Category Archives: Summer Bird Reports

June 1 – August 31, inclusive

Northern Rough-winged and Bank Swallow Comparison Photo

Bank and Northern Rough-winged Swallows

Bank and Northern Rough-winged Swallows (click to see the larger version).

Montrose Dunes has been excellent for swallows lately. On July 15 I photographed a juvenile Northern Rough-winged Swallow next to a juvenile Bank Swallow on the yellow rope that cordons off part of the south end of the Dunes. These 2 “brown” swallows can look alike from behind.

In the photo to the right, note the narrow whitish edges to the tertials and primaries and the lack of rufous in the wing coverts of the Bank Swallow (left bird). The juvenile Rough-winged has duller edges to the tertials, and rufous edges to the primaries and wing coverts. The Bank Swallow also has a paler rump than the Roughie and pale edges to the tail feathers. I wasn’t aware of this later feature until I noticed it yesterday, and I’m not sure it’s a completely solid field mark but I didn’t notice it on any of the Rough-winged Swallows I looked at.

Short-billed Dowitchers and Swallows, July 16, 2013

Short-billed Dowitcher

Short-billed Dowitcher (click to see the larger version)

Three Short-billed Dowitchers were at the beach this morning, July 16. Two birds were on the beach inside the protected area and another was feeding in the fluddle next to the Fishhook Pier. The 2 on the beach flew off shortly after I identified them but the bird in the fluddle remained. This bird was present yesterday evening as well. I also had 2 Least and 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers on the beach.

Montrose Dunes has been excellent for swallows lately. This morning I had all 6 of our regularly occurring species either flying around or perched on the yellow rope at the south end of the Dunes. This is a great opportunity to see, study, and photograph these birds, especially when they’re perching on the rope.

Willet, July 7, 2013

Willet

Willet (click to see the larger version).

Shorebird migration has been underway for about a week now, with Least Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Willets being seen. These are usually the first shorebirds to return. I saw and photographed the adult bird pictured to the right inside the protected area at the east end of the beach.

On a related note, the Chicago Park District fenced off Montrose Dunes on the west and south sides for the extended July 4th weekend to protect it from the thousands of concertgoers attending the WaveFront festival. This was a good thing.

Common Terns, June 23, 2013

Common Terns

Common Terns (click to see the larger version).

Two adult Common Terns were inside the protected area at Montrose Beach this morning. Both birds flew off to the west after a few minutes and were not seen again. This is a most unusual record. Other birds seen or heard at Montrose this a.m. include a southbound Great Egret, 2 Eastern Wood-Pewees, and a buzzing Dickcissel.

Grasshopper Sparrow and Great Crested Flycatcher, June 20, 2013

I saw a Grasshopper Sparrow near the water feature early this morning. The bird flew towards the meadow and I never saw it again. A little late and a little unexpected I’d say. I also heard and saw a Great Crested Flycatcher.

On a side note, some of you may have noticed that the eastern portion (specifically, the eastern panne) of Montrose Dunes has been cordoned off with yellow rope. This was done to protect the vegetation from trampling and disturbance. I know the dunes are popular with birders seeking Nelson’s Sparrows and other birds but the disturbance to this area has become so extreme that cordoning it off became necessary. Please don’t enter this area if you bird the dunes and stay on the footpaths to minimize damage to the vegetation.

Confusing Sterna Terns

Forster's Terns

Forster’s Terns. Photographs by Mike Miller (click to see the larger version).

Mike Miller photographed these Sterna terns on Montrose Beach in late May. Both birds are Forster’s Terns and I think both are in their third calendar year, that is, they were born in 2011. The top bird has white underparts, a broad white area between the lower edge of the dark cap and bill, and a tail that extends past the tips of the folded primaries. These are Forster’s field marks. The bill also looks stout and the legs look long to me.

The second bird has a gray tail and a white outer web to the outer pair of tail feathers. These are also Forster’s field marks. Except for the dark outer 5 or 6 primaries both birds look like adults, but adult Forster’s Terns in late May should still have silvery white primaries, so that’s why I think they are in their third calendar year. Immature terns molt their primaries earlier than adults and when tern primaries become worn they darken. The dark primaries of these birds are really the only clue that they aren’t fully mature.