Red-throated Loon 3/21/2022

 

  For the second year in a row I spotted a Red-throated Loon off shore from my yard.  Last year's bird required a spotting scope zoomed to 60x magnification and a couple of guide books to ID due to its distance estimated at half a mile.  By contrast this year's RT Loon was nearly at the shoreline 120' below the top of the bluff.  In fact it was so close that I didn't see it while I was seated 8' from the edge. It was only after I stood up to calmly remind my dog that barking at woodchucks is not appreciated by anyone, that I looked down and saw the loon. When I notified a few local birders of the sighting, Dave Dister texted back that last year's bird also showed up on March 21. 

  When predicted rain never materialized the persistent east southeasterly winds made for optimal conditions for bird migration as it pushed ducks up the coast and raptors toward the shore.  I ended up with 48 species for the day that included 9 species of ducks, 7 species of raptors, 525 Tundra Swans and  117 Sandhill Cranes.  Nine first of the year species were observed which brought the year's total to 67 and a flock of Northern Pintails became the 179th species on the all-time yardlist. 

   Here are a few photographic highlights

Tundra Swans

 

Dark-morph Rough-legged Hawk

Adult Red-shouldered Hawk

Immature Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Northern Pintails, yardbird 179

Sandhill Cranes

Looking Kinda Hoary 3/19/2021

 

      Up to 30 Common Redpolls have been visiting my yard just about every day since early November and despite my best efforts I had unable to turn one into a Hoary Redpoll,  That changed Tuesday when I spotted a lightly streaked, stubby-billed, white-rumped Redpoll visiting my backyard feeders.  I was able to get a series of poorly lit, unsharp photos through dirty windows that had been blasted by wind-blown sand all winter.  I put together a composite of the photos to try to make the case for a Hoary ID.

  The composite shot looked promising even showing a side view of the reliably diagnostic white under-tail coverts.  But a side view isn't as good as a view from straight-on or underneath.  Today the bird returned after an unexcused absence on Thursday and cooperated by revealing the under-tail in a couple of different settings.  First it posed as it consumed sunflower hearts on one of my feeders.

  Next it landed in a small Weeping Willow next to my driveway.  From that position I was able to get right under the bird and get shots of the under-tail coverts.  The only problem was that it so close that my camera lens couldn't focus on it as I stood underneath it.  Instead I had to lay on the driveway in order to be outside my 500mm lens's  15' minimum focal distance.

  The Hoary Redpoll is the 155th species on the yardlist and the third addition to the list this week.  The other two were a Carolina Wren on Sunday and a House Sparrow on Monday.

   Although I have seen dozens of House Sparrows along the US-10 corridor in Ludington I had yet to see one in the yard of either of the houses that I've owned since I moved here 6 years ago.  At my old house in Wayne County I was plagued with up to 300 of them at a time on cold snowy winter days, when they would empty my feeders almost as quick as I could fill them. But here in Mason County I had accumulated 164 species (153 species at this house and 11 additional species outside the Venn Diagram intersection of the 143 birds seen at the house that I sold last year) before my yard was (dis?)graced with this invasive nuisance.

  Other birds of interest today were....

....Tundra Swans which totaled 190 in two flocks as they flew across Lake Michigan. 

.....the first Sandhill Cranes of the year

 and a kettle of 10 Common Ravens.  

  Thanks to Matt McConnell, Dave Dister, Allen Chartier, Derek Sallman and Matt Young for help in the confirmation of the Hoary Redpoll.

Migratory Bird Count - Riverton Twp. 5/12/2018

   For the second year in a row I covered the whole of Riverton Township during the Mason County Spring Migratory Bird Count.  Dave Dister tipped me off on Blue-winged Warblers in my count area.  I had scouted the area during the mid-week but was unable to find them.  Fortunately today was a different story.  I heard 3 singing males and was able to secure some properly lit photos of one of them.

   Another good bird was this Hooded Warbler (1st Spring Female?).

   Baltimore Orioles were seen in several locations.

   Other birds were....

Vesper Sparrow

Eastern Bluebird

Tree Swallow

Green Heron

Yellow-throated Vireo

Female Buffleheads. The one on the right appears to be eating a waterbug.

Solitary Sandpiper, alone with its reflection.

Sandhill Cranes

Bobolink

Gray Catbird

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Black and White Warbler

Brown Thrasher

Yellow-rumped Warbler

American Redstart

Red-eyed Vireo

Yellow Warbler

Eastern Kingbird

   Back at my house, I added a few more species during an afternoon feeder watch.

Red-headed Woodpecker

Lincoln's Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

White-Crowned Sparrow

I ended my Riverton survey with 66 species and was able to add another 7 in my yard when I got home.

Common Loon Migration

    Common Loons are migrating through Mason County in good numbers now and some seem to be sticking around due to lingering winter weather in northern Michigan and beyond.

  Today I had my yearly flyover loon.  That makes 4 in 4 years.

The view from my deck

   In Pere Marquette Lake there were a couple of dozen Common Loons fueling up on small fish.

Bluegill losing the battle

One of three Fox Sparrows hanging around my yard 

Alouette, Gentille Alouette

Dancing like no one is watching