UP Rare Bird Report for August 28, 2008

[theowlranch at aol.com]

UP Rare Bird Report for August 28, 2008

 

 

Greetings. After a long, mostly fallow period for bird sightings, migration in the North Woods has finally begun to coalesce into a tangible force. Waterfowl has mostly been restricted to migrant teal and other dabblers, with only a handful of divers being observed. Shorebird reports have been mostly sparse, with high water levels reducing available habitat. However warblers have been widespread and can be found in mixed species flocks with breeders from further north like Tennessee, Cape May, & Blackpoll being reported. White-winged Crossbills continue to be widespread across the UP with both small flocks and territorial males being observed. Pine Siskins also can be found in decent numbers. 

 

 

Highlights

 

SWALLOW-TAILED KITE*

WESTERN SANDPIPER*

American White Pelican

Whimbrel

Willet

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Red-necked Phalarope

Franklin’s Gull

Parasitic Jaeger

Black-backed Woodpecker

Western Kingbird

Connecticut Warbler

 

 

Ontonagon County

A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE* was photographed by Nancy Warren feeding over a field in south of Ewen on August 18th. The bird was seen on the Matchwood/Tower Road a mile south of M-28. The given directions are unclear whether it is M-28 or Old 28, but the Delorme Atlas suggests that it is Old 28. There has been no further report positive or negative about this bird. If accepted by the MBRC, this will be the first record of this species for the UP.

 

K
eweenaw County

A lingering reported left over from the summer period, a WHIMBREL was observed by Marcia Raley in Eagle Harbor on July 31st. A number of birders have recently past through Isle Royale and most reported sightings of small groups of GRAY JAYS. Notable that far north was a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK in Tobin Harbor on August 23rd. 

 

Houghton County

Scott Hickman reports that decent numbers of shorebirds can be found in the Houghton/Calumet area sewage ponds with highlights including 1 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, 25 BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS & 3 STILT SANDPIPERS.

 

Baraga County

Doug McWhirter reported 5 WESTERN SANDPIPERS* at the Baraga Sewage Ponds on August 16th. They were not seen again on the 17th. Joe Youngman reports that there were only 2 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS at the Baraga Plains burn on the 24th, and it appears the large numbers of Black-backs seem to have dispersed from the area. Joe also reported 7 BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS at Ojibwa Beach on the 25th.

 

Dickinson County

Greg Cleary reported a GRAY JAY near Merriman on August 3rd. 

 

Menominee County

Peter Hitch reported that a flock of 52 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were present on Green Bay on July 31st, north of Hines Park in Menominee. 

 

Marquette County

Matt Schroderus photographed a flock of 4 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES along the lower harbor breakwall in the City of Marquette on August 25th. This is the second county record of this species, with the last being in 1963! The season9
9s first AMERICAN PIPIT was on the lower harbor breakwall on August 27th, and 3 BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS were present on the 28th. 

 

Delta County

A juvenile FRANKLIN’S GULL was observed bathing and feeding off of Peninsula Point on August 28th. Also present were 10+ BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS. Mark Hubinger reported a young CONNECTICUT WARBLER at Peninsula Point on August 4th. 

 

Alger County

Scott Hickman reported a WILLET at Sand Point in Munising on August 23rd. Scott also reported a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER at the mouth of the Au Train River on August 24-25th.

 

Luce County

Doug McWhirter located a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER near Murphy on August 22nd. 

 

Chippewa County

Waterbird Counter Tim Baerwald had a WESTERN KINGBIRD at the tip of Whitefish Point on August 26th. Other recent highlights from WPBO include a juvenile PARASITIC JAEGER on the 28th, as well as several BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS on a near daily basis in the last week, along with BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS. A PIPING PLOVER was present from August 19-23rd. The only notable RED-NECKED GREBE flight so far has been 1508 on August 24th, along with the first WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS of the season. Chris Neri reports that the summer owl banding season has wrapped up with over 100 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS banded. Also notable was a LONG-EARED OWL caught on August 12th. For further updates check out the various blogs run by the counters at www.WPBO.org 

 

 

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All birds marked with an asterisk “*” in the report are review species in the State of Michigan and should be documented with photos or a written description. Please send documentation to Adam Byrne at the Michigan Birds Records Committee at either 11771 Rachel LN, Dewitt, MI, 48820 or by email at Byrnea”AT”msu.edu

For further information about the Records Committee, please visit: http://www.michiganaudubon.org/mbrc/mbrc_home.html

 

 

To report rare birds, please email me at the TheOwlRanch at aol.com or to Birdnet at UPBirders.org if you are a subscriber. For more information on Birdnet, or UP birds, please visit www.UPBirders.org

 

Till next time,

 

~Skye Haas
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