Saturday Morning Birding

     Got myself out of bed at 0600, ate breakfast and headed to Metrobeach... Met Tom Heatley, Kevin Rysiewski near the day sail area where we listened for rails... We heard none, but while we were there, a Wilson's Snipe landed right in front of us.... We watched it for a couple of minutes until it took flight and then we headed over to the beach area.... No Sandpipers, just some Bonaparte Gulls and assorted birds on the beach.... we headed over to the Nature Center trails and were met by Wayne Hoch... The 4 of us birded the trails together, highlighted by my first Sora (113) of the year... The Sora was calling loudy and came within 10 feet of our group... a couple of us spotted it moving slowly thru the Cattails...  We also managed to flush out a pair of Blue-winged Teals and a few Wood Ducks... We found a Yellow-rumped Warbler (114) foraging thru the willow near the first bridge. On the service rd we found Swamp Sparrows and a Hairy Woodpecker... not much else.. on the way back to our cars we found an Eastern Phoebe sitting on a dead branch near the canal.... Tom and I headed over to the North Marsh. As soon as we got out of our cars, we noticed that a very large Tern take flight from the water and head right at us.... Caspian Tern!!(115)  very cool... we watched it for a minute and called Kevin and Wayne to come and see it... by the time they got there, it was gone.... Hopefully they relocated it...
     Tom and I headed to Wetzel State Park for a quick loop around the South pond... yeah right, as if I could only stop there.... we ended up birding for about an hour... Rusty Blackbirds are still near the 27 mile rd parking lot... Ring-necked Ducks and Ruddy Ducks could be found in the ponds... we flushed a pair of Green-winged Teals.... We found an American Kestrel and watched it hunt and hover over the field... No luck finding Savannah Sparrows for Tom, but its still good to see that the Rusty Blackbirds are around....
     Tom's Pedometer recorded 11288 steps for the morning.... No wonder I was hungry when I headed for home....

White-winged Crossbills... it is almost April, correct?

A huge gigantic shout out and Thank You to Kevin Rysiewski for calling me today when he looked out into his back yard and saw that there was a flock of White-winged Crossbills in the pines behind his home... I happened to be in Washington Twp at the time and headed that way.... as luck would have it, the rain/hail/sleet mix began as I moved toward Shelby Township (25mi and Shelby area).... I have never been in Kevin's sub before, but I figured that I would be able to locate the birds.... Kevin had last seen them heading north.... As I got to the sub, I realized that they should have named it Pine Valley.... it was gonna be like finding a needle in a Haystack.... it took me about 20 minutes of driving in the pouring rain, looking at the top of pines, before I found them.... a flock of birds descended from the sky and landed in the pines in front of my car.... by the time I got my binoculars out, they were feeding on the ground underneath the pines.... I scrambled for my camera, and wondered to myself, how am I going to photograph White-winged Crossbills (112) in the pouring rain with dark skies?... ISO 1600 and exposure compensation... that's how... I wanted to document my first time Macomb County sighting....  I called Tom Heatley and he met me in the sub and we found them again next door to where I first found them.... the rain had stopped, and I got a couple more pics before they took off....   Nice start to the weekend.... click to enlarge

Forster's Tern

Took a quick drive into Metrobeach this evening... It was nice to see Forster's Terns (111) zooming over the North Marsh.... heading back there on the weekend to get Sora and Virginia Rail....

Chipping Sparrow.... Wolcott Mills

I spied my first Chipping Sparrow(110) of the year today at Wolcott Mills Metropark... it was near the entrance of the park off of Kuntsman Rd... on the way back home, going down Kuntsman, I found a pair of Turkey Vultures feasting on some road kill.... I have to say, this is one ugly bird..... click to enlarge... although I might not suggest it on the vulture...

Interesting Red-tailed Hawk from my yard

Here is a Photo taken by Kevin Rysiewski behind my house today.... very cool looking Red-tailed Hawk... Almost looks like a Krider's but then again, it might just be a very light colored Juvenile.... the picture is soft because when we first saw it, it was a long way off. I am gonna take my camera and go back out and look for it.....

Metrobeach and my yard....

