[Mich-listers] Gannet & Lark Sparrow continue, Dec.1, Whitefish Pt, Chippewa Co.

[Louie Dombroski]

The adult NORTHERN GANNET, seen sporadically since Oct. 6, flew over the tip of Whitefish Point, Chippewa County, at 3:40 this afternoon , Dec. 1.
 
I observed this from the Whitefish Point Harbor of Refuge, where I was making one last check before leaving! I don't know which direction it came from because it was "just there" when I looked over that way. The Gannet was just southeast of the tip heading southeast, but soon turned around and seemed to fly directly over the tip, putting up the 20 or so Herring Gulls sitting there, then appeared to head northwest around the tip.
 
The LARK SPARROW, sporting the white-cornered beginnings of a new tail, continues in the yard behind the Owl's Roost gift shop at Whitefish Point. Accompanying it was the continuing unseasonably late CHIPPING SPARROW. Also in this area was 1 Common Grackle and 1 Purple Finch.
 
During two hours of afternoon lake-watching I didn't see much besides 6 Long-tailed Ducks, 2 Common Mergansers, and 1 Red-necked Grebe.
 
Flocks of redpolls were frequently seen flying all around the area. A few flocks of White-winged Crossbills flew over the tip too. A lone Horned Lark was along the shore of Whitefish Bay near the tip, but I saw no Snowy Owls. About half-way back to Paradise, there was a Northern Shrike perched in a treetop along the road.
 
Louie Dombroski
presently in McMillan