Field Trip Recap: Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

Eight people facing camera, smiling, binoculars around their necks, with trees with green and yellow leaves behind them

words by Kris Hansen

Eight birders gathered bright and early on a gorgeous late summer day Sept. 11 to look for fall migrants at Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary. Two first-time birders were part of the group. COS board member and trip leader Chris Cochrane took a few moments to demonstrate how to get binoculars on the bird we just spotted.

Then, we walked briskly straight through the sanctuary, not stopping, to get out to the fishhook pier where a rare Purple Sandpiper was reported. The bird was still there and giving great looks, while a Least Sandpiper probed the same algae mat and provided a size comparison. A Cooper’s Hawk zoomed by, but thankfully ignored our two pipers.

In profile facing left, bird with a long, pink and gray pointed bill, round head with dark eye, and long yellow legs. The back, wings and tail feathers are brown scallop-edged with white, and the head and breast are brown with white streaks.

Purple Sandpiper. Photo by Alex Muench, Montrose Dunes, Sept. 17, 2022.

Returning to the sanctuary, we were escorted by a trio of Northern Cardinals—a brightly colored male, a ashy brown female, and the youngster she was feeding. The fledgling’s beak was not yet orange.

A Swainson’s Thrush popped up in a bush, with more thrushes moving behind it. Were they all Swainson’s? No! One was a Gray-cheeked Thrush.

A Grey Catbird mewed at us from the shrubs while Chimney Swifts wheeled overhead. Several Magnolia Warblers gave good looks at their bright yellow bodies, without the strong springtime black streaks.

In profile facing left, a small egg-shaped bird with yellowish cap, face and underwings. The wings are sandy brown with a strong white wingbar. The beak is short, pointed and brownish, and the eye is black. Against leaves in a shrub.

Female Bay-breasted Warbler. Photo by Carl Giometti, Chicago Women’s Park, Sept. 1, 2021.

Another warbler had us puzzling for a bit until we realized it was a female Bay-breasted Warbler. We saw at least two more of her friends, along with American Redstarts and more thrushes.

A flock of at least eight American Goldfinches zipped across the seed heads in the meadow to perch in a dead tree, flashing brilliant gold in the sunshine.

All told we had 27 species and a wonderful walk on a Friday morning.

Field TripKris HansenMontrose Point