Highlights: Bohemian Waxwing, Northern Cardinal

The weather was pretty nasty today, but there was some movement. Sightings included; Northern Goshawk (photo above), Pine Grosbeak, Purple Finch, Common Redpoll, Red Crossbill, and Pine Siskin.

Highlights: continuing Prairie Warbler (photo above)

South winds produced a rather slow day. The Prairie Warbler, 1st seen on the 22nd, was again seen today, this time it was keeping company with a Yellow-rumped Warbler. Seven Bohemian Waxwings were seen in flight, and Northern Goshawks were regularly patrolling the Point (photo below). Last night Keith and Wendy spotted a Northern Hawk Owl and a Great Gray Owl, they posted a cool shot of the Hawk Owl sitting on the lighthouse on the owl blog.

I did some searching south of the Point today in hopes of finding a Hawk Owl or a Great Gray. No luck with the owls, but there was a Sharp-tailed Grouse (photo below) and a Northern Shrike along Lone Pine Rd.

Highlights: Short-eared Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, Pine Grosbeak (photo above).

Well, as would be expected at this time of year up here, it is starting to be all about the winter finches. Today Pine & Evening Grosbeaks, Red & White-winged Crossbills, and Common & Hoary Redpoll were all seen at the Point. A Short-eared Owl came in off the lake and hung around a bit. A Black-backed Woodpecker also made a brief appearance. A Northern Shrike chased a Downy Woodpecker for about a minute out at the Point, we think the Downy got away. Flocks of Snow Bunting were regularly coming in off the lake today.

Highlights: Prairie Warbler, Pine Grosbeak, and Hoary Redpoll (photo)

The birding was relatively slow again today. The sparrows have slowed down and the winter birds have not yet really kicked in. The exception continues to be redpolls. Common Redpoll flocks are widespread around the Point and multiple Hoary Redpolls were at the feeders today. Three male and one female Pine Grosbeak were feeding in shrubs today, previous reports have all been fly overs. Red Crossbills were seen flying over today. Snow Buntings continue to be seen daily, best bet for these guys is on the beach out at the tip. Keith and Wendy found a Prairie Warbler this afternoon. One has to assume it the same bird from the 21st, but it did appear brighter than that bird. Cory had a Black-legged Kittiwake from the waterbird count today.

Highlights: Hoary Redpoll (photo above)

A ripping north wind all but shut down songbird migration today, there were still a good number of redpolls around. A Northern Shrike caught one at the feeders right in front of us today.

Highlights: Townsend's Solitaire, Northern Cardinal, Black-backed Woodpecker and Dark-eyed "Oregon" Junco (photo above).

After not being seen yesterday, one of the Townsend's Solitaires was relocated this afternoon. It was in the open area opposite North Shore Road. This is private property, but the bird was viewed from the road. A female Northern Cardinal was at the feeders, as was the "Oregon" Junco. Other sightings in the woods today included Black-backed Woodpecker, Northern Shrike, Bohemian Waxwing, Pine Grosbeak, and lots of Common Redpoll

Highlights: Towsend's Solitaire (3), Prairie Warbler (yesterday)

Two Townsend's Solitaires (one in photo above) were found this morning. This evening at least three were still being observed. Yesterday a Prairie Warbler (photo below) was seen very briefly. The Harris's Sparrow continues at the feeders. Other sightings included Pine Grosbeak, Common Redpoll, and Snow Bunting.

Highlights: Cave Swallow, Pine Grosbeak, Northern Cardinal, and Bohemian Waxwing

The weather was absolutely beautiful today and there was some productive birding. The Cave Swallow was seen multiple times until around 3:00 today, this record requires acceptance by the Michigan Bird Records Committee. Other sightings in the woods included Barred Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, Winter Wren, Pine and Evening Grosbeak, and Common Redpoll. Snow Buntings (photo above) continue frequenting the beach. Cory had a nice flight out at the waterbird count today, including nice close passes along the shoreline by Bonaparte's Gulls (photo below)



Feeders: Ruffed Grouse, Northern Cardinal, Northern Shrike (not there for the seed), Harris's Sparrow, Lapland Longspur and Evening Grosbeak

Cave Swallow: Photographed at the Point at approx 1:40 on October 21. Additional photos were taken by Cory Gregory and Kirk Zufelt. We will post an update on any additional sightings, or lack thereof tonight.

Highlights: Cape May and Magnolia Warbler

Well, anybody in the region knows we have been seeing some very unsettled weather. The last few days have been slow for songbirds, but it picked up a bit today. The Cape May and Magnolia Warblers seen today were both late dates for the Point. Horned Lark, American Pipit and Lapland Lonspur have been frequenting the grass around the parking lot and continue being seen out at the Point along with Snow Bunting. Common Redpoll continue daily and have begun visiting the feeders, as have Evening Grosbeaks. The hawks have been putting on some nice shows, over 40 Red-taileds today, Rough-leggeds have also been making appearances as have Northern Goshawks (photo above).

