Montrose Point Wednesday 12-24-25

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

It's been a tough last few days chasing rare birds! First a Slaty
Backed Gull was seen by one birder in Will County but no one could
find it the next day. Then Dave J & Bob E went for the Barrow's
Goldeneye in Rock Island County but couldn't find it. Andy Sigler
looked for birds near Rend Lake but came up empty. Today many birders
checked Montrose for yesterday's Western Grebe but it was long gone. I
hope this trend changes quickly.

Montrose Point (7:30-10:30 am)

Horned Grebe (1, harbor)
Canada Goose (~125, lawns)
Mallard (12-15)
BLACK DUCK (1, harbor)
LONG TAILED DUCK (1-M, continuing)
Bufflehead (1-F)
Goldeneye (24)
Red Breasted Merganser (~15)
Ring Billed (~45) & Herring (10) Gulls
THAYER'S ( Iceland) GULL (1-AD, harbor)
Downy Woodpecker (2)
Chickadee (4)
Robin (6)
Cardinal (4)
House Sparrow (~75)

Made a quick stop at Lake Opeka but only saw the same birds as always.
At Axehead Lake the COMMON LOON continues with Canada Geese, 2 Mallards,
2 Red Breasted Mergansers & the Coot.

So 20 species for the day including roadside Starlings.
Bird-Of-The-Day will be the fine looking male Long Tailed Duck &
Runners-Up will be
the Horned Grebe, the Iceland/Thayer's Gull & the continuing Common Loon.

Haven't had any special license plates for a while but today I saw one
from Montana &
yesterday one from New Hampshire & one from Ontario.

Al Stokie
In Cook County not finding the big Grebe