Say's Phoebe, Fri., Nov. 23, 2007

[Bruce M. Bowman]

Macklin Smith and I went for the SAY'S PHOEBE in St. Joseph this morning. 
 Prospects of finding the bird looked bleak as snowfall last night had 
covered the beach.  The bird gods were with us this day, though, and 
along with Scott Jennex, Lyle Hamilton, Jeff Pavlik, and Don Brooks we 
found the bird north of Rocky Gap at around 10:30 or 10:45.  It moved 
quickly along the beach to the north.  We followed it but lost it about 
0.75 miles north of the Rocky Gap parking area.  It has been covering the 
beach at Tiscornia Park on the south, Jean Klock Park just north of 
there, and the beach from Rocky Gap up to possibly Hager Park four miles 
farther north.  I believe, it has most commonly been found at Jean Klock 
Park and along the first mile of beach north from Rocky Gap.  Tim 
Baerwald <digiscopingtim at gmail.com>, who found the bird, has been keeping 
tabs on it and would be the most helpful person to contact regarding 
presence and whereabouts of the bird.  See his postings to Mich-Listers.

The Sarett Nature Center, just a few miles back east, had 100s of Pine 
Siskins (we saw around 30), thirty Common Redpolls (we saw one), a Purple 
Finch (male), a couple of Red-breasted Nuthatches (we heard one), and 
American Tree Sparrows plus others.

Bruce