Field Trip Recap: Montrose Point Beginners Bird Walk

 
Two medium sized birds perched on a wire. The male, on the right, is all dark purple. The female has a white breast with brown speckles and brown wings and head. Both have a short, curved, dark bill.

Purple Martins. Photo by Geoff Williamson, Montrose Dunes, May 3, 2025.

words by Christine and Geoff Williamson

Our group of 11 birders had a nice morning May 3 at Montrose Point in Chicago's Lincoln Park, despite temperatures in the upper 40s and a stiff wind from the north that made the beginning of the outing rather chilly.

The morning started with views of an adult Peregrine Falcon sitting on Montrose Beach, which raised concerns about the resident Piping Plovers. However, we saw both Imani and Pippin after this, confirming that both were safe.

Very large gull with white chest and head speckled with brown, brown back and wings speckled with white, all-black bill and eye, and dark tail feathers, standing on sand in front of water.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Photo by Geoff Williamson, Montrose Dunes, May 3, 2025.

A walk around the beach also produced sightings of many Caspian Terns plus an immature Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Warblers were scarce, but we got good close looks at a nice Nashville Warbler among the four species we did see. A Brown Thrasher and several Eastern Towhees kicking leaves around were also fun to watch, and we had excellent looks at White-crowned Sparrows.

SMall round bright yellow bird with gray head, white ring around the eye, and short, brown, pointed bill, perched on a twig in front of flowers on a tree.

Nashville Warbler. Photo by Geoff Williamson, Montrose Bird Sanctuary, May 3, 2025.

All told we saw 43 species of birds in three hours of birding.

 
Field TripKris HansenMontrose Point