Michigan RBA--31 March 2005

[Jonathan Wuepper]

--RBA

*Michigan
*Statewide
*March 31st, 2005
*MIST033105
-Transcript

hotline: Michigan
number: 269/471-4919
to report: 269-556-9510 or wuepperj at hotmail.com
compiled: 31 Mar 2005
compiler: Jon Wuepper

REVIEW SPECIES MENTIONED:

ROSS’S GOOSE* [CASUAL], or ROSS’S x SNOW GOOSE hybrid (Washtenaw County)

ROSS’S GOOSE* [CASUAL] (Tuscola County)

CACKLING GOOSE* [NOT ON MICH BIRD LIST] (Tuscola County)

*= Michigan Review Species. Please document all records and send to: Adam 
Byrne, 11771 Rachel LN, DeWitt, MI 48820.

Additional species mentioned:

Greater White Fronted Goose (Tuscola County)
Golden Eagle (Marquette, Mason, Berrien cos)
Little Gull (Allegan County)
Thayer’s Gull (Huron, Marquette cos)
Iceland Gull (Schoolcraft County)
Glaucous Gull (Huron, Berrien Cos)
Great Black-backed Gull (Marquette, Chippewa cos)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Berrien County)
Great Gray Owl (Delta, Emmet cos + one owl in which co unknown)
Short-eared Owl (Hillsdale County)
Snowy Owl (Chippewa, Muskegon co)
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Muskegon County)
Black-backed Woodpecker (Chippewa County)
Bohemian Waxwing (Marquette, Chippewa cos)
Varied Thrush (Alger County)
Western Meadowlark (Berrien County)
Common Redpoll (Berrien County)
Hoary Redpoll (Chippewa County)

This is the Michigan Statewide Bird Report for Thursday, March 31st, 2005. 
It is being sponsored by Sarett Nature Center, located 1 mile north of 
Twelve Corners, Michigan (1 mile north of Red Arrow Highway, on Benton 
Center Road).

In TUSCOLA COUNTY on March 30th, Jim Dawe reported a ROSS’S GOOSE*, located 
at the Fish Point State Recreation Area, at the northwest corner of the 
intersection of Gothum Road and Ringle Road. On March 27th, Jim Dawe 
observed 3 CACKLING GEESE*, at that same intersection, though at northeast 
corner. On March 30th, Jim found 8 GREATER WHITE FRONTED GEESE at the 
northeast corner of Gothum and Ringle Roads.

In HURON COUNTY, at Harbor Beach, Jim Dawe found 1 GLAUCOUS GULL on March 
28th; and 1 THAYER’S GULL on March 30th.

In EMMET COUNTY on March 29th, Steve Baker found a GREAT GRAY OWL, just west 
of Mackinaw City, off Central Avenue, near where the power lines and gas 
pies cross the road (south side).

COUNTY?? unknown, [please email me with correct county, JW]: Steve Baker 
reports a dead GREAT GRAY OWL, along I-75, near the Thunder Falls Water 
Park. Presumably, this was found on March 29th.

In WASHTENAW COUNTY, a possible ROSS’S-type hybrid GOOSE* has been present 
for several days at Schneider Road Pond. This is located at the northwest 
corner of Schneider Road and Pleasant Lake Road. The most recent report was 
on March 29th.

In HILLSDALE COUNTY, March 29th, Tex Wells found 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS at dusk, 
at the Tripp Road—Burt Road intersection.

In ALLEGAN COUNTY, March 26th, Rick Brigham and Doug McWhirter saw 1 
immature LITTLE GULL, off the end of Newport Road, on the Kalamazoo River. 
Rick reported seeing the distinctive black "M" pattern on the upper wing 
with a dark band across the secondaries as well as having a slightly shaded 
crown. See page 389 in “Birder’s Guide To Michigan” for directions.

In DELTA COUNTY, a late, but noteworthy report, from March 22nd: Brian 
Johnson and Lena Usyk photographed a GREAT GRAY OWL, foraging over 7-10 
inches of snow, in the Garden Peninsula. The precise location was along KK 
Road (6 miles southwest of the village of Garden), 0.1 mile south of M-183. 
Brian noted the Peninsula can be a good spot for the owls during invasion 
years. Apparently, another GREAT GRAY OWL has been seen a few miles south of 
this location.