Feeders: Rusty Blackbird, Indigo Bunting, American Tree, Chipping, Savannah, Song, Lincoln's, White-throated, Harris's, and White-crowned Sparrows, White-winged Crossbill, Common Redpoll, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch, and Evening Grosbeak.

Highlights: Barred Owl and adult Northern Goshawk

As is the case during any season, there are going to be slow days. A light east wind really stalled out the migration today, there were still a few good sightings though. A Barred Owl (photo above) was roosting at the Point today. Snow Buntings were on the beach again today, and there was once again a roving flock of Common Redpolls.

Highlights: Black-legged Kittiwake

Activity has been slow in the woods over the last couple of days, but some of the later season birds have begun appearing. Northern Shrikes (photo above), Common Redpoll, and Snow Bunting have been being seen daily. Other reports have included Bohemian Waxwing, Pine and Evening Grosbeak, and White-winged Crossbill. Rough-legged Hawks showed up yesterday, and another was seen today. There have been predictions of a good winter finch season, and we are beginning to see hints that this is going to prove true.

Highlights: Northern Shrike, Common Redpoll, and Harris's Sparrow

Well it has finally begun to feel like fall and appropriately enough the first Northern Shrike and Common Redpoll of the season showed up today. American Tree (photo below) and White-crowned Sparrow numbers have also been increasing. Evening grosbeaks have begun visiting the feeders, after a week or so of flying over the Point. The numbers of Golden-crowned Kinglets have also been growing over the last couple of days. It pains me to admit it, but Cory got better shots of the Shrike than I did today and he posted a nice shot on the waterbird blog.

Feeders: American Tree, Song, Vesper, White-throated, White-crowned, and Harris's Sparrow, Dark-eyed junco, Purple Finch and Pine Siskin. A Ruffed Grouse has also been making the occasional appearance.

Highlights: Orange-crowned Warbler, continuing Harris's Sparrows

There were a few warbler around today, in addition to the Yellow-rumpeds and Palms we had Cape May, Tennesse, Orange-crowned, and Magnolia. Harris's Sparrows continue at the feeders, at least two were still present. there were good numbers of Savannah and Swamp Sparrows around and Tree Sparrows are now being seen daily. A LeConte's Sparrow was found at the foghorn pond on the 6th. The feeders continue attracting large numbers of Pine Siskin.

Highlights: LeConte's Sparrow (photo above), Harris's Sparrow (3)

The woods have been rather active the last few days. There have been lots of Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers. Other warblers have included Tennessee, Magnolia, Redstart, and Northern Waterthrush. Sparrow diversity has been high with American Tree, Chipping, Savannah, LeConte's, Fox, Lincoln's, Swamp, White-throated, Harris's, and White-crowned being seen. Both Red and White-winged Crossbills along with Evening Grosbeaks made fly by appearances today and a Northern Cardinal visited the feeders this afternoon.

There was a big waterbird migration today and owl migration continues to be productive. Be sure to check Cory's waterbird blog along with Keith and Wendy's owl blog for updates.

Highlights: Short-eared Owl, Parasitic Jaeger and a continuing Harris's Sparrow

Waterbird count: Visibility was limited today, but there was still a nice movement close enough to shore to see. White-winged Scoters are moving in decent numbers as are scaup. Other waterfowl included Redhead, American Wigeon, Surf Scoter, Black Duck, Pintail and Blue-winged Teal. Shorebirds today were Black-bellied, American Golden, and Semipalmated Plover, Sanderling ,and a flock of about 70 Dunlin. A Short-eared Owl (photos above) came in off the lake and hunted the beach for about 20 minutes. It returned several hours later and worked the Point briefly before heading out over the bay. Other raptors seen were Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier (including the adult male in photo below), Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, and Merlin. We continue to get nice looks at Parasitic Jaegers. We had a nice long look at one as it came down the lakeside shoreline. The bird today had a very buffy head compared to yesterday's.

Highlights: Parasitic Jaeger, Black Scoter

Waterbirds: The day started off slowly, but the last 2 hours of the count picked up. Sightings included all three scoter species, Redhead, Black-bellied and American Golden Plover and Baird's Sanpiper (photo below). We also had a nice pass from a Parasitic Jaeger (photo above).
Cory and I have been doing the best we can trying to identify jaegers to species and to determine if the same individual is remaining at the Point, a very difficult task. Just visible in the above photo are the pointy central tail feathers of a young Parasitic. These feathers were longer and pointier than the feathers on the Parasitics most recently seen at the Point (see photos in most recent posts). The last Parasitic we observed with streamers this long and pointy, other than an adult, occured on 9/19. The Sept. 19th bird also appeared more pale headed than today's bird, so I assumed this was a new bird. 40+ Dunlin came by the Point after the count had ended.

As I covered the waterbird count, the woods didn't get much coverage today. The Harris's Sparrow was still at the feeders. A cuckoo was seen from the Point, and Keith and Wendy had a Yellow-billed this afternoon. There were lots of Pine Siskins at the feeders today.