Birding Ups & Downs Fort Sheridan Hawk Watch Wednesday 11-12-25

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

Yesterday everything went our way at Montrose but today our luck was
not so good.
Did the Ft Sheridan Hawk Watch from 10 am to 1:30 pm but encountered
some problems most of which centered on my lack of ability to pick out
high flying birds. Official counters were Sam E & Susan L. Also there
were Bob E & Noah W & of course me but I'm not much help with the
hawks.

We had heard that a Golden Eagle had been seen to the north so we were
on the lookout.
At about 1:30 or so Sam spotted a very large, dark Eagle but it
wouldn't give very good looks. He followed it using his scope &
finally it turned enough to see the white in the wings & tail which
was very distinct & not the diffuse white of the young Bald Eagle.
Noah also had some good looks & could I.D. the bird but all I can say
is that it was a very big dark Eagle & then it flew into direct
sunlight & that was that. Susan also saw it well enough but Bob & I
did not. I hate it when I see a bird & others see it well enough so I
know what it was but not why it was what they said it was.
We'll call this the GOLDEN EAGLE that got away. As of now I will not
officially count this bird but may change my mind later.

Other raptors seen by me were Cooper's Hawk, Bald Eagle (2-AD), Red
Tailed Hawk & a Kestrel.
Other birds seen were flocks of Canada Geese & Sandhill Cranes &
Sparrows were Tree (2). FOX (1), White Crowned (6), White Throated (1)
& Junco (4). Also a few Goldfinch & we heard a Red Headed Woodpecker &
a fly-by Lapland Longspur.

Bird-Of-The-Day will be the big dark Eagle even if I did not identify
it very well.
Runners-Up to the adult Bald Eagles & the Fox Sparrow.

Al Stokie
In Lake County today wishing for better looks at a Golden Eagle