Red Knot, Alger County, 8/26/07

[scott hickman]

A Red Knot in juvenile plumage was among the many shorebirds (for Alger 
County) along the south end of the Cleveland Cliffs Basin.  Also present 
were 3 Solitary Sandpipers, 1 possible Greater Yellowlegs, well over 100 
Lesser Yellowlegs, 20 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 5 Least Sandpipers, 15 
Pectoral Sandpipers, and 4 Stilt Sandpipers.

This site can be reached by driving about 7 miles east on M94 from Chatham 
toward Munising.  Turn south on H05 (Rapid River Truck Trail) and drive 
south for about 6 miles to Cook Lake Rd.  Turn east on  Cook Lake Road and 
park.  Hike back west across H05 and follow the two track for a couple of 
hundred yards.  Here it will merge with a trail from the south and curve to 
the north.  Continue north on the merged trails for a short distance, and 
around the gate.  Continue on the road down a steep hill.  At the bottom of 
the hill turn left and hike out onto the dike.  The bird was in the adjacent 
mudflats about 200 yards down the dike.  Shorebirds here have been very hit 
or miss.  Some days they are in close and easily observed.  On others, they 
are way out in the basin and inaccessible or totally absent. I apologize for 
the day delay in posting, and hope the nonbirder adjacent to listers, mich 
in my contacts list enjoyed reading about the knot yesterday.  Scott Hickman

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