Berrien and Allegan County highlights - 30 December 2008

[Adam Byrne]

Greetings,

Phil Chu and I spent the day working various locations along the 
southern Lake Michigan shoreline.  Quite unexpected were large 
numbers of Red-throated Loons in Berrien County.  At the Lakeside 
overlook on Pier Road, we had 34 Red-throateds.  Down at the Union 
Pier overlook on Townline Road we had another 11 Red-throateds and 
then 6 more off of New Buffalo, bringing us to an amazing 51 for the 
morning.  Most of these birds were seen in flight heading south, but 
there were at least 10 swimming around off the Lakeside overlook.

While at the Union Pier overlook, a male WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was 
heard and seen as it flew over the viewing area.  We looked around 
the residential area for awhile, but were not able to relocate 
it.  Lastly, at New Buffalo there was a flock of 12 Northern Pintail 
and a 2nd cycle Iceland Gull.

At the Allegan State Game Area, Allegan County, we found a 3rd cycle 
Glaucous Gull and an adult Thayer's Gull in a flooded field on the 
east side of 62nd Avenue, between 118th and 116th Avenues.

Good birding,

Adam M. Byrne