Sorry for procrastinating but I was so exhausted. And had to watch NCAA Div. I women tennis championship, which is still my hobby lol(of course on internet, it was held in central Florida).
Still haven't 'recovered' lol, from the 'rigor'! You try to bird Chicago lakefront 6am and 5:40am in the morning, braving the insane cold, and even downpour throughout the day!
Have eaten Soontofu, Rocky Road ice cream, fruit cup in syrup, and Pho. Also 2 sessions of 'immersion therapy' at the jacuzzi at local 24 fitness lol, also got steamed(steam room there!), 1 session of 1-hr body massage...egad, I'm getting old!
Also still ruminating on those dubious bird sightings, exchanging views with experts at Chicago Ornithological Society..almost done now!
Want to thank those at the Society, especially former president Jill Niland, who even kindly drove me to the nearest Blue Line station to O'Hare as possible! Also Matt Igleski who led the Bird Walk at the Zoo(free! Was bowled over the World's Birds there, they were zigzagging over us at the aviary! Man now I wanna bird the Whole Wide World!), and Stephanie Beilke who became an essential conduit.
I'll post some highlights later, I took more building pics than warbler pics lol(naturally since warblers are damn quick! With my cheap Canon, no dice).
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So I've written this earlier;
Mourning and Connecticut warblers, this time(last year at south of Houston at High Island, my target species were Kentucky, Worming and Swainson's warblers. It's all about timing, migration timing!). They only arrive at the Lakes in Mid May, especially Connecticut. So, 18-21, and hence, won't be able to attend NCAA at Lake Nona.
Those 2 plus Golden-winged, Cerulean, Kirtland's warblers would be my top 'hunting' list. Plus I haven't seen Chestnut-sided warbler, American Restart, Magnolia warbler, Black-throated Blue warbler, Blackpoll warbler, Blackburnian warbler, Canada warbler in alternate male plumage.
Other birds I haven't seen yet but hoping are thrushes like Veery and Grey-cheeked Thrush, also American Woodcock and Northern Bobwhite, Black-billed Cuckoo, King Rail, Henslow's Sparrow(maybe too late for this species, but one can hope!), Scarlet Tanager, Winter Wren and Sedge Wren(haven't actually seen it at Bolivar Flats last year), Black-capped Chickadee, American Bittern, White-rumped Sandpiper, Blue-headed and Philadelphia Vireo, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Nelson's sparrow..
So theoretically, could snag about 20 more new species,
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In reality, not so much lol, since I didn't bird Montrose Point, Magic Hedge. Just too far to walk on my tired and flat feet! So just birded Lincoln Park North Pond most, pardon my laziness! But Magic Hedge wasn't particularly that good, according to ebird reports, so no big regrets.
So, should tally;
Mourning warbler CHECK
Connecticut warbler CHECK
Cerulean CHECK, BUT NOT ALTERNATE MALE PLUMAGE
Kirtland's PROBABLY CHECK, BUT NOT 100% POSITIVE
Golden-winged
Blue-winged
Chestnut-sided warbler alternate male plumage CHECK
American Redstart alternate male plumage CHECK
Magnolia warbler alternate male plumage CHECK
Blackpoll warbler alternate male plumage CHECK
Blackburnian warbler alternate male plumage CHECK
Canada warbler in alternate male plumage
Black-throated Blue warbler alternate male plumage
Veery CHECK
Grey-cheeked Thrush CHECK
Blue-headed Vireo CHECK
Philadelphia Vireo CHECK, NOT TOO GOOD A VIEW THOUGH
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher CHECK
Alder Flycatcher CHECK
Black-capped Chickadee CHECK
American Woodcock
Northern Bobwhite
Black-billed Cuckoo
American Bittern
King Rail
White-rumped Sandpiper
Winter Wren
Sedge Wren
Henslow's Sparrow
Nelson's sparrow
Scarlet Tanager CHECK, ONLY HEARD THOUGH
Hence, only added about 8 species. Those would be
Connecticut warbler
Mourning warbler
Veery
Grey-cheeked Thrush
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Philadephia Vireo
Black-capped Chickadee
Scarlet Tanager
Probably saw Blue-headed Vireo at High Island last year, but this time had a satisfying look, same goes to Black-throated Green warbler.
Too bad didn't really have a good view of Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Philadelphia Vireo.
As I said Scarlet Tanager, only heard. I've missed that bird during Smith Oaks bird walk last year at High Island(the reason I quit the walk early then!).
500 species feel like an herculean landmark! 'Still' 481 in the U.S.
I'll write more detailed birding report later.
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