Nine men and women with binoculars in front of the lagoon at Jackson Park.

words and most photos by David Rupp, trip leader

The Oct. 10 COS bird walk at Jackson Park, located between Hyde Park and Lake Michigan on Chicago’s south side, took place on an idyllic fall day. Our group of 11 included a combination of regular participants and beginning birders, with everyone helping to spot birds and make all feel welcome.

We started the walk with the expected birds for this time of year: a flock of White-throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Juncos. Our first highlight came when a participant spotted a Merlin perched high in a leafless tree. We all got good looks at it from the north bridge and then watched it swoop by us on its way to another perch that was quickly barren of the small flock of European Starlings!

We observed a Northern Waterthrush bobbing its tail as it walked along the ground near the entrance gates of the Japanese Garden. As we looked across the lagoon from the garden, another participant found a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron in the shadows along the far bank. It provided a nice comparison with several Great Blue Herons that were also hunting in the area. The rest of the Wooded Island was a bit lacking in diversity, but we did enjoy many looks at the Yellow-rumped Warblers, Black-capped Chickadees and Golden-crowned Kinglets.

Hawk in flight, with brown streaky markings across its creamy chest and wings. — Red-shouldered Hawk.

At the southeast part of the lagoon near the driving range, we were treated to a close-up flyby of a couple of immature Red-shouldered Hawks. We were also entertained by a Belted Kingfisher and a couple of Great Egrets.

We found our best flock of warblers in the scrubby area between the Bobolink Meadow and the marina. Among the Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers was an uncooperative Nashville Warbler and a very cooperative Orange-crowned Warbler. Everyone got a good look as it scoured the branches of a pine tree searching for food to fuel its migration.

Small yellowish bird with a sharp bill and dark eye diving off a pine tree branch. — Orange-crowned Warbler. *Photo by Nick Paarlberg.*

We concluded our 2.5 mile walk with good conversation, new friends, and a list of 38 species.

Field Trip: Jackson Park