Today was the Deer Run Forest Preserve field trip, led by Jack Armstrong. 15 birders attended and we met around 7:30AM in the Deer Run parking lot. We saw around 50 species or so and enjoyed warm sunshine as we hiked around the preserve.

Dickcissel
Dickcissel {Spiza americana}

The shorebird list included Killdeer and one Spotted Sandpiper. On the warbler end of things we found three Yellow Warblers, a few Common Yellowthroats, and one calling American Redstart. The sparrows had to be the highlight of the trip. Jack Armstrong brought along his scope and we were able to see close-ups of both Grasshopper and Henslow's Sparrows. Getting a good look of these little guys can be tricky, so that was great. The scope also brought us a bit closer to a singing Dickcissel high in a tree.

In addition, we saw many Lark Sparrows, Field Sparrows, Eastern Kingbirds, Tree Swallows, Eastern Bluebirds, a Brown Thrasher, Eastern Meadowlarks, and Red-winged Blackbirds.

Spiderwort
Spiderwort