Field Trip Recap: Black Feather Walk at Graceland Cemetery

words and photos by Chris Holden

On a sweltering morning Sept. 12, 40-some birders gathered in their light-absorbing attire at the gates of Graceland Cemetery for the latest COS Black Feather outing. 

After a brief introduction, Anney, Chris, Matt, and Rachel led the gothic horde along the southern side of the cemetery.  We were well into the prairie area on the southeast side before the first birds were seen—innumerable Chimney Swifts flying overhead. 

With our eyes trained to the sky, we saw a Red-Tailed Hawk as well as a darting and diving falcon who chose to remain unidentified. 

The Chimney Swifts turned out to be harbingers of birds, because soon after patches of warblers and copious Swainson’s Thrushes made recurrent appearances. Our trip highlights included a Black-Throated Green Warbler and fantastic views of a Cape May Warbler. 

Cape May Warbler. Photo by Chris Holden, Graceland Cemetery, Sept. 12, 2026.

On the way back we stopped to contemplate the Inez Statue, apparently unleashing a torrent of Palm Warblers that appeared frequently thereafter. By trip’s end, we successfully identified 22 bird species.