Wood Dale Reservoir, Bensenville Ditch, Lake Opeka & Axehead Lake Tuesday 3-17-26

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

Went to Wood Dale Reservoir as yesterday they had 3 species that would
be new site birds for me. As the winds were not favorable for
migration I thought that at least 2 of the 3 (Common Loon & Horned
Grebe) would still be around. Guess I thought wrong as the Loon was
gone & only one Horned Grebe remained. I never expected the Lesser
Black Backed Gull would still be there. It was a cold session with
temps in the low 20's.

Wood Dale Reservoir (9:30-11 am)
The Grebe was 1st found today by Scott L & most of the bird counts
were by Luis M.

HORNED GREBE (1)
D.C. Cormorant (1)
Canada Goose (9)
Mallard (5, in the stream)
Hooded (6), Common (25) & Red Breasted (155) Mergansers
Ring Billed (150) & Herring (25) Gulls
BALD EAGLE (1-IM)
Kingfisher (H-1)
Red Bellied Woodpecker (H-1)
Robin (10)
Tree (2) & Song (2) Sparrows
Red Wings (~10)
Cardinal (1)

Bensenville Ditch (11:50 am-12:10 pm)

D.C. Cormorant (1)
Mallard (6)
Ring Necked Duck (6) & Lesser Scaup (~10)
Hooded (5), Common (2) & Red Breasted (~350) Mergansers
Ring Billed (42) & Herring (5) Gulls

Lake Opeka (12:30-1 pm)

Horned Grebe (2)
Mallard (33) & Gadwall (3)
Lesser Scaup (98) & Redhead (6)
Goldeneye (5-6)
Hooded (1-M) & Red Breasted (17) Mergansers
Ring Billed (69) & Herring (10) Gulls

Axehead Lake (1:10-1:35 pm)

Pied Billed Grebe (1)
Lesser Scaup (16)
Bufflehead (1-M) & Goldeneye (1-F)
Red Breasted Merganser (118)
Ring Billed (4) & Herring (9) Gulls
Pigeons (~30)

So 25 species at my 4 locations plus roadside Starlings for a day's
total of 26.
Bird-Of-The-Day will be the one Wood Dale Horned Grebe which stayed
for me to count.
Runner-Up to the young Bald Eagle.

Al Stokie
In both DuPage & Cook Co's today