This former farmland was preserved as open space in the 1960s and restored by the Lake County Forest Preserves over the years, leaving a blend of marsh, woodland, prairie and grassland habitats that can yield nearly 50 species on a good day in mid-September. eBird reports at the same time in 2024 included noteworthy sightings ranging from Golden-winged, Connecticut and Bay-breasted Warblers to Brown Thrasher, Philadelphia Vireo, Marsh Wren, Green-winged Teal and more.

 Directions: Cuba Marsh is located at 24205 W Cuba Rd. Take Lake Cook Rd. west, turn north on Ela Rd. and west on Cuba Road to the preserve parking lot.

 Leader: Scott McKinney 630-364-0603

Please register for the Cuba Marsh walk here so that we can get a head count and contact you in the event of a date change due to weather conditions.

Join us to look for fall migrants as well as resident birds like Pileated Woodpecker at one of the birdiest forest preserves in Lake County. Daniel Wright Woods and Half Day Forest Preserve are linked by a footbridge over the Des Plaines River, providing crucial habitat for songbirds that utilize the river as a rest stop on their migratory journeys. Both preserves can be equally productive, providing a two-in-one opportunity for a great birding morning.

Directions: From Waukegan Rd., turn west on Everett Rd. in Lake Forest, drive to the end (St. Mary’s Rd), and turn left (south) into the parking lot. Meet in the parking lot at Everett and St. Mary’s Roads.

Leader: Jerry Hampton 630-400-0755

Please register for the Wright Woods walk here so that we can get a head count and contact you in the event of a date change due to weather conditions.

This hotspot along the Des Plaines River corridor is a great migrant trap that can be filled with fall warblers, flycatchers and other landbirds winging their way south at this time of year. Resident Pileated and Red-headed Woodpeckers and Barred and Great-horned Owls are other possible highlights at this site, which is both an Illinois Nature Preserve indicating its ecologically high-quality land and a Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Directions: From Deerfield Rd., turn north on Riverwoods Rd., drive to Ryerson entrance. Enter preserve and follow the signs to Brushwood Visitors Center. Meet in the Brushwood parking lot. NOTE: The gates open at 6:30 am.

Leaders: Ed and Rebecca Rice (847) 420-0734

Please register for the Ryerson Conservation walk here so that we can get a head count and contact you in the event of a date change due to weather conditions.