Ryerson Conservation Area & Axehead Lake Friday 12-26-25

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

Kind of dreary with a slight mist in the early am so I just watched
birds at the Ryerson feeders.
Just saw the usual suspects but on the way out I heard & then saw a
male Eastern Bluebird.
Then I checked on the Axehead Lake Loon which is still present with
its friend the Coot.

Ryerson C.A. (9:30-10:45 am)

Great Blue Heron (1 fly-by)
Canada Goose (6, by the entrance)
Red Tailed Hawk (1)
Kestrel (1)
Mourning Dove (21)
Red Headed Woodpecker (2)
Red Bellied Woodpecker (3)
Downy Woodpecker (4)
Hairy Woodpecker (1-M)
Blue Jay (4)
Chickadee (3)
W.B. Nuthatch (2)
EASTERN BLUEBIRD (1-M)
Robin (2)
Junco (4)
Goldfinch (1)
House Sparrow (5)

Axehead Lake (1:05-1:15 pm)

COMMON LOON (1, Continues with lots of open water)
Canada Goose (7)
Mallard (9)
Red Breasted Merganser (8)
Coot (1)
Rock Pigeon (~55)

Two male Mallards are following the Coot around & when he dives &
brings up food the Mallards try & grab the food from the Coot. Just
like the Herring Gulls stealing fish from the
Mergansers!

So 17 species at Ryerson plus 8 more seen elsewhere for a total of 25
for the day.
Bird-Of-The-Day will be the Eastern Bluebird & Runner-Up to the
continuing Common Loon.

Al Stokie
Mostly in Lake County with a 10 min stop in Cook County