Fisherman's Island SP - 11 Oct 2008

Robin and I drove up to Central Lake yesterday afternoon. Colors in the northern lower peninsula had to be near 100% since the trees were "Gor-hor-geous!" I cannot remember when I've seen so many vivid red trees. After dinner at Pearl's in Elk Rapids we made a quick stop at the Elk Rapids Sewage Ponds to look for shorebirds. Other than a half-dozen Killdeer on the dikes the only other habitants were a Redhead, pair of Ringnecks, and a young Green-winged Teal.

Elk Rapids Treatment Ponds, Antrim, Michigan, US
Oct 10, 2008 5:00 PM - 5:20 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.1 mile(s)
4 species

Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)  1
Redhead (Aythya americana)  1
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)  2
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  6

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S167059881

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

This morning we drove up Co-65 to Charlevoix and stopped at Fisherman's Island State Park. Skies were mostly clear and temps were to hit mid-high 70's, so it was an ideal morning to walk the beach. At the foot of Bells Bay Rd. I scoped the lake, but found no birds on the water. A small flock of Black-capped Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches were feeding on White Pine cones that had fallen onto the road nearby.

Walking the beach toward Fisherman's Island we initially found no birds. Then, a flock of Canada Geese flew out over the water from the dunes to our left and I managed a few flight shots. 

An adult Bald Eagle was then seen soaring over the trees at the tip of Fisherman's Island. Shorebirds were absent, and only a few Song Sparrows were seen flying in and out of the phragmites and ground willows lining the dunes. A Red-breasted Nuthatch trumpeted from somewhere along the shoreline cedars.

As I reached the island I managed to flush a Swamp Sparrow, and saw a small flock of Dark-eyed Juncos feeding in the cedars. 

As I chased them I began hearing a high-pitched whistle coming from the shoreline. Hiking through the phragmites I finally recognized the "ker-wii" of an American Golden Plover. Quickly setting up the scope I grabbed several digiscoped images of a single bird in basic plumage. After a few moments I spotted a second bird nearby, and proceeded to digiscope both birds from about 40 yds. As I followed them w/ the scope another 4 birds appeared behind several large boulders. 

While I waited for them to appear I spotted a Dunlin feeding among the shallow rocks lining the shore. I managed a few digiscoped images of it before moving on.

Walking back toward the car I hiked through the dunes hoping to scare up an Ammodramus sparrow, but dipped. The Ground Willows were pretty, however, so I stopped to grab a couple pics.

As we drove out of the state park I spotted my first 'winter' hawk: a Rough-legged Hawk soaring over the quarry on Bells Bay Rd. Pulling over, I leaned out the window and grabbed some flight shots as it soared toward me. As the clouds cleared and sun appeared the light-phased bird stopped and hovered directly over the car. It circled a couple more times before drifting off to the east. What a terrific bird!

Fisherman's Island SP, Charlevoix, Michigan, US
Oct 11, 2008 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
4.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear and mid 70's
11 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  6
American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica)  6
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)  1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  3
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  2
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)  1
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  6
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  4
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S167060275

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Returning home along Co-65 we spotted three Sandhill Cranes feeding in a field just north of M-88.

Childs Road and M-65, Antrim, Michigan, US
Oct 11, 2008 11:00 AM - 11:10 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.1 mile(s)
1 species

Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)  3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S167060506

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Driving home on Sunday morning I spotted a late Eastern Meadowlark along US-127 S near Mt. Pleasant.

US-127 N or Mt Pleasant, Isabella, Michigan, US
Oct 12, 2008 11:00 AM - 11:10 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.1 mile(s)
0 species (+1 other taxa)

Western/Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta/magna)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S167060733

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)