I birded Metrobeach this morning and met Wayne Hoch for the first time... Birding was slow, but still enjoyable... Highlights included Wilson's Snipe in the South Marsh, calling loudly and chasing eachother.... I found 3 White-Throated Sparrows(109) in the Maple Woods at the end of the service rd. 4 Fox Sparrows seen throughout the park. The Winter Wren was still present in the same location as always along the service road... 3 Green-winged Teals flew over the South Marsh and a good number of Wood Ducks were found... There were a million Golden-Crowned Kinglets in the park... a slight exaggeration.... 3 Brown Creepers also.... Over at the DNR point there was nothing interesting... Scaup, Ruddy Ducks, Bufflehead and a few Common Mergansers made up the mixed flock of waterfowl and 2 Great Egrets flew over....

Kevin stopped by the house today to look for Wilson's Snipe... We struck out on the snipe, but managed to see a Great Egret and one Savannah Sparrow.... There were 3 Red-Tailed Hawks in the field...

All in all a good day.... time to go watch golf....

Wetzel at Dawn...

I went to Wetzel State Park at daybreak today.... I was concerned that it would be too foggy... it wasn't.. the fog quickly lifted with the sun rising... I wasn't the first to arrive at the Park... I chuckled when I pulled up and saw Kevin's car in the parking lot... early birders get the bird... something like that... We birded together for about an hour before I had to go  to work....

Highlights of the day for me were Ring-necked Pheasant (106), Savannah Sparrow(107) and Great Egret (108)... I heard the Ring-necked Pheasant calling as soon as I hit the trail.... this has been a bird that has eluded me so far this year, so I was glad to hear the Rooster call several times over the course of an hour... The Great Egret was located in the large ponds off to the side of Werderman Rd... I snapped some photos as it took off, but not good quality so I wont post... I love egrets..... As Kevin and I were circling the pond, I thought I heard the first few notes of a Savannah Sparrow singing.... It was loud with all the Red-winged Blackbirds singing, but I was sure that is what I heard.... a minute later, one emerged from the fields and landed on the path in front of us... I usually don't have this bird until the beginning of April.... everything seems about a week early this year...

Red-tailed Hawk

Rusty Blackbird

Rusty Blackbird

Savannah Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Wetzel State Park

County List Correction..

I had a chance today to watch a small flock of Rusty Blackbirds for about 30 minutes... They were at Wetzel State Park.... I heard at least 2 or 3 different vocalizations within this flock.... In early March I had reported that I had seen a Brewers Blackbird at this location in a different area... I made the call on the fact that I heard the bird make its call as it passed by me... I didn't get a chance to photograph it and I could not relocate it... Therefore, I really cant comment on the color of the glossy area in its head... whether purple or green... Now I am not sure if it was a Rusty or a Brewers, even though I heard its call... It could very well have been a Rusty with a song that was similar to the Brewers.. Therefore I decided to remove it off of my 2012 County list...  I will look for one again in the same location, but I just need more proof before I make the call....

Stoney Creek - Inwood trails

I saw my first Eastern Meadowlark(105) today... it was along Inwood Rd near the nature center at Stoney Creek Metropark....  I got a call from Kevin and he was scoping some Sandpipers near Mt. Vernon picnic area in the park... they were quite a long distance from where we were, but we were able to identify them as 3 Greater Yellowlegs... Unfortunately for me they were on the Oakland County side of the line... oh, well.... so much for that addition to my county list...  At the Oakgrove picnic area we walked down to the water and found a Common Loon(106) in the little bay there.... it was a good distance out and with the glare from the sun, it was hard to get a good pic.... I tried.... I still can't believe its March....

Common Loon

Eastern Meadowlark

Eastern Meadowlark landing...

Field Sparrow

Took a run over to Wolcott Mills Metropark after work... I was hoping to find a Field Sparrow and an Eastern Meadowlark in the fields across from the entrance... looks like I was batting .500... I heard the Field Sparrow(104) right away and glassed him with my binoculars right in the entrance of the park about 50 yards from the gate... Same spot I always see them... Last year I photographed one in the same spot, almost same tree I saw this one in.... The Meadowlarks have not arrived, but I expect them any day now....

Field Sparrow 2011 (same location as today)

Greater Scaup

I came across a few Scaup in a pond the other day... these were different than the lessers I had seen all winter... there was more of a white vs gray contrast via the back and belly... the head was very rounded... not pointed in any way.... After pulling up the photos of the birds at home on Photoshop, I knew that I had Greater Scaup(103)... this is not a rare bird by any means, but can be a difficult identification for many birders... They were in a pond on town centre rd between Hall rd and 21mi rd, east of I-94...

Wilson's Snipe and Leopard Frogs.....

Tom Heatley stopped by the house today and we went looking for Wilson's Snipe... The property behind my house is one of the best spots I know for Wilson's Snipe in the spring... We flushed 4 of them.... We also had 5 Green-winged Teal, 1 female Canvasback and a Swamp Sparrow...

