26 replies to this topic

[guy_incognito]

Just got back from a trip to Louisville for a couple days, followed by Chicago for about 4 days. Louisville was for business, so I didn't have much time to get out, but I did manage to go to a local park one morning. Overall the expected warbler action was down from what was expected for spring migration, but is still much better than what I can get out here in the west. Even though the total warbler species count was fairly low, a few of them were lifers. Ended up with 10 new lifers on the trip, which will be denoted with an asterisk.

[guy_incognito]

Louisville was first, and my one birding visit was to Cherokee park. Overall birding action was low, but did get two or three lifers. Just about the very first bird I came across was an empid in very poor light, which I am about 90% sure was a Yellow-bellied. Luckily I saw several while in Chicago, so it is fine to leave that one as an empid. Then I came across several of the expected species.

Carolina Chickadee



Chipping Sparrow



Tufted Titmouse

[guy_incognito]

Finally a little bit of color with this Indigo Bunting



This was my first definite lifer of the trip, and there were actually several around the park, but none were cooperative. Yellow-throated Warbler*

[guy_incognito]

Getting near the end of the morning I came across two nice looking Eastern Phoebes



Just before leaving I managed to spy this Canada Warbler*.

[guy_incognito]

In Chicago I spent almost the entirety of my time up at Montrose Point.

On the first trip I nabbed my guaranteed lifer of the trip, Purple Martin*.



Walking along the harbor there were lots of swallows, and a few were considerate enough to perch nearby. I was particularly happy with this Barn Swallow pair.



This Northern Rough-winged Swallow wasn't half bad either.

[guy_incognito]

After walking along the harbor I reached the Magic Hedge, which unfortunately wasn't too magic this morning. Only ended up with 4 warbler species, which is shockingly abysmal for Chicago in migration. However, shortly after arriving, someone asked if I had been down to the shore yet. There was an extremely unexpected shorebird. Many Chicago birders had never seen this bird in spring in their 20-30 years of birding, so I felt extremely lucky to see it. Even better, it was a very cooperative bird.

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER!!!!!*

[guy_incognito]

Even though the warbler action was low, there were more empids than I could throw a stick at. It was a real learning experience trying to learn their calls. Most were left as empids, but a few I could ID by call, such as this Alder Flycatcher*



Wasn't a new bird, but was happy to see my first male Baltimore Oriole.



At nearby Jarvis Bird Sanctuary there wasn't much action, but there were a few Indigo Buntings

[jetmedix]

Looks like a nice trip! Love the Barn Swallow shot!

[hawkhenries]

Great shots!!

[guy_incognito]

Thanks for the comments. I've got more to add!

The next day proved to be more birdy than the last. Jumped to 11 warbler species instead of the measly 4 from the day before.

Several American Redstarts were around



Found a couple Black-throated Green Warblers as well.



Magnolia Warbler

[guy_incognito]

The empids remained a strong contingent, here is a Willow Flycatcher



Gray Catbird

[guy_incognito]

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper only stayed the one day, so it was back to the usual suspects.

Caspian Tern and Ring-billed Gulls



Semipalmated Sandpiper and Sanderling

[guy_incognito]

Yellow Warblers were all over the place



Red-eyed Vireo



Chestnut-sided Warbler

[guy_incognito]

Finally got a couple lifers

Mourning Warbler*



Blackburnian Warbler*. I really wanted to see a male, but I'll take what I can get.



A good number of Wilson's Warblers also made a showing.

[guy_incognito]

Here are a few more from the flycatcher family

Eastern Wood-Pewee



Great Crested Flycatcher



Eastern Kingbird

[guy_incognito]

Not too many thrushes were around. I really wanted to see a Veery, but no such luck. This was one of only 2-3 Swainson's Thrushes that I saw.



After seeing surprisingly large numbers of these, this is about the best shot I could get of a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher*

[guy_incognito]

The final day proved to be fairly active as well. Early in the morning I was fortunate to be near by as someone found this Yellow-billed Cuckoo, which stuck around just long enough to allow a couple pictures.



I continued a short distance down the path and was pleased to see this Blackpoll Warbler



Just a few minutes later, someone else yelled out "Cerulean" from nearly the same spot where the Cuckoo was. I was just about 30 yards down the trail, so I quickly rushed over. Unfortunately the Cerulean Warbler had already disappeared, and was never reported again that day. That near miss stings!

[guy_incognito]

While looking for the Cerulean, this Northern Parula made a nice appearance, the only one I saw the entire trip.



Finally got a picture of a Least Flycatcher*



Northern Cardinal

[guy_incognito]

Back down by the shore there was a Savannah Sparrow and more of the usuals.




Herring Gull



Spotted Sandpiper

[guy_incognito]

Nearing the end of my time I first noticed an odd yellow speck in the tall grasses and snapped a poor pic, but it proved to be a new lifer. After spending more time looking and waiting, I was lucky enough to have this one pop up about 20 feet away.

Dickcissel*