UP Rare Bird Report for July 21, 2008

Tue Jul 22 00:54:23 EDT 2008

UP Rare Bird Report for July 21, 2008

While the breeding cycles of many birds are winding down for the year, birders still have had several great sightings to keep occupied with in the month of July. Also pleasing to report is another year of record high count for Kirtland’s Warbler with 34 singing males recorded during the official survey period in mid-June. Piping Plover numbers unfortunately are lower then last year with several nests on Lake Michigan being flooded out. Another effect of the rainy summer has been many of the UP’s traditional shorebird spots are underwater and even though there have been scattered reports of shorebird migrants moving through the region, the high counts of the last two years probably won’t be happening this summer. Crossbills continue to stage a major irruption into the northern Great Lakes with White-winged Crossbills leading the vanguard. Pine Siskins have also been being reported in good numbers for the first time in many months. After resolving some technical issues, I have updated the 2008 photo gallery at www.UPBirders.org with pictures of Heermann’s Gull, Green Violet-Ear and others. 

Highlights

HEERMANN’S GULL*

GREEN VIOLET-EAR*

White-winged Scoter

American White Pelican

Least Bittern

Black-backed Woodpecker

Philadelphia Vireo

Boreal Chickadee

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER

CERULEAN WARBLER

Dickcissel

HENSLOW’S SPARROW

Western Meadowlark

Ontonagon County

Ryne Rutherford found a20singing PHILDELPHIA VIREO south of Porcupine Mountains State Park.

Keweenaw County

John Henegahn reported 2 female BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS near Tobin Harbor on Isle Royale in the last week of June. Zach Gayk found a small colony of WILSON’S WARBLERS near Point Isabelle. Other sightings from Point Isabelle include an active BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER nest, 2 BOREAL CHICKADEES, and 7 CAPE MAY WARBLERS. Zach also notes there are 200-300 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS over the Keweenaw between Point Isabelle & Copper Harbor.

Houghton County

Joe Youngman found and photographed a juvenile/1st cycle HEERMANN’S GULL* along the Chassel waterfront park on July 18th. All efforts to refind the bird have been unsuccessful. This is the 1st UP record of this species and just one of a handful for the Great Lakes. Joe Kaplan found a male WHITE-WINGED SCOTER at the South Portage Entry near Jacobsville on July 18th. 

Baraga County 

Joe Youngman reports that the 21 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER nests he has been observing this summer have all fledged or failed. Undoubtedly this area will remain good for sightings of this species for several months to come.

Iron County

Beth Rogers reports that the WESTERN MEADOWLARK is still present on East Brule Lake Road near Iron River. Beth also reported a BOREAL CHICKADEE near the Brule River on July 20th. Greg Cleary reported GRAY JAYS at Tamarack Lake and near Wolf Lake including a fledgling from July 19-20th, as well as GRAY JAYS from the Fence20River area on July 17th. Greg also had a BOREAL CHICKADEE at Lake Mitigwaki on July 19th. 

Dickinson County

Carol Kier-Marsden has been observing a DICKCISSEL on New York Lake Rd. in Vulcan from July 7th-19th. 

Marquette County

A male YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was discovered singing along the Dead River just north of the Tourist Park in the City of Marquette on July 19th-21st. The CERULEAN WARBLER was last reported at the home of Beth Olson as of July 4th. A pair of MUTE SWANS were found at the Boney Falls basin on June 27th. This is the first county record for this species in over a decade. Also on the 27th, were 7 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS & 3 LECONTE’S SPARROWS in the farm country along the Escanaba River. Judy & Ed Bowman had a flock of 15 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS on the rocks off the Harvey shoreline in Marquette Bay. A BLACK-BACKED WOODEPCKER nest was found in the Peshekee Grade on June 29th.

Menominee County

At least 1 HENSLOW’S SPARROW was still calling on territory near Stephenson as of July 7th.  Also on the 7th, 3 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were along the Menominee waterfront.

Alger County

A GREEN VIOLET-EAR* was documented coming to feeders at the home of John Hust from July 2nd-6th. Providing an amazing 2nd UP record, this tropical hummingbird was well observed by many lucky birders. Scott Hickman reported the seasons first BAIRD’S SANDPIPER on July 20th. 

Luce County

Jack Reinoehl reports that the LEAS
T BITTERN was still calling on territory at the Dollarville Flooding as of the July 3rd. Joyce Peterson and Don & Robyn Heinse reported 3 BOREAL CHICKADEES along Skyline Road on July 18th. Also were 7 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS including young birds on July 19th. Mark Hubinger reported 3 TENNESEE WARBLER and a female SPRUCE GROUSE south of the mouth of the Two-hearted River on June 24th. 

Chippewa County

Chris Neri & Nova McKentley have begun the WPBO summer owl banding program with over 50 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS capture so far. Most have been adults, but the first juvenile was banded on July 17th. Don & Robyn Heinse reported 3 BOREAL CHICKADEES at Hulbert Bog on July 21st. Louie Dombroski had a pair of YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS near Lake McMnearney on July 21st. 

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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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