Axehead Lake, Lake Opeka & Beck Lake Monday 3-9-26

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

Didn't get to do much birding today as I got eye drops at 8 am & my
eyes didn't work properly until about 1 pm. Only made three stops at
local lakes & except for one new arrival everything I saw were
repeats.

Axehead Lake (1:15-1:25 am)

Lesser Scaup (7)
Red Breasted Merganser (11)
Pigeon (~25) & Cardinal (H-1)

Lake Opeka (1:35-2:05 pm)

COMMON LOON (1, only in partial breeding plumage & a little early)
Canada Goose (47)
Mallard (31)
WIGEON (3-PR)
Redhead (11), Ring Necked Duck (5) & Lesser Scaup (56)
Goldeneye (4) & Red Breasted Merganser (13)
Ring Billed (24) & Herring (1) Gulls
Sandhill Crane (heard a few but didn't see any)
Crow (1), Cardinal (H-1) & House Sparrow (~10)

Beck Lake (2:30-3:05 pm)

Canada Goose (97) & Mallard (4)
Lesser Scaup (1-M & 2-F)
Red Breasted Merganser (365)
TURKEY VULTURE (2 fly-bys)
Red Tailed Hawk (1, hunting)
Ring Billed (9) & Herring (10) Gulls
House Sparrow (heard a few)

So only 18 species today plus 2 roadside additions for a total of 20.
Should do better tomorrow if it doesn't rain early.
Bird-Of-The -Day to the early Common Loon & Runners-Up to the Wigeons
& the Turkey Vultures.

Al Stokie
Local birding only in Cook County, afternoon only