Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge Open House sightings

[Steve_Kahl@fws.gov]

Refuge Volunteer Steve Gasser and I lead birding walks on Saturday 9/9 and
Sunday 9/10 as part of Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge's Open House
weekend.  Saturday's weather was marked by intermittent showers and
drizzle.  However, 52 species were encountered along Ferguson Bayou Nature
Trail including:

trumpeter swan - 2 off Grefe Tower
Wilson's snipe - 2 near Bishop Road parking area
sandhill crane - 6 flying low over our group
pectoral sandpiper - 4 near Bishop Road parking area
eastern screech-owl - calling during daylight
yellow-bellied sapsucker
magnolia warbler
bobolink

The weather was cool and sunny Sunday morning and migrant activity was
greatly pronounced with several mixed flocks of warblers, vireos and
flycathers.  Eastern wood-pewees seemed to be everywhere with 20 counted.
The list of birds for this walk along Evon Road totaled 60 species
including 13 warblers.  Noteworthy species included:

bald eagle - 2 adults, 1 imm
broad-winged hawk
Carolina wren
Philadelphia vireo - 2
blue-headed vireo
brown thrasher
eastern bluebird
Tennessee warbler
northern parula
bay-breasted warbler
blackpoll warbler - 20; most common warbler of the day
Wilson's warbler

Please note that the Evon Road area is typically closed to the general
public, but was open during this special weekend.

Steven Kahl
Refuge Manager
Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge
6975 Mower Road
Saginaw, MI  48601-9783
P (989) 777-5930 ext 16
F (989) 777-9200
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/shiawassee/