European Starlings and other Land Birds in Lincoln Park, Chicago

A European Starling in its perch overlooking South Pond, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

Even though as annoying as they can be with their noisy presence congregating in huge numbers, European Starlings (Above) have a beauty of their own with their variegated pattern in their feathers, which give an irridescent glow when light hits them in the right angle.

European Starlings in constant motion gleening the ground for their midday meal, Montrose Point, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

Although a birding trip to Lincoln Park, often means searching for water birds in their various ponds, it also is a good place to search for land birds as well.  In the past couple of posts, I highlighted water birds (Wood Ducks, Northern Pintails, Hooded Mergansers, etc.), but in this post I'll highlight photos of some of the land birds I came across in the first week of November.  I was hoping to find some Snow Buntings or Longspurs out in the grassy area by Montrose Beach, or some more interesting migrants in the Hedge, but I only saw the usual winter suspects: Juncos, Crows, Starlings, and Sparrows (Below).

An American Crow in the wooded area surrounding the Alfred Caldwell Lilly Pond, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

A male House Sparrow, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

A female House Sparrow, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

An American Tree Sparrow, with two-toned bill, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

Wood Ducks on the Alfred Caldwell Lilly Pond, Lincoln Park, Chicago

On Golden Pond: a pair of Wood Ducks, dabbling in the Alfred Caldwell Lilly Pond, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

Wood Ducks are always a treat to see as they are so colorful and photogenic. While Val and I were exploring the Alfred Caldwell Lilly Pond, a very beautifully landscaped area adjacent to Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo, a pair of Wood Ducks (Above) landed and explored the Lilly Pond as well. The setting was particular striking as the vibrant golden foliage of the surrounding Maples reflected into the pond. I particularly liked how then pond rings created by the Woodies' motions, alternately showed off the reflections of the golden Maples with the blue sky.

The reds and greens of the colorful male Wood Duck contrasts with the golden and blue pond, Alfred Caldwell Lilly Pond, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

With all the colors portrayed in the (Above) photo, I still am enamored of the male Wood Duck's piercing red and black eyes. It is even more prominent when contrasted with a cool background, as (Below) when the Woody floated out into the open free from the Maples' golden reflections.

The Male Wood Duck, Alfred Caldwell Lilly Pond, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.



A female Wood Duck, North Pond, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 10/30/2010.

The female (Above) doesn't posses the brilliant plumage of the male nor its bright red eye, but she has its own beauty with the gigantic white eye patch almost looking like a a white Zorro's mask, and in the right light the back and wing feathers givbe off an irridescent managerie of turquois blues and violets.

Northern Pintail, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL

While searching for the female Long-tailed Duck that was reported seen at the South Pond in Chicago's Lincoln Park, I spotted a pair of Northern Pintails Below), snoozing in the thicket off the shore of North Pond.

A male Northern Pintail trying to take a nap, North Pond, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

Initially, although I suspected they were N. Pintails, I couldn't quite make a positive identification on these two because both were napping hidden in the brush, with their heads tucked into their wings and their necks were obscured. After a time, with the movement of other ducks surrounding them, both awoke, and the male (Above), lifted its head so I could see the tell-tale white racing stripe along the back of its neck. And the female opened its eyes (Below) to see what all the commotion was about. With this ID, I could list Northern Pintails as #334 on my Life List.

Peek-a-boo. The female Northern Pintail checking out its surroundings after waking up from her nap, North Pond, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

There were actually two pairs of Northern Pintails hidden in the brush, but the two above, were the most visible for a picture.  I was hoping they would eventually arise and move about so I could get more of a full-body photo, but they stayed put - must have been plenty tired. These guys must have been in the midst of their southern  migration, as they come from their summer homes in Northern Wisconsin and Michigan, as well the North Central States of Minnesota, the Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming and the entire country of Canada and as far Northwest as Alaska. Year round they can be found in the Central & Western states of Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Nevada, Oregon and California.  They will spend their winters in the southern half of the U.S. from coast to coast as well as all of Mexico.

