Red-Breasted MergansersWe 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 WoodpeckerNEWBERRY 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
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
1 comment:
If you accessed the Sleeper Lake burn where I think you did from 123, we had some nice looks and heard calls of the American Bittern last weekend in that locale right where the hiking trail begins. Didn't get Black-backed but also didn't walk in very far due to time constraints. There is also another access point to the Sleeper Lake area off 407 south of Pine Stump Junction. Can be very wet this time of year, definitely buggy, but excellent access to boreal habitat. I have also had Black-backed quietly pecking conifers near the the Clark Lake parking lot as well. Thanks for sharing your bird sightings.
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