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Sault Ste
Marie, Michigan Trip
February 12 - 15,
2010
8
members spent 3 days exploring the eastern portion of the Upper
Michigan Peninsula. The weather was unusually mild, getting into
the lower 20s each day, and with a relatively small amount of
snow on the ground. Still, there was snow on the ground and the
somewhat bleak beauty of the fields and rich beauty of the woods
was inspiring as usual.
In general there were both fewer species
of birds present and overall numbers were way down. Still, the
birds we did see were terrific and we had in general very good
views of them. Our explorations took us from the canal
waterfront, through beautiful spruce/birch forests, past farms &
fields, and along frozen beaches. We visited such diverse areas
as the Dunbar Agricultural Station, Hulbert Bog Rd., Dafner
Dump, Whitefish Point and Tahquamenon Falls.
A new treat was visiting a
local farmer who feeds eagles (!!!) and his neighbor who feeds
turkeys. We saw about seven Bald Eagles (including one immature)
and a flock of perhaps 20-30 Common Ravens. Wonder what you feed
eagles? ...road kill!
Here's the group's
list:
Mallard
Common Goldeneye
Sharp-tailed Grouse (one flyover, then three in a field)
Wild Turkey (about 30 in two groups, then a smaller group in the
Lower Peninsula on the way home)
Bald Eagle (about 16-17; not everybody saw every eagle)
Red Tailed Hawk (1)
Rough-legged Hawk (1)
Gull sp.-a flyover over about a dozen birds near the Dafter Dump
Rock Pigeon (lots)
Mourning Dove (just a few)
Snowy Owl (2; good looks at an adult female on a
telephone
pole, & an adult male on a barn that gave us a nice view of a
flight into a snow-covered field)
Downy Woodpecker (about 10)
Hairy Woodpecker (similar numbers)
Pileated Woodpecker (one flyover)
Northern Shrike (1)
Gray Jay (3)
Blue Jay (about 3)
American Crow (quite a few)
Common Raven (Lots-and at least three larger flocks 3+)
Black-capped Chickadee (the only common passerine, in good
numbers)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (a few)
White-breasted Nuthatch (a good numbers)
Golden-Crowned Kinglet (at least 2 calling in the woods at
Hulbert's Bog)
European Starling
Bohemian Waxwing
Snow Bunting (a couple of smallish groups)
Red-winged Blackbird (1)
Pine Grosbeak (perhaps 12-15, in three groups)
Purple Finch (2-3, at Dunbar)
Pine Siskin (2-3, heard only)
American Goldfinch (good numbers-scores-at Dunbar)
On the ride home in the Lower Peninsula, other people in the
group saw an American Kestrel and a Great Blue Heron, both
flying overhead, and both ways we all had a good number of
Red-tailed Hawks.
Page last updated on
Tuesday March 16, 2010
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