NLP trip highlites

[Russell Emmons]

After a whirlwind weeks trip to various places in the NLP doing Federal BBS routes and Atlasing for the MBBA2 here are a few highlites, noteworthy sightings, notations, etc. : >>>>>

YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER  06/17, Matchett Lake , western Charlevoix county, (further details and not so great photo on www.northbirding.com  )

BREWERS BLACKBIRDS   6/19,   near the village of Red Oak Oscoda county

COMMON LOON(S)   Jones Lake near Lovells, Crawford county

After finishing our "Red Oak" BBS where we did have at least  2 KIRTLANDS WARBLERS in the Huron Nat'l Forest we checked the burn area in SW Oscoda county for BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS reported there a year or so ago. Not much time to spend there, no sighting for us, but did see much current bark stripping evidence of BLACK-BACKS!  (photos of such on NMB also) 

Scattered sightings of BOBOLINKS, GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, UPLAND SANDPIPERS in Antrim, Kalkaska,  and Crawford countys

Several WOOD THRUSH near Schuss Mountain, Antrim county
HERMIT THRUSH in good numbers and spread out everywhere in the NLP countys. Also ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS seemed everywhere!

Several YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS, they seem to be moving north. At the expense of BLACK-BILLS?   Didn't hear or see one of those this season!

OVENBIRDS, AMERICAN REDSTARTS and to a lesser degree COMMON YELLOWTHROATS were the only Warblers seen/heard in good numbers!  Where are the YELLOW WARBLERS? Are they done nesting up there already? Only found a few! 

BLUE HEADED VIREO north of Mancelona, Antrim county

At one BBS stop in  Antrim county a RUBY THROAT HUMMINGBIRD dive bombed and hit the CB antennae on the roof of our car. I have a piece of orange flagging tape at the tip.
Scared the heck out of me!

No EVENING GROSBEAKS seen at the Hartwick Pines Visitor Center feeders. Staff said they were there that day. I did see PURPLE FINCHES there.

No PURPLE MARTINS sighted at all where we were in the NLP!  sad.

Senior discounts at State Forest Campgrounds discontinued!  $20 a night now (most campgrounds)  no matter what age or what you drive!  (Humbug!)

Here at home in St. Clair county a pair of PILEATED WOODPECKERS  has been seen by several just a mile or so from our place!  (I want to get a photo real bad!)

Russ Emmons,. St. Clair and sometimes Kalkaska countys


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