June 2 - 6, 2005
Birds and Blooms Abound On the Recent Michigan Field Trip |
|||
| Early on the morning of June 2nd, 2005, eager birders began to congregate at the residence of George and Betsy Wilson in east-central Indianapolis; though George and Betsy have the neatest wildflower garden in that quarter of town, the target area was actually many hours travel north, and would ultimately find a group of twenty-five Hoosiers in the middle of Michigan's mighty Huron-Manistee National Forest, where the North woods begins to assert itself in earnest. George and Betsy graciously allowed several vehicles to be parked at their home to allow the party to carpool in a manageable caravan, and the caravan was off at the planned departure time and headed for the first stopover at Kawkawlin, Michigan and the Northland Motel. It took about seven hours to reach that destination, including rest stops. | |||
| Once everyone was settled into the motel, the group reconvened and set out for the Bay City State Recreation Area, just a few minutes distant. After paying the gate fee ($8.00 per vehicle at most state properties) and parking in sight of Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay, everyone was finally afoot and enjoying a late afternoon birdwalk in Tobico Marsh. Some of the most common residents of this extensive cattail marsh were singing Swamp Sparrows and Marsh Wrens; one was never out of earshot of either species, and the first Alder Flycatcher of the trip was plainly heard and observed; nearby Willow Flycatchers afforded good comparison of the two species' vocalizations. | |||
| One Sedge Wren sang continuously; a male Common Merganser was noted in the large area of open water at the north end of the marsh. Black-crowned Night-herons were very common, and a few of the photographers in the assemblage took some very nice images of these handsome birds away with them. Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets waded in the shallows, and a Least Bittern called frequently from the cattails; the only Green Heron seen on the entire trip was recorded here. One Forster's Tern and some Caspian Terns were winging over the marsh, and a sizeable flock of breeding plumaged Dunlin and a few Spotted Sandpipers were noted from the beach. |
|
||
| After checking out of the motel early the next day, a short drive northwards put the caravan in the extensive marshes of the Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area; almost as soon as everyone had left their vehicles, an active Yellow Warbler nest was discovered at eye-level near the observation platform; from the vantage on the platform, some famously good pictures of the female Yellow Warbler were taken as she was incubating. Yellow Warblers like it in Michigan; they are present in good-to-great numbers at all of the marshes and along the plentiful lakeshores and riverbanks. Also seen from the platform were the first Black Terns of the journey; oddly enough, the property's checklist describes this species as uncommon in the summer, though at least six could be seen at once from some areas. On the last of the three hikes along the levees, a pair of these ethereally graceful terns was seen at their nest of barely emergent marshweeds in the middle of a large impoundment. |
|
||
| The three hikes at Nayanquing were enlivened by the presence of great swarms of a large midge; they were especially thick in the tall grasses near the thickets and small woodlots, and rose up in whining waves when disturbed. One learned not to swat or brush at the clinging swarm, though it took a bit of getting used to, being covered in live insects. More than one birder stated that it was a good thing they weren't mosquitoes! As many as five Savannah Sparrows were seen and heard singing at the edges of some farmfields adjoining the impoundments, and a few Horned Larks as well; Northern Harriers made brief appearances, usually being harried along by zealous blackbirds, and Northern Rough-winged, Tree and Bank Swallows were tallied. Another great slew of Marsh Wrens and Swamp Sparrows made the cattails ring with their singing; if they were common at Tobico Marsh, they were abundant at Nayanquing. |
|
||
| Several handsome Yellow-headed Blackbirds were easy to see as they perched atop the swaying cattails, and when the wind was right it carried their odd grating song to the group's ears. The gabble of a couple of reticent Common Moorhens added to the concert, and through the diligent efforts of Dr. Peter Scott and Martha Davis, the party enjoyed some rare and fantastic close-up views of several calling Virginia Rails as they scuttled through their reeded mazes; a Sora commented on the proceedings but never showed itself. A total of three American Bitterns were seen in flight, and Great Egrets, Black-crowned Night-herons and Great Egrets were common. Many pairs of Blue-winged Teal frequented the wide ditches; also tallied were several Wood Ducks, one pair of Northern Shovelers and a pair of fly-by Redheads. An immature male Orchard Oriole was seen and heard singing in a large open-grown tree; a couple of Least Flycatchers gave their unique call. Near the conclusion of the visit, the party was delighted to discover at least three Bobolinks in the lush grassy meadows near the property headquarters, affording great views to all. | |||
| Even though Mio is the best part of two hours' travel north of Nayanquing, it was decided to stop along the way at the Rifle River Recreation Area, a state property about five miles east of Rose City. It was a good decision; even though it was mid-afternoon, the breathtaking scenery more than compensated for the muted bird activity. An observation platform perched atop a high narrow ridge afforded a fine view down on glittering lakes to either side. A fine Common Loon was observed at length as it swam in lazy circles and preened, while an adult Bald Eagle soared overhead. Northern Waterthrushes sang from the Rifle River's shoreline thickets; Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and White-throated Sparrows were heard, too, and this property is one of only two areas where Magnolia Warblers were heard to sing during the entire trip. The first Pink Ladies'-slippers of the trip were noted on the shores of a small lake, and some White Baneberry was in flower on the roadsides. The shortness of time prevented more thorough exploration of the property, but some of the best birds of that visit were seen or heard at or near a cedar swamp: singing Wood Thrushes and Veeries, a Red-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Yellow-throated and Warbling Vireos, and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Back on the road to Mio, a Broad-winged Hawk flew into sight along the shoulder of Highway 33 north of Rose City. |
|
||