Happy Thanksgiving with Lincoln Park Birds

This Wild Turkey showed up on our front lawn this spring in Rockford,IL; 6/1/2011.

How can one have a blog about birds and on a Thanksgiving Day post not have a picture of a turkey?  This past late spring, I came home after a day of final exams at school, and as I pulled into the driveway, this Wild Turkey (Above) appeared out of the bushes and started strutting around on our front lawn.  I quickly ran into the house, grabbed my camera, and it stayed long enough for me to fire off a few pics before it disappeared across the street and behind a neighbor's house.  This Wild Turkey became the 37th different species of wild bird that has appeared in our yard in the past two years (but who's counting?) BTW, the current number is up to 38.

Okay, now for some photos of water birds I photographed in Lincoln Park, Chicago, a couple of weeks ago:

This unfortunate American Coot had a fishing line tangled around its head and bill, South Pond, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

A Hooded Merganser with its hood up, North Pond, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

A Hooded Merganser with its hood partially up, North Pond, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

A Hooded Merganser with its hood down, North Pond, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

A Trumpeter Swan showing off its balancing act, North Pond, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

A male Ruddy Duck in its non-breeding plumage, North Pond, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.



A pair of Ring-billed Gulls (Top - juvenile; Bottom - Adult) begging for handouts along Montrose Point, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

(Above) is  good side by side comparison of an adult Ring-billed Gull next to one not quite into adulthood, he big difference being in the yellow bill and legs of the full-grown adult.

A juvenile Ring-billed Gull, Montrose Point, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

I also spent some time at Montrose Point scouring the grasslands along the beach for some shorebirds and hoping to get a glimpse of a Perrigrine Falcon that was reported hanging around the pier area. But all I saw were European Starlings and Ring-billed Gulls, which monopolized the beach and airways. (Above) is a young Ring-billed in its first-winter plumage of brown spotted feahers sprinkled in its white head and light gray wings, and its tell-tale pink bill with a black tip.  (Below) is an adult Ring-billed, with its distinct black ring around a yellow bill, and a more pure white head. Also note the yellow legs of the adult in contrast to the more pinkish legs of the first-year.

An adult Ring-billed Gull on the Montrose Point pier, Chicago, IL; 11/5/2011.

Nygren Wetlands - Land Birds

Seeing a Dark-eyed Slate colored Junco in Northern Illinois is a sure sign that winter is just around the corner, Nygren Wetlands, Rockton, IL; 10/15/2011.

Yesterday I posted pics of water birds from my October 15, visit to the Nygren Wetlands near Rockton, IL. Today I'll feature some of the land birds I photographed. Dark-eyed Slate-colored Juncos (Above) are frequent winter visitors in our area, so seeing one certainly means Winter is not far off. These Juncos are usually one of the first winter migrants to arrive and one of the last to leave in the Spring. It seems like these guys were still hanging around in late April. So they are virtually here more than half of the year.  Other land birds (Below) I saw that are travelling through are: Yellow-rumped Myrtle, Fox Sparrow, White-throated Sparrows, White-crested Sparrows, and a Lincoln’s Sparrow. Some photos of these migrants are below:

A White-crowned Sparrow travelling through on its way South, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

A juvenile White-crowned Sparrow, making its first migratory trip, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

Another northern Sparrow traveling through to warmer climates, the White-throated Sparrow, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

Another common migrant in the Autumn and Spring is the Yellow-rumped Myrtle, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

Land birds that I observed and are present year round are Wild Turkeys, American Crows, a Downy Woodpecker, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flickers, White-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped-Chickadees, Northern Cardinals, American Robins, Song Sparrows, and American Goldfinches. And then there were an Eastern Towhee, Eastern Phoebe, and Swamp & Savannah Sparrows that spend their summers here, but will probably soon take off for warmer southern climates.

An American Goldfinch in the process of losing its bright yellow summer colors and growing its winter plumage, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

Another Goldfinch getting ready to spend the winter in Northern Illinois, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

Black-capped Chickadees are also common year round residents of N. IL, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

A Downey Woodpecker looking for food to fatten up for the winter here in N. IL, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

Song Sparrows are the only Sparrows that live in N. Illinois year round, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011

And then there were an Eastern Towhee, Eastern Phoebe, and Swamp & Savannah Sparrows that spend their summers here, but will probably soon take off for warmer southern climates.



