UM-D Birds - 12 May 2010
As I headed toward the north end of the lake from the maintenance entrance I could hear the distinctive 'wheep' of a Great-crested Flycatcher. A pair of Green Herons were found at the north end of Hidden Lake. I managed two pics before both birds took off toward the opposite end of the lake.
Lakeside trail was relatively quiet. A Nashville Warbler made a brief appearance overhead, otherwise only the calls of Indigo Bunting, Chestnut-sided Warbler and Myrtle Warbler were heard. Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers were found farther up the trail.
Northern Rough-winged Swallows were feeding over the calm lake, and I took several moments to just enjoy their antics as they chased each other in between bouts of snatching insects off the water's surface. Several Barn Swallows were feeding among the group. Overhead a flock of 12-16 Chimney Swifts were chattering away as they fed over the south end of the lake.
The Rose Garden was quiet except for a Baltimore Oriole singing away in the canopy near the pergola.
Returning to the Lakeside Trail I came across a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers that I believe were responding to the buzzy chips emanating from the Rough-winged Swallows. Both birds appeared agitated, so I just quietly watched them move off in the direction of the swallows. Meanwhile, several of the swallows were perched atop a dead snag and permitted some long-distance shooting from the trail. Sure beats trying to capture their flight...
As I was leaving the area the loud, harassing calls of the Blue Jays was revealed by a fly-by Cooper's Hawk.
Happy Birthday, Hubert! (We miss you).
UM Dearborn/Rouge River Bird Observatory, Wayne, Michigan, US
May 12, 2010 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
15.0 ac
1.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Rough-winged Swallows and Chimney Swifts over the lake were a nice treat!
27 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 6
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 2
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 2
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) 14
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 3
Green Heron (Butorides virescens) 2
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) 1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 4
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) 2
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 4
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 6
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 2
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) 2
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) (Setophaga coronata coronata) 1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S6
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
