Michigan Audubon Office: (517) 580-7364|birds@michiganaudubon.org

Field Notes

This blog is your go-to for recent sightings at the Point, including both the usual suspects and the rare species that have been spotted, more in-depth looks at the habitats found here, educational programming being offered, and more. The unique juxtaposition of land and water at the Point funnels many birds through WPBO and over 340 species have been identified at the Point. Be sure to check this blog for regular updates!

Canada Lynx at WPBO

On May 5, 2019, WPBO hawk counter Krista Botting and visitors to the hawk platform were greeted with a view of a rare visitor: a Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis). The wild cat wandered out of the tree line to the northwest of the platform, sat under a large white pine for a moment, then carried [...]

2019-05-18T13:23:29-04:00May 18th, 2019|Field Notes|Comments Off on Canada Lynx at WPBO
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Waning and Waxing: 05/08/19 to 05/16/19

Highlights: Yellow-headed Blackbird - Hudsonian Godwit - Field Sparrow - Blue Jay Migration - Increasing Warbler Diversity - Sparrow Migration - Indigo Bunting There has been a steady influx of birds and a few new species at the Point. Particular species of note include Yellow-headed-Blackbird (May 9), Field Sparrow (May 14), and Hudsonian Godwit [...]

2019-05-17T17:44:11-04:00May 17th, 2019|Field Notes|Comments Off on Waning and Waxing: 05/08/19 to 05/16/19
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Avifauna Influx: 05/02/19 to 05/07/19

Between May 5 and May 7, 24 new bird species for the season were documented at the Point, with the majority appearing on May 5 following a night and half day of southeast winds. The first Field Sparrow of the season. The sparrows are not common at the Point, so this one was [...]

2019-05-10T19:53:03-04:00May 10th, 2019|Field Notes|Comments Off on Avifauna Influx: 05/02/19 to 05/07/19
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Loggerhead Shrike: a Fourth Record for WPBO

On April 29 and 30, a Loggerhead Shrike (LOSH) was seen at Whitefish Point. The sighting, once accepted, will be the fourth record of a LOSH at WPBO. A Loggerhead Shrike seen on April 29, 2019 from the waterbird shack. Photo by Alison Vilag Loggerhead Shrike are state endangered in Michigan. The [...]

2019-05-18T15:08:05-04:00May 7th, 2019|Field Notes|Comments Off on Loggerhead Shrike: a Fourth Record for WPBO
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Woodcocks, Kinglets, and How a Bad Finch Year For Us is a Good One for the Birds – 04/25/19 to 05/01/19

Highlights: American Woodcock Display - Pine Siskin Flock - Eastern Towhee - Vesper Sparrow - Kinglets Galore - White-Winged Scoter - Flocks of Common Loon Peent… Peent… Peent... I cannot begin to tell you just how much I love the American Woodcock call. Thanks to the patience and courtesy of longtime neighbors of Whitefish [...]

2019-05-02T08:19:06-04:00May 1st, 2019|Field Notes|Comments Off on Woodcocks, Kinglets, and How a Bad Finch Year For Us is a Good One for the Birds – 04/25/19 to 05/01/19
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Birding In the Rain and Other Stories (and Birds) from the Point: 04/12/19 to 04/24/19

Highlights: Too many to name! Or: Leucistic Red-Tailed Hawk – Spruce Grouse – Increasing Sparrow Diversity – Pine Warbler – Kinglets – Brown Creeper – Pine Siskin - Broad-Winged Hawk – Snowy Owl – Greater Yellowlegs Just when it seemed like migration might not ever happen, birds started happening in a big way with [...]

2019-04-25T16:07:49-04:00April 25th, 2019|Field Notes|Comments Off on Birding In the Rain and Other Stories (and Birds) from the Point: 04/12/19 to 04/24/19
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Zugunruhe: 04/08/19 to 04/11/19

Highlights: Firsts of the season: American Black Duck, Rock Pigeon, Eastern Phoebe, Rusty Blackbird, American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow Passerines put on their first real show of the season on April 10. While covering for Krista Botting, the hawk counter, I observed 24 American Robin, 39 Red-winged Blackbird, 45 Common Grackle, and a Bohemian Waxwing [...]

2019-04-12T14:43:34-04:00April 12th, 2019|Field Notes|Comments Off on Zugunruhe: 04/08/19 to 04/11/19
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Waterbird Landing: 04/03/19 – 04/07/19

Highlights: First Waterbirds in the Water (Mallard) – Common Merganser – Brown-headed Cowbird – Increasing Raptor Diversity A big moment at the Point in recent days: the first waterbirds of the season were observed in the lake! Two Mallard were seen flying in and landing in Lake Superior on April 5 with three male Common [...]

2019-04-09T10:47:25-04:00April 9th, 2019|Field Notes|Comments Off on Waterbird Landing: 04/03/19 – 04/07/19
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Stymied Migration & a Pileated or Two: 03/27/19 – 04/02/19

Highlights: Common Grackle - Mourning Dove - Dark-eyed Junco - Sandhill Crane - Canada Goose Weather at Whitefish Point, this time of year, is fickle. A few warm, sunny days with southerly winds saw snow melting and birds migrating, but a cold front moving in over the past few days has hampered migration to [...]

2019-04-03T17:47:07-04:00April 3rd, 2019|Field Notes|Comments Off on Stymied Migration & a Pileated or Two: 03/27/19 – 04/02/19
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Signs of Spring: 03/23/19 – 03/26/19

Highlights: Red-winged Blackbird – American Goldfinch – Close Bald Eagle Encounter There is something truly magical about cresting a hill and seeing an adult Bald Eagle flying directly towards me over the frozen lake. As someone who grew up in a suburban/urban area and hadn’t seen a wild, free flying eagle until I was [...]

2019-04-03T17:46:38-04:00March 26th, 2019|Field Notes|Comments Off on Signs of Spring: 03/23/19 – 03/26/19
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