Seeing Red-throated Loons for the first time (and why I don’t have targets)
I was standing at my desk on Wednesday afternoon prepping for a meeting when I get a text from my friend Dan. The first thing I see is a back of the camera photo showing a close up of a Red-throated Loon. Next comes his message that reads, “Shoot, where are you!?”
Why I love the Christmas Bird Count
While standing along the I & M trail this Sunday afternoon, I looked intently through my binoculars at the fallen leaves and snow, hoping to find some new sparrows to add to our Christmas Bird Count list. It was early afternoon and our group was still missing a few key species, but we had high hopes for this area which was a particularly lucky spot for us last year. After walking about 1/2 mile and seeing no song birds, suddenly there were several Dark Eyed Juncos, Black Capped Chickadees, and American Goldfinch gathered in front of us foraging along the frozen canal’s edge. We searched carefully for a few minutes, looking to see if we could pick out a White-crowned or Swamp Sparrow in the group. Suddenly, a Towhee suddenly popped up from the leaf litter to a low branch. Audrey and I called out “Towhee!” and my first thought was “Eastern Towhee, what a great bird to add to our sparrow list!” Then Audrey said “I think that was a Spotted!” Spotted Towhee had been nowhere on my radar. This species is normally found west of the Mississippi River (I saw some in Utah earlier this year), and I hadn’t realized they were a potential winter vagrant. I dropped my binoculars and excitedly fumbled with big mittens and cold hands for my camera while Audrey continued to watch the bird and identify field marks through her binoculars. Of course, just before I got the Towhee in focus she dropped off the branch and disappeared.
Closing out 2022 with a Saw-whet
With their beautiful cat-eye eyeliner and diminutive size, I don’t know how an owl could get much cuter. At just over a half a foot tall and only weighing a bit more than an American Robin, Northern Saw-whets are one of the smallest owls in North America. I’ve never seen one of these in real life, but when I actually do, I will likely trip over my own feet, drop my camera, faint, scream, or all of the above.
4.14.22 A Pied-billed Grebe visits the slough and other fun encounters
As I watched the Teal swim back and forth (they’re tiny and stunning to look at) this small brownish grey bird swam into view. It looked different than all the other waterfowl present and soon enough I was able to make out that characteristic striped bill. A Pied-billed Grebe! I’ve seen these birds elsewhere but this was my first encounter of one at LaBagh and it’s always so much fun to see infrequent visitors pop-up in this tiny forest preserve.
Making progress with 100 birds and refreshing my process
While it really hasn’t felt like spring recently in Chicago, the return of Turkey Vultures is a sure sign that warmer temperatures and other neotropic migrants will be here soon. I’ve had this illustration of a TUVU soaring over the slough at LaBagh in my head for a few months now, so when I saw almost this exact image in real life on Wednesday I knew it was time to add another bird to my 100 birds series.