Fork-tailed Flycatcher at Ludington State Park 5/11/2023

 

  Around 3 this afternoon I got two phone calls, first from Brian Brosky and then Levi Wilson relaying that Levi and Nolan Kerr found a Fork-tailed Flycatcher along the Lake Michigan shoreline, about a mile and a half south of the entrance to Ludington State Park.  This is only the 8 record of this species in Michigan and the first for Mason County.  Not surprising, considering the birds normal range.

   That's right the bird's home is in Central or South America.  

    Their monumental flycatcher discovery overshadowed my bird of the day, a Prothonotary Warbler in my yard.  It is the 193rd species on my yard list.

   In terms of cooperation this beautiful warbler was hot and cold.  As I sat out on our deck with my wife Kelly, this little guy landed on the edge of the deck three feet from her. It stood there for a few seconds looking at us as I stared back in amazement.  It then flew to a nearby maple and waited for me to come out and take some adequately-lit photos.  The cooperation ended there though, as it took off and was not refound despite the efforts of Brian Brosky, Suzie Knoll and myself.  

   The discovery of yardbird number 192 occurred just yesterday morning when I spotted a Golden-winged Warbler fueling up on insects high up in the trees.  I was able to get some passable ID photos of it.

 Fortunately it returned in the early evening at a closer distance with better lighting.

  In case you were wondering how we got from 190 yardbirds in the last post to 192 that the Golden-winged Warbler represents, last Thursday I spotted a pair of Red-necked Grebes that I estimate were 2000' offshore on Lake Michigan. 

   

   I had always thought that Red-necked Grebes might show up on the lake one day but I was surprised that it occurred on May 4 rather than in the winter or early spring.