Cooper's Hawks in Hyde Park July 29, 2012

Close-up of captured prey? Any guess?

Guess I got too close and got mooned by the Cooper's Hawk

I didn't make the bird walk yesterday but did get some nice photo's of a few of the Cooper's Hawks in Nichols Park in Hyde Park. They are very active and rather tame.

Cool early today-Near 100 later today-July 25, 2012

Juvenile Cormorant drying wings 7/25/12-HC

Close-up of Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron 7/25/12-HC

In the Japanese Garden we had both Green Heron and a Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron. It was nice and cool this morning but will warm up to the upper 90's later. We had a Spotted Sandpiper but a distance away. Several Cormorants were observed with a few drying out.

A Green Heron Day 7/21/12

This Green Heron was not afraid of us-7/21/12-HC

Young Green Herons in nest 7/21/12-HC

Birders looking at the Purple Martins-7/21/12-HC

Widow Skimmer Dragonflly 7/21/12-HC

At least 2 Green Heron chicks were seen today along with 2 adults. New watchers came out from Oak Park and Pennsylvania. I wonder if the Chicago Park District and Jackson Park Advisory Committee are aware that the birders are the most numerous walkers on Wooded Island. Every Wednesday and Saturday all year round the birders walk the island. In late April through May birders arrive daily to view migrant birds. Again in September birders can be found almost every day on the island. The birders watch birds, botanize and observe insects.

A Great Day for Butterflies 7/18/12

Black Swallowtail Male 7/18/12-HC

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Buttonbush-7/18/12-HC

Common Buckeye-7/18/12-HC

Today we had many butterfly species close-up. Here are a few of them. The Black Swallowtail was found on Bergermot in the prairie. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Intermediate Female was interesting because a few of the birders thought it was a Pipevine (this swallowtail form mimics the Pipevine which tastes bad. We are seeing Common Buckeyes on almost every walk. I'll add a few more on Saturday. I need to change the title of this blog to include insects. I am not an expert so names may need to be changed as I progress.

Wooded Island Highlights July 14, 2012

Wasp about to capture a webworm 7/14/12-HC

Green Heron Preening 7/14/12-HC

Today we watched a Green Heron preening just outside the Japanese Garden. We watched a  fascinating view of a wasp attacking webworms. The hot humid weather kept numbers of birds down. I will blog once a week now, probably on Saturday after the walk.

A fun day on Wooded Island-June 30, 2012

Today we enjoyed a few exciting moments. Raccoons in a tree cavity, a close view of a Peewee and a a Cedar Waxwing feeding young.