thanks to Al for BBL loon and another birthday; a few new birds of season at Botanic Garden

[ALAN ANDERSON]

I already texted Al a Happy Birthday wish this morning, but also wanted to add my Happy Birthday wishes for another year of enjoyable birding posts, and especially for his friendly folksy writing!

 

Also I wanted to thank him (and Marilyn F for follow up) about the continuing Common Loon at Big Bend Lake, which I saw around 11:30am this morning.   There were only a few ducks there this morning, perhaps due to the boat that was in the lake (fishing).

 

In my main report from the Chicago Botanic Garden bird walk this morning (eBird list below), it was the fourth bird walk I've led there so far this year, and we were able to add a few new species to the birds we've seen there so far this year.

 

Today we added a GREAT EGRET, a pair of EASTERN PHOEBE (both species new to the Garden species list for the year), and also new to my walks were a (heard in flight) Killdeer, two male BLUE-WINGED TEAL, a pair of N. SHOVELERS and about a dozen TREE SWALLOWS.

 

The adult Red-tailed Hawk that was perched on the corner of the main building at the Fruit and Vegetable Garden for the longest time, gave everyone great up close observations.   It most likely was the same RT Hawk we saw last Saturday.   It definitely is used to people, as it doesn't fly away with people walking nearby!

 

Alan Anderson, casre...@comcast.net 

Des Plaines  www.chicagobirdalliance.org

(note: early heads up: Illinois Spring Bird Count, Saturday, May 10th this year)

 

EBird report from CBG:

 

Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, Cook, Illinois, US

Mar 27, 2025 8:00 AM - 10:05 AM

Protocol: Traveling, 13 observers

1.48 mile(s)

Checklist Comments:     one muskrat observed today in North Lake; 46 degrees at start (wind: 3 mph, SW), 50 degrees at end with wind 4 mph, gusts to 8); mostly cloudy; we may have heard a flicker call once

31 species (+1 other taxa)

> Canada Goose  14     most on island in North Lake; later flushed by border collie and went to lake

> Wood Duck  6     three pair in different locations in North Lake;

> Blue-winged Teal  2     both males along edge of North Lake west side shore

> Northern Shoveler  2     one pair (male, female) west shore North Lake, near teal

> Mallard  16     spread around, mainly in pairs today

> Bufflehead  2     pair in North Lake, mostly north of island

> Common Goldeneye  1     male, west side of North Lake by willow

> Red-breasted Merganser  5     female west side of Sensory Garden, and two pair in Great Basin

> Mourning Dove  5     two pair (one  cooing) and one additional noted in flight

> Killdeer  1     heard a few times flying around

> Ring-billed Gull  1

> American Herring Gull  1

>         Larus sp.  4     likely Ring-billed Gull but too far away and overhead, to confirm which

> Pied-billed Grebe  1     west of F&V Garden

> Great Egret  1     north edge of North Lake along shore; later flew off NW

> Great Blue Heron  3     all observed flying north at different times

> Red-tailed Hawk  1     perched on east edge of rooftop in F&V Garden; appeared to be the same one we saw last Saturday on the walk, in same area (breast streaking very light brown); very 'tame' and did not fly until almost all had passed by

> Eastern Phoebe  2     pair catching insects, perching occasionally, with one calling a few times, flower area of Sensory Garden

> Blue Jay  1     in oak west side of F&V Garden

> Black-capped Chickadee  1     heard give territorial call several times from near Bulb Garden

> Tree Swallow  12     estimate; flying over Great Basin, mostly near east edge Sensory Garden; swooping and catching small insects

> Barn Swallow  1     flying over east side Sensory Garden, orange breast, forked tail with a band of white near tip

> European Starling  2     on ground SW hill F&V Garden

> American Robin  40     estimate and under count; all over the gardens, with no nest building noted yet

> House Sparrow  15     usual spots west of Gateway Center, near bridge to F&V Garden and a couple by outdoor pavilion

> House Finch  5     all singing males

> American Goldfinch  2     fly over

> Dark-eyed Junco  3     two observed, and one heard singing

> Song Sparrow  4     possibly more; all heard singng

> Red-winged Blackbird  15     all males, spread througout

> Common Grackle  80     under count; small groups and some pairs

> Northern Cardinal  8     6 singing males and 2 females (including one singing female)

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S221114329