UP Rare Bird Report for February 5, 2009

[theowlranch at aol.com]

UP Rare Bird Report for February 5, 2009



Encouraging are the growing reports of Evening Grosbeaks across the the Upper Peninsula. After what seems to be several years of low winter numbers and a scarce distribution, there have been several reports in both the eastern and west portions of the peninsula. Notable concentrations have been reported from western Marquette County in recent weeks. Also intriguing is a report of flocks of Red Crossbills from the Porcupine Mountains in the far west. Of course, the real show of late has been the numbers of Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls, which have descended into feeders en mass. Hoary Redpolls seem to be making the rounds as well, though caution is called for when identifying redpolls due to overlap in field marks between the two species. Purple Finches seem to be in better the average numbers along the Superior watershed. Pine Grosbeaks remain scattered and in low numbers. Of course, no finch commentary would be complete without mentioning the strong flight of White-winged Crossbills across the Great Lakes (and beyond!). Numbers remain high, and could grow to truly impressive numbers by spring. And for those who just laugh at the word spring, remember that there are only 6 more weeks until Whitefish Point Bird Observatory began's their hawk watch season. North-bound birds will be coming before too long...


Highlights

AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER*
Red-shouldered Hawk
Snowy Owl
Northern Hawk Owl
Black-backed Woodpecker
Boreal Chickadee
Varied Thrush
Bohemian Waxwing
Oran
ge-crowned Warbler
Pine Warbler
Hoary Redpoll


Keweenaw County
A VARIED THRUSH was found at a private residence in Phoenix on January 22nd. The bird was present was present for a week, but has not been seen since. Max Henschell reported 33 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, 2 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and a COMMON GRACKLE in Copper Harbor on the 28th. Max reported that the COMMON GRACKLE was still present as of February 5th. This is the latest record of a Grackle on the Keweenaw. 

Houghton County
Joe Youngman reported a HOARY REDPOLL at his home near Chassel on February 5th. 

Baraga County
The AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER* east of M-28 and just south of the Houghton County line was last reported on January 25th. Efforts to relocate this bird have not been successful. A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was also reported on the 25th from the same location. Nancy Auer and Owen Mills had a HOARY REDPOLL at this location on the 31st. 

Marquette County
At least 4-5 different HOARY REDPOLLS are coming to the feeders at the MooseWood Nature Center at Presque Isle Park in the City of Marquette in the last week. Also on Marquette, Bruce Ventura reported a HOARY REDPOLL from his home on the 5th.  Danny McConnell found a female BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER at the parking lot of Wetmore's Landing on the 28th. Making for a rare winter record, a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER is coming to feeders pf Fran Waters in the City of Marquette since 24th. Scot Stewart had a SNOWY OWL on the Picnic Rocks in the City of Marquette on the 26th.=2
0Zach Gayk, David Pavlik and Jerry Kolak reported 14 BOREAL CHICKADEES along with large numbers of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS on the Peshekee Grade on the 31st. Zach also reported 64 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in the Village of Michigamme. Small flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS have been regularly found foraging in mountain ash in the City of Marquette in the last couple of weeks. A BOREAL CHICKADEE was east of Diorite on the 26th. Vicki Bennon reports that 4 GRAY JAYS have continued to come into her feeders in Diorite. 1-2 HOARY REDPOLLS has also been intermittently seen at Vicki's feeders. The ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER continues to come to the feeders of Lou & Pri Chappell in the City of Marquette.

Alger County
The PINE WARBLER continues to come to the feeders of Angie Sabados in Au Train. 

Schoolcraft County
Jim & Jody Patton found a BOREAL CHICKADEE along the Fox River Road north of Seney on January 30th. 

Luce County
Making for a rare winter record in the UP, Dixie Stewart has been having a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK coming into her suet feeder in Newberry.

Chippewa County
At least 2 NORTHERN HAWK OWLS remain on territory in the Pickford area; 1 bird is at the corner of M-48 and McCabe Road, and the other is east of Pickford along M-48 a mile east of M-48. Several SNOWY OWLS remain visable on the Rudyard "loop", ie, Centerline, and Hantz roads, along with M-48. Up to 6 birds were reported by Gerald Vork and Steve Baker on February 4th. Gerald also reported a HOARY REDPOLL at the Dunbar Forest feeding s
tation on the 4th. Other species reported recently in the "Sault" birding area include SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, GLAUCOUS GULL, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN SHRIKE, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, PINE & EVENING GROSBEAKS, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS and COMMON REPOLLS. Larry Abraham reported a flock of 35 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS along M-123, 5 miles north of Eckerman on February 1st. 




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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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