Montrose Point Saturday 11-1-25

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People & Welcome to November 2025,

Went to Montrose in the hopes of seeing yesterday's Redpoll.
Eventually I did see it with a lot of help from other observers,
especially Matt D & Sam E. Like yesterday it was found in the shrub
area between the Butterfly Meadow & the small handicapped parking lot.
Also saw some interesting birds along the pier & rock wall by the
lake. I did NOT check the Hedge Area so my land bird list is somewhat
lacking. Another rare bird seen today was a Shrike but I had to choose
between it & the Redpoll & I chose the Redpoll. Later I could not find
the Shrike. That's the breaks. As usual there were many nice birders
here which is one reason I continue to visit.

Montrose Point (7:45-11:15 am)

D.C. Cormorant (1)
Canada Goose (~150)
WHITE FRONTED GOOSE (1, continuing) (found in the 6th flock of
Canada's I looked at)
Mallard (1 fly-by)
SURF SCOTER (1, in the lake, identified by photos taken by others)
Coots (6, fish hook pier area)
Cooper's Hawk (1)
Kestrel (2)
Ring Billed (15) & Herring (2) Gulls
Rock Pigeon (3)
Downy Woodpecker (1)
Blue Jay (2)
Chickadee (3)
Robin (2)
HORNED LARK (1, protected beach)
Cardinal (1-M)
Tree Sparrow (1)
LAPLAND LONGSPUR (1, found by Santos)
SNOW BUNTING (3, along the rock wall ignoring all the runners)
House Finch (2)
REDPOLL (1)
Goldfinch (10)
House Sparrow (~25)

So 24 species at Montrose plus roadside Starlings for a day's total of 25.
Bird-Of-The-Day to the Redpoll & Runners-Up to the Longspur, the Horned Lark &
the Snow Buntings.

The day's highlight was getting to visit with Henry G who I used to
see when he was a "young birder" but although still relatively young
(college age) he has joined the ranks of those young folks who are now
considerably taller than I am. And so it goes!

Al Stokie
At Montrose in Cook County today