In MARQUETTE COUNTY, March 26th: 1, 1st-winter THAYER’S GULL was seen at 
mouth of Dead River, Marquette, as were 2 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS (Tom 
Tucholski). BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS continue to be reported by Skye Hass at 
Marquette, as recently as March 29th. On March 25th, Skye Haas found a 
GOLDEN EAGLE—a flyover—at Dead River mouth, Marquette.

In SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY on March 27th, Skye Hass found 1 ICELAND GULL, on the 
Manistique breakwall, just south of US-2. To get to the harbor breakwall, go 
south from US-2 on the unmarked road just west of the Hardee's, in 
Manistique.

In CHIPPEWA COUNTY, at Whitefish Point Harbor, March 27th, 1 adult GREAT 
BLACK-BACKED GULL was observed (Tom Tucholski). 1 female BLACK-BACKED 
WOODPECKER was seen on March 26th, 8.4 miles west of Paradise on M-123. The 
bird was very active on several 30'-40' Jack Pines, approximately 180' south 
of the road (Tom Tucholski). 10 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen at Whitefish 
Point on March 27th. Kevin Thomas reported at HOARY REDPOLL, March 24th, at 
the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory feeders. On March 30th, Joe Nault 
reported a SNOWY OWL, off Hantz Road, near “the hay barn”.

In ALGER COUNTY, the previously reported VARIED THRUSH was seen through 
March 25th.

In MASON COUNTY, Bill Kamman saw an immature GOLDEN EAGLE, while fishing on 
the Pere Marquette River, 1 mile upstream of the Walhalla bridge, near the 
town of Walhalla. The exact date was not given. Reportedly seen “this past 
weekend”, (March 25th/26th/27th).

In MUSKEGON COUNTY on March 28th, Mike Moran found a SNOWY OWL, on the 
corner of Swanson Road and Laketon Road at Muskegon Wastewater Facility. 
Mike noted the owl was sitting on a spray rig, across the road of the model 
airplane club at 7:30 pm. On March 29th, 1 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was 
reportedly seen in the county.

In BERRIEN COUNTY, on March 30th, Tim Baerwald reported that a a 1st-year 
GOLDEN EAGLE flew over his yard. On March 29th, Tim Baerwald found a 
GLAUCOUS GULL at Pipestone Lake. A WESTERN MEADOWLARK continued to be heard 
just north of the intersection of Mill Road and Kruger Road, as of March 
27th. On March 24th, Phil Chu and I located an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED 
GULL at the Forest Lawn Landfill. 1 COMMON REDPOLL lingered until March 
26th, at the feeders of Sarett Nature Center.

**BIRD PHOTOS WANTED**--Michigan Birds and Natural History (MBNH) is seeking 
bird photographs for publication in the Michigan Bird Survey seasonal 
reports. Digital photos (jpeg format), photographs or transparencies can be 
submitted to the MBNH editor Jim Granlund at granlund at chartermi.net or 6253 
N. Westnedge, Kalamazoo MI, 49009 or to the seasonal survey compiler for the 
appropriate season. Photos of common birds as well as rarities are 
encouraged. Please include the name of photographer, species depicted in the 
image, date location and a brief statement giving MBNH permission to 
reproduce the image. All photographs used will have appropriate 
acknowledgement. Birds photographed within Michigan only, please.

The next scheduled update of this report will be on Thursday, April 7th, 
2005. To report your sightings, please leave a message at the sound of the 
tone or call Jon Wuepper at 269-556-9510. Thanks for calling and good 
birding.


MICHIGAN BIRDS & NATURAL HISTORY, Volume 12, Number 1
(A publication of the Michigan Audubon Society, Jim Granlund, editor)
**Volume 12, Number 1-- should be in subscribers hands!!

Papers, short-notes, photographs submitted by the Michigan birding community 
are encouraged! Contact Jim Granlund, editor, granlund at chartermi.net

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $25/1 year (5 issues); $5 single issue. (Subscription covers 
current calendar year.)
Contact <http://www.michiganaudubon.org/mbnh/mbnh_home.html>

Michigan Audubon Society, 6011 West St. Joseph Hwy, Suite 403. P.O. Box 
80527. Lansing, MI. 48908-0527
(Tel: 517-886-9144)

Also of interest

Michigan Bird Records Committee website: 
http://www.umd.umich.edu/dept/rouge_river/MBRChome.html

“North American Birds”, a quarterly journal, published by the American 
Birding Association: http://americanbirding.org/publications/nabgen.htm