Lake Opeka (29 species) and Axehead Lake/Chippewa Woods (Pileated Woodpecker)

[ALAN ANDERSON]

I had some free time in the morning, and later in mid-afternoon, so I spent time at Lake Opeka and Axehead Lake/Chippewa Woods just relaxing and going slowly to see as much as I could.

 

Like Laura B, I first tried to see if the Red-throated Loon had stayed at Lake Opeka overnight; as she mentioned, it did not, but I had time, so I spent a lot of the 1 1/4 hour observing the lake and flyovers from two different benches along the north edge trail, and lesser time at the Lee St. shelter, and areas near the Touhy lot.  Just sitting and observing paid off, as I eventually saw 29 species, likely the highest number of species I've seen in one visit, in over 30 years of birding there.

 

On Saturday, I saw my first Great Egret of the year along the west lake shore, and it turned out to be the first time I saw that species there in all my years birding there - what a shock!  I saw it again today, as it flew along the west shore, and continued north.   Other notes:  when the Cooper's Hawk flew north over the golf course, two of the cormorants that were on the lake, took off towards the hawk - not sure if just happenstance, or if they were trying to chase it, or vice versa!  No damage. 

 

As many birders have, I again saw one of the local crows along the south end of the park.  But this time it was carrying some sort of food, and flew with it to the south end of the building at Higgins and Touhy.  Wonder if it has a nest back there.

 

Like on Sunday, I walked along the south river trail at Chippewa Woods (entrance from River Road), but walked farther into that path, and down to the floodplain, since I had boots with today.  Later, standing along the floodplain shore for a while, I got to observe a number of kinglets and a FOS (for me) Hermit Thrush, and a phoebe.  Then a Pileated Woodpecker flew into one of the floodplain dead trees, and attached itself to the side of the trunk, where it stayed for a few minutes, looking for food, enough where I could even get a few distant iphone photos.

 

I along with others, have seen a Pileated Woodpecker a number of times along the Des Plaines River from Devon to points north, recently.  It appears to fly up and down the river preserves taking advantage of the insects in the main dead trees.   I believe one birder saw a pair once, but I've only seen one at a time - so far.

 

Anyhow, taking slow walks or sitting for awhile observing birds is definitely an enjoyable way to spend my time after retirement a few years ago!

 

Alan Anderson,  casre...@comcast.net Des Plaines, Cook Co.

(see a number of poor iphone photos in the ebird reports online)

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1) Lake Opeka, Cook, Illinois, US

Apr 6, 2026 7:42 AM - 8:59 AM

Protocol: Traveling

0.911 mile(s)

Checklist Comments:     mostly cloudy, 42 degrees; wind 11-21 NW; spent most of time sitting on two benches (middle and west corner) on north end of lake (most birds seen from here), with short stops at east Lee St. shelter, and south Touhy shore.

29 species

Canada Goose  18     spread out on lake, golf course pond and 3 on hill east of park district building

Northern Shoveler  6   (FOS for me)  4 males and 2 females in two groups, west shoreline area

Mallard  52     spread out; likely missed some

Lesser Scaup  31     two main groups (northwest and near shelter shore) with an occasional scaup elsewhere in the lake

Bufflehead  3     all females

Red-breasted Merganser  42     spread out more today, with a few small groups and pairs and individuals elsewhere in the lake

Ruddy Duck  6     one group together, often diving, mainly along far NW and middle west

Mourning Dove  1     cooing at north end of park

American Coot  8   (high count for me this spring)  two groups: far north end (spread out at times, but a few calling occasionally) and far southwest

Killdeer  2     along golf course shore and on grass (once flushed by mower)

Ring-billed Gull  10     mainly on golf course grass today

American Herring Gull  2     west shore and golf course

Pied-billed Grebe  3     groups of 2 (northwest) and 1 southwest

Horned Grebe  1     middle west lake moving around

Common Loon  2     both adults; one flew southeast along east shore when I was there

Double-crested Cormorant  2     in the lake, but took off and flew around when Cooper's Hawk was flying over golf course

Great Egret  1     flew north - northwest along west shore and out of view

Cooper's Hawk  1     flying over golf course; couldn't tell if cormorants were flying at it, or vice versa!

Belted Kingfisher  1     heard along west shore

Northern Flicker  1     called twice along northeast section of park

American Crow  1     observed from Touhy lot, flying southwest to behind building at Touhy/Higgins, carrying something (food type) in bill

Tree Swallow  2     flying around northwest area of lake and golf course shore

White-breasted Nuthatch  1     trees around park district building

European Starling  16     groups by park district building in tree, golf course building area, northeast grass, volleyball court; one flew northwest towards Howard carrying food once

American Robin  17     spread out

House Sparrow  17     spread out, minimum number

House Finch  2     one singing north by homes on Howard, and one singing south Touhy park building area

Common Grackle  6     groups of 2, 1 and 3 flyovers east to west along north end of park

Northern Cardinal  1     heard singing along Lee St. residential area

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S317852020

 

2)

Axehead Lake/Chippewa Woods, Cook, Illinois, US

Apr 6, 2026 2:46 PM - 3:47 PM

Protocol: Traveling

0.312 mile(s)

Checklist Comments:     51 degrees mostly cloudy, wind 14-24 NW; at least 6 gray squirrels in woods with one black phase; spent first part of walk along east woods and along floodplain, and remaining time at a picnic table observing birds around lake

23 species

Mallard  8

Lesser Scaup  9

Hooded Merganser  2

Red-breasted Merganser  15

Ruddy Duck  2

Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  8  (saw more when traveling on River Road later but did not count those)

Pied-billed Grebe  4

Common Loon  6  (five close together in one area, and one other)

Double-crested Cormorant  2  (Des Plaines River)

Turkey Vulture  1     soaring slow south over river

Cooper's Hawk  1  (over river)

Red-tailed Hawk  1  (soaring over Touhy and I-294 area mostly)

Belted Kingfisher  1  (along river today)

Red-bellied Woodpecker  2  (river woods path)

Downy Woodpecker  1

Pileated Woodpecker  1     (flew to dead trees in floodplain, then south again) photos

Eastern Phoebe  1  (flood plain area catching insects)

Blue Jay  1

Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1  (south part of river trail)  (FOS on Sunday same area)

Golden-crowned Kinglet  6

Hermit Thrush  1   (along river/floodplain edge; photos, FOS for me)

American Robin  8

Yellow-rumped Warbler  4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S318046394