I walked around Montrose this morning, June 22, and had a couple nice surprises, notably a female Canada Warbler and a male Yellow-breasted Chat. The Canada Warbler was in the Magic Hedge and moving around quite a bit. I never saw it again after the initial encounter. I heard the chat singing in the peripheral plantings just west-southwest of the water feature, and with a little effort tracked it down and saw it. Both birds are rare at this time of the year at Montrose. I also saw an immature male Orchard Oriole, part of an apparent mated pair that have been around for a few weeks.
Author Archives: rhughes
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Orchard Oriole, and Eastern Wood-Pewee, June 16, 2016
A brief walk around the Point this morning, June 16, yielded Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Orchard Oriole, and Eastern Wood-Pewee, all vocalizing. All of these birds could potentially be nesting at Montrose, or they could be late migrants or wandering immature birds looking for a territory.
Semipalmated Sandpiper, June 13, 2016
Semipalmated Sandpiper (click to see the larger version)
I went over to Montrose Beach this morning, June 13, to look for lingering shorebirds and found this Semipalmated Sandpiper. Here we are 2 weeks into June and we’re still getting migrating shorebirds. What’s even more amazing is that the first southbound shorebirds will start showing up within a couple weeks.
Last of the last?
Addendum
I had 3 Semipalmated Sandpipers at Montrose on June 14, the last migrant shorebirds I had for the spring of 2016.
Shorebirds (Still), June 10, 2016
Willet (click to see the larger version)
Shorebirds are still moving through northern Illinois. This morning, June 10, I had a Willet, a Dunlin, 8 Semipalmated Sandpipers, a Least Sandpiper, a White-rumped Sandpiper, and 3 Semipalmated Plovers in the fluddle at Montrose Beach in Chicago. The Chicago Park District is draining the fluddle so it may not be around much longer.
When it comes to migration the fat lady never sings.
Shorebirds, June 1, 2016
White-rumped and Semipalmated Sandpipers (click to see the larger version)
I had a nice collection of shorebirds at Montrose Beach this afternoon, June 1, including 3 White-rumped Sandpipers, 4 Semipalmated Sandpipers, a Dunlin, and 2 Semipalmated Plovers. All of these birds were in the fluddle, just west of the beach house.
Just because it’s June doesn’t mean migration has stopped.
American Avocets and Laughing Gull, May 28, 2016
Laughing Gull (click to see the larger version)
The 2 American Avocets found this morning (May 28) at Montrose Beach were still there as of 4:30 p.m. Both birds were in the fluddle just west of the beach house. I also had an adult Laughing Gull in the fluddle in the same area as the avocets. A couple kids flushed the bird but it relanded and joined a group of Ring-billed Gulls near the volleyball nets.