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Scaup, Wigeon and Tundra Swans by Skye Haas
This week saw the start of the Waterbird Count on the 15th, though it was quite the rainy mess of a day. This has actually been a bit of a theme this week with unfavorable weather conditions on several days. But there have been some really interesting migration events and one does need to remember that bad weather can make for good birding!
The 19th was another wet day, but a good flight for waterbirds. A flock of 6 CACKLING GEESE were the first ones of the year. Other highlights included 25 AMERICAN WIGEON, 51 MALLARDS, 24 NORTHERN PINTAILS and lesser numbers of BLUE-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, REDHEAD, LESSER SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCK and all three species of MERGANSERS. The Tahquamenon River mouth has had big flocks of waterfowl for a week now, with a complete suite of dabbler ducks, lots of SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCKS, a female CANVASBACK, TUNDRA and TRUMPETER SWANS, and hundreds of COMMON MERGANSERS.
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Glaucous Gull by Skye Haas
Setting a new early record date for Whitefish Point and always a good bird was a PACIFIC LOON on the 16th. Also seen on the 16th was both RED-THROATED LOON and RED-NECKED GREBE. A HORNED GREBE was seen on the 20th. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT was on the 18th. Another big SANDHILL CRANE day was had on the 17th with 1,285 counted. Three new shorebird arrivals were GREATER YELLOWLEGS on the 15th, WILSON’S SNIPE on the 16th, and a surprisingly early SOLITARY SANDPIPER on the 18th.
Gull diversity has been decent with the ICELAND GULL found last week observed again on the 16-18th, adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS on the 16th and 20th and two different GLAUCOUS GULLS on the 18th and 20th.
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Sharp-shinned Hawk by Skye Haas
The Hawk Count certainly hasn’t been immune to the effects of the damp weather this week with a few days this week producing barely any raptors. However, the biggest count of the season so far occurred when 625 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS flew by on the 18th. Also on that same day, we were treated to a strong flight of 85 AMERICAN KESTRELS. The first OSPREY was on the 17th, and 8 were recorded on the 19th. A few decent NORTHERN HARRIER flights occurred with a peak of 49 recorded on the 17th. And our earlier season raptors do seem to be tapering off with only NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, GOLDEN EAGLES and RED-SHOULDERED HAWK observed a couple of days this week. Conditions were excellent for an evening owl flight on the 13th and 35 LONG-EARED OWLS were observed migrating by the hawk deck. For further details on the owl migration can be found here on the Owl Banding Blog.
In the nearby town of Paradise, a TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE was observed on the 15th, but has not been seen again. Another report of a TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE occurred on the 17th on Vermilion Road, six miles south of Whitefish Point. The first LAPLAND LONGSPURS were recorded on the 15th and seen on a few days since then.
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Townsend’s Solitaire by Skye Haas
BROWN THRASHERS first arrived on the 19th. Small flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen on the 17th and 19th. Still only a couple of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS observed this week. A handful of new sparrow species were recorded for the season with CHIPPING SPARROW on the 16th and both WHITE-THROATED and SAVANNAH SPARROWS on the 19th. A few FOX SPARROWS are still at the Owl’s Roost feeders. Good numbers of COMMON GRACKLES migrated past the point on the 18th, but the real surprise that day was the massive PURPLE FINCH flight that tallied in 1,053 birds! And finally appearing now for a 6th spring in a row, a EURASIAN TREE SPARROW is at the WPBO feeders and is still present as of the 21st.
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Eurasian Tree Sparrow by Skye Haas
To see daily totals visit our live data feed at the Dunkadoo website for the Hawk Count here, or the Waterbird Count here.
*** Please note we have changed our owl banding visitation schedule: Visitors may observe owl banding on Friday and Saturday evenings from dusk to midnight, weather permitting. Beginning at the end of April, the Owl’s Roost Gift Shop will be open on select Friday and Saturday evenings as well. If you have a large group (5 or more), please call (517) 580-7364 or email events@michiganaudubon.org to make arrangements.
Thank you for the interesting read. Always look forward to your reports. Do you think the bulk of the sandhill migration has already occurred? Last year around the 15th of April there were hundreds if not a few thousand. Thanks for any insight on this…