Furstenberg Nature Area - 02 Oct 2024
Robin had a workshop at the Ann Arbor Art Center this morning, so my plan was to drop her off and head over to Nichol's Arboretum. Skies were clear and it was a cool 60F this morning at 10 am.
Having dropped her off I headed to Nichol's Arboretum but could not find anywhere to park. So I drove along the perimeter of the arboretum looking for somewhere to park that wasn't UM Permit Parking Only but dipped. But, I managed to find myself on Fuller Road and near the Nature Area, so I pulled in and planned to spend the next 2.5 hours kicking around.
Black-capped Chickadees and White-throated Sparrows were vocal and abundant this morning.
At least a dozen of the White-throated Sparrows were moving through the brush next to the trails and I was happy that my ISO limit was 64,000!
The Huron River separates the Nature Area from the Arboretum and this morning was calm with flocks of Cedar Waxwings working the far shore. Mallard and Canada Geese were quietly enjoying the morning while I hiked along the trail at river's edge.
While chasing White-throated Sparrows I spotted a tiny mouse-like figure and immediately recognized it as a Winter Wren! I would spend the next 30 minutes stalking it as it skulked in the underbrush and the river edge.
This poor spider didn't stand a chance...
I continued walking the river trail until I came to the boardwalk and walked it to the Gallup Park Road entrance. Openings in the woods got me views of White-breasted Nuthatches and an Eastern Phoebe.
I walked the boardwalk to the Gallup Park Road entrance but construction steered me back to Fuller Road where I walked past the high school back to the Nature Area Parking lot. I still had a half-hour before picking Robin up so I enjoyed the quiet sitting on a picnic table.
A pair of Carolina Wrens were singing nearby, and one individual appeared in the trees just a few feet away.
As I looked for the second bird a Chipping Sparrow flew in and posed nicely in the late morning sunlight.
I may be back here next week!
Furstenberg Park, Washtenaw, Michigan, US
Oct 2, 2024 10:13 AM - 12:18 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.744 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Clear, cool, 60F, no humidity, winds SW 5 mph
25 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 4
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 8
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 6
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 1
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 1
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 2
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 6
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 1
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 2
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 1
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) 1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 4
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 40
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 14
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 1
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 10
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Oct 2, 2024 10:13 AM - 12:18 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.744 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Clear, cool, 60F, no humidity, winds SW 5 mph
25 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 4
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 8
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 6
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 1
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 1
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 2
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 6
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 1
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 2
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 1
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) 1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 4
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 40
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 14
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 1
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 10
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
