Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge - Woodland Trail - July 27

[Steve_Kahl at fws.gov]

I spent a few hours this morning working on the MI Breeding Bird Atlas
block that includes Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge's Woodland Trail.
Although we are past the peak of breeding bird season there is still some
good atlasing left.  Also I wished to get this block, which was at 98
species, over the 100 species mark.

Swallows and blackbirds are flocking up and singing was much reduced from
what I heard here back in June.  However, species that are known for
nesting later into the season like song sparrow, indigo bunting, and
eastern wood-pewee were still very vocal.  Some neotropical migrants like
wood thrush, red-eyed vireo, and American redstart were still singing.
Black-capped chickadees, tufted titmice, and blue jays were much more vocal
than during my June visit.  American robins were still carrying food and I
still found newly fledged wood thrush and yellow warbler.

I only managed to bump up 9 species from possible to probable breeding,
including:
chimney swift
belted kingfisher
northern flicker
eastern phoebe
great crested flycatcher
blue jay
brown creeper
chipping sparrow
rose-breasted grosbeak
house finch

New confirmations included:
rock pigeon - ON
barred owl - FL
red-bellied woodpecker - FL
northern rough-winged swallow - FL
cliff swallow - UN
barn swallow - UN
white-breasted nuthatch - FL

I had the great fortune to watch an adult barred owl eating a large garter
snake as its owlet begged to be fed.  Interestingly, it did not share!  I
also enjoyed watching chimney swifts below eye level as they swooped down
to get a drink from the Tittabawassee River.  Four new species brought the
block up to 102.

Non-bird sightings included eastern tiger swallowtail nectaring at
buttonbush and viceroy sipping at bird droppings.

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/