Spring 2009 Final Post

SPRING 2009 SUMMARY

The waterbird count for the spring 2009 season came to an end at 1:49 pm on May 31st; after 47 days and 370.75 hours of observation. A grand total of 16,247 individuals of 69 species were tallied.

The 5 most numerous species this spring: Sandhill Crane (3,273), Common Loon (2,209), Canada Goose (2,198), Red-breasted Merganser (1,620), White-winged Scoter (1,022).

Many species had below average numbers this year, and the grand total is the lowest since 1993. However, as anyone who paid a visit to Whitefish Point this spring can attest to; it was a chilly, windy spring, and these weather conditions likely had negative effects on waterbird migration (or at least our ability to observe it). Lets not dwell on the low numbers however, and take a look at some highlights from the season.

HIGHLIGHTS

Sandhill Crane: The Sandhill Crane had its best season since the start of the waterbird count in 1984. It's 3,273 mark beat the previous high total by over 500, and shattered the yearly average of 646. The Sandhills accounted for a rather amazing 20% of the total migration.

Other species with above average years include Northern Pintail (129, yearly average 47), Common Merganser (330, yearly average 284), and Common Tern (98, yearly average 50). A combination of all Scaup catergories (Greater, Lesser, sp) adds up to 1,107; compared to a yearly average of 829.

Snowy Owls: Not a waterbird, I know, but having 3 visit the tip this season was quite a treat.

Shorebirds: Many of the shorebirds showed up a bit late this season, but they had good numbers overall. The Ruddy Turnstone (70), Black-bellied Plover (63) and Semipalmated Plover (68) were all well above average. Perhaps most memorable were the 4 Piping Plovers who spent a good chunk of May on the beach. As of June 1st, a nest has been found. Other shorebirds included Hudsonian Godwit, Marbled Godwit, and American Avocet (technically not included in the count but a doozy of a bird).

Gulls: Gull species that showed up this spring; Glaucous, Iceland, Great-black Backed, and Thayer's along with the usual Herring and Ring-billed Gulls.

Bird-a-thon: We totaled 131 species for the Bird-a-thon this year, thanks to all those who made pledges!

That about does it for the last post, if anyone has questions about anything I may have left out feel free to email (andominium222@gmail.com). I'll be heading home for the summer, but am returning for the fall 2009 count.

Until August 15, Good Birding

Andy N
Waterbird Counter

Marbled Godwit

Some good birds keep trickling through at the tail end of this spring '09 season, including today's Marbled Godwit. Strong south winds most of the day were convincing enough for a number of Canada Geese (710), Ring-billed Gulls (83) and Herring Gulls (43). Shorebird diversity was good today as well, with the following species counted; Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Whimbrel, Semipalmated Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Piping Plover, Semipalmated Plover, and Dunlin.

Tomorrow marks the final day of the season. It looks to be sunny, but also chilly (high 48) and windy (from the NW 10-20 mph). Whatever the final day brings, I'll post a season wrap-up by June 1st with the final numbers.

Andy N

Parasitic Jaeger

In years past these late May days have meant the arrival of a jaeger species; and a Parasitic Jaeger showed up on the tip today, just after the official count ended.

I'm a little disappointed I missed it, as well as yesterdays Pacific Loon, but a Kirtland's Warbler and the Bird-a-thon were certainly worth it. Jaegers are fairly consistent fall visitors as well so I'm still very hopeful.

For the offical waterbird count it was rather slow as the season winds down. 225 Canada Geese winged their way in a north direction, along with a smattering of shorebirds. Just two days left in the spring 2009 season, time enough for yours truely to catch a few more birds on my wish list.

Andy N

Pacific Loon

A Pacific Loon showed up during the waterbird count today. Adam and Phil reported it was a foggy and rainy day; but the shorebirds were good along with the loon.

3/5 of the WPBO field staff (John, Sarah, Myself) spend the day in Grayling on a Kirtland's Warbler tour, which was very successful. The rain held off (mostly) and we got some great looks at a wonderful bird.

The season is coming to a close soon, but there's still time for things to show up, and there's still Bird-a-thon-ing to be done!

Andy N

Brant

2 Brant were spotted during the waterbird count today. The last spring waterbird count to record this species was in 2004; and they have been tallied in the official spring count only 3 times since 1984. The last hour of the count saw 137 Ring-billed Gulls making their way north. Phil was hoping to find an oddball among them but nothing turned up. We are optimistic about the evening flight tonight, I'll be sure to update the blog if anything interesting turns up.

Andy N

Rainy Day

There wasn't a whole lot happening on this cloudy (and occasionally rainy day), but you can only have so many beautiful days in a row.

WATERBIRD COUNT: The highlight for the waterbird count was an Upland Sandpiper, and aside from that the flight was rather sparse.




I spent the day covering for John on the hawk platform, where things were also a bit slow with only 8 raptors. However, this Ruby-throated Hummingbird seemed quite appreciative of John's addition of a feeder on the platform.

Elsewhere on the point, the Green Heron is still hanging around one of the ponds, and no sign of the Yellow-headed Blackbird that has been spotted the last few days. Looks like more rain tomorrow, but hopefully later in the week we'll get some more nice weather and more birds before the end of the season.

Andy N

Memorial Day

Overall it was a good today to finish off the long weekend. There was some nice waterbird (3 species in the 100s) and shorebird activity, and warblers among the pines.

WEATHER: Sunny skies, temperatures once again into the 60s, with very light winds from various south directions (ESE, SE, S, SSW).

