Field Trip Recap: Horner Park

Ten people in a row on the right side of the photo, facing camera, waving or thumbs up, along a wood chip path with long green grasses on the left side and trees in the back.

words by trip leader Chris Cochrane

The first iteration of a pre-work “Early Bird” walk at Horner Park on May 8 did not disappoint! Attendees came from far and wide—a couple blocks from the park and all the way from the western suburbs!

Sparrow perched on branch on tree, facing right. Breast is streaky white, back is streaky browh, with a brown bap, brown line through dark eye, and brown triangle under the chin.

Song Sparrow. Photo by Angelica Guerrero, Horner Park, May 8, 2026.

Ten birders turned out Friday morning for the 6:30–8am loop along the river nature trail, and by the end of the 90 minutes the group had tallied 40 species.

Migration is clearly moving through. Warblers were well-represented, with Black-and-white Warblers, American Redstarts, and a Northern Waterthrush among the highlights, plus a brief but glorious look at a male Northern Parula.

Medium-sized bird with long yellow legs standing on a rock in a creek, in profile, facing righ. Breast and throat are white, head, back and wings mottled brown. The beak is narrow.

Solitary Sandpiper. Photo by Angelica Guerrero, Horner Park, May 8, 2026.

A resting Solitary Sandpiper was a pleasant surprise along the river’s edge. Baltimore Orioles were seen and heard throughout the trip, their orange-and-black flashing against the fresh green canopy. It was a very pleasant way to start the weekend a little bit early! 

Field TripKris HansenHorner Park