Spring bird count & Kentucky Warbler, Part II

Have to keep this post concise again because I’m getting up super early tomorrow to hopefully observe what is predicted to be a lot of new birds with the southerly winds tonight! Super excited!

In the morning today I participated in ABA’s Spring Bird Count. I surveyed a number of locations in the near west suburbs, starting with three on the west bank of the Des Plaines River. First stop: Quercus Picnic Grove where the noteworthy bird there was this GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET which is quite late (but more expected with this late migration season).

Next stop was Maywood Grove where there was a good amount of activity. FIELD SPARROWS:

The rarely-seen orange crown of the ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER:

NASHVILLE WARBLER:

OVENBIRD:

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK:

CAROLINA WREN, a really great bird for the Maywood/River Forest preserves!

The next stop was Silver Creek Picnic Area where I picked up two sparrow species — SWAMP:

And SONG:

Then, I raced over to Columbus Park to tag-team with Laura Derks to do the bird count for the park. We covered a huge section of this large park and came out with 48 species, nice given the chilly weather but definitely below-average for this date. Male INDIGO BUNTING:

GRAY CATBIRD:

Dive-bombing BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER:

EASTERN KINGBIRD, first of the year:

YELLOW WARBLER:

LEAST FLYCATCHER:

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON:

Most surprising was a Bat that flew around, occasionally gleaning water to drink. Anybody can identify the species?

My favorite bird at Columbus today was this SORA which was in the marshy area on the east border of the main wooded sanctuary in the middle of the park. An awesome bird for the park!

NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW:

BALTIMORE ORIOLE:

WOOD DUCK:

Next I headed to do some surveying in Oak Park. Near Taylor Park on the 800 block of Fair Oaks was this first-year female COOPER’S HAWK near her nest.

The last stop of the survey this morning was Austin Gardens where it was super quiet. WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH:

But of course, I was not done! After seeing a report of a Kentucky Warbler in a forest preserve down near Midlothian, Tian and I hopped in the car and we were there in no time to try to track down this elusive, beautiful species. Upon arrival, we headed straight to the coordinates in the middle of the forest where the bird was reported, and sure enough, when I played its call, the beautiful male KENTUCKY WARBLER teed up just barely long enough for a single photo! Incredible — only the second time I have ever seen this species.

And I couldn’t believe my eyes when a PROTHONOTARY WARBLER also joined the fun!!! What!! The luck was truly running my way today. Two very uncommon warblers, and new ones for the spring.

Of course, the BLACK-THROATED GREEN couldn’t be outdone either.

Incredible! Bird-of-the-day to the Kentucky with runner-up to the Prothonotary Warbler. Stay tuned, tomorrow morning is forecast to be realllly good (despite the wet weather).

Good birding,
Henry
World Life List: 1114 Species

Spring 2020 warbler list: 24/35 so far

1. Ovenbird: Washington Park, May 1
2. Worm-eating Warbler BONUS RARITY: North Pond, April 28
3. Louisiana Waterthrush: DuPage County, April 4
4. Northern Waterhthrush: North Pond, April 28
5. Golden-winged Warbler
6. Blue-winged Warbler: Washington Park, May 1
7. Black-and-White Warbler: North Pond, April 28
8. Prothonotary Warbler: Mihiel Woods East, May 9
9. Tennessee Warbler: Jackson Park, May 2
10. Orange-crowned Warbler: Oak Park alley, April 24
11. Nashville Warbler: Hegewisch Marsh, April 27
12. Connecticut Warbler
13. Mourning Warbler
14. Kentucky Warbler: Mihiel Woods East, May 9
15. Common Yellowthroat: North Pond, April 28
16. Hooded Warbler
17. American Redstart: Jackson Park, May 2
18. Cape May Warbler
19. Cerulean Warbler: Lyman Woods, May 3
20. Northern Parula: GAR Woods, May 3
21. Magnolia Warbler: North Pond, May 2
22. Bay-breasted Warbler
23. Blackburnian Warbler: North Pond, May 2
24. Yellow Warbler: Jackson Park, May 2
25. Chestnut-sided Warbler
26. Blackpoll Warbler
27. Black-throated Blue Warbler
28. Palm Warbler: Big Marsh, April 27
29. Pine Warbler: Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, April 18
30. Yellow-rumped Warbler: Thatcher Woods, April 4
31. Yellow-throated Warbler: North Pond, May 2
32. Townsend’s Warbler BONUS RARITY: Deer Grove Forest Preserve, April 17
33. Black-throated Green Warbler: Gillson Park, April 28
34. Canada Warbler
35. Wilson’s Warbler