McHenry Dam Tuesday 9-16-25

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

Just covered the Dam Area, the closest Observation Deck, Black Tern
Marsh & the woods between all those places. Did not do a good job on
land birds as I was mostly interested in the water related birds. Mike
S was with me for part of my visit.
And the wooded areas are alive with mosquitoes so be ready for that.

McHenry Dam (8-10:30 am)

D.C. Cormorant (36)
Great Blue Heron (2-3)
Great Egret (21)
Green Heron (2)
Black Crowned Night Heron (1-AD & 1-IM) (Finally got to see this species)
Canada Goose (29)
Wood Duck (32)
Mallard (44)
Blue Winged Teal (8-10)
Bald Eagle (1-AD)
SANDHILL CRANE (2, near the dam actually doing some practice courtship dancing)
Killdeer (14)
Solitary Sandpiper (5)
Pectoral Sandpiper (11)
Wilson's Snipe (1)
Herring Gull (1-AD fly-by)
Kingfisher (1)
Red Headed Woodpecker (H-1)
Red Bellied Woodpecker (H-1)
Downy Woodpecker (H-1)
Flicker (3-4)
Eastern Pewee (H-1)
Blue Jay (5)
Chickadee (H-2)
W.B. Nuthatch (3)
Robin (6)
Catbird (H-1)
Starling (4-5, on the mudflats)
Yellow Throated Vireo (H-2)
Warbling Vireo (H-2)
Red Wings (2)
Goldfinch (H-2)

So 32 species at the Dam plus roadside Mourning Doves for a day's total of 33.
Bird-Of-The-Day to the very entertaining dancing Sandhill Cranes.
Runners-Up to the finally seen Black Crowned Night Herons & the Wilson's Snipe.

Al Stokie
In McHenry County today