Trumpeter Swans still at Busse Woods, plus 3 Bald Eagles, Yellow-rumped Warbler Saturday

[ALAN ANDERSON]

Thanks to Al Stokie's report of the Trumpeter Swans at Busse Woods, I visited the North and South Pools at the end of the Boat Rental Area entrance this morning.

 

All of the Trumpeter Swans were on the ice of the South Pool, not too far from the path that heads east to the bridge/dam.   The group of three Trumpeter Swans were together a bit closer to the shore, and the other swan was near some Canada Geese not too far away.  I was able to get some photos of both, before unfortunately my camera batteries went out of use.   I posted those to my Facebook page.   I did not see any yellow by the eyes of the fourth swan, and it appeared to be a Trumpeter also, but I could be wrong.

 

I did not re-find the Mute Swans at all this morning.  And except for a pair of Mallards in flight, I couldn't find any of the mergansers or goldeneye that were reported yesterday - the water had really iced up, except for a few small open areas.

 

Later, while viewing the North Pool, and walking the shoreline path around the restoration area towards the bridge/dam, I did see 15 bird species however, with some highlights.

 

First I saw an adult Bald Eagle straight north, heading away towards Higgins Road, then an immature eagle flew from the southeast to the northwest, and it was joined by a second immature eagle, and both soared over the area to the NW, where you can see the Higgins Road bridge over the water.  Both of the immatures had some white in the head, so  were likely 4th year (or possibly late third year) eagles.

 

I had a number of passerines on the 'sunny east side' of the shoreline walk, including 2 Song Sparrows, White-throated and Tree Sparrow, and a Yellow-rumped Warbler too.

 

All birds seen at Busse Woods today included:

 

- Canada Goose

- Mallard

- Trumpeter Swan

- American Herring Gull

- Ring-billed Gull

- Bald Eagle (3)

- Red-tailed Hawk (one perched in a tree by the west side of the lake by the entrance off of Higgins)

- Downy Woodpecker

- Blue Jay

- Black-capped Chickadee (an active group of 7 or 8)

- White-breasted Nuthatch

- American Robin (one flyover at Busse West)

- American Goldfinch

- American Tree Sparrow

- Dark-eyed Junco

- White-throated Sparrow

- Song Sparrow

- Yellow-rumped Warbler

- Northern Cardinal

 

My bird of the day was definitely the Trumpeter Swans, with runner-ups being the 3 Bald Eagles and one Yellow-rumped Warbler.  I also saw Rock Pigeons and E Starlings and 2 crows while driving.

 

Alan Anderson

casre...@comcast.net

Des Plaines, Cook County

 

www.chicagobirdalliance.org