Henslow's Sparrows - Wayne and Washtenaw Cos. (long)

[Allen Chartier]

Birders,

Yesterday morning (June 6), Neil Gilbert and I set out for birding sites in 
western Washtenaw County. First, we stopped at Willow Run Airport (Wayne 
Co.) where we found three singing HENSLOW'S SPARROWS. The birds were at the 
east end of the airport. On the map in A Birder's Guide to Michigan (page 
84), this is south of Tyler Road, on the east side of the north-south road 
around the airport. There were also Bobolinks in this field, and at least 8 
Grasshopper Sparrows at various other places around the airport. A single 
Western Meadowlark was singing a great distance away, in the middle of the 
runways, as is often the case here. (Western Meadowlarks arrived here on 
April 19.) We did not find any Upland Sandpipers despite looking hard for 
them. When birding this area, please be aware that security patrols have 
asked some (but not all) birders to move along, and that stopping is not 
allowed, even though this is a public road. If you park well off on the 
shoulder, and do not walk near the fencing, you may not be bothered.

Next we went to Embury Road in the Pinckney SRA in northwestern Washtenaw 
County, where we easily found the previously reported Prairie Warbler 
singing in the tall pines at the first pullout on the left (perhaps 100 
yards north of North Territorial Road). We also had about 5 Hooded Warblers, 
a Cerulean Warbler, 3 Acadian Flycatchers and a single Alder Flycatcher 
along here.

Next stop was Stinchfield Woods a few miles to the east, where the 
previously reported Yellow-throated Warbler took a few minutes to locate, 
but was easily found singing high from the tops of pines within 200 yards of 
the parking area on Stinchfield Woods Road. We also had a very cooperative 
Blue-headed Vireo and Red-breasted Nuthatch in this area, and heard single 
Pine and Hooded Warblers, and a single Brown Creeper. Although our visit was 
brief (and it was still only about 50-degrees), I was surprised to leave 
this area without hearing a single Black-throated Green Warbler.

We then moved on to southwestern Washtenaw County, where we checked the 
south end of Meyers Road between Bethel Church and Sharon Valley Roads 
(northwest of Manchester), where Blue Grosbeak(s) had been reported about a 
week ago. Although we did not succeed in finding a Blue Grosbeak, we did 
hear a piece of song that sounded suspicious, but we could not track it 
down. There are House Finches singing in this area, which can sound somewhat 
similar to Blue Grosbeak when distant, but what we heard was different, but 
sadly only given briefly twice. The homeowner near the large utility towers 
that run through here was interested to know what everyone had been looking 
for, and when we told her (and showed her illustrations and played her the 
song) she said she'd keep an eye out for it, and would report it to BIRDERS 
if she sees it (she seemed to know about this chat group). It seems possible 
that the bird(s) may still be in the area. Die-hard searchers might also try 
along the north side of Sharon Valley Road 200-300 yards east of Meyers. We 
did find at least three Northern Mockingbirds, two Grasshopper Sparrows, and 
one Vesper Sparrow along Meyers Road. There were also lots of Eastern 
Bluebirds in this area.

Next was the Nan Weston Preserve, where one of my objectives was to improve 
on my photos of Puttyroot (Aplectrum hyemale) orchid, but apparently it was 
too late in the season again, and I'll have to wait until it blooms again 
next year. There were not a lot of birds singing here, but the cool 
temperatures made this perhaps the most mosquito-free visit I've ever made 
to this preserve! We did finally find our singing Black-throated Green 
Warbler for the day here, as well as a singing Louisiana Waterthrush. 
Several Acadian Flycatchers were very cooperative, and a single singing 
Alder Flycatcher was along the power lines. It was a good location for 
dragonflies (in sunny areas), as we found 7 species including an incredibly 
cooperative Swift River Cruiser. Also seen were Ebony Jewelwing, Widow 
Skimmer, Common Whitetail, Calico Pennant, Blue Dasher, and Black 
Saddlebags.

To the west, at the "white barn" in the Sharon Valley SGA (north side of 
Sharon Valley Road, just west of Lamb Road) we stopped very briefly and 
heard two HENSLOW'S SPARROWS singing from the far back side of the field 
down the hill to the left (we stayed on the trail). Somewhat far off to the 
right we heard a single Dickcissel singing. Surprisingly, no Grasshopper 
Sparrows were heard here during our brief stop.

Going west to the county line, and heading north along Prospect Hill Road to 
just where it bends east into Kendall Road, we found two Dickcissels (one 
female), one Grasshopper Sparrow, and one Vesper Sparrow, all flirting back 
and forth across the Jackson/Washtenaw county line.

Our final stop was along Jerusalem Road in the vicinity of the Urquhart Tree 
Farm just east of Lima Center Road. We did not enter the property, and did 
not hear the previously reported Clay-colored Sparrows, though we did see 
two Northern Bobwhites along the road.

The day provided Neil with 4 new state birds,and me with 2 new county birds 
and several new year birds for both of us. Not a bad day!

Some of you may know that Neil is moving to California at the end of next 
week. In addition to being one of the most accomplished young birders in 
southeastern Michigan, and presenting programs to several local Audubon 
chapters, Neil has been a very regular volunteer at my bird banding station 
at Metro Beach Metropark over the past year and a half, and has learned 
quite a lot about the process. He has become extremely helpful, perhaps 
irreplaceable. I wish him the best of luck in his new birding adventures. He 
will be sorely missed.

Allen Chartier
amazilia1 at comcast.net
1442 West River Park Drive
Inkster, MI  48141
Website: http://www.amazilia.net
Michigan HummerNet: http://www.amazilia.net/MIHummerNet
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Every day, the hummingbird eats its own weight in food.
You may wonder how it weighs the food. It doesn't.
It just eats another hummingbird.
---Steven Wright