(Late) Chicago Botanic Garden Monday 3-30-26

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

I have been so busy lately with non-birding tasks that I've fallen
behind on my reports. First I'll do Monday's report & then I'll do
Tuesday's report either later today or 1st thing in the morning.

Chicago Botanic Garden (8:30 am-12:45 pm) (Another long days birding)

Here's what I saw in the Northern Lake where most of the duck & water
birds were.

Common Loon (1)
Pied Billed Grebe (6)
Horned Grebe (2)
Canada Goose (4)
Mallard (4)
Gadwall (2-M & 1-F)
Goldeneye (3)
Red Breasted Merganser (4)

Here's what I saw near the Rt 68 Dundee Road Mudflats where the shorebirds were.

Killdeer (10)
Greater (1) (FOY) & Lesser (1) Yellowlegs
Wilson's Snipe (5)
Ring Billed (4) & Herring (1) Gulls
CASPIAN TERN (1) (FOY)
Kingfisher (2)
Green Winged Teal (3)

Flying by were a BALD EAGLE (1-IM) & a Red Tailed Hawk & four Blue
Winged Teal at the
Barbara Brown Pond. Both Ospreys were seen by other birders but they
weren't seen by me at the nest. Wood Ducks were seen at various
places.

Landbirds

Mourning Dove (4)
Flicker (2)
Tree Swallow (12)
Blue Jay (2), Crow (2), Red Breasted Nuthatch (1), Golden Crowned Kinglet (8)
RUBY CROWNED KINGLET (1) (FOY)
Hermit Thrush (1) & Robin (45)
Cardinal (6)
Song (8) & FOX (3) Sparrows
Junco (10-12)
Red Wings (9) & Grackles (15)
House Finch (6) & Goldfinch (5)
House Sparrow (10)

Later I stopped by Techny North as someone had reported Snipe from
there & I did see 7 Snipe & 1 Lesser Yellowlegs & finally in flew 8
Pectoral Sandpipers (FOY). Also Shoveler (1-PR) &
11 Green Winged Teal.

So I ended up with 44 species for the day. I think Bird-Of-The-Day
will be the Caspian Tern as I like how they fly & their big red bill
is impressive. Runners-Up to the Ruby Crowned Kinglet & all the
shorebirds.

Al Stokie
In Cook County on Monday