Warblers beginning to show up 8/15/12

Yellow Cone Flower-8/15/12-HC

Cormorants with the Japanese Garden in the background 8/15/12-HC

Not the best shot of a probable Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk 8/15/12-HC

Goal Keeper

Today we had a few warblers show up including Black and White, Black-throated Green (earliest fall date), Tennessee and Yellow. Lots of Cormorants and a Juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk (Flight shot) were observed as well. Prairie flowers are looking great in both the Bobolink Meadow and the new Prairie Garden in the Rose Garden.

August 11, 2012-Cormorant up close today

Cormorant with tongue-8/11/12-HC

1st year Cormorant-8/11/12-HC

Male Monarch on Bergermot-8/11/12-HC

From Darrow Bridge we had some nice looks at a close-up Cormorant. And a Monarch on Bergermot.

Bird Perches-August 8/12

Flickers and Robins-8/8/12-HC

Cormorant-8/8/12-HC

Cedar Waxwing 8/8/12-HC

Great Blue Heron-8/8/12-HC

All of the shots were taken on Wed. August 8, 2012 to illustrate the importance of wood perches on Wooded Island.

August 8, 2012-Good day for insects and birds

Wasp on Swamp Milkweed and a moth or butterfly?-8/8/12-HC

Getting ready to step out-8/8/12-HC

Green Heron Stepping out-8/8/12-HC

Museum of Science and Industry/Called Fine Arts Building in 1893-8/8/12-HC

Wednesday August 8, was great for insects and birds. I'll have to split the photo's up with another blog this evening. I'd like to share the importance of dead wood for perches in the next blog. I can't seem to get enough of the Green Heron's that hang out in the Japanese Garden. A reminder of a hike/lecture of White City on Saturday 8/11/12 at 10:00A starting from 59th and Stoney Island. It's a 3 hour 4.5 mile walk. I'll work on an ID for the insects this evening.

Highlights for today's Wooded Island Walk 8/1/12

Buckeye Flower 8/1/12-HC

Male Indigo Bunting-8/1/12-HC

Cardinal singing from Magic Tree next to "The Path" 8/1/12

Juvenile Cowbird begging from a female Indigo Bunting 8/1/12-HC

Monarch on Swamp Milkweed in Rose Garden-8/1/12-HC

Unknown Plant in Bob-O-Link Meadow-Tomato family? 8/1/12-HC

A pleasant walk today with a few highlights. We walked the "new path" down the middle. Not many birds encountered but found the path to be acceptable. Too bad that chips will be put down to sterilize it. We could use some help with the unknown plant above.

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.