Field Trip Recap: Humboldt Park Sunday Social

words by Chris Holden

Fifty-four or so folks gathered at the Humboldt Park Boathouse on Oct. 4, eager to discover what magical bird wonders were in store for them on a beautiful sunny fall Sunday morning in Chicago. Co-leaders included Rachel R, Chris H, Vinod B, Anney G, Matt T, and Sarah V. 

Before introductions were completed, an over-eager Great Blue Heron squawkingly announced its presence as it flew across the lagoon, unofficially marking the start of the walk. Several Yellow-Rumped Warblers, a Cape May Warbler, and a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker were seen in a tree before leaving the boathouse deck.

Seen from the front, an egg-shaped bird with short legs, claws clinging to a branch. Bird is yellow with many gray streaks, a gray cap and gray cheek. The short, sharp bill is dark.

Cape May Warbler. Photo by Sven Kranz, Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, Sept. 6, 2025.

The group then made its way to the Humboldt Park Formal Garden (aka the Jensen Formal Garden), which recently was a hotspot. There many people saw a Brown Creeper or two, several obliging Hermit Thrushes, various White-throated Sparrows, and a smattering of other birds. 

A subsequent hotspot was the fallen willow in the Prairie River, which included a very obliging Ruby-throated Hummingbird. As the trip continued, some people saw a very special Yellow-billed Cuckoo and/or a Winter Wren. In what seemed like the grand finale, the group all stopped to admire a Black-crowned Night Heron. They happily made their way back to the boathouse. 

Large bird seen from below. Long-bodied bird with long, narrow tail and long, thick, slightly curved beak that is dark on top and yellow below. Throat and belly are white. Head, wings and tail are brown. Perched on stick with green leaves behind.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Photo by Ima Akagawa, McKinley Park, Sept. 19, 2024.

However, the birds had more magic in store!  Not one but two adult Bald Eagles flew overhead!  Moments later, four Sandhill Cranes were distantly seen.  In total, we saw 48 species of birds.

Field TripKris HansenSunday Social, Humboldt Park