WATERBIRD COUNT: White-winged Scoters (180), Canada Geese (161), Red-breasted Mergansers (110) and Long-tailed Ducks (96) were the most numerous waterfowl for the day. Also Common Loon (27) and Red-throated Loon (19).

SHOREBIRDS: Dunlin (87), Whimbrel (73), Semipalmated Sandpiper (22), Black-bellied Plover (10).

GULLS: Bonaparte's Gull (112), Herring Gull (60) and Ring-billed Gull (10).

TERNS: Common Tern (44), Caspian Tern (1) and 16 tern sp.

OTHER SIGHTINGS: Warblers today; Blackburnian, Nashville, Chesnut-sided, Wilson's, Cape May, Magnolia. Elsewhere there was a Red-bellied Woodpecker on the merlin pole.

TOMMORROW: Well after so many beautiful days we were due for some rain eventually. Looks like it will come tomorrow in the afternoon (70% chance). It will be cloudy most of the day, with temperatures in the low 50s and ESE winds 10-20 mph. I'll actually be doing the hawk count tomorrow to give John a breather, hopefully the weather allows for a full day.

Andy N

More Good Weather

Red-Breasted Mergansers

We had another beautiful spring day today, with sunny skies and temperatures into the 60s. Phil had a relatively slow day with the waterbirds on the tip; and while we're still waiting for a big push of songbirds there was a plenty to look at today.

Note: Phil is going to serve as the official waterbird counter for the last 7 days of the season, so I'm going to reformat the blog a bit to cover the count and my other birding endeavors.

AT THE POINT

Waterbird Count: 33 Red-breasted Mergansers, 30 Common Loons, 18 White-winged Scoters, 11 Red-throated Loons, 3 Common Mergansers, 1 Hooded Merganser.

Shorebirds: 6 Semipalmated Plovers, 3 Ruddy Turnstones, 1 Whimbrel.

Gulls: 128 Herring Gulls; they seem to be really be moving all of a sudden.

Other Sightings: Yellow-Headed Blackbird at the feeders was the highlight of the morning. Ken, David and I chased a Worm-eating Warbler reported down the road but came up empty. The Green Heron is still hanging out around the ponds. Also Evening Grosbeaks, American Goldfinches, Cedar Waxwings, and various sparrows.

Black-backed Woodpecker

NEWBERRY BURN AREA

I spent the better part of the afternoon trekking through the burn area off M-123 in search of Black-backed Woodpeckers. After about 2+ miles of hiking (and a lot of mosquitoes) I was greeted by 2 females just off the road, both busy stripping bark off some conifers. Well worth the walk and the mosquitoes!

TOMORROW

The forecast for tomorrow looks very pleasant. Sunny, with temperatures into the 60s, and winds ENE 5-10 mph. Hopefully the hawks, waterbirds and passerines all come out to celebrate Memorial Day.

Andy N

Terns and Shorebirds

I didn't make it out to the tip for very long today (I was mostly bouncing between the hawk platform and the feeders) but here's Phil's report.

Weather: Partly to mostly cloudy in the AM, sunny in the afternoon. Temperatures into the mid 50s with winds starting from the S and shifting WNW by the end of the day.

Waterbird Count: 76 Red-breasted Mergansers, 57 Common Loons, 35 White-winged Scoters, 18 Common Mergansers, along with 2 Red-throated Loons, 2 Mallards, and 1 Wood Duck (first in a few weeks).

Shorebirds: Good numbers and diversity. 11 Sanderlings, 6 Semipalmated Plovers, 6 peep sp., 5 dowitcher sp., 2 Red Knots and 2 Piping Plovers were the highlights.

Gulls: 79 Herring, 4 Bonaparte's, 2 Ring-billed.

Terns: 48 Common Terns, 1 Caspian Tern.

Other Sightings: European Goldfinch, Evening Grosbeaks, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks among others at the feeders. Later there was a Red-headed Woodpecker (which I missed). John had another Swainson's and another pale Red-tailed Hawk, check the hawk blog for more info on those birds.

Forecast for tomorrow is for sunny skies and temperatures into the high 50s. Winds NW 10-15 mph. Looks like weather is really going to cooperate for Memorial Day weekend, hope to see all you birders out and about!

Andy N
Waterbird Counter

Loons Reappear (sort of)

Today was pretty slow again. The loons had their best day in over a week, but overall activity was very sporadic.

Weather: Gorgeous day, sunny, temperatures into the high 50s, with wind NNW 5-10 mph.

Waterbird Count: 60 Common Loons, 8 Red-throated Loons, 48 Red-breasted Mergansers, 31 White-winged Scoters; a few Common Goldeneye, Long-tailed Ducks, Double-crested Cormorants, and a Red-necked Grebe in the mix.

Shorebirds: 10 Dunlin, 4 Sanderlings, 3 Whimbrel, 3 Black-bellied Plovers.

Gulls: 17 Bonaparte's, 16 Ring-bills.

Terns: 11 unidentified; they were flying pretty far out and neither myself, Phil or Tom could come up with a species.

Other Sightings: Blue Jays (271), American Goldfinch (13), Eastern Kingbird (3). An Osprey also made an apperance over the water, before heading north up the beach.

Well faithful blog readers I will be taking a few days off. Phil will be doing the count, and he'll either update the blog or I'll pass the results along; either way we'll keep you updated in the days to come.

Andy N
Waterbird Counter