Yellow-breasted Chat, Grey-cheeked Thrush, Ionia, MI...

[Scott Manly]

While I was out biking the Ionia River Trail this morning, I added 6 species to my "yard list" (includes all the Ionia River Trail), bringing my list total to 129 since last August.  Not bad.  Highlights today were:
 
Savannah Sparrow
Common Nighthawk
Grey-cheeked Thrush
Willow Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatcher (when I played his song to confirm the ID for myself, he flew right up to within 10 feet of me)
Yellow-breasted Chat
Blue-winged Warbler
 
The Chat was found at the second parking lot along Quarry Road (east end of the Ionia River Trail accessed from Riverside Dr.)  The first parking lot is just beyond the River Trail and in front of a quarry lake.  Continue (on bike or foot) down Quarry Road past the closed gate there about 2 miles until you come to the next gate and parking lot.  I clearly heard one Chat to the east of that parking lot and am 95% sure I heard at least a second one to the west of the parking lot.  The eastern bird afforded me some great looks as he sang from an open branch.  I spent an hour there with him (as the rain started coming in) and managed to record his song a few times too.  Posted my best shot (though I got closer that I hoped, it still wasn't close enough for really great shots).
 
http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/picview.jsp?album=71650
 
Good birding,
Scott Manly
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