Sharp-tailed Grouse by Skye Haas

Greetings! This begins the weekly sightings summary of the observations at Whitefish Point. It’s safe to say that winter’s grip on Whitefish Point is still pretty solid. There are still a few to several feet of snow on the ground and the temperatures have been below freezing most days of the count so far. Most of the week, Lake Superior has been iced over, though mostly due to refreezing of transient ice. In a particularly dramatic weather day with sustained 40mph gusts, I got to watch giant icebergs crash into each other as they blew in from Canada. And a few days before that on a warmer morning, the pack ice was groaning like some deep-sea cetacean.  Always something to note here at the Point!

Killdeer by Skye Haas

Not surprisingly, with the lack of extensive open water, web-footed birds have been in short supply this week. A TUNDRA SWAN was heard calling in the fog on 19th, with another swan on 21st, this one not identified to species was observed flying north over the point and Lake Superior. Also on the 21st, a flock of 17 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were seen flying over an open lead in the water. The first of season for CANADA GOOSE, MALLARD and COMMON MERGANSERS all flew by in pairs on the 23rd. Finally a BUFFLEHEAD has been seen in the harbor most days this week. A surprisingly ambitious KILLDEER flew past the deck on the 23rd. A few HERRING GULLS have been seen with a flock of 50 observed in the harbor on the 20th.

Always exciting and slightly puzzling to first spot, has been a flock of 6 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE that have launched out of the dunes for a high fly-by of the Hawk Deck on several days in the last week.

Red-shouldered Hawk by Skye Haas

Raptors have not been seen in any kind of numbers yet, with BALD EAGLES and RED-TAILED HAWKS only having their first double-digit day on the 23rd . 1-2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS have been seen most days. The first SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was recorded on the 21st, as was the first Merlin, a blue-backed male that shot by the deck. On the 20th, a handsome adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK circled the point before heading back down the peninsula, with two more on the 23th. Finally a few GOLDEN EAGLES have been observed; a total of 8 so far for the season.

A warm wind on the 20th brought a small flock of AMERICAN ROBINS on the first day spring, and conversely, a few SNOW BUNTINGS have also been observed in the last week. But another herald of spring arrived on the 23rd with a pair of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS at the feeders.

Winter finches unsurprisingly, have been the big-ticket item here at Whitefish this week. Diversity and numbers have been good. Daily flyovers of PINE GROSBEAKS have been nothing short of lovely, with a total of 70 recorded on the 23rd. Good numbers of both RED & WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS have been noted, with birds flying over the deck most days. A robust PINE SISKIN flock has been present eclipsed in number only by COMMON REDPOLLS, which have had some impressive flocks this week. And those white jewels of the north, HOARY REDPOLLS have been found at the Owl’s Roost feeding station as well as by the Hawk Deck.

Hoary Redpoll by Skye Haas

 

*** 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.