Ryerson C.A., Heritage Park, Beck Lake & Lake Opeka Saturday 2-21-26

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

Still cold today & still windy but not nearly as windy as it was Friday.
Started by watching the feeders at Ryerson but nothing special showed up.
Then quick visits to Beck Lake & Big Bend Lakes but they remain frozen
with few birds.
Ended my day at Lake Opeka where all I saw were the usual suspects.

Ryerson C.A. (9:30-11 am)

Mourning Dove (only 1)
Red Bellied Woodpecker (1-M & 1-F)
Downy Woodpecker (2-M)
Hairy Woodpecker (1-M)
Blue Jay (1 or 2)
Chickadee (2)
W.B. Nuthatch (2)
Cardinal (1-PR)
Junco (6)
Red Wings (H-3)
House Finch (1-M)
House Sparrow (10)
(Also at Ryerson today Hazem A saw a Merlin & Alan A had a fly-by
Turkey Vulture)

Beck Lake (12:20-12:40 pm)

Canada Goose 36)
Robin (10), Starling (~75), Junco (6), Red Wings (H-2) & House Sparrow (5-6)

The only thing I saw at Big Bend Lake were 4 Canada Geese.

Lake Opeka (1-1:30 pm)

Canada Goose (24)
Mallard (77)
Ring Necked Duck (3-M)
Greater (1-M) & Lesser (1-M) Scaup
Goldeneye (19)
Red Breasted Merganser (44)
Ring Billed (9) & Herring (16) Gulls

So 23 species for the day plus roadside Pigeons for a day's total of 24.
Nothing very interesting today but Bird-Of-The-Day will be the big
Hairy Woodpecker.
Runners-Up to the 3 nice looking Ring Necked Ducks.

Al Stokie
In both Lake & Cook Co's today