COS and Sierra Club joined forces again to go out and experience nature in Chicago, this time at Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary. The group toured Montrose Beach and observed Kildeer, Ring-billed Gulls, Herring Terns, Caspian Terns, and Forster's Terns. Next they entered the vegetated "bird and butterfly" area of the sanctuary to see a variety of birds and insects. Below is the list of all the species observed.

To see more photos and stories from this trip, see Geoff's website: http://geoffwilliamson.info/COS_20120707.html

List of birds species seen below, with number observed.

American Robin - photo by Geoff Williamson

Canada Goose 13
Mallard 17
Double-crested Cormorant 21
Great Blue Heron 1
Killdeer 2
Spotted Sandpiper 3
Ring-billed Gull 291
Herring Gull 1 Caspian Tern 4 Forster's Tern 1
Rock Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove 2
Chimney Swift 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Eastern Kingbird 3
Warbling Vireo 1
Blue Jay 1 American Crow 2
Purple Martin 73
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 8 Bank Swallow 2 Barn Swallow 17
Black-capped Chickadee 3
American Robin 18
Gray Catbird 2 Brown Thrasher 1
European Starling 47
American Pipit 1 [Very unusual! There are few summer records for this species in Illinois.]
Cedar Waxwing 3
Yellow Warbler 1
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 12
Common Grackle 22 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Baltimore Oriole 1
American Goldfinch 5
House Sparrow 35

List of mammal species seen, with number observed.

Eastern Chipmunk 1

List of butterfly species seen, with number observed.

Black Swallowtail 1
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail 1
Cabbage White 14
Clouded Sulphur 5
Spring Azure 1
Pearl Crescent 1 Red Admiral 3
Monarch 1
Fiery Skipper 1

List of dragonfly species seen, with number observed.

Eastern Forktail 2
Common Green Darner 5
Wandering Glider 1
Spot-winged Glider 5 Black Saddlebags 3

Trip Report: COS/Sierra Club Montrose Point - 2012 July 7