The Color Purple as in Purple Finch & Purple Sandpiper Saturday 1-17-26

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

Since I am having walking problems & it was darn cold today especially
with the wind I decided to just watch feeders first at Ryerson & then
at River Trail N.C. After I returned home & put the car in the garage
I got a call from David Johnson telling me about a Purple Sandpiper at
Gillson Park. So I hurried there making it before sunset, just barely,
& saw that Sandpiper before dark along with many other birders.

Ryerson C.A. from the Welcome Center (10 am-noon)

Rock Pigeon (3)
Mourning Dove (6)
Red Bellied (2), Downy (3) & Hairy (1-M) Woodpeckers
(No Red Headed Woodpeckers today although others saw them later)
Chickadee (3)
W.B. Nuthatch (1)
Starling (16)
Cardinal (1-M)
Tree Sparrow (1)
Junco (9)
House Finch (2-M)
PURPLE FINCH (2-F & 1-M)
House Sparrow (10-12)

River Trail N.C. (1:25-1:55 pm)

Red Tailed Hawk (1 fly-by)
Mourning Dove (5)
Red Bellied (2), Downy (2) & Hairy (1) Woodpeckers
Chickadee (1)
Cardinal (6)
Tree Sparrow (1)
WHITE THROATED SPARROW (6)
Junco (10)
House Finch (4)
Goldfinch (8)
House Sparrow (~30)

Gillson Park (4:15-4:40 pm)

PURPLE SANDPIPER (1)
(This was only the 2nd Purple Sandpiper I've ever seen in Cook County
in over 40 years although I've chased them several times without
success. Thanks to David J for directions, to Karen W & Jayne L for
walking me to the bird & to Jeff B for making sure I got there.)

So only 18 species for the day & Bird-Of-The-Day will be the Purple
Sandpiper & Runner-Up will be the Purple Finches. To get an award
today you had to have the word Purple in your name.

Al Stokie
In Lake & Cook Co's today