Neighborhood Bird Walk!
Saturday 12 April 2014
55 °F
Hello all,
Earlier this morning I led a very successful bird walk in my neighborhood of Oak Park, Illinois.
Before I give the report of the bird walk, if you live in the Chicago area and are interested, below are the dates of upcoming Oak Park bird walks I will lead. Email me for further information and for my home (meeting) address.
Friday, April 18: 7:30AM
Monday, May 19: 7:00AM
Wednesday, May 21: 7:00AM
Thursday, May 22: 7:00AM
Friday, May 23: 7:00AM
Saturday, May 31: 7:30AM
Sunday, June 1: 7:00AM
I met everyone in front of my house at 7:30 this morning and we immediately heard several species such as kinglets, chickadees, and our only warbler for the day, a heard-only calling YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. Also noteworthy were the only AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES of the day as we passed through my backyard.
The walk was very productive with twenty five species in total. At one point as we were crossing a road, I hollered for everyone to go back to the other side because some species of falcon had just flew in! After a long discussion, we agreed that it was a PEREGRINE FALCON. This was the best bird for the day and only the second time I have ever seen this species in my area. Here is a crappy photo I got of the bird:
Also noteworthy were about eight YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS seen throughout the walk. They were the only species that was particularly obliging for good photo-ops:
The walk home rounded off the trip with both RUBY- and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, three species of woodpeckers, and this NORTHERN HARRIER that flew over:
Since harriers are birds of grasslands, it was a very nice treat to see it because it was the first time I have ever recorded this species in my area.
All in all it was a very productive trip and as always, it was great to meet new birders.
Finally, below my signature is the eBird list for today.
Good birding,
Henry
Selkirk House, Cook, US-IL
Apr 12, 2014 7:30 AM - 8:50 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.2 mile(s)
Comments: Beautiful mostly-couldy day, 55-degree temps.
25 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 10
Northern Harrier 1 Characteristic white rump
Cooper's Hawk 2
Ring-billed Gull 5
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 4
Mourning Dove 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 8 Courtship chasing
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 2
Peregrine Falcon 1 Best bird of the day
Black-capped Chickadee 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3
American Robin 50
European Starling 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Dark-eyed Junco 4
Northern Cardinal 10
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Common Grackle 5
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
blackbird sp. 16
House Finch 2
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow 20
