On Sunday, October 5, the weather was sunny and unseasonably mild (68 degrees), with a moderate to strong wind out of the SSW. These conditions (especially after several similar days in a row) seemed more conducive to warblers than hawks—and that certainly turned out to be the case!
Our group met at 8:00 AM in the lower parking lot at Harrington Beach State Park, and we soon started to see birds in the trees—including YELLOW-RUMPED, NASHVILLE, BLACK-AND-WHITE, and PALM WARBLERS, as well as EASTERN BLUEBIRD, AMERICAN ROBIN, EASTERN TOWHEE, and YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER.
Others soon included HERMIT THRUSH, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, and BLUE-HEADED VIREO. Flying overhead we had RING-BILLED GULLS, AMERICAN CROWS and BLUE JAYS.
Around 9:15 we took a hike, heading south along the paved park road and through some wooded and brushy areas. We soon found a couple of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS foraging in the cedar trees, as well as DOWNY and HAIRY WOODPECKERS and more YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS.
Several members of our group held out hands full of sunflower seeds, hoping to entice the usual visits from the local CHICKADEES, but there didn’t seem to be any around at the time. We decided we’d try again a little later when we came back through that area.
We were pleasantly surprised when a group of pines near the quarry lake produced looks at three GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES. We also found HERMIT and SWAINSON’S THRUSHES along the way, as well as a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. Swimming on the lake were a number of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, and an adult BALD EAGLE flew over.
Our group wandered over to the edge of the beach along Lake Michigan to check the lake and shoreline. We were pleased to spot a RUDDY TURNSTONE that was resting out on the rocky point, and RING-BILLED and HERRING GULLS were also observed. Flying by was a small flock of CANADA GEESE, but the rough waves made it tough to spot any swimming waterbirds that might’ve been present.
We were pleasantly surprised when a PEREGRINE FALCON flew past our group, heading south along the lakefront, and a little while later a second one was spotted!
Hiking back toward the parking area we found several more WARBLERS, including great looks at a BLACK-THROATED GREEN and a beautiful male BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER! Our return hike was also more successful for attracting BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, which came in to take seeds offered by several hands—along with a couple of WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES.
About 11:20 AM we got in our cars and drove to the upper portion of the park, near Puckett’s Pond, where we encountered a nice group of DARK-EYED JUNCOS, along with several YELLOW-RUMPED and PALM WARBLERS. There were also several WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS present, along with AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and a BROWN CREEPER.
Also observed were a NORTHERN FLICKER and a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, and a BELTED KINGFISHER was heard and then seen near the pond. In the distance we spotted a couple of TURKEY VULTURES soaring southward, but unfortunately no other hawks were observed. It was now just a few minutes before noon, so we decided to wrap up our field trip at that point. (Note: Most years we also included a stop at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve to assist them with their Big Sit bird count, but this year that event wasn’t scheduled to happen until the following weekend.)
Tom Schultz, WSO Field Trips