Eastern Phoebes will be gone soon, travelling South, but are usually one of the first song birds to return to Northern Illinois in the Spring, and are already here by mid to late March, Nygren Wetlands, Rockton, IL; 10/15/2011.  



A Swamp Sparrow spending its last days in Northern IL before flying south for the winter, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011.



I heard this Eastern Towhee singing its last songs before leaving us for the winter, Nygren Wetlands; 10/15/2011.

On Thanksgiving Day I'll feature water birds seen at the various ponds in Chicago's beautiful Lincoln Park.

Nygren Wetlands, Rockton, IL

A typical October scene at the Nygren Wetlands, American Coots in the foreground, Canadas and mallards in the middleground, and a Great Blue Heron in the background; 10/15/2011.


A month ago I visited the Nygren Wetlands near Rockton to check out the migrants that may have shown up. I managed to identify 32 species of birds during my couple hour hike, but nothing new nor unusual.

List of Water and Shorebirds: Great Blue Herons, Lesser Yellowlegs, American Coots, Mallards, Canada Geese, Northern Shovelers, Pied-billed Grebes, Double-crested Cormorants, Wood Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks, Sandhill Cranes, Ring-billed Gulls.

List of Landbirds: Wild Turkeys, American Crow, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped-Chickadees, Northern Cardinal, American Robins, Eastern Towhee,  Eastern Phoebe, Dark-eyed Slate Colored Junco, Goldfinches, Yellow-rumped Myrtle and a half dozen species of sparrows: Fox Sparrow, White-throated Sparrows, White-crested Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow.

Mallards take flight, Nygren Wetlands, Rockton, IL; 10/15/2011.

Below are photos of some of the swimmers, divers, waders and shorebirds I observed during the visit:

A Great Blue Heron joins a Double-crested Cormorant on a dead branch overlooking the wetlands.

A Double-crested Cormorant cruising over the Nygren Wetlands, Rockton, IL; 10/15/2011.

A Great Blue Heron, Nygren Wetlands, Rockton, IL; 10/15/2011.

A Great Blue reflecting in the still waters of a flowage, Nygren Wetlands, Rockton, IL; 10/15/2011.



A flush of Wood Ducks trying to stay hidden in one of the obscure ponds in the back acreage of the grounds, Nygren Wetlands, Rockton, IL; 10/15/2011.



In my next post I'll feature photos of some of the landbirds I observed on this visit.

Fall Birding at Espenscheid and Blackhawk Springs Forest Preserves

A sunset in Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 11/4/2011.

On of my favorite local places to go birding are the conjoined Forest preserves of Espenscheid and Black Hawk Springs. I like to park at Espenscheid (both entrances can be found off of Perryville Road, south of Rockford) and hike to Black hawk Springs and back again. In a long loop you can follow the Kishwaukee River to look for shore and water birds, hike through some disiduous and coniferest forest, and through prairie.  In today's post, I will highlight some of my birding pics from October 1, a combination of year round residents and those that are migrating through to their winter homes.
(Above) is a Sunset from Black Hawk Springs on November 4, but don't get locked in after sunset - like I did last weekend.

A Black-capped Chickadee with a snack, Espenscheid Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.



A backlit juvenile Eastern Phoebe, Espenscheid Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.



A Red-bellied Woodpecker, a year-round resident of Espenscheid Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

White-throated Sparrow, Espenscheid Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

Northern "Yellow-shafted" Flicker, another year-round resident of Espenscheid Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

A juvenile Cedar Waxwing, Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

A molting Eastern Towhee, Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

Field Sparrow, Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

Northern Cardinal, a year-round resident, Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

A juvenile White-crowned Sparrow, Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

A Yellow-rumped "Myrtle" Warbler, Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.

A Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.



The same Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Black Hawk Springs Forest Preserve, Rockford, IL; 10/1/2011.