U.P. Birding - Day 1 - 15 Dec 2010


Robin and I drove up to Sault Ste. Marie this morning.  I'd planned to check out the Chippewa County area for Snowy Owls and/or Hawk Owls even though none had been reported so far.  News of a pair of Ross' Gulls in the Keweenaw Bay area had me entertaining the idea of driving up there, but I only had a day and half of birding, so they would have to wait for another day (the birds had not been relocated, unfortunately).
Forecasts called for clear skies today and tomorrow, but clouds and light snow greeted us as we crossed the Mackinac Bridge.  The Straights were open, but no ducks were visible along either shoreline. 

First stop in the afternoon was Rudyard (I-75 Exit 373).  I first took Hantz Rd. south to 23 mile Rd. but saw nothing except for a distant Common Raven.  Backtracking to M-48 west I drove over to Centerline Rd. and headed north toward Rudyard.

At 22 mile Rd. I spotted a Rough-legged Hawk soaring west over the farm field and heading my way.  As I scrambled to get the window down it passed overhead, and only allowed me a couple of shots through the car window.  Unfortunately for me the power lines were in the way, and my best shot of a full wing spread was obscured by wires.  Still, the bird was low enough to identify as a light-phase adult female.  Note the tan chest, belly and underwings (see top image).  Simply the prettiest of the North American raptors!


A flock of six Snow Buntings passed overhead as we drove north toward 19 mile Rd.  No owls.

Rudyard Flats Area, Chippewa, Michigan, US
Dec 15, 2010 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
3 species

Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)  1     Centerline and 22-Mile Rd.
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  1
Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)  6

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S42396341

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


We then headed toward the Dunbar Forest area (12 mile and Riverside Dr.) to check the feeders.  As we approached 12 mile and Nicolet Rd. another Rough-legged Hawk was observed hovering over the fields.  This one was a bit farther off, but ID'd as a juvenile, with a darker belly band and lacking tan coloration under the wings.  Try as I might I couldn't get but a record shot, but could make out a light-colored eye that confirms juvie.

Near the single-lane bridge (Lower Hay Lk. Rd?) a Northern Shrike flew across the road but disappeared across the creek.  Only Black-capped Chickadees were in the area.  Try as I could I couldn't hear or see any other passerines.  I'd been hoping for Pine Grosbeaks or some crossbills.  No luck.  The feeders themselves held only a Hairy Woodpecker, BC Chickadees, and Blue Jays.  The boat launch area was quiet as the St. Mary River was frozen.

As we headed north on Riverside Dr. toward the Soo Robin spotted a small flock of Wild Turkey feeding on someones front lawn.

Dunbar Forest, Chippewa, Michigan, US
Dec 15, 2010 4:50 PM - 5:20 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
6 species

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)  4
Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)  1
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)  1
Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S42396427

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