Midway

Piping Plover with spread wings. Photo by Alec Olivier

It’s hard to believe, but we’re almost halfway through the 2022 Piping Plover season. There isn’t much new to report since my last blog, which opposed to migration counting is a good thing. All four active nests are being incubated by their parents consistently, and we’re coming up on the first two nests hatching here in the next 10–14 days.

Regarding other bird action, there have been some cool sightings recently. Decent numbers of Semipalmated Sandpipers, Sanderlings, and White-rumped Sandpipers are being seen almost daily. Other notable shorebird sightings include Ruddy Turnstones observed on several days, a Whimbrel seen on 6/18-6/19, a Semipalmated Plover on 6/21, and a Willet on 6/23. There are still small numbers of migrant Blue Jays and Black-capped Chickadees around. There have also been multiple flocks of both Red and White-winged Crossbills flying over the Point in the last week. There seems to be some type of crossbill movement that occurs during the summer, which is pretty cool for a species mostly thought of as being seen in the middle of winter in Michigan.