Montrose Point & North Pond in the Rain Monday 5-18-26

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

There were once again Whimbrels going by at Montrose but once again I
did not see them. Shorebirds were kind of weak today but flycatchers
were in fine form. Here's my day list:

Montrose Point (6:30-10:30 am)

D.C. Cormorant (5 fly-bys)
Canada Goose (8), Mallard (6)
RED BREASTED MERGANSER (1-F, still hanging around although the male
seems to be gone)
Killdeer (2) & Semipalmated Plover (1)
Piping Plover (1, Sea Rocket I think)
Spotted Sandpiper (4)
Dunlin (1)
BONAPARTE'S GULL (1, didn't stay long)
Ring Billed (45) & Herring (3) Gulls
Lesser Black Backed Gull (1, probable)
Caspian Tern (15)
Downy Woodpecker (2)
OLIVE SIDED FLYCATCHER (1, maybe 2) (FOY)
Eastern Pewee (2)
Willow Flycatcher (2) (FOY)
ALDER FLYCATCHER (1, seen & heard) (FOY)
Least Flycatcher (2)
Purple Martin (6)
Tree (2), Rough Winged (10), Bank (~30) & Barn (2) Swallows
Veery (1) & Swainson's Thrush (1)
Robin (~15)
Starling (4)
HORNED LARK (1, on the public beach)
Warbling (H-1) & Red Eyed (1) Vireos
GOLDEN WINGED WARBLER (1)
Northern Parula (1)
CAPE MAY WARBLER (1)
Chestnut Sided Warbler (2)
Magnolia Warbler (4)
Yellow Warbler (1)
Black & White (1 or 2)
Redstart (12-15)
BLACK THROATED BLUE (1-F)
Yellow Rumped Myrtle Warbler (only 1)
Palm Warbler (also only 1)
Common Yellowthroat (5)
Wilson's Warbler (2)
Cardinal (4)
Red Wings (8) & Grackles (10)
Baltimore Oriole (2)
Goldfinch (2)
House Sparrow (8)

I could see the rain was about to happen so I hurried to North Pond to
try for the continuing SNOWY EGRET which was waiting for me to arrive.
It was on a log on the west side of the pond. Also saw 3 Black Crowned
Night Herons for good measure. The rain was almost upon me so I rushed
back to the car & just made it as the downpour started. The storm was
brief but it blew down a tree in front of the museum. Back at Montrose
several outhouses were also blown over. A short storm but a powerful
one. Checked Montrose Beach in case the rain put down shorebirds but
none had arrived.

So 55 species for the day & Bird-Of-The-Day as well as Fancy Pants
Bird Of The Day will go to the Snowy Egret. Runners-Up to the Olive
Sided Flycatcher, the Alder Flycatcher, the Bonaparte's Gull & the
Horned Lark. It was a pretty good day after all.

Al Stokie
Mostly at Montrose in Cook County today