This morning I got an early start to Ryerson Conservation Area. Two Connecticut Warblers had been reported yesterday from Ryerson and with the cold weather and north winds my hope was that they might still be grounded. So I met my brother, Mark, and birded for about five hours. No luck on the Connecticut Warbler, but we did find several flocks of warblers including this Blackburnian male.
Blackburnian Warbler at Ryerson Woods (Photo by John Vanderpoel)
On the way out I spotted this Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, which is one of my chief targets for Il/Michigan.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at Ryerson Woods (Photo by John Vanderpoel)
In the afternoon, Tom V and I went over to Wendy Paulson’s place to try for the Henslow’s Sparrow at Spring Creek Forest preserve. No luck and this has officially become a problem bird!
John, for what it’s worth I got my lifer Henslow at the Goose Lake Prairie preserve west of Chicago –singing on June 1.
John:
If you do not get Conn. Warbler in Michigan then try for it at Sax-Zim Bog. They can be easily heard and seen in the bog.
John,
If you’re still in the Chicago area, Henslow’s Sparrows are MUCH easier in southern Cook County. Some of the best spots include the field at Bergman Slough, Plum Creek Forest Preserve, and Turtlehead Lake. You can hear them easily at night, if it’s calm, so you wouldn’t even need to take time away from looking for CT Warbler. Feel free to email me for more info, if you’d like.
Good birding,
Nick Block