Another highlight of the day was the 50+ Leopard Frogs that we saw... They were so active in the Ponds... so were the American Toads... Tom and I both were surprised at the amount of Amphibians that were out today.... I don't know what they are all gonna think if a snow storm hits in the next month... LOL!!       click to enlarge

Nothing new, but still a nice morning...

I am on call this weekend for work, and I had to go out and see a couple of patients... It was so foggy when I left at 0730... I finished my work at 0930 and while heading down the highway I decided to stop in at Metro and see whats around.... Nothing new in the way of migrants, but I found a couple of Fox Sparrows along the service drive... I also came upon a group of Golden-crowned Kinglets in the Maple Woods and one who was very cooperative while I snapped a bunch of pics.... The fog was still there when I left at 1130am.... nice to bird without a jacket....

Fox Sparrow

Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Fox Sparrow

Golden Crowned Kinglet

two little eyes.... staring me down

Woodcock- Arial Display

Tonight Steve Santner stopped by to add the American Woodcock to his Lifetime Macomb County List... Steve has an impressive state list and I was glad to help him add this bird to his county list...  After being questioned by my neighbors on who he was, (I will explain in a moment) I met him on the front lawn... I told him where the Woodcock were calling in the evening and he waited patiently on my Patio for them to start their evening show....  I was watching TV in my bedroom when I heard the first one call... Peeeent!!!  I got up and went out the front door and came around to the back of the house.... The Woodcocks put on quite a show... there were 3, maybe 4 birds calling... the display was very impressive with some of the birds flying right over our heads... the sun was setting, the show was over and Steve was gone... Woodcock added to his lifetime Macomb List.... I was glad to help out.... I love my little heaven behind my house!!!!

I had to laugh, because once my neighbor found out he was there to see the Woodcock, he rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders and acted like, "oh, that bird!!"   Every spring since they have moved in, the Woodcocks nest right behind their house and call all night long... they keep them awake.... My neighbor even has video of a Woodcock walking in his yard...... He doesn't know it, but that is very, very cool....

Rusty Blackbird before work - Eastern Phoebe after!!

On my way to Port Huron at 0730 this morning, I took a short cut (ok, maybe a long-cut) by Wetzel State Park.... I was hoping to see a Meadowlark on the wire or a Ring-necked Pheasant walking along the road.... Instead, I came upon a large flock of mixed black birds.... Red-wings, Common Grackles, Cowbirds and a half dozen Rusty Blackbirds(100)... I stuck the lens out the window of my car, shot a couple of pics and was gone...

After work I stopped by Holland Ponds.. Kevin had texted me that Tree Swallows had arrived at that location... I got there and located the Tree Swallows(101) quickly... An added bonus was the Eastern Phoebe(102) that was calling loudly across the pond at the end of the pathway from the parking lot.... I circled around the pond and found it perched on a limb.... a couple of pics and it was gone.... I love that song.... click to enlarge..

Eastern Phoebe

Rusty Blackbird

Rusty Blackbird

Signs of Spring......

Took a stroll at Wolcott Mills Metropark tonight.... there were hardly any birds worth mentioning... there was a flock of Dark-eyed Juncos preparing to head north.... they were all singing and I could hear them from about 50 yards away... I would estimate the flock of at least 50 birds.... Other than that, I saw two Mourning Cloaks, and a few Eastern Commas, both early spring butterflies...  Garter Snakes were everywhere... didn't care much about striking out, it was such a perfect weather day......

Garter Snake

some kind of an Orb Weaver

Eastern Comma

stroll behind the house

With the report from fellow birder Kevin, I decided to see if the Wilson's Snipe(98) had arrived behind the house... I flushed 3 of them... also I had 6 Green-winged teal that I stalked for an hour trying to get close to get a pic and then boom!! out of the marsh they go.... got a shot of them flying.... I also had a single Blue-winged Teal(99) in the pond right behind the house.... It was one of those days when none of the birds would let me get close to them.... oh well, still happy the Snipe are back....

Green-winged Teal

Canada Goose (Holland Pond)

One fast flying Wilson's Snipe... only photo I could get after it flushed..

Rainy, cloudy.... very birdy...

