Detroit RBA 5/5/2004

[Karl.Overman at usdoj.gov]

American Bittern
Golden Eagle
Swainson's Hawk
Black-necked Stilt
Hudsonian Godwit
Willet
Hawk Owl
Boreal Owl
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Sedge Wren
Varied Thrush
American Pipit
White-eyed Vireo
Worm-eating Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Summer Tanager
LeConte's Sparrow
Orchard Oriole

Wednesday May 5th at 5:15 p.m.

This is the rare bird alert sponsored by the Detroit Audubon Society. Spring migration is running about a week ahead of schedule locally with many species of warblers already having been reported.  For example a Mourning Warbler was at Pelee on May 3rd, a species one is lucky to get by May 10th normally.  Julie Craves reports from Dearborn on May 4th  of Magnolia Warblers and Tennessee Warblers arriving, again slightly earlier than normal.  Spring overshoots of Kentucky Warbler and Worm-eating Warbler are annual in heavily birded Washtenaw County and this year is no exception with Eric Houston reporting Kentucky at Dolph Park and Worm-eating Warbler at the Arboretum on May 4th.  Much more unexpected was Mark and Joannie Hubinger finding a Worm-eating Warbler near the entrance to Tobico Marsh, Bay County on May 1st. 

Adam Byrne and Skye Haas, not unexpectedly given last year's developments, found two Black-necked Stilts at the mouth of the Huron River by Pointe Mouillee on May 2nd.   Last year the reports of that species began with a sighting of a pair at the Huron River mouth before the stilts were found in Pointe Mouillee proper.  Adam and Skye also had nine Willets on May 2nd at Pointe Mouillee. 

Pelee had LeConte's Sparrow on May 3rd.  Why is that species unknown as a spring migrant in southeast Michigan when it is annual at Pelee?

As for breeding birds, Scott Jennex had Kentucky Warbler at Lost Nation State Game Area on May 2nd near the Skuze Road entrance.  Three Sedge Wrens were on territory near the tower at the end of Kitchen Road at Nayanquing Point, Bay County on May 1st which seems early.

Adam Byrne will be relaying reports from Whitefish Point this spring and reports from there such goodies as Boreal Owl on May 2-3; Hawk Owl May 1st; Scissor-tailed Flycatcher April 29th, Swainson's Hawk on various dates including May 3rd.

Those who chased the Wagtail, presumably White Wagtail, in Houghton County, turned up other notable birds as well. A LeConte's Sparrow was seen in Houghton on April 29th by Rick Brigham and a Hudsonian Godwit was seen in Baraga County on the exceptionally early date of April 28th. 
A Golden Eagle was at Copper Harbor on May 4th per Binford.

David Haddock from Royal Oak had a Varied Thrush at his feeder on May 1st but the bird has not returned.  Heather Slayton had a Summer Tanager in Warren on May 4th.  A White-eyed Vireo was at Metrobeach, Macomb County on April 29th. It is welcomed news to have American Bitterns, a declining species, being seen at Crosswinds Marsh, Wayne County.   Per Walt Pawloski, Orchard Orioles have been back at Crosswinds Marsh since May 1st.  Today he had 10 American Pipits on Clark Road south of Ash Road in Wayne County.

On Saturday May 8th there will be a field trip to Metropolitan Beach lead by Joanna Pease.  Meet at the Nature Center at 8 am.

On Saturday, May 15th at 7:30 am there will be a field trip to LeFarge Woods in Washtenaw County lead by Rick Simek.  Directions:    From I-275 and M-14, go west on M-14 about 12 miles to the Ford Road exit.  Head  back east on Ford Road 1 mile to Prospect Road.  Turn right (south) on Prospect and go  2.25 miles to the wetland entrance (2384 N. Prospect).

To report rare birds call Karl Overman at 248.473.0484 Thank you for calling.