Early spring migration!
Chicago, IL
Thursday 12 April 2018
63 °F
It’s been a nice start to migration for my senior year!
A few weeks ago, I birded the North Shore - although I didn’t find my hoped-for Long-tailed Ducks, I did see these COMMON LOONS:
COMMON GOLDENEYE:
Male NORTHERN SHOVELER:
HOODED MERGANSERS:
REDHEADS:
Male DARK-EYED JUNCO:
BUFFLEHEADS:
Female HAIRY WOODPECKER:
Male COMMON MERGANSER:
Another day, I visited Thatcher Woods in search of migrating Rusty Blackbirds - again, a failure, but I did find these flashy WOOD DUCKS:
MALLARDS:
A few backyard birds-
Male DOWNY WOODPECKER:
HOUSE FINCHES:
Male DARK-EYED JUNCO:
HERMIT THRUSH, first of the year!
Yesterday, the first Oak Park Bird Walk of the season was a great success! First of all, this male NORTHERN CARDINAL posed spectacularly for us in the morning light:
Then, we got STUNNING looks at the tiny, mouse-like, uncommon WINTER WREN which I’ve only seen twice before!
MOURNING DOVE:
Male BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD:
SONG SPARROW:
Male RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD:
Male YELLOW-BREASTED SAPSUCKER:
I’m phenomenally excited for the rest of spring migration! Stay tuned!
Good birding,
Henry
World Life List: 940 species - no recent life birds
Great group of photos; I was thinking as I went through them that your back yard birds were looking joyous, happy, content, until the winter wren- you get in your Oak Park yard - I know the another family there that gets fantastic birds also. Your town must be in a geographical location that is very good for migrants. Maybe terrain height, topography, or maybe between the G family and your family living there, they just feel welcome !
Thanks for sharing; Steve Fluett
by steve fluett