Took a trip to Stoney Creek Metro this afternoon when I got off of work... Started at Inwood Parking lot... I am not there 2 minutes and I hear the sii sii sii of a Golden-crowned Kinglet...(92) There were lots of birds out today... In the little pond in the area I found a Northern Shovelor(93), a couple of Gadwall and a pair of Sandhill Cranes... at marker M I found a Fox Sparrow(94) who was up in a tree, believe it or not... I managed a couple of photos... I hate shooting pics on cloudy days... colors just dont pop out.... Headed into the park where an Eastern Towhee (95) flew across the road in front of my car... very cool, first of the year... At Eastwood beach, I scoped the water and found at least a half dozen Horned Grebes(96), one Pied-billed Grebe(97) and one goofy looking Grebe that had been reported as an Eared Grebe... I am not convinced on the ID and sent the photos off to one of the local experts for his opinion... I have not heard back, so as of now, its just a Horned Grebe molting into his spring plumage....

Fox Sparrow

Golden-crowned Kinglet silhouetted- crown visible

Fox Sparrow

Wetzel State Park

Spent the morning birding at Wetzel with Kevin Rysiewski.. It started off a little slow... the first couple of ponds didn't hold much in the way of ducks.... American Wigeon and a few Ring-necked Ducks in the first pond off of 27 mile rd...  The pond thru the woods behind the Model Airplane flyzone contained almost nothing but a few Mallards.... It was looking pretty bleak... Then as we approached the ponds that run parallel with Werderman Rd, a flock of several hundred Ducks irrupted into the air as a Hawk flew by... (we didn't identify it, as it quickly flew into the trees and was gone).. I don't recall ever seeing a flock as large as this directly over my head.... it was amazing.... the ducks settled down and landed in the first pond... I scoped them and the majority were Redheads with Ring-necked, Canvasback, Ruddy, Lesser Scaup and Mallards mixed in...
I was surprised that I did not see any Blue-winged Teal today... I expect them soon... Also no Grebes of any kind could be found... I still dont have a Ring-necked Pheasant for the year... thats ridiculous...

A pleasant surprise this morning was one Brewers Blackbird.... Toward the end of the morning, a lone black bird without a nice red patch on the wing flew by... just as it came close to Kevin and I it began singing.... Yes!! Brewers Blackbird!!! (91) Not one I see all the time in my Macomb birding spots...  Tried to get close to it so I could photograph it, but it was gone...

With the onset of warmer weather I expect a number of birds to come in this week.... I love spring migration.....

Woodcock... My neighbors must be thrilled..

Am Woodcock(90) just started calling behind the house. Last year my neighbor complained about them because they would "Peeent" all night right outside there bedroom window. There were two nesting pairs that I found last year. Sometimes I get lucky and will see one feeding off the edge of the lawn probing for worms..

Lazy Saturday Morning...

I am tired today after traveling yesterday... Still I wanted to take a quick run to Stoney Creek Metropark to see if there was anything interesting on the lake...  I did find a pair of Wigeons (89)... there were Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneye and  a flock of Redheads near the Osprey Trail... I heard from Kevin R that there were also 4 N. Shovelers in that same location... Spotted a Great Blue Heron at 30 mile rd and Romeo Plank....

At home, a large flock of Robins arrived today... They are everywhere.... the first Northern Harrier of the year for my yard.... Normally I have a pair that fly over the fields behind the house all winter.... I have not seen any in 2012 until today when a female showed up.... She was a long way out, but I managed a few heavily cropped photos....

Austin Texas - Work trip, but I managed a little birding..

Just got back from Austin Texas... I had to go down there to our headquarters for some training... The only day that I had time to get out in the light and do some birding was Sunday... although I managed a few minutes at the headquarters today before heading to the airport.  The Hotel that I stayed in had a 60 acre nature area behind it.... most of it was a canyon covered in oak and mesquite... very cool area with one trail.... I was hoping to see some winter visitors while in Austin, but the area seems in transition between winter birds leaving and spring birds arriving....  I found Carolina Chickadees, Bewicks Wren, Great-tailed Grackles, White-winged Doves, Ruby crowned kinglet, Yellow rumped Warblers, Oranged Crowned Warblers, 1 White eyed Vireo and some Lesser Goldfinch.... On the highways to and from the training center I spied Turkey and Black Vultures, Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks... Today as I walked the grounds at the training center before heading to the airport, I found another Bewicks Wren and several Black-crested Titmouse, a lifer for me.... click on photos to enlarge...

Great-Tailed Grackle

Orange-crowned Warbler (nice shadow... arrgh!)

Orange-crowned Warbler

White-winged Dove

Black-crested Titmouse

Black-crested Titmouse