UP Rare Bird Report for April 23, 2007

[theowlranch@aol.com]

UP Rare Bird Report for April 23, 2007
 
 
Migration has quickly picked up pace, and some of the common migrants to the UP this week include Broad-winged Hawk, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Tree Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Pine Warbler, Black & White Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Brewer’s Blackbird, and Rusty Blackbird. Finch numbers have declined considerably, but there are still both crossbill species around in low numbers. Sharp-tailed Grouse are active on their leks, and Spruce Grouse are also in active courtship.
 
 
Highlights
 
Spruce Grouse
Red-throated Loon
American White Pelican
Golden Eagle
Swainson’s Hawk
Great Gray Owl
Black-backed Woodpecker
Varied Thrush
Bohemian Waxwing
Le Conte’s Sparrow
 
 
Keweenaw County
A WESTERN MEADOWLARK and LE CONTE’S SPARROW were seen at Westcott Fields in Copper Harbor on April 21st. Also on the 21st, 4 GOLDEN EAGLES, 4 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were observed from on top of Mount Brockway. 
 
Baraga County
Mike Shoop had a GREAT GRAY OWL near the Arnheim Unit on April 17th. Joe Youngman reports that there were 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS still present at Arnheim on the 19th. 
 
Marquette County
A VARIED THRUSH has been coming to the feeders of Chris & Jaime Spagnuolo in Skandia since April 4th, and was present up to April 19th. David Pavlik had a SHORT-EARED OWL and a FIELD SPARROW (locally rare) at the Big Bay Lighthouse on April 22nd. The Field Sparrow was at the feeders at the Lighthouse. A LONG-EARED OWL was both observed and heard at Harlow Lake, north of the City of Marquette on the 22nd. 
 
Delta County
Mike Berg had good numbers of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS in the last week with 6 remaining into this week moving around the Little Bay De Noc in Gladstone. 
 
Alger County
Scott Hickman had a RUDDY DUCK at the Chatham Sewage Ponds on April 23rd. 
 
Chippewa County
Calvin Brennan had a rufous-morph SWAINSON’S HAWK and 2 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS on April 22nd. Also seen on the hawk-watch this week have been both RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and NORTHERN GOSHAWK. Other notable sightings include was a RUDDY TURNSTONE on the 22nd, a very early date for this species. GOLDEN EAGLES have been seen sporadically in the last week, and the first RED-THROATED LOON was also reported this week on the waterbird count.
David Bell & Ken McIlrick had 4 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS at the mouth of the Tahquamenon River on April 22nd. Charlene Brennan-Borcher’s reported a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER on Vermilion Road just pass the turn-off for the Shelldrake Flooding. SPRUCE GROUSE have been a common sight in the last week along Vermilion Road. Brian Johnson reported 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS at Munuscong Bay and a blue-phased SNOW GOOSE in Raco on April 19th. Brian also reports there have been SPRUCE GROUSE in near the Raco Airfield and northeast of the Village of Raco.
 
 
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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