O'Hare Airport & Lake Opeka Friday 2-6-26

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

I was waiting out the morning snow when I got a call from David
Johnson who was looking for Snowy Owls at O'Hare Airport which he does
on a regular basis. And he had found one, a young one in the inner
parts of that airport. But from my point of view it might as well have
been on the moon as I have no idea of how you navigate that part of
the airport. However, David said he would show me where to look.

So I met David at the closest McDonald's & he drove onto the back
roads of O'Hare & luckily the Owl was right where it had been earlier.
It's not so much "what" you know as "who" you know as I never would
have found the Owl by myself. David put a report on Discord & a couple
of folks did get to see it later but others did not see it which is
what usually happens.

Later I stopped at Lake Opeka where I saw the same 4 species that I
saw yesterday.

So only 5 species for the day plus 3 more roadside additions for a
tiny day's total of only 8.
Bird-Of-The-Day to the Snowy Owl & Runner-Up to the Goldeneye which
are returning to Opeka with more open water.

Al Stokie
Briefly in Cook County today