Field Trip Report: Douglass Park Beginner Bird Walk
Words by Sammy Cabindol
Eight birders (including a junior birder!) gathered on September 9 at Douglass Park for a Beginner Bird Walk. BirdCast had been monitoring large waves of bird migration nights prior to the day’s bird walk, so we were eager to find the species in store for us. Upon our arrival, numerous Common Grackles evacuated the trees as we began to walk the path. Dozens of Chimney Swifts were hawking overhead, hunting their insect prey on the wing. A loud, whinnying call drew our attention to a tree with a backlit Downy Woodpecker.
Wading in the waters beside the Douglass Park mini golf course was a Great Egret. A juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron was perched among the drapery of a fallen willow tree, accompanied by female Mallards. Guttural squawks resonated overhead, so we peered up to observe a Great Blue Heron in flight.
Chestnut-sided Warbler. Northerly Island, May 19, 2024. Photo by Carl Giometti.
At the park’s central bridge, we watched a couple of Chestnut-sided Warblers hop between branches. The sun’s angle shined in our favor so that we could observe their yellow cap and chestnut brown-colored flanks.
Making our way around to the northern section of the lagoon, we spotted a regal-looking Osprey atop a large, dead tree. As the temperature gradually increased, more birds began to call and sing, including Northern Flicker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Warbling Vireo, and American Goldfinch. As we approached a seemingly inactive patch of bushes, a brilliantly colored, male Black-throated Blue Warbler emerged to provide us great views in the morning sunlight.
Black-throated Blue Warbler. Jackson Park, May 17, 2023. Photo by Matt Zuro.
Several more warbler species made appearances as we continued to the lagoon’s northwest corner, including Ovenbird, Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, and plenty of American Redstarts. A couple of secretive Swainson’s Thrushes evaded many eyes as they quickly flew away from their shadowy hiding spots.
We snapped a group selfie before some of the participants departed. The few of us continued on to add a swooping Cooper’s Hawk and a calling American Kestrel to the checklist. Overall we tallied 47 bird species for the day, adding many to the life lists of the Beginner Birder crew.