Field Trip Recap: Sunday Social at Humboldt Park

Photo by Christina Harber

words by Chris Holden

On Aug. 9, nearly 50 birders gathered for the revamped COS Humboldt Park Sunday Social, organized by Christina Harber, Chris Holden, and Steve Whitman.  Steve nearly made it through a quick introductory speech before he was interrupted by a chattering Eastern Kingbird flyover, and the walk was underway! 

We made our way around the lagoon and had a productive detour onto Picnic Island, which yielded good views of a Double-Crested Cormorant, several American Goldfinches in assorted plumages, and a few Gray Catbirds in various states of elusiveness.  A few folks in the front got views of a Northern Waterthrush as we crossed back over the bridge back onto the mainland and continued our circling of the lagoon. 

American Goldfinch. Photo by Steve Whitman, Humboldt Park, Aug. 9, 2026.

Over in the woods on the far side of the lagoon we saw many black birds of different types, a Baltimore Oriole, and a Northern Flicker.  Across Humboldt Boulevard we saw an unexpected Hooded Merganser off of the beach. 

Hooded Merganser. Photo by Steve Whitman, Humboldt Park, Aug. 9, 2026.

The final bird of note, unfortunately, was a Great Blue Heron that had a fishing hook embedded in its mandible, a reminder of the hazards that fishing tackle presents for birds.  The Chicago Bird Collision Monitors are monitoring the bird, and rescue attempts will be made if possible. 

At the trip's end, our bird species total stood at 27.