Whitefish Point Sightings Report for April 14-20

Scaup, Wigeon and Tundra Swans by Skye Haas

This week saw the start of the Waterbird Count on the 15^th, though it was quite the rainy mess of a day. This has actually been a bit of a theme this week with unfavorable weather conditions on several days. But there have been some really interesting migration events and one does need to remember that bad weather can make for good birding!

The 19^th was another wet day, but a good flight for waterbirds. A flock of 6 CACKLING GEESE were the first ones of the year. Other highlights included 25 AMERICAN WIGEON, 51 MALLARDS, 24 NORTHERN PINTAILS and lesser numbers of BLUE-WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, REDHEAD, LESSER SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCK and all three species of MERGANSERS. The Tahquamenon River mouth has had big flocks of waterfowl for a week now, with a complete suite of dabbler ducks, lots of SCAUP, RING-NECKED DUCKS, a female CANVASBACK, TUNDRA and TRUMPETER SWANS, and hundreds of COMMON MERGANSERS.

Glaucous Gull by Skye Haas

Setting a new early record date for Whitefish Point and always a good bird was a PACIFIC LOON on the 16^th. Also seen on the 16^th was both RED-THROATED LOON and RED-NECKED GREBE. A HORNED GREBE was seen on the 20^th. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT was on the 18^th. Another big SANDHILL CRANE day was had on the 17^th with 1,285 counted. Three new shorebird arrivals were GREATER YELLOWLEGS on the 15^th, WILSON’S SNIPE on the 16^th, and a surprisingly early SOLITARY SANDPIPER on the 18^th.

Gull diversity has been decent with the ICELAND GULL found last week observed again on the 16-18^th, adult GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS on the 16^th and 20^th and two different GLAUCOUS GULLS on the 18^th and 20^th.

Sharp-shinned Hawk by Skye Haas

The Hawk Count certainly hasn’t been immune to the effects of the damp weather this week with a few days this week producing barely any raptors. However, the biggest count of the season so far occurred when 625 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS flew by on the 18^th. Also on that same day, we were treated to a strong flight of 85 AMERICAN KESTRELS. The first OSPREY was on the 17^th, and 8 were recorded on the 19^th. A few decent NORTHERN HARRIER flights occurred with a peak of 49 recorded on the 17^th. And our earlier season raptors do seem to be tapering off with only NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, GOLDEN EAGLES and RED-SHOULDERED HAWK observed a couple of days this week. Conditions were excellent for an evening owl flight on the 13^th and 35 LONG-EARED OWLS were observed migrating by the hawk deck. For further details on the owl migration can be found here on the Owl Banding Blog.

In the nearby town of Paradise, a TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE was observed on the 15^th, but has not been seen again. Another report of a TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE occurred on the 17^th on Vermilion Road, six miles south of Whitefish Point. The first LAPLAND LONGSPURS were recorded on the 15^th and seen on a few days since then.

Townsend’s Solitaire by Skye Haas

BROWN THRASHERS first arrived on the 19^th. Small flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen on the 17^th and 19^th. Still only a couple of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS observed this week. A handful of new sparrow species were recorded for the season with CHIPPING SPARROW on the 16^th and both WHITE-THROATED and SAVANNAH SPARROWS on the 19^th. A few FOX SPARROWS are still at the Owl’s Roost feeders. Good numbers of COMMON GRACKLES migrated past the point on the 18^th, but the real surprise that day was the massive PURPLE FINCH flight that tallied in 1,053 birds! And finally appearing now for a 6^th spring in a row, a EURASIAN TREE SPARROW is at the WPBO feeders and is still present as of the 21^st.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow by Skye Haas

To see daily totals visit our live data feed at the Dunkadoo website for the Hawk Count here, or the Waterbird Count here.

*** Please note we have changed our owl banding visitation schedule:  Visitors may observe owl banding on Friday and Saturday evenings from dusk to midnight, weather permitting. Beginning at the end of April, the Owl’s Roost Gift Shop will be open on select Friday and Saturday evenings as well.  If you have a large group (5 or more), please call (517) 580-7364 or email events@michiganaudubon.org to make arrangements.