Sightings Archive:
|
Pine Grosbeaks and other sightings
|
3/6/05
My wife Barb and I spotted a M/F pair of Pine Grosbeaks this afternoon (Sunday) in Marquette. They were in a tree near 3rd and Magnetic behind the bank. We were able to get some good looks of them before a tree-crashing Blue Jays ruined their mood and gave them a reason to leave. The same tree was also holding about 12-15 Euro. Starlings, a Mourning Dove, and the previously-mentioned Jay.
We also visited the corner of Sheridan and Cleveland this afternoon, but we weren't able to find the Townsend's Solitaire. (We'll try again soon.) We did spy a textbook-perfect Common Redpoll at the top of a tall conifer.
Doug Walton |
|
|
Varied Thrush, Alger Co.
|
3/6/05
The Varied Thrush that has spent the winter in Sand River, Alger County was still present as of this morning. I observed it for a prolonged period between 930-1100.
It will be interesting to see how long this bird will stick around.
Good Birding
~Skye Haas |
|
|
Bald Eagles
|
3/6/05
I had a fantastic ski over to Grand Island yesterday where I saw 3 bald eagles. One greeted me as I approached the island and the other two I picked up while in Murray's Bay. They flew over me for quite awhile doing aerial displays. It was so cool to watch. They couldn't have been but inches apart the whole time. Ahh Spring! Ya gotta love it!
Jude |
|
|
Trenary Wanderings
|
3/6/05
Ray Sischo and I did some birding yesterday (Saturday) morning around the farmlands near Trenary. Enjoyed seeing thirteen species, the highlight, of course, being the four trumpeter swans, which many of you have seen already on Trout Lake. I wonder since they have been there for so many weeks if they have become the harbingers of spring instead of the robin.......perhaps spring will be here early this year. Since not being a birding "purist" I won't mention the other species...the unmentionables that we take for granted.
Good birding! Louie Taccolini |
|
|
T. Solitaire, BB Woodpecker
|
3/5/05
Started my day out with seeing the Townsend's Solitaire thats been hanging out at the corner of Sheridan and Cleveland Street in Marquette.
I then went with Scot Stewart to Sagola to try and find a Northern Hawk-Owl that was seen along M-95 accross from the LP lumber/paper plant. We dipped on the Owl but did see a Northern Shrike along County Rd. 422.
We then moved over to south Marquette County were we found a female Black-backed Woodpecker off of County Rd. 438.
In the harbor in Marquette I saw my first true spring migrants of the year, a flock of 5 male Red-breasted Mergansers.
Good Birding
~Skye Haas
|
|
|
Snowy Owl on Breakwall
|
3/3/05
An immature Snowy Owl was on the breakwall right at sunset this evening. It was perched on that steel tower with the red light, right where the concrete section of the
breakwall ends. It flushed when I was 80-100 yards away (I didn't plan on getting much closer) and flew out near the end of the breakwall, where it perched again.
I also found an owl pellet on the breakwall, closer in to shore, and while walking there yesterday evening I found a very large owl pellet, maybe 3 or 4 inches long, which I
gave to Scot Stewart.
Greg |
|
|
Bohemian Waxwings, Marquette
|
3/3/05
I had a large flock of Bohemian Waxwings (about 160 birds) fly over my yard this morning here in Marquette. They seemed to be headed towards Washington Street and Lincoln.
This is the first large flock I've seen since December, perhaps this is the 1st wave of spring migration.
Good Birding
~Skye Haas |
|
|
Hoary Redpoll, Glaucous Gulls; Marquette
|
3/2/05
Having been a avian desert for the last few weeks, I was pleased to have a group of finches at my feeders today. Best of all is a nice looking adult male Hoary Redpoll. There may be a second Hoary, I didn't get a satisfactory look at this 2nd birds undertail coverts to make the call. There were also a few Siskens present.
Also there were 4 Glaucous Gulls at the mouth of the Dead River this afternoon. 1 adult, 1 3rd year bird and 2 second winter gulls. There have been a couple a Glaucous Gulls at this location daily for a week now in the late afternoon.
Good Birding
~Skye Haas |
|
|
Birds on Walk
|
3/2/05
Saw a Bald Eagle and a female Black Backed Woodpecker while walking my dogs today around 12:40 PM at Harlow Lake. I was walking on the old railroad bed between Wetmore and Harlow Lake. A beautiful day to walk.
N. H. |
|
|
Shrike
|
3/2/05
Couldn't figure out where all my feeder birds were this morning. No pine or evening grosbeaks, no red-polls, no goldfinches, no doves, no nuthatches, not even a chickadee. Then on a trip into the kitchen and a glance out the window told me. There was northern shrike sitting there in the cherry tree with all the feeders. I don't know if he got a meal or not, didn't see any signs as the day went on. Seems to be a good year for shrikes.
Jude
p.s. That shrike was at my home, 5 miles down 16 Mile Lake Road, which is about 8 miles South of Munising. |
|
|
Immature Shrike
|
2/24/05
Just had an immature shrike chasing a small bird in the back yard. It was unsuccessful in its attempt to have a morning banquet. It flew to a branch and the difference in characteristics between itself and an adult were quite evident, somewhat drab in color and not the striking black, grey and white, including facial mask of the adult. Good birding!
Louie Taccolini |
|
|
|
|