As the season slowly tapers down, this past week was highlighted by classic late-season waterbirds, several interesting rarities, and two strong storms over the past two days.
The week started fairly slow on Nov. 2 and 3, with Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Long-tailed Ducks, and Red-breasted Mergansers being the primary movers. A great highlight was a Western Meadowlark that hung around the dune habitat in front of the waterbird shack and along the bay’s shoreline to the south. A hunting Northern Shrike initially flushed it! Throughout multiple views, including a close flyby right over the shack, we could confirm its identity as a Western rather than Eastern Meadowlark.
A Western Meadowlark hung around the Point on Nov. 2 and 3, and graced visitors to the shack with a few close flybys. Photo by Mike McBrien
The blue morph Snow Goose hanging around the Point last week stayed through this week until Nov. 4. After delighting many visitors to the Point and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, it was finally witnessed taking off and heading south. While slow on the waterbird front, Nov. 4 also featured a Long-eared and Short-eared Owl observed migrating down the lake.
Last week’s blue morph Snow Goose stuck around the Point a few more days, often feeding on the lawn alongside visitors to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. Photo by Mike McBrien
Over the past week, Nov. 5 was the most active and exciting day. During the morning, both species of expected swans were seen migrating past the shack (six trumpeters and five tundras) — any day with two species of swans here is a great day! There was a good flight of Common Goldeneye and Red-breasted Mergansers throughout the day to keep things interesting. Exciting finds during the count included a very late Pectoral Sandpiper and two Black-legged Kittiwakes. In addition, during the last 10 minutes of the count, a beautiful Pacific Loon floated along the shoreline with a Common Loon.
Flock of four Trumpeter Swans migrate right past the waterbird shack. Photo by Mike McBrien
Monday, Nov. 6, was fairly dreary, with downpouring rain all day and stormy conditions overall. It was brightened with another sighting of a Pacific Loon (possibly the same bird as on the 5th).
Bitterly cold temps and windy conditions out of the north were featured on Nov. 7. Almost 3,000 Long-tailed Ducks passed the Point, making it the strongest flight day for that species in over a week. A few highlights to break up the chilly conditions included a juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake that flew right down the beach. A Cattle Egret also flew by before deciding to go check out Canada during its journey to the northern U.S. and turned to head back north. This sighting represents one of a small group of Point records for the species.
One of the few remaining shorebirds that stick around into November, this Dunlin spent the day feeding around the edges of the pond at the Point. Photo by Mike McBrien
The week finished with a cold blowing snow and one of the breeziest days of the fall, with winds out of the south at 22–35 knots. It created some impressive waves breaking on the harbor pier to the south. This wintery weather also brought in the first Glaucous Gull of the fall.
I’m looking forward to what the final week of the fall waterbird count brings!
~ Mike McBrien
2023 Fall Waterbird Counter
Featured photo: Waves breaking on the Harbor of Refuge breakwall during the storm on Nov. 8. Photo by Mike McBrien
