Busse Woods North & South Plus Lake Opeka Monday 2-16-26

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

Locked myself out of the house today so I had to wait for the
locksmith to open it up.
So a late start but it didn't matter as I wasn't going very far as
after 2 days in a row with a lot of driving I needed a couple of days
with a short destination.

Started at the N.E. part of Busse Woods as I wanted to see the
European Goldfinches that have been reported from there. Parked as far
south in the lot off Gulf Rd & walked to the road that goes to the
maintenance building where I soon found 5 or 6 of the brightly colored
European Goldfinch.
This project certainly worked well.

Later I stopped at Lake Opeka & found some ducks & gulls & little else.
Canada Goose (210) & Mallard (8)
Goldeneye (32)
Hooded (1-M) & Red Breasted Merganser (4-M)
House Sparrow (Heard a few)

So only about 12 species plus 2 roadside additions for a day's total of 14.
Bird-Of-The-Day & Fancy Pants Bird Of The Day will be the European
Goldfinches as you don't get much fancier than that. Runner-Up to the
male Hooded Merganser which was pretty fancy as well.

Al Stokie
Local in Cook County today