River Trail Nature Center, Lake Opeka & Axehead Lake Tuesday 12-2-25

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

Still kind of sore from shoveling snow & with the cold start to the
day I decided to go to River Trail Nature Center where I could view
birds from inside. Then I made two stops at my two local lakes to see
if they still had open water.

River Trail Nature Center (8:50-10:30 am)

Canada Goose (29 fly-bys)
BALD EAGLE (1-IM, flying along the river)
Mourning Dove (5)
Red Bellied Woodpecker (2)
Downy Woodpecker (2)
Blue Jay (2, returned after they refilled the peanut feeder)
Chickadee (1 or 2)
W.B. Nuthatch (2, a pair)
Robin (2)
Cardinal (8)
Tree Sparrow (2)
WHITE THROATED SPARROW (3)
Junco (10-12)
House Finch (8)
Goldfinch (14, all at the thistle feeders)
House Sparrow (~40)

Lake Opeka (11:55 am-12:20 pm)

Canada Goose (89), Mallard (8) & Hooded Merganser (1-M)
Ring Billed (62) & Herring (4) Gulls
LAPLAND LONGSPUR (4-6, by the boat launch area)

Axehead Lake (12:30-1 pm) (High snow piled up all along the road)

COMMON LOON (1, continuing)
Canada Goose (32)
Mallard (2-PR)
Ruddy Duck (1-F)
Rock Pigeon (~60, at the roost site)

So 24 species at my three locations plus 2 more roadside additions for
a total of 26.
Bird-Of-The-Day will be the Lapland Longspurs at Opeka & Runners-Up will be
the Common Loon & the young Bald Eagle.

Al Stokie
Very local in Cook County today