UP Rare Bird Report for March 12, 2009

[theowlranch at aol.com]

UP Rare Bird Report for March 12, 2009

 

  


  It may not feel like it, but spring is knocking at the door. A few early migrants have been noted already in the Upper Peninsula including Bald Eagle, Sandhill Crane and Ring-billed Gull. Also hard to believe is the fact that the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory will began it's spring hawk-watch this Sunday on the 15th. The hawk count in Duluth, MN has already started with over 100 Bald Eagles recorded passing northward. Still much of the UP remains covered in snow and ice and I suspect it will still be a few more weeks before we see a substantial movement of migrants including waterfowl to the UP. I want to thank all who have sent photos recently, we are dealing with a space issue on the website that I just haven't had time to deal with. I have a few ideas and will be getting the photos sent to me up hopefully sooner then later. Please bear with me as my volunteer time is somewhat maxed out at this time.

  


  Highlights

  

  AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER*

  Snowy Owl

  Great Gray Owl

  Northern Hawk Owl

  Sapucker species

  Black-backed Woodpecker

  Boreal Chickadee

  Gray Catbird

  Bohemian Waxwing

  Orange-crowned Warbler

  Hoary Redpoll

  


  Houghton County

  Joe "Picoides" Youngman has found another woodpecker colony at a bark beetle outbreak in the Arnhem Unit of the Sturgeon River Sloughs. On February 23rd, on a 5 mile hike, he r
ecorded 1 male AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER*, as well as 16 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS. Joe has been back to the locale since then, but has only recorded BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER and has not seen the THREE-TOED WOODPECKER since.

  

  Marquette County

  HOARY REDPOLLS continue to be seen at the MooseWood Nature Center feeders, most recently on March 12th. Notable gulls in Marquette include GREAT BLACK-BACKED, and GLAUCOUS on the 10th, and the return of RING-BILLED GULLS on the 7th. Bruce Ventura had a GRAY CATBIRD at a feeder in the Shiras Hills neighborhood of the City of Marquette on February 20th. Greg Cleary had a GRAY JAY along M-95 south of Republic on March 2nd. Vicki Bennon reported 2 GRAY JAYS at her feeders in Diorite on March 1st. Lou & Pri Chappell report that the ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER remains present at their feeders in Marquette as of the 11th. 

  

  Alger County

  Scott Hickman reported a juvenile plumage SAPSUCKER species, presumably YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER on February 24th. Scott also reported 2 TRUMPETER SWANS along M-28 in Christmas. Stan Bolsenga reported 2 early SANDHILL CRANES at Lost Lake near Munising on the 4th. 

  

  Luce County

  Joe Youngman and Zach Gayk snow-shoed into the Sleeper Lake Burn on March 1-2, and came up with 11 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS on March 2nd. Only 1 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was observed on the 1st. Dixie Stewart reported 9 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE west of Soo Junction on March 1st. 

  

  Chippewa County

  Many
 of the northern owls that have been present this winter continue to hold territory into the month of March. All sightings have been by multiple observers unless otherwise noted. The NORTHERN HAWK OWL at the corner of M-48 and McCabe Roads continues to be seen as of March 9th. Of course I still have been receiving reports that the bird continues to be fed (or in some cases fooled by fur on lines) by birders and photographers wanting to be just a little bit closer. Please, though I'm sure my request fall onto some deaf ears, do not cause owls unnecessary stress. Causing them to flush for the purpose of a photograph is a cruel waste of their energy reserves, and luring them to land along roadsides just increases the possibility of car strike. This has occurred before in both Minnesota and Ontario, lets not have it happen here! The other Northern Hawk Owls have not been reported since late January. Up to 2 GREAT GRAY OWLS have been reported around the vicinity of 7 1/12 Mile Road and Lower Hay Lake Roads with the most recent sighting coming from March 1st. Another GREAT GRAY OWL has been present along 3 Mile Road just south of the City of Sault Ste. Marie. The Rudyard "loop" continues to be an easy spot to observe SNOWY OWLS with up to 7-8 through February and 2 birds being seen as recently as the 9th. Betty Maxton reported a SNOWY OWL along M-28 by Forrest Road on March 4th. Up to 3 HOARY REDPOLLS continue to be seen at the feeding station in the Dunbar Forest as of the 7t
h. Other birds of interest in the greater Soo area include SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, NORTHERN SHRIKE, PINE GROSBEAK and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS. Jeff Buecking and Ben Warner reported a BOREAL CHICKADEE at Hulbert Bog on February 22nd.  

  

  

  
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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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