A New Year Begins! - 01 Jan 2024

 

Happy New Year! My first bird of 2024 was this pretty little Eastern Screech Owl along the NE side of Belle Isle State Park at 5:30 am January 1st. I was to meet Allen Chartier, Larry Urbanski and Spencer Vanderhoof at 6 am to participate in the Detroit River Christmas Bird Count. 

My day started w/ a failed attempt at a screech owl at 4:30 am out back of the house in Brownstown. Skies were cloudy and a stiff wind was blowing, so I didn't expect to hear a response to my playback. Leaving the house at 5 am I arrived at Belle Isle at 5:30 and drove the outside loop of the island (Center Ave. is closed as part of the DNR's attempt to make it a seasonal road to avoid plowing/road salt that could affect hydrology at the north end of the island).

Along the SE side of the island I pulled off next to the woods where the winds were less prominent. Within minutes I could hear the quiet tremolo of an Eastern Screech Owl, and see the small silhouette against the light cloudy skies. With my flash set to Slave,  the camera set to ISO 6400 and small spot center focus I turned on the head lamp and two maglights strapped to the 200-600mm lens. The screech owl was illuminated enough to focus and I fired away w/ the strobes at 30 fps. 

The tiny owl then flew to a more open position a bit farther away.

Satisfied w/ my efforts I left the little guy and headed to the Belle Isle Nature Center where Allen was waiting. We exchanged New Years greetings and waited for Spencer and Larry to arrive a few minutes later. Once settled we all headed behind the Nature Center, past the feeders, and along the icy (and extremely slippery) boardwalk across the marshy field to Center Ave. where we'd walk for approximately a mile. 

It took only a few minutes to hear another Eastern Screech Owl, and only a few minutes more to see its eye-shine through our headlamps. Though distant, and difficult to focus I managed a few pics of our second owl of the morning.

As we serenaded each other it flew closer, then back along the road we had just walked, to a tree next to the road. I spent a few minutes photographing it before realizing the group had continued on up the road.

When I finally caught up with them I could a hear a Great Horned Owl hooting in the distance that was not coming from Allen's recorder. We would also find ourselves surrounded by at least 4 Eastern Screech Owls calling simultaneously from either side of the road.  We saw one bird fly over our heads a couple of times before spotting it at eye level through the brush.

We'd hear three more screech owls by the time we reached the bridge. One of the birds was calling along the edge of the creek so we trekked in and I was able to get some last pics as dawn began to break.

After an hour forty-five minutes we'd return to the Nature Center happy with 9 Eastern Screech Owls and 1 Great Horned Owl. We'd spend a few minutes swapping out gear (I grabbed the 600/4 lens) and bundling up for the morning count.

Though the wind was blowing fairly strong the skies were partly cloudy and the half-moon strained to break through the remaining clouds. 

Belle Isle, Wayne, Michigan, US
Jan 1, 2024 6:00 AM - 7:45 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.6 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Covering Belle Isle for the Detroit River CBC. Owling. All hours and miles on foot. Birding with Jerry Jourdan, Larry Urbanski, Spencer Vanderhoof.
11 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  100
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  6
Aythya sp. (Aythya sp.)  200
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  1
Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio)  9
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  5
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S157800051

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

By 8 am we were in the cars and driving the perimeter of the island, stopping at the beach, fishing piers, rowing club and other areas that allowed views of the Detroit River. Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead and Mallard dominated the waterfowl count with the occasional Redhead, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser and Lesser Scaup being seen. We did see one Canvasback that gave nice looks as it left the water next to the rowing club, stretched and preened.

At the other end of the marina we spotted an outgoing Common Merganser. In. A. Hurry.

Continuing around to the south side of the island we found the Detroit River unusually quiet except for a small group of Bufflehead swimming just out from shore.

Back along the S side of the island we found the river to be quiet, again. Only a Great Blue Heron flyover prevented us from getting back into the cars.

The Great Blue Heron pond just north of the Nature Center held a nice mix of Canada Geese and Ring-necked Ducks. Among them was a single Redhead. Meanwhile, the ponds to the west were nicely illuminated against the sunrise shining on dark, west clouds.

We'd re-walk Center Rd. but find it relatively quiet under a strong-blowing wind. A few Winter Wrens were heard chattering near the road but failed to show themselves. We'd have to settle for a few American Robins that were a bit more cooperative.

Our last stop of the morning was the trails along Nashua Creek. There we'd find a nice mix of American Robins, Cedar Waxwings, Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated Sparrows, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and White-breasted Nuthatch. A check of the grape tangles failed to produce any Saw-whet owls.

A female Eastern Towhee was calling from the brush near the old zoo, but I was too slow with the camera to capture her atop the snags. Just before calling it quits for the day we spotted a Northern Flicker next to the out-buildings near the parking lot. We'd finish the day w/ 43 spp., muddy feet and cold noses. A nice start to the New Year. Welcome 2024!

Belle Isle, Wayne, Michigan, US
Jan 1, 2024 7:45 AM - 12:15 PM
Protocol: Traveling
12.25 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Covering Belle Isle for the Detroit River CBC. Driving: 2.25 hours, 8.3 miles. On Foot: 2.25 hours, 4.0 miles. Birding with Jerry Jourdan, Larry Urbanski, Spencer Vanderhoof.
41 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  545
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  37
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  27
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)  2
Redhead (Aythya americana)  5
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)  195     Block counted by 5s and 10s.
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)  5
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  116
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  97
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)  85
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  20
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)  2
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon))  2
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  2
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  197
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)  2
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  2
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  1     Imm.
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  4
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  6
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  28
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  1
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  2
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)  2
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  2
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  300
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  18
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  1
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  120
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  2
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  5
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  9
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  3
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  11
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  2
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  1     Female. On Nashua Creek Trail, east end. Seen, and heard giving 'chewink' call.
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  7

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S157800097