Outings

We went to Montrose Point on May 10th and saw lots of birds. 46 species, to be exact. Here are some of our favorites!

A Least Sandpiper creeps along the beach
A Least Sandpiper creeps along the beach, 10 May 2026
A Chestnut-Sided Warbler rests on a branch for a moment
Chestnut-Sided Warbler rests on a branch for a moment, 10 May 2026
An Eastern Warbling Vireo rests on a branch for a moment
An Eastern Warbling Vireo rests on a branch for a moment, 10 May 2026
A Caspian Tern flies over the water
A Caspian Tern flies over the water, 10 May 2026
Bank Swallows swarm a dune
Bank Swallows swarm a dune, Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, IL, 10 May 2026
A Piping Plover hops along the beach
A Piping Plover hops along the beach, 10 May 2026

We had a lovely outing to Elsen’s Hill in West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, and got some first-sightings of the year, thanks to a local we met there, then on our own we found a wise friend of the forest watching from his stately perch. What a night!

A Great Horned Owl sits atop a tree, looking for dinner
A Great Horned Owl sits atop a tree, looking for dinner, West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 24 May 2026
A Great Horned Owl sits atop a tree, looking for dinner
A Great Horned Owl sits atop a tree, looking for dinner, West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 24 May 2026
A Great Horned Owl sits atop a tree, looking for dinner
A Great Horned Owl sits atop a tree, looking for dinner, West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 24 May 2026
A Baltimore Oriole atop a tree, in the sun
Baltimore Oriole, West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 24 May 2026
A Common Nighthawk soars overhead
Common Nighthawk, West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 24 May 2026
Indigo Bunting sings from the top of a snag
Indigo Bunting, West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 24 May 2026
An Olive-Sided Flycatcher hunts from the top of a snag
Olive-Sided Flycatcher, West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 24 May 2026
A Ruby-Throated Hummingbird chills from on top of a dead branch
A Ruby-Throated Hummingbird chills from on top of a dead branch, 24 May 2026
Swainson's Thrush on a branch
A Swainson’s Thrush on a branch, 24 May 2026

We had a lovely, bird-filled day out in Lyman Woods during the height of warbler season. Check out our feathered friends!

A Baltimore Oriole on a branch
Baltimore Oriole, Lyman Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 17 May 2026
A Yellow-Throated Vireo in a tree
A Yellow-Throated Vireo in a tree, 17 May 2026
A Yellow-Throated Vireo in a tree
A Yellow-Throated Vireo in a tree, 17 May 2026
A Yellow-Throated Vireo in a tree
A Yellow-Throated Vireo in a tree, 17 May 2026
A pair of Scarlet Tanagers in a tree
A pair of Scarlet Tanagers in a tree, 17 May 2026
A male Scarlet Tanager on a branch
A male Scarlet Tanager on a branch, 17 May 2026
A female Scarlet Tanager on a branch
A female Scarlet Tanager on a branch, 17 May 2026
An Eastern Wood Pewee on a branch
An Eastern Wood Pewee on a branch, Lyman Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 17 May 2026
A Canada Warbler on a low branch
A Canada Warbler on a low branch, 17 May 2026
A Canada Warbler on a low branch
A Canada Warbler on a low branch, Lyman Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 17 May 2026
A Blackburnian Warbler on a branch
A Blackburnian Warbler, Lyman Woods Forest Preserve, IL, 17 May 2026

We had a delightful day visiting 7 different locations to do our part for the Will County Audubon Society Big Day bird count. Over 4.75 hours of birding, walking 2.3 miles, we saw 53 different species! 

Here are some highlights of the day.

Double-Crested Cormorant stretches its wings in the early morning light while perched on a log in a lake
Double-Crested Cormorant stretches its wings in the early morning light while perched on a log in a lake, DuPage County, IL, 9 May 2026
A Mallard soars over a lake
A Mallard soars over a lake, DuPage County, IL, 9 May 2026
Small black and white Eastern Kingbird surveys the shore from a thin snag
Eastern Kingbird surveys the shore from a thin snag, DuPage County, IL, 9 May 2026
American Goldfinch flies from a branch
American Goldfinch flies from a branch, DuPage County, 9 May 2026
Two Canada Geese face off with wings up and honking at one another on a grassy knoll
Two Canada Geese face off with wings up and honking at one another on a grassy knoll, DuPage County, IL, 9 May 2026
Small fluffy Blue Gray Gnatcatcher sings on a branch
Blue Gray Gnatcatcher sings on a branch, DuPage County, 9 May 2026
A Killdeer, a small brown and white bird with big eyes, stands on the sandy shore of a pond
A Killdeer stands on the sandy shore of a pond, DuPage County, IL, 9 May 2026
An Indigo Bunting, a small fluffy bright-blue bird, sings from a small branch in a tree
An Indigo Bunting sings from a small branch in a tree, DuPage County, IL, 9 May 2026
A Great Egret, a large white shore bird with long legs, soars overhead,
A Great Egret soars overhead, DuPage County, IL, 9 May 2026
Savannah Sparrow on a branch
Savannah Sparrow on a branch, DuPage County, 9 May 2026
Prothonotary Warbler on a branch over water
Prothonotary Warbler on a branch over water, DuPage County, 9 May 2026
Prothonotary Warbler on a branch
Prothonotary Warbler on a branch, DuPage County, 9 May 2026
Northern Waterthrush on the water's edge
Northern Waterthrush on the water’s edge, DuPage County, 9 May 2026
Northern Yellow Warbler on a branch
Northern Yellow Warbler on a branch, DuPage County, 9 May 2026

 

We had a delightful outing on 4 April with the Chicago Ornithological society. We started at Axe Head Lake, then moved to Lake Opeka, and ended the morning at Big Bend Lake (where it rained, so I took no photos). We had a great time, especially in seeing Loons!

Four Common Loon on Axehead Lake
Four Common Loon on Axehead Lake, IL, 4 April 2026
Five Ruddy Ducks among several other water fowl groups
Five Ruddy Ducks among several other water fowl groups, Lake Opeka, IL, 4 April 2026
Three Ruddy Ducks, two Redheads, two Lesser Scaup, and six Red-Breasted Mergansers
Three Ruddy Ducks, one Redhead,three Lesser Scaup, and six Red-Breasted Mergansers, Lake Opeka, IL, 4 April 2026
Red-Breasted Merganser swims fast with a fish in its beak
Red-Breasted Merganser swims fast with a fish in its beak, Axe Head Lake, 4 April 2026
A pair of Pied-Billed Grebes swim on Axe Head Lake,
A pair of Pied-Billed Grebes swim on Axe Head Lake, IL, 4 April 2026
A group of Lesser Scaup swim on Axe Head Lake
A group of Lesser Scaup swim on Axe Head Lake, IL, 4 April 2026
A Horned Grebe swims on Lake Opeka
A Horned Grebe swims on Lake Opeka, IL, 4 April 2026
A Horned Grebe swims on Lake Opeka
A Horned Grebe swims on Lake Opeka, IL, 4 April 2026
A juvenile Common Loon swims on Lake Opeka
A juvenile Common Loon swims on Lake Opeka, IL, 4 April 2026
A Common Loon swims on Axe Head Lake
A Common Loon swims on Axe Head Lake, IL, 4 April 2026