Welcome back as we kick off another year at the spring waterbird count! This is Aaron Graham reporting, and I am thrilled for my first season at Whitefish Point as this year’s spring waterbird counter. I have been doing migratory counts for several seasons now with this being my first strictly waterbird count. Counting here has been a dream of mine for several years as this location’s reputation is of legend amongst migratory and rarity enthusiasts alike.

I have been greeted at the point by several welcoming members of the community as well as a variety of different weather. Upon starting the count on April 15 our ability to detect waterbirds was severely hindered by the fog surrounding our view. This would be a similar scene to the following morning of April 16. However, on both mornings, several birds passed by close to the shoreline as they made their way around the point invisibility would increase as fog faded away overland as the day progressed. This allowed for a variety of raptors to be counted on my end as well as flocks of Sandhill Cranes overhead.

Sandhill Crane. Photo by Aaron Graham

Winds would shift around to a light SSW to start the morning of April 17, resulting in a great flight overall. Mixed flocks of dabblers, consisting mainly of Mallards, made their way past the point heading NW. A record flight of 284 Northern Flickers also occurred, with most streaming down the bayside and either crossing or piling up at the point. A total of 825 Sandhill Cranes were recorded before winds shifted to unfavorable conditions that hindered their ability to cross, causing many to turn around and bringing the flight to an end. A large raptor flight occurred this day as well. April 18 would see an even better waterbird flight as a strong front was passing through the area with strong NW winds. Large mixed flocks of dabblers passed by the point again, but this time coming back in off the lake and seemingly looking to seek refuge in the bay as they headed SE. Essentially all of the expected dabblers were recorded, with the highlight being a hen Canvasback in one of the mixed flocks.

Northern Flicker in morning flight. Photo by Aaron Graham

Strong winds lessened as a high-pressure set up overhead making for a calm morning on April 20. Though not much of a waterbird flight occurred, a first-cycle Iceland Gull headed west out on the lake, representing the highlight of the day. On the morning of April 21 some waterfowl were sitting right off the point including a Blue-winged Teal with a pair of Green-winged Teal. The highlight of the day would be a dark morph Swainson’s Hawk that kettled overhead all afternoon, albeit closer to the hawkwatch where it landed somewhere in front of the platform.

With the season just getting started, I am excitedly looking forward to what the coming weeks hold for me out at the shack and hope to meet many of my readers out there. Regardless, you can follow along LIVE on the Trektellen Page here (https://www.trektellen.org/count/view/4209/20260415).

Aaron Graham, 2026 Spring Waterbird Counter

Featured Photo: Great Blue Heron by A. Graham

You can now see the waterbird count data on Trektellen! Check it out at trektellen.nl/count/view/4209. You can keep up with the 2026 Spring Waterbird Count by reading Aaron’s weekly blog posts and following WPBO’s social media (Facebook, Instagram, and X). The spring waterbird count runs April 15 through May 31.

Aaron Graham: 2026 Spring Waterbird Counter Aaron is a migration monitor from West Virginia with a love for birds starting in his early elementary years. Calling the central Appalachian ridgelines home, he ventured throughout this region from a young age trying to better understand the local avifauna. This pursuit has taken him all over the United States as his focus has dialed into migration counts, with particular focus on morning flight and sea/lake watch counts. Being able to witness active migration all from a stationary point is what awes him, and better understanding these phenomena is what drives him. Aaron is looking forward to a season at Whitefish Point and wonders what all he will see migrating past the point from the waterbird count! When not birding, Aaron coaches college soccer, takes to the snow with freestyle and cross-country skiing, and can be found far afield searching out new butterflies, dragon and damselflies, and tiger beetles.