Montrose Beach & Dunes Sunday 6-21-16

[Al Stokie]

Hello Bird People,

Didn't do much today. Just went to Montrose Beach & mostly viewed the
Dunes area from the Fish Hook Pier. All I wanted to do was see the
baby Piping Plovers while they were at their smallest.
That was not an easy assignment as they almost never came out in the
open preferring to feed while mostly hidden in the dune vegetation.
The two adults were more cooperative as they visited both the inlet &
the pier. I did not visit the Hedge Area today.

Montrose Beach & Dunes (8-9:20 am)

Mallard (4)
Killdeer (1)
PIPING PLOVER (2-AD & 3 Young)
Spotted Sandpiper (3)
Ring Billed (~50) & Herring (1) Gulls
Caspian Tern (4)
Mourning Dove (1)
Purple Martin (2)
Bank (10), Rough Winged (8) & Barn (4) Swallows
Robin (3)
Cardinal (H-1)
Red Wings (8) & Grackles (2)
House Finch (~10) & Goldfinch (2)
House Sparrow (8-10)

So 19 species in the Dunes with no roadside additions.
Bird-Of-The-Day to all the Piping Plovers & Runners-Up to the Caspian Terns.

Not many birds seen today but I had a banner day with License Plates
including one from HAWAII with people getting in the car in Evanston.
Also seen today were plates from Idaho, Utah, Montana & New Hampshire.
Quite a total.

Al Stokie
An easy going day at Montrose in Cook County