This past week featured the strongest week of migration so far, and each day brought a different mix of waterbirds.
On Oct. 5, a weak rain front passed over the region in the predawn hours. This was the same morning as the historic fallout across Chicago and the southern Lake Michigan area, widely broadcast throughout the birding world. WPBO did not experience quite that extent of fallout, but visitors to the Point were treated to an impressive array of migrant birds — and an extremely fun day of birding! On the waterbird front, over 1,500 scaup (the majority being Greater Scaup) and 258 American Wigeon made up the bulk of the large flight.
In addition, there was an incredible morning flight of passerines. Over 300 Dark-eyed Juncos, plus numerous kinglets, Brown Creepers, Hermit Thrushes, and sparrows, were observed flying in off of Lake Superior over the first half of the day. When I walked the woods during the post-count hours, the forest was littered with juncos, sparrows, and thrushes. A truly incredible experience!
One of the many Hermit Thrushes seen around Whitefish Point following the strong flight of passerines on Oct. 5. Photo by Mike McBrien
A strong cold front passed in the evening before Oct. 7, bringing cold temps in the 40s and strong north winds at 20-30 knots for the remainder of the weekend. It also brought large numbers of migrant waterbirds to Lake Superior! Visitors to the shack on Saturday (including Michigan Audubon’s WPBO Fall Birding Tour) were treated to the best waterbird flight of the season thus far. Dabblers are still passing through in good numbers, with 225 American Wigeon and over 50 Green-winged Teal making up the majority of the pothole duck composition. The most impressive part of the day was the first large scoter and merganser flight of the fall. 460 Surf Scoters, 553 White-winged Scoters, and 373 Red-breasted Mergansers migrated past the Point. The White-winged Scoter flocks were a particularly impressive sight, with flocks of these black-and-white ducks sharply accented against the angry surf of Lake Superior. This was also the first multi-hundred Red-necked Grebe flight since mid-September, with 377 passing. Other highlights (besides the great company all day!) included a juvenile Sabine’s Gull and a pair of Trumpeter Swans.
A string of Surf and White-winged Scoters pass by the waterbird shack on Oct. 7. Photo by Mike McBrien
Waterbird migration is still going strong since Oct. 7, but it has been tapering off. All three scoter species are still pushing. The first triple-digit flights of Long-tailed Ducks were counted on Oct. 8 and 10, but there are still many more to come! Among other waterbird highlights, two more Trumpeter Swans and a Thayer’s Gull were seen on Oct. 9, as well as three Greater White-fronted Geese on Oct. 10.
Among the other happenings around the Point, at least one LeConte’s Sparrow was present on Oct. 5 among huge numbers of passerine migrants. Harris’s Sparrows continue to put on a show around the area, with a beautiful adult male found on Oct. 6, followed by up to four additional individuals continuing through today. Signs of winter continue to arrive, with the first Northern Shrike, Snow Bunting, and Rough-legged Hawks seen this week. Another local vagrant celebrity was found locally in recent days — an adult male Vermilion Flycatcher found on Oct. 8 by Steve Baker at the Vermilion Point Nature Preserve. This amazing rarity will hopefully stick around until this upcoming weekend if you are in the area.
This vagrant Vermilion Flycatcher was found at nearby (and conveniently named) Vermilion Point Nature Preserve, just a few miles from Whitefish Point. It has put on a show for visitors from around the state this week! Photo by Mike McBrien
~ Mike McBrien
2023 Fall Waterbird Counter
Featured photo: A flock of White-winged Scoters migrating past the Point during the northerly gale on Oct. 7. Photo by Mike McbBrien
