FOY Killdeer - 19 Feb 2011

And so it begins!  Hints of spring 2011 are beginning to trickle into SE Michigan as the temperature ever so slightly begins to moderate, and the snow begins to melt.  This Killdeer was a bit of a surprise, appearing next to the road at the entrance to Lake Erie Metropark in southern Wayne Co.  Though the winds were blowing this morning, I braved tear-filled eyes and managed to digiscope this little guy from about 30'.  Check out those worn feathers...

Things were otherwise fairly quiet this morning in the Pt. Mouillee area.  A few Red-tailed Hawks soaring or perched in trees too far to photograph were the only raptors seen in the Roberts Rd. / Rheaume Rd. area.  This Bald Eagle soared overhead momentarily just beyond Siegler Rd.  I failed to find any Rough-legged Hawks in the area.

Stoneco/Rockwood Quarry, Monroe, Michigan, US
Feb 19, 2011 9:00 AM - 9:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
2 species

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S164830167

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

A stop at LEMP's Marshland Museum turned up only a few Black-capped Chickadees and White-throated Sparrows.  No Great Horned Owls were seen, although last Monday I did have one on the nest near the last boardwalk.

Lake Erie Metropark, Wayne, Michigan, US
Feb 19, 2011 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
3 species

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  1     FOY at entrance to park. Digiscoped.
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S164830456

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

Earlier in the week a quick stop by the Detroit River netted some Redhead and Canvasbacks enjoying a bit of sunshine despite sub-freezing temperatures.  I managed a few photos of the preening birds w/ the D300.

I then managed a couple of digiscoped images before my fingers fell off...

This male Northern Harrier was seen in the field across the street from Riverside Park in s. Wayne Co. and appeared to be feeding on a dead rabbit.  I digiscoped this video last Tuesday from about 100 yds. 

 

The heat shimmer really prevented any stills from being taken.

Riverfront Park and Harbin Rd. (Wayne Co.), Wayne, Michigan, US
Feb 15, 2011 4:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.1 mile(s)
1 species

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)  1     feeding on a dead rabbit in field just south of Riverside Park

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S164830923

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