Following a birding free day checking out some of the sights of Chicago and the promise of a very hot day today, Bernie and I headed for Montrose Point this morning. It was already very warm and the sun was hot at 7:30 as we entered the realm of the Magic Hedge. Straight away, a Warbling Vireo was singing away and we saw several Magnolia Warblers, 'Traill's' Flycatchers, Swainson's Thrush, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher and a latish Yellow Warbler. A wander around the drinking fountain produced more Magnolias and a Pine Warbler but our attention was drawn to the shore where a Short-billed Dowitcher was very obliging, along with a Baird's Sandpiper, two Leasts and a Semi P (Sand and Plover) as well as a Sanderling.
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| Short-billed Dowitcher |
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| Least Sandpiper |
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| A nice selection Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Sanderling and Baird's Sandpiper with a Semi-palmated Plover just out of shot. Any one of them in East Lancs would set the pulses racing - ok so maybe not the Sanderling. |
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| Baird's Sandpiper |
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| Short-billed Dowitcher |
Having baked a while on the beach, we headed back for shade whilst some locals searched in vain for a repeat glimpse of a Lark Bunting that had put in an appearance yesterday. More Magnolia Warblers greeted us along with this Eastern Wood-Pewee and more Flycatchers.
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| Eastern Wood-pewee |
We met up with one of the locals who we'd been chatting to on the beach and he informed us of a Mourning Warbler close by. After a short while, it dutifully appeared. This bird caused some discussion re McGillivray's (a major rarity) as it had a very pronounced complete eye ring but the general consensus was that it was a Mourning.
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| Mourning Warbler |
We were now rather hot and it was only 10:30. The temperature was already up to 30 and felt like 35 according to the weather bureau so it was into the car and on with the air conditioning!
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