4/8/21 Big Marsh/Indian Ridge - Noted Notables

[Carl Giometti]

Just did a quick visit this morning to see how the shorebird habitat was holding up with the recent rains, so far so good.  We'll keep our fingers crossed because in years past, there's been habitat until the first string of rains, then nothing.

Anyways, the pec/tringa hot streak continues at Big Marsh....

80 Pectoral Sandpipers

25 Greater Yellowlegs

110 Lesser Yellowlegs

12 Wilson's Snipe

6 Killdeer

There was a large increase in the number of lessers since my last visit and, as the rain really started to come down, a group of about 50 joined the 60+ that were already there.

The number of American White Pelicans was also notable at 104.  There seemed to be some additional habitat along the northern edge of the main pool but water on the scope made viewing out there tough.

I also visited indian ridge...

South - despite pretty good looking mud, no shorebirds and few ducks. However there were 15 Great Egret collected on the stretch of water from the marsh to the calumet river.

North - Viewing from 122nd street, there was a group of 45 Pecs and about a dozen snipe in the SW lagoon.  There was a ton of great mud everywhere but few shorebirds anywhere else.  For the moment, I suppose there is more habitat than birds.  Hopefully the habitat will persists and the birds will continue to build.

Cheers,

Carl Giometti

South Cook, IL