The bird below is a total mystery to me. I caught it flying over the grass by Swan Pond. The Merlin app thought it was a Yellow-headed Blackbird, but it’s definitely not. So much for artificial intelligence. I think it is a swallow and somehow the light is playing tricks with the camera, but I can’t pin down what species it might be.

I also found a Gray Catbird singing his heart out in the open.

On June 11, Red-winged Blackbirds were going after everyone

Most striking was their attention to a close Turkey Vulture.

While all that was going on, another Turkey Vulture was sitting in a tree above the paved trail.

I saw a mother Mallard and her ducklings by the wall that curves around a bend in the river.

On the last visit on June 16, I noticed a tagged Canada Goose that I have not seen before. I have reported it to the USGS. I will be interested to see how long it takes for them to get back to me with the usual certificate and information about the goose and where and when it was tagged, given the current administration’s staffing cuts. So far I have received a lengthy email acknowledging my submission.

A lovely Ring-billed Gull flew by that morning

I crossed the street to walk in Riverside and nearly stepped on a large turtle on the sidewalk at the end of the bridge. After looking around and realizing I was alone without any turtle experts available, I started talking to it, wondering if it needed assistance getting back down to the river as there is a steep drop-off next to the bridge wall. As I explained to the turtle that I was worried for its safety, it started to move off the edge of the sidewalk, and when I asked again if it needed assistance it gave the equivalent of a turtle’s “heck no” and started moving in earnest, sliding slightly down a small part of the incline, in the direction of the river. I then felt reassured that it would make it on its own and continued my walk.

From there my encounters were less exciting.

Eastern Kingbird
Canada Goose family
Mourning Dove
Common Grackle

Baltimore Orioles are a little less visible these days, so I try to capture them when I see them.

Despite the flash flood warning, the rain was welcome. I hope the rain will jumpstart my native plants to flower so I can see if the bees are going to come back. As of this morning, I have only seen more houseflies.

I may be back to this page sooner than later as the heat advisory is asking us to stay inside the next few days. I will try to gather more enthusiasm for indoor pursuits, which always seems strange to me this time of year, but it is what it is.

In Between Storms

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I started writing this post on Wednesday when it seemed prudent to stay home for the Winter Storm Watch. It turned out to be a hurry-up-and-wait kind of day. The snow came later than predicted and did not amount to as much as forecast, but I stayed in to monitor the bird feeders and sidewalks, attend to miscellaneous projects and get mentally ready to drive to choir rehearsal that evening. Unfortunately, choir rehearsal was canceled for the second week in a row due to weather. We will have to work that much harder the next few weeks for our upcoming Choir Sunday on March 16.

Now it is Saturday, and we are digging out somewhat from yesterday’s snow, with more snow in the forecast this afternoon, evening, and tomorrow morning. The choir sings tomorrow. I have gotten quite used to the snow by now and I anticipate shoveling before driving off tomorrow morning. At least there should not be a lot of traffic to make things worse, although I can never exactly predict when a slow-moving freight train will impede crossing the tracks.

Here are photos from my last walks by the Des Plaines River in Riverside. Beginning with February 3, the ice on the river was gone except for large pieces of it still on the river banks.

I noticed a Common Goldeneye struggling with its catch which looked at one point like a crayfish of some sort.

I saw more ice on the river bank as I crossed the swinging bridge, and still more in Riverside Lawn.

The Ring-billed Gull at the top of the post was showing off its catch. More photos of this bird below, along with one with a plane flying over.

On February 5, it was still overcast and quite gloomy. Not much to report.

Never know if I will see even Mallards these days

I try to keep track of the Common Goldeneye.

On February 7, a few more birds. I was surprised to see a lot of Red-winged Blackbirds, with some likely European Starlings, along with usual House Sparrows by the feeders behind the condominiums in Lyons.

I saw a Downy Woodpecker or two.

And several House Finches.

Still keeping an eye out for the Common Goldeneye.

As an added bonus, I saw 26N again.

And another Ring-billed Gull, this one having trouble managing its prey.

Beyond that, more ice, and a deer;.

On February 10, bright sunshine was welcoming. Although I didn’t see a lot of birds, I did get a closer look at a male Red-breasted Merganser that I have seen at more of a distance on occasion, all alone.

A couple Mallards swam by, and there were some more on an emerging island.

And a Common Goldeneye

My last visit was yesterday morning. It was almost prohibitively cold, but it felt good to walk. Ice is coming back to the river.

There were three groups of Canada Geese spread out along the river.

I barely captured the Common Goldeneye, but was glad to see at least five of them.

And there was snow.

We are getting more snow, and then tomorrow we start a very cold week, with lows in the single digits. The early morning low forecast for Tuesday is -2 degrees F. I don’t know how many walks I will attempt in those temperatures. I tend to make up my mind about a walk every morning when I go out back to fill the feeders. It’s all one can do lately to hold onto a routine, but it’s important for my and the birds’ survival. A few days ago I decided I need a new approach to writing the book. Maybe if I have to stay indoors more this coming week, I can make a little progress.

A snapshot of my collaborators is below.

Checking out my socks

January Along the River

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The song was Snow and Ice… Not a lot was happening on or near the river in January. By mid-month the water was frozen. Here’s a little rundown of what remained on my hard drive.

On January 3, I barely saw a White-breasted Nuthatch. At least it was sunny that day.

Two days later, the only birds I photographed were Canada Geese by the Joliet Avenue bridge where there was some open water, and the Rock Pigeons on the Hofmann Tower. As I recall, it was too cold to continue,

On January 8, I saw one male Common Merganser. There had been a pair hanging out south of the tower last year.

There was more ice. Mallards banked on it.

The ice insisted on becoming a subject on its own.

A squirrel was climbing up a cottonwood tree with what looked like nesting material. The squirrels in my yard have been acting quite frisky lately…

There were a lot more Canada Geese north of the swinging bridge

Hanging out with the geese, I barely saw a Common Goldeneye, and then perhaps another male Common Merganser.

Back on January 13th, the same bird species, and more snow and ice.

Skip ahead to January 27 after a brutally cold and walk-less week, and it was still a challenge to find open water.

Mallards and the Common Merganser were on the ice.

Ice was still a subject on its own.

An American Robin appeared too cold to care.

And lastly, on January 29, there was a little more activity. There were four Common Goldeneye in the river.

Below is a closer look at a female Common Goldeneye…

Some Canada Geese were watching ice break up and flow down the river,

I caught another glimpse of the Common Goldeneye off the swinging bridge.

Looking back from Riverside Lawn, the ice still looked pretty solid.

Meanwhile on land, I found a hearty Dark-eyed Junco, a Black-capped Chickadee and a Northern Cardinal.

And then I spotted 26N, a tagged Canada Goose I had first reported in February of 2023. His certificate said that he hatched in 2015 or earlier and was banded on July 14, 2016. Given the scope of bird flu, he’s a real survivor. He appeared to be moving a little awkwardly but he might have been sliding around walking in the shallow, icy river. I hope to see him again.

I will be back on the river trail this week, as we warm up somewhat. The forecast is a cloudy one. The weather might be a lot less surprising than the news for a while.