UP Rare Bird Report for December 24, 2006

[theowlranch@aol.com]

UP Rare Bird Report for December 24, 2006
                                                                                               
It is the nearing the end of the year, and there are still large areas of the Upper Peninsula without snow cover. Subsequently, finches have been not as concentrated at feeding stations and are a bit unpredictable in their locations right now. There are large flocks of Redpolls scattered throughout the UP, but seem to be restricted to wilder areas rather then in towns or feeders. This is turning out to be a decent year for Hoary Redpolls, and a carefully observed flock of Common Redpolls may reveal a Hoary. Pine Grosbeaks are scarce this year, with only the Keweenaw or the Michigamme Highlands having regular reports of this species. Pine Siskins and Purple Finches are around but only in scattered numbers and seem to be more common in the southern UP. There are still large flocks of American Goldfinches being seen. While they have not been reported in large numbers, both Red & White-winged Crossbills seem to be widespread across the UP as of late. Reports of Evening Grosbeaks have been very few this winter. No substantial movements of winter owls have been noted, but there has been an increase in reports of Snowy Owls in the last 2 weeks across the UP. Perhaps when the snow finally starts to accumulate, there will be more owls drifting into the region. 
 
 
Highlights
 
WESTERN GREBE
AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE
GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH
EURASIAN TREE SPARROW
Spruce Grouse
Thayer’s Gull
Iceland Gull
Snowy Owl
Boreal Owl
Northern Mockingbird
Indigo Bunting
Hoary Redpoll
 
 
Ontonagon County
A EURASIAN TREE SPARROW has returned to the feeders of Kitt Wulf in Topaz. This is where this or possibly a different bird turned up this spring. The bird was first seen on the 23rd, and was seen again today. For more details email Kitt at riverdinghy at yahoo.com. 
 
Keweenaw County
Brad Murphy reported that 2 AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKERS were seen by an adventurous group of birders in the Keystone Bay burn on December 21st. 
 
Houghton County
A SNOWY OWL was reported last week from Rabbit’s Bay.
 
Baraga County
The GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH was most recently reported by Jim Lesser on the 24th in L’Anse. The bird seems to prefer mornings and attempts to see it in the afternoon have not been as successful. 
 
Marquette County
The GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE continues to be seen at the home of Louie Taccolini in the City of Marquette through the 23rd. An INDIGO BUNTING has been coming to a feeder in Marquette since December 14th and was last reported on the 21st. A 1st winter THAYER’S GULL and 4 GLAUCOUS GULLS were in Sands Township on the 19th. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was reported in Trowbridge Park on the 23rd.
 
Delta County
Mike Berg & Joel Flory found a calling BOREAL OWL on the Day’s River Pathway in Kipling on the 17th. The bird was heard again on the 20th. 
 
Alger County
Nancy Cihak had the NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD at her feeders in Au Train most recently as the 18th. 
 
Luce County
Louie Dombroski had a male SPRUCE GROUSE along M-123 in the Tahquamenon Falls area on the 23rd. Also on the 23rd, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on M-123 just north of Newberry.
 
Chippewa County
The highlight from the Whitefish Point CBC on the 23rd was a WESTERN GREBE seen on the bayside of the tip. If accepted by the MBRC, this will be the first record of this species for Whitefish Point. Also seen were 2 HOARY REDPOLLS, GRAY JAY and RED CROSSBILLS. 3 SNOWY OWLS were seen in Rudyard along Centerline Road north of M-48 on the 23rd. The Dafter Dump continues to have excellent gull watching with 2 THAYER’S GULLS, 1 ICELAND GULL, 1 ICELAND/THAYER’S-type GULL, 1 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL and 9 GLAUCOUS GULLS on the 23rd. Also on the 23rd, a NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen in the Dunbar Forest.
 
 
 
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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