Montrose Beach & Dunes Thursday 7-16-26

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

Went to Montrose in the hopes that maybe one of the larger shorebirds
would stop by on the way south but that was not to be, again. Had 6
species of shorebirds with nothing larger than a Killdeer. Watched for
birds with Tamima & Demond & even had a visit from former Montrose
birder Ted Wolff.

Montrose Beach & Dunes (5:30-8:45 am)

D.C. Cormorant (3)
Canada Goose (95, on the beach early on)
Mallard (2)
Killdeer (1-AD & 2 young on the beach & another adult by the parking lot)
PIPING PLOVER (Imani & the 2 chicks)
Spotted Sandpiper (2-AD & 2 young)
Sanderling (1)
Semipalmated Sandpiper (1)
Least Sandpiper (2)
Ring Billed (~100) & Herring (2) Gulls
Caspian Tern (2 fly-bys)
Purple Martin (2)
Rough Winged (2) & Barn (4) Swallows
Flicker (H-1)
Robin (2) & Starling (4)
Cardinal (H-1)
Red Wings (6) & Grackle (1)
House Finch (7)
Goldfinch (2)
House Sparrow (8)

But before getting to Montrose I stopped along Caldwell Ave just south
of Oakton as I heard Nighthawks at the spot I have heard them many
times before but had never seen one.
But today luck was with me as I finally saw one after about 5 min of
looking. This was at about 5 am when it was just getting light.

So 24 species at Montrose plus my Nighthawk & a few more roadside
additions for a day's total of 31. Bird-Of-The-Day to the Nighthawk &
Runner-Up to the Piping Plover family.

Al Stokie
At Montrose in Cook County today