Trip Report -- Plum Creek Forest Preserve - 2019 June 1

11 lucky birders took a walk at Plum Creek Forest Preserve this past Saturday, 6/1.  We arrived quite early to beat the heat and it stayed nice and cool until the end of our walk.

We started in the meadow and got great looks through the scope at Henlow's and Grasshopper Sparrows, as well as Dickcissel, Eastern Meadowlark and Bobolink.  All of these birds were singing, to our delight... We caught a glimpse of 3 Hooded Mergansers in the pond and well as a few Great Egrets.  Happy to have such good looks at grassland birds, we continued on into the woods.

The path was MUDDY but we trudged on, even when our boots got caught in the mud!  No White-eyed Vireos sang for us that day, but I encouraged folks to come back in smaller groups to hear this one-of-a-kind singer!  An Acadian Flycatcher did sing for us, as well as a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Eastern Bluebird.  House Wren and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers could be heard all along the path, and a Great-crested Flycatcher finally came out of the canopy for us for a decent look.

We had 57 species over all.  Here is the link to the full list on eBird

Bird photos by Fran Morel

Post by Aerin Tedesco