What an incredible week for fall migration! Vagrant season has finally arrived. A slew of new species were recorded from 10/24-10/25 alongside a strong cold front. As temperatures finally start to drop, finch flights have picked up dramatically.
Pine Siskin. Photo by Isaac Polanski
Red Crossbill are moving along the shorelines of Lake Superior in unprecedented numbers. Count sites at Stony Point and Hawk Ridge are reporting flights in the thousands. On 10/24, strong southeast winds produced an incredible finch movement for the point. For four hours, a constant stream of flocks passed southeast over the Raptor Deck. Final totals included 5,391 Pine Siskin and 1,650 Red Crossbill. This represents a new state (MI) high count for Red Crossbill. Flocks were primarily type 2 and 4 at a 5:1 ratio.
Red Crossbill. Photo by Isaac Polanski
Pine Siskin continue to vastly outnumber other migrant finches. Flocks of certain species, such as Purple Finch and American Goldfinch have notably increased. A high count of 274 Purple Finch was recorded during a strong southeast wind on 10/20.
Purple Finch. Photo by Oliver Kew
Late October to early November is the typical fall migration window for White-winged Crossbills. This week produced a slight uptick. Unlike Red Crossbills, foraging groups of White-winged Crossbills were found consistently in pines around the point.
White-winged Crossbill. Photo by Oliver Kew
A group of immature birds even paid a visit to the water feature!
White-winged Crossbills. Photo by Oliver Kew
A southwest wind with constant light rain on 10/25 produced the true magic. A slow start to the day changed quickly as steady rain bands brought an incredible duck flight and a wave of rare passerines. At least four Yellow-billed Cuckoos were tallied around the point, a season high count.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Photo by Oliver Kew
The real excitement began close to noon with a White-winged Dove, found in the woods by visiting birder Vikay Kaz. White-winged Doves are a rare but regular vagrant to the Great Lakes from the southwest. Eventually, it took off around the point and continued southeast. This represents the 9th point record!
White-winged Dove. Photo by Oliver Kew
A Northern Mockingbird made a surprise appearance near the lighthouse. Spring overshoots on the upper Great Lakes are common. This is only the fourth fall record at the point. The bird must like the new restoration area as it was still present the next day (10/26).
Northern Mockingbird. Photo by Oliver Kew
Unbelievably, a confiding Ash-throated Flycatcher was also present near the parking area on 10/25. It put on a show for visitors while foraging for berries around the parking lot. Ash-throated Flycatchers are another rare visitor from the southwest US. Individuals often stray eastward by late fall. Their appearance is similar to Great-crested Flycatchers but smaller in size and more pale. This is only the 5th point and 14th state record of Ash-throated Flycatcher!
Ash-throated Flycatcher. Photo by Oliver Kew
A female Evening Grosbeak spent the last few days around the feeder area. She was also enjoying the new running water feature! After consistent sightings in late August, this species has been completely absent. Hopefully the last few weeks of the count will provide some migrant flocks.
Evening Grosbeak. Photo by Oliver Kew
The morning flight on 10/24 brought many notable new sightings. The first three flyover Pine Grosbeak of the season were observed! A Black-backed Woodpecker was a heard-only from the Raptor Deck. It eventually offered great looks on the Merlin poles near the Waterbird Station. An immature Northern Shrike was also tallied during the waterbird count, the first for this fall.
Black-backed Woodpecker. Photo by Isaac Polanski
Our third (!) Townsends Solitaire spent the afternoon along the hawdeck boardwalk on 10/26. It moved back and forth between conspicuous perches which even included the hand railing.
Townsend’s Solitaire. Photo by Oliver Kew
Snow Buntings flocks are currently on the rise along the beach. A high count of 48 was tallied during the waterbird count on 10/25. Sightings of Lapland Longspur, American Pipit, and Horned Lark have sadly decreased in frequency.
Lapland Longspur. Photo by Oliver Kew
As the season progresses, grouse sightings have become more consistent. On 10/21, we hit the grouse trifecta! This included two Ruffed, two Sharp-tailed, and the first Spruce Grouse of the season. Spruce Grouse are a highly cryptic forest species, known for incredible tameness around people. A lone female was hiding from rain under jack pines near the Raptor Deck boardwalk.
Spruce Grouse. Photo by Oliver Kew
Two additional Sharp-tailed Grouse flybys were recorded from the hawkdeck this week. One nicely teed up for spectators on a nearby pine. Check out this stunning in-flight action shot from Isaac Polanski!
Sharp-tailed Grouse. Photo by Isaac Polanski
Oliver Kew, Fall Field Ornithologist
Featured Photo: Pine Siskin by O. Kew
Track the morning flight counts on Trektellen.
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Join Oliver for one of his WPBO Migratory Bird Walks offered every weekend through November 15. Learn more: wpbo.org/wpbobirdwalks/
Oliver Kew: 2026 Fall Field Ornithologist
Oliver is a passionate naturalist from Petoskey, Michigan. He worked for Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch as a waterbird counter for seven seasons. Oliver graduated from Michigan State University in 2017 with a B.S. in Zoo & Aquarium Science. His previous roles include working as an Animal Husbandry Technician and Zookeeper Aide, where he helped maintain large collections of exotic birds and reptiles. Originally from Coventry, England, Oliver developed an immense appreciation for the natural world through his family of foresters. He loves exploring the shorelines of northern Michigan in pursuit of exciting and unexpected birding experiences and is honored to help convey the importance of Whitefish Point as a migration pathway. When he is not birdwatching, Oliver enjoys playing disc golf, looking for insects and plants, and spending time with his two cats.
