Trip Report, Eastern UP, Jan 19-21, 2007

[Lathe Claflin]

Results of the first WPBO-sponsored field trip to the Soo area:

Snowy Owl – Two immature-types were seen in the Rudyard "flats"; one
on Centerline Rd. about 1.5 mi. N of 'lower' M48 and the other on
Hantz Rd. about 0.75 mi S of the 'upper' M48.

Sharp-tailed Grouse – A flock of 14 birds was seen on Jan 19 at 9 Mile
Rd just E of Nicolet Rd.  A large flock of 50+ birds was seen Jan 20
near the large house on 9 Mile Rd. W of Riverside.

Hoary Redpoll – One individual seen well on West Lakeshore Rd. about
2-3 miles W of the Pendills Fish Hatchery.

Evening Grosbeak – We found a flock of about 20 individuals at the N
end of Ranger Rd. (address, 1478 Ranger Rd.).  Ranger Road runs
between M28 (W of Raco) and Lake Shore Rd.

Pine Grosbeak – Four individuals at the same location as the Hoary
Redpoll and 12+ on Salt Point Rd (enters M28 in the community of
Strongs) near the N end of the big S curve.

Gray Jay – Two birds in the traditional location on Basnau Rd. in the
Hulbert bog.

Red Crossbill – Seen well while perched in a tree off Basnau Rd..

White-winged Crossbill – Seen well while perched in trees off Basnau Rd..

Pine Siskin – A large flock of 60+ was found on East Shore Rd. on
Sugar Island, which cooperatively came to the road while we were
there.  A few birds were seen at the feeders in Dunbar Forest and on
Basnau Rd. in the Hulbert Bog.

Five to six Northern Shrike were found at scattered locations on Sugar
Island and south of the Soo.  Rough-legged Hawks were extremely
numerous, but the best was a very dark phase bird(adult male?) between
12 and 13 Mile Rd. on Riverside (Jan 19) and on 13 Mile Rd. E of
Riverside (Jan 20).  The best feeders were around 3500 to 3600 West
Shore Rd. on Sugar Island (Purple Finch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine
Siskin, etc.).  The only Common Redpolls were found on Whitefish Point
Rd.

Lathe Claflin and Mike Sefton
-- 
Lathe Claflin
eastern Jackson County