Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Berrien Co., 28 May 2009

[matthysell at comcast.net]

The bird was still present later in the afternoon May 28.  The pin on Caleb's map looks accurate to my eyes, though if you're canoing in it's hard to judge where you are.  In the past we have entered from along one of the bends east of the pin on the map where some beaver chewed smallish trees are sometimes visible, but about a hundred feet or so of the grassy area where the sparrow was should be visible from the river once you're in the relatively straight section where the river heads SW.  I don't know if there's anything to tie a canoe up to there though.  There's sedge wrens singing in this area (and watch out for woodcock nests underfoot also). 



I have photos of both the sparrow as well as the white-faced ibis Tim found later up on my blog www.berrienbirder.blogspot.com 



Matt Hysell 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Caleb Putnam" <larus10 at hotmail.com> 
To: "mich-listers" <mich-listers at envirolink.org> 
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 12:45:08 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Berrien Co., 28 May 2009 

Birders- 


Tim Baerwald has done it again- he just called from New Buffalo marsh (accessible only by boat) with a single Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. (May 28, 12:30PM). Photos were obtained. 


For those intrepid enough to chase a bird by kayak or canoe (your only 2 options), here are the directions: take I-94 to exit 4 (Hwy 12, Pulaski Hwy) and go west on 12 to Red Arrow Hwy. Turn right (north) onto Red Arrow Hwy and go just under 1 mile to a bridge over the Galien River. Park here at the boat ramp and put your boat in just upstream of the bridge. Paddle downstream just under 1 mile to a point where the channel straightens and the marsh is on your left. There is a side channel heading southeast into the marsh at this point. The bird was seen in an all-grassy (i.e. no cattail) portion of the marsh just upstream of this side channel. Bring boots as it is a very wet area. 


A map of the approximate area of the sighting is provided at my blog, based on Tim's verbal description: 


http://aviantendencies.blogspot.com/ 


Good Birding, 
Caleb Putnam 

Caleb G Putnam 
Sparta, MI 
larus10 at hotmail.com 



Hotmail® has a new way to see what's up with your friends. Check it out. 
_______________________________________________ Mich-listers mailing list Mich-listers at envirolink.org You can unsubscribe or change your options at: http://lists.envirolink.org/mailman/listinfo/mich-listers delivered to: matthysell at comcast.net
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/mich-listers/attachments/20090529/9be70b34/attachment.html