It was a gray day with a light breeze -- and pretty cold for April 21! But the birds made it worth all the shivers for this group of 15 birders. A total 53 species on the day featured some very exciting - and unexpected - birds. Thanks to all of our attendees, especially our new birders!

Red-Tailed Hawk - photo by Ira Satinover

Before we began the walk, trip leader Aerin Tedesco spotted a leucistic WINTER WREN on her way into the Point. Luckily, she was able to photograph it and share it with us.

We kicked off the co-hosted Sierra Club and COS Earth Day walk with a few tasty donuts on the east side of the Montrose boat house. While there, a RED-TAILED HAWK alighted on a beach light post, giving us all a great look before flying out over the dunes. A flock of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS made sure to let her know she wasn't welcome!

We set out along the northeast side of the bird sanctuary, spotting WHITE CROWNED SPARROWS, KILLDEER, and DARK-EYED JUNCOS hopping in the grass. We moved west into the north part the Magic Hedge where we spotted a shy VIRGINIA RAIL hunkered down in the brush. Meanwhile, a handful of very assertive BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES and a NORTHERN CARDINAL swooped down hoping for some free snacks.

Through the far eastern section of the point, we found our only warbler of the day - a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER - who was flitting around a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER in the trees. Several EASTERN TOWHEES and a BROWN THRASHER were seen kicking up leaves before we moved into the grassy southern side of the point. There we saw a multitude of NORTHERN FLICKERS on the ground and got some good spots of a few EASTERN MEADOWLARKS, to our delight!

We made our way through the center of the sanctuary next where we saw a very excellent specimen of WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. His colors were striking! A GREAT BLUE HERON flew overhead as we walked back toward the Magic Head. We had the great fortune of spotting a MERLIN feasting on something perched high in a nearby tree, giving us all a nice look.

Northern Flicker - photo by Ira Satinover

Montrose Harbor didn't disappoint either. We closed out the day with a family of CANADA GEESE with 3 yellow goslings. In the water, we were treated to some COMMON LOONS, HOODED MERGANSERS, BUFFLEHEADS, to name a few. The PURPLE MARTIN houses on the west side of the harbor also had a few residents sporting some very lovely plumage.

Below you'll find the full species list and a few photos from the harbor.

Thanks to Chris Williamson from COS/Sierra Club and Cliff Zimmerman for organizing, as well as Aerin Tedesco for leading the walk.

Montrose Point, Lincoln Park, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, US
Apr 21, 2018 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Comments: COS/sierra club bird walk
53 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 15
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) 6
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 12
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 2
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) 1 continuing-photos
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 5
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 1
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) 50
Common Loon (Gavia immer) 3
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) 2
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 30
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) 1
American Coot (Fulica americana) 1
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 6
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 50
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) 4
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 4
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 4
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 7
Merlin (Falco columbarius) 1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 5
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 3
Purple Martin (Progne subis) 4
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 6
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 2
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) 1 leucistic- photos
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) 1
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 20
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 40
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) 5
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 8
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata) 6
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) 15
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) 5
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) 6
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 25
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 7
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) 1
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 25
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) 8
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 10
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 3
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 26
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) 6
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) 1
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 30
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 10

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44788559

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Trip Report: Earth Day Bird Walk at Montrose point - 2018 April 21