[SBB] New Chicago Marsh

[[[email protected]] (Peggy Don)]

SBBers,

When I drove across the RR tracks on the entrance road to EEC this morning, 10/05/07, I was greeted by Pete LaTourette who told me that there was a PECTORAL SANDPIPER on a small island in the north pond farther down the road.  I found it easily alone on the island.  It was nice to see one at fairly close range.  A minute or two later a flock of dowitchers alit almost covering the island.  One of them jabbed the PESA with his bill.  They were soon flushed by a Northern Harrier cruising over the marsh.  Fortunately the PESA alit about 50 yards farther down the road.  Pete joined me with his camera.  While we were waiting for the now napping PESA to lift its head, a flock of over 100 WHITE PELICANs came into view and then circled overhead.  

Pete went to get another camera to take some pictures of  birds in flight.  Almost on cue the birds flushed again but did not return.  I pulled into the parking area before the gate to scope the pond.  In the distance on the west side of the pond I saw 3 PESAs.  One may have been the one I saw earlier but perhaps not.

The BLACK SKIMMER family of four (2 adults, 2 fledglings) were on the first island in Salt Pond A16.  One of the adults shooed a gull away from one of the fledglings.  If I knew what an approaching bulldozer was doing, I would have left sooner.  It was smoothing the top of the levee and I was engulfed by a cloud of dust. as it passed by.  ACHOO!  It was time to leave. 

Peggy Don


 

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