Fort Sheridan Hawk Watch Sunday 10-19-25

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

Rained all morning so I got to the hawk watch at 11:45 am only to find
that I missed the best bird seen today, which was a migrating
Swainson's Hawk, by 5 min. Sounds like it was a banner day at all the
hawk watches with Illinois Beach seeing 368 raptors, Fort Sheridan
seeing 537 & Greene Valley seeing 179 including their 2nd Golden Eagle
of the year. Of course I don't see as many as the others do. For
example Ft Sheridan had 77 Merlins while I saw 16 & they saw 136 Red
Tails while I saw only 20-25. But I have never claimed to be a
competent hawk watcher. I just go to see what I can. Good enough for
me!

Official counters were Jeff B, Amanda T & Adam S with help from 12-15
others. And it seems that everyone else but me can see hawks at great
distances & know what they are, But I think I'll stick with shorebirds
which I can do fairly well.

Fort Sheridan Hawk Watch (11:45 am-3:15 pm)

Turkey Vulture (6-8)
Bald Eagle (5)
Sharp Shinned Hawk (12-15)
Cooper's Hawk (2)
Northern Harrier (1)
Red Shouldered Hawk (1)
Red Tailed Hawk (20-25)
Merlin (16)

Other than raptors there were small numbers of Canada Geese & Sandhill
Cranes, a few land birds & a new year bird for me which was a flock of
Pine Siskins pointed out to me by Jeff B.
Thank you Jeff!

So only 17 species for the day at Ft Sheridan plus 2 roadside
additions for a total of 19 for the day. Bird-Of-The-Day to all those
Siskins & Runners-Up to the Merlins & Eagles as I didn't see the Red
Shouldered Hawk very well as it was not very close.

Al Stokie
Hawk watching in Lake County today