UP Rare Bird Report for December 3, 2006

[theowlranch@aol.com]

UP Rare Bird Report for December 3, 2006
 
It is almost time for the various Christmas Bird Counts in the UP to begin. If you have lingering birds, even common ones like American Tree and White-throated Sparrows still at your feeders, please report them as they may be of interest to the CBC compliers in your area. If you are interested in participating in a count near you, a list of UP counts can be found on the front page of www.UPBirders.org. I have finally had a chance to update the photo website at UPBirders, and have put up a few pictures including Three-toed Woodpecker and Summer Tanager.
 
 
Highlights
 
AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER
VERMILION FLYCATCHER
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE
Thayer’s Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Black-backed Woodpecker
Boreal Chickadee
Townsend’s Solitaire
Blackpoll Warbler
Summer Tanager
unidentified Oriole species
Chipping Sparrow
 
 
Keweenaw County
A ORCHARD/HOODED-type ORIOLE has been coming to a feeder on 5 Mile Point near Eagle River from November 13th-December 1st. Tragically, word of the Oriole did not get out in time for birders to go see the bird and possibly identify it to species. Still it is a very intriguing report, and a report of any Oriole species in the UP in late fall is notable. As always, I encourage bird-watchers to report any unusual bird they see as soon as possible to any of the possible contacts found at the end of this report. 
Joe “fearless backwoodsman” Youngman again made the trek this week into the Keystone Bay area of the Keweenaw Point to look for northern woodpeckers. He was able to find 2, possibly 3 AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS along with 6 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS. Sadly, this may be the last time that this site gets visited this year as snow will soon block the 2-track into the site very soon.
 
Marquette County
The VERMILION FLYCATCHER was seen as recently as December 1st! However, despite attempts to find the bird yesterday and today, were not successful. Of course it’s partner in crime, the GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE is also still present and seen most recently on the on the 3rd. 2 THAYER’S GULLS were on the coal dock in Marquette’s lower harbor on the 26th. One 1st winter GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL and a couple of GLAUCOUS GULLS have been present along the City of Marquette waterfront this week as well. Very late was a BLACKPOLL WARBLER in Big Bay at the Vermilion Flycatcher location on November 26th. Another notable late report was a CHIPPING SPARROW along South Lake Street next to the Power Plant in the lower harbor of Marquette on December 3rd. Ryne Rutherford had 10 BOREAL CHICKADEES, 4 GRAY JAYS and 6 RED CROSSBILLS along the Wolf Lake Road on the 27th. Reports of BOREAL CHICKADEES, GRAY JAYS, and RED & WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS continue to come in from the Peshekee Grade. 
 
Alger County
Tony Block reported a female SUMMER TANAGER in Grand Marais on November 25th, and has been seen through December 2nd. The bird is located at Brody & Judy Block’s home which is a mile south of Grand Marais on Mixon Road. The address is E21598, and they are fine with birders coming to observe this bird. Pat McConegh had 2 TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRES and numerous RED CROSSBILLS in the School Forest, east of Grand Marais, north of H-58 on November 26th. Another report of a late CHIPPING SPARROW was received from Jude Holloway of a bird at her feeders on December 3rd. 
 
Schoolcraft County
2 GRAY JAYS were on the Walsh Grade, 2 miles south of M-28 on the 26th. 
 
Chippewa County
Kirk Zulfelt reported an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 4 GLAUCOUS GULLS, 1 THAYER’S GULL & 1 ICELAND GULL at the Dafter Dump on November 30th. 
 
Mackinaw County
Kevin Walsh reported a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER along US-2 in between M-117 and Gould City on the 26th.  Also on the 26th, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was present at Pt. LaBarbe.
 
 
To report rare birds please email me at TheOwlRanch(at)aol.com or to Birdnet at UPBirders.org if you are a subscriber. If you are not on the net, call the Marquette Hotline at (906) 225-3886. For more information on Birdnet, or UP birds, please visit www.UPBirders.org
 
Till next time,
 
~Skye Haas
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