Few Birds But Great Butterflies Wednesday August 21, 2013

It was very quiet yesterday on Wooded Island and adjacent areas. No warbler species but some nice butterfly sightings. The Koi are part of the group of 26 in the Osaka Garden. Here is a link to a Youtube of a Monarch Butterfly-http://youtu.be/GKdJl9kaUTs

Juvenile Night Heron-Osaka Garden

Night Heron Food-No, Too Big-Osaka Garden

The Watchers at a new sculpture

Cabbage Butterfly

Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly

Saturday August 10, 2013-Perfect Weather and Waiting For Migrants

Today was pleasant and we are still waiting for fall migrants. Some nice shots of butterflies on the Butterfly Bush near the golf course. Visitors from Florida and Colorado today.

Green Heron

Cardinal

Cardinal in Flight

American Goldfinch

Eastern Kingbird

Female Monarch Butterfly

Female Spicebush Butterfly on Butterfly Bush

End of the day at the Music Bridge

A Warm Humid Day With Some Nice Heron Shots-Wednesday August 7, 2013

No Black-crowned Night Herons or Green Herons today. However 5 Great Egrets and a nice close up of a Great Blue. Some nice shots of insects as well. 

Great Egret

Wasp in the Rose Garden

Another Wasp in the Rose Garden

Skipper Species

Great Blue Heron in Japanese Garden Entrance

Close Up of Great Blue Heron

Widow Skimmer Male

Saturday August 3, 2013-A Fine Weather Day With Some Interesting Birds and Insects

We had a nice weather day as Chicago continues to have a mild summer. Here is a quiz and a few shots that might disturb you.

Friends gathering before birding

Quiz Bird Fresh From Bathing?

Perhaps This Will Help?

Swamp Milkweed and Bee in the Rose Garden

Gathering of Cormorants

Is Something Wrong Here?

A Closer Look. It appears to be a hook and much blood.

Two Wasps at the same flower

Warbling Vireo

Male Blue Damselfly

Female Blue Damselfly with male in flight

Spicebush Butterfly

Great Beginning-Carolina Wren Today-July 24, 2013

We started off with a very vocal hidden Carolina Wren just before the bridge to Wooded Island. I only got a short view of the bird. It spent some time vocalizing before moving off to the east. The Koi pictured below were added to the Oaska Garden pool today. Twenty-five Koi are in the pool. Please report anyone fishing in the pool to: specialist) that have any reason to be “messing” with the fish, so if you see anything of concern please call (312) 747-2193 – CPD Security or Karen at (312) 287-3465.

Cardinal

Great Blue Heron

Phoebe

Large Koi added to the Osaka Garden Today

Leucistic (partial white) Mallard

Saturday July 20, 2013-Not too hot today, few birds but nice butterfly

I didn't make it out for the bird walk today. Instead I took a tour with the Architecture Foundation of White City. Lots of info about the buildings at the Colombian Exposition 1893. I have a picture of the museum and wooded island from the early 1920's. The Night Heron that is frequenting the Osaka Garden is there almost every day. A great fishing area even though there is a sign posted outside the garden, NO FISHING.

The Resident Black-crowned Night Heron at Osaka Garden

The same Heron

Great Blue Heron near the Golf shack

What it looked like in the 1920's

Female Black Swallowtail on Milkweed in Bobolink Meadow

An Extremely Hot and Humid Day-High of 95-Wednesday July 17, 2013

Today was very hot and humid. We did see some birds and great dragonflies.

Kingbird

Ochid? in the lagoon

Bob-o-link Meadow-Yellow and Purple Coneflowers

Widow Skimmer Male

Widow Skimmer Female

Warbling Vireo