Seven people in jackets and wearing binoculars on green grass, smiling at camera.

words by Steve Whitman

Eleven birders joined COS Board Member and trip leader Vinod Babu for a May 18 peak-migration walk in the Ned Brown Preserve (popularly known as Busse Woods). The group entered the park just east of I-290/Hwy 53 off Higgins Road and met in the parking lot just north of the North Pool.

Seen from below, a small black and white bird with black cap and two black stripes angling away from a yellow bill, perched among leaves. — Blackpoll Warbler. *Photo by Vinod Babu, Busse Woods, May 18, 2025.*

Busse Woods is immense, but the group spent the first hour of the trip just a few steps from the parking lot because the birds were very active. Blackpoll Warblers’ high-pitched staccato songs were heard overhead and several gave great views in the locust trees.

The blackpolls were atypically numerous, so a birder asked Babu about their migration and breeding grounds. He showed the group an image of its incredible range: they winter in South America and migrate to the Canadian and Alaskan tundra–the longest route of all North American warblers.

Robin sized yellow bird with black chin and patch behind thick, sharp bill, plus brown feathers with white wing bars, perched in a flowering tree. — Orchard Oriole (immature). *Photo by Dustin Weidner, Montrose Point, April 27, 2024.*

Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos, and an Eastern Kingbird turned up in the nearby trees. Surprisingly, a late-leaving Ring-necked Duck was diving in the North Pool.

Babu was busy calling out the many bird songs and calls heard near the shrubs surrounding the parking lot. His well-attuned ear identified a Willow Flycatcher’s fitz-bew advertising call and sure enough, the group got great looks at the bird that, without knowing their vocalizations, is incredibly difficult to distinguish from other genus empid birds.

Smaller than a robin, this elongated bird is brown on its head, back and wings, cream on its breast fading to pale yellow, perched high on a twig. — Willow Flycatcher. *Photo by Randy Shonkwiler, Jackson Park, June 17, 23*

East on the main paved path of the park, several Yellow Warblers were seen and heard in prime breeding habitat. Wilson’s Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Goldfinch, and Tennessee Warblers were also seen before the path led into the woods. A few non-yellow birds were also spotted.

The path turns south between the Main Pool and South Pool of Busse Lake. Along the way the group spotted Caspian Terns, Double-crested Cormorants, Great Egrets and Blue Herons, and a Pied-billed Grebe fishing among the human anglers. A Bald Eagle soared above.

Bald Eagle. *Photo by Dustin Weidner, Park 566, Oct. 28, 2023.*

Near the boat rental parking lot, even more Blackpoll Warblers were heard, this time using their alternative song—a rapid trill that is similar to their primary but delivered with little or no pause between notes.

By the time the group reached the second bridge along the main path, the group had spotted Barn, Tree, Northern Rough-winged, and Cliff Swallows and a Purple Martin. A flock of Cedar Waxwings perched in a tree near the path was the last hurrah.

In total, the group identified a whopping 63 species of birds while enjoying just a tiny portion of Busse Woods.

Field Trip Recap: Busse Woods