Purple Sandpiper (Iosco Co) Little Gull (Arenac Co)

[Joe Soehnel]

A Purple Sandpiper was observed this morning, Nov 10th, at the AuSable River Mouth, which had previously been reported to Gary Nelkie by Bob Holvreith.   Myles Willard, Scott Jennex, and myself met up with Roger Eriksson and Wayne Shawl to observe a very cooperative Purple Sandpiper on the south breakwall of the river mouth.  It was feeding most of the time  right beneath us on the boulders.  A White-winged Scoter and Common Loon was also observed at the same location.

Myles, Scott, and I started at Gateway Park at the Tawas River mouth and a single Horned Grebe was observed but none of the three scoter species were present as previously reported.  Highlights at Tawas Point included several Common Loons, Black-bellied Plover, two Greater Yellowlegs, Short-eared Owl, immature Northern Goshawk, a male Purple Finch, numerous Long-tailed Ducks and White-winged Scoters, and three Black Scoters with only Scott seeing the BLSC.  I had two Yellow-rumped Warblers toward the end of the point.  

An adult Little Gull (lifer for me . . . finally!) was found by Scott feeding with a flock of Bonaparte's Gulls just east of AuGres at the Northport Marina.  ~100 Dunlin and 8 Sanderlings were also in the same location with many Tundra Swans.  

Good birding,

Joe Soehnel

 




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