Manistee, Arcadia field trip

[Brian Allen]

two groups of birders hit the Arcadia area in Manistee County this morning on a spectacular sunny day.  The Benzie and Manistee Audubon clubs met at 8:00 at the causeway and the first group saw a Goshawk flyby.  A scattering of waterfowl in the lake included Gadwall, Ruddy Duck, Green-winged Teal, Tundra Swans and the usual customers.

  On Chamberlain Rd. we stopped to watch the early spring migrants so beginning birders could get a scope full view of Savannah Sparrows, Snipe and Meadowlarks.  We had been seeing small groups of Bonaparte's Gulls flying E to W all morning and I had mentioned with resigned routine to watch for one with black under-wing's.  This comment must have made an impression for about a half hour latter Sally Cook said "there goes one with black underwings" just casually as if it was expected.  At the same moment I was going ballistic with joy as I watched my #1 nemesis bird of all time soaring directly overhead.  I yelled out "Little Gull" and most of the 35 people assembled got a good look with perhaps some wondering why I was going bananas about just a little gull.  

  Other cool birds of the morning:  A glaucous gull seen by the Traverse City group, amazing that one group of 35 birders in caravan missed meeting another group of 40 birders in the small town of Arcadia.  Jerry Freels found an American Bittern at the north end of the causeway.  Other raptors seen included Harrier, Sharp-shinned, Kestrel, Bald Eagle.  Other ducks included a raft of about 50 Long-tailed Ducks well offshore at the Inspiration Pt. roadside area.

  BA
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