| Bright and early on the morning of Saturday June 4th saw the field-trippers assembled at the Forest Service office in downtown Mio, eager to caravan to the Jack Pine habitat and the long-awaited appointment with one of the rarest species of wood-warblers in the United States. What great fortune! The day dawned fair and it turned out that the Jack Pine plantation visitation site was at the boundary of two male Kirtland's Warbler's territories; time and time again, one particularly cooperative male would perch atop a Jack Pine or a dead snag only a few yards from the road's edge and allow almost unprecedentedly good poses for scope views and photographs while it delivered its song. The Common Ravens and a Broad-winged Hawk present in the area were paid brief attention; the Kirtland's Warblers stole the show again. |
|
||
| The only minor irritation of the trip was being made to wait after getting bumped out of the line for the Forest Service's Kirtland's Warbler orientation video by an unscheduled group of birders; the consolation prize for this inconvenience was that the party from Indiana enjoyed the local leadership of Joe Gomola. Joe is the man to ask for when planning for any of the Forest Service's guided visits to the Jack Pine habitats near Mio; Joe is a wildlife biology technician and has been associated with the Kirtland's Warbler program for the past seven years. There are many fine Forest Service employees who perform this service adequately, but the Indiana Audubon Society has enjoyed Joe's sense of humor and genuine interest in seeing to it that the birders get onto the target birds on at least two trips now. | |||
| Upon departure from the Kirtland's Warbler territories, the group headed south and a little west, to search for Clay-colored Sparrows in some clearcuts; though the Clay-coloreds remained elusive on this trip, the stops did yield some equally interesting sightings. Very notable was some good views of a territorial Lincoln's Sparrow; after a bit of patient stalking, Alan Bruner shepherded the bird into sight atop a short pine tree, where it delivered its' unique and seldom-heard (at least in Indiana) House Wren-like song. At this same site, everyone was treated to the best views ever of a small number of Brewer's Blackbirds that flew in to saunter along the edges of a large puddle. |
|
||
| The harmonies of Hermit Thrushes were audible in many places throughout the trip, but a few of the attendees were treated to the sight of a couple of these birds as they foraged at the side of the road in the vicinity of this productive stop; those who missed the Hermits were compensated by the discovery of an active Blue-headed Vireo nest right along the shoulder of the gravel road. Singing Brown Thrashers were noted; another Kirtland's Warbler or two were heard in this vicinity, and the first Ruffed Grouse of the trip was heard drumming as one foot party was making their way back to the caravan. | |||
| Some species of warblers in the Huron-Manistee National Forest are downright abundant! Nashville Warblers occupied a variety of habitats and it was unusual to be out of earshot of them; Ovenbirds blasted teach-teach-teach from every quarter, the dreamy lisps of Black-throated Green Warblers and the tentative trill of Pine Warblers were common-place. Male American Redstarts flaunted their black-and-orange finery at every turn, and those of us who can't get enough of Black-and-White Warblers were sated with the sight and sound of them. On the downside, Magnolia Warblers certainly seemed scarce, at least in comparison to past trips, and Chestnut-sided Warblers completely evaded discovery in spite of concerted effort. |
|
||
| After leaving the Jack Pines for lunch in Mio, the caravan set out east from Mio on McKinley Road, part of the Au Sable River Wildlife Viewing Tour; there are many places along the north shore of the winding Au Sable River to pull over and enjoy vistas overlooking the waters and thick forests. A Black-billed Cuckoo was discovered and studied at length at one of the first of these stops, and Dave Lindsey tallied his first Red-breasted Nuthatch in the process of locating the Cuckoo and other birds foraging in the treetops. The deep yellow-orange blooms of Hairy Puccoon were admired at this stop, too. Mourning Warblers were heard singing at a couple of other locations along the Au Sable on that afternoon, but the undergrowth was thick and the birds refused to show themselves. This auto tour and nearby sites are a must-see part of any itinerary planned for the Huron-Manistee National Forest, and really deserves two full days or more of exploration; a good excuse to return! |
|
||
| The first stop after breakfast on Sunday morning June 5th was about eight miles west of Mio, at the Big Creek Boardwalk near the small community of Luzerne, more commonly known as the Luzerne Boardwalk. The boardwalk is part of a larger complex of horse trails that radiate from a nearby campground, and is notable for a wonderfully dense, productive conifer swamp bordering wide, clear Big Creek. The long-awaited song of the Winter Wren was heard several times in the area, as well as the twitter of a singing Brown Creeper. Canada Warblers were heard singing in the dense undergrowth as well, but it was only a few of the most patient of the observers that actually got a glimpse of this beautiful but evasive bird. The Luzerne Boardwalk has proved to be a reliable place to hear Ruffed Grouse; though much more numerous in Michigan than in Indiana, they aren't any easier to see, and as the field trippers were making their way back to the vans, leader Alan Bruner pulled up short and had everyone wait to hear the barely audible thrum of a Grouse drumming distantly in the thickest part of the forest. | |||
| An Evening Grosbeak, first for the trip, called as it swept past low overhead. The Luzerne Boardwalk is a great place to see lots of Marsh Marigolds blooming right next to the trail, along with many other of the more common Michigan wildflowers, especially Fringed Polygala, or Gaywings. Fringed Polygala is a relative to Wintergreen and has a small, deep-pink, unusually orchid-like bloom, and is unmistakeable and grows profusely. Also noted here as well as in many other forest and swamp habitats were Starflower, Wood Anemone, Wild Lily-of-the-Valley and Bunchberry. It might have been a bit early for a good variety of butterflies, but the Tiger Swallowtails certainly made a good showing; many were seen as they fluttered through the clearings or down the roadsides. |
|
||
| North of Grayling is another fine state property, Hartwick Pines State Park, a jewel in the crown of Michigan's public lands, and the next stop after Luzerne and a late breakfast in Grayling. The nature center is a large, modern structure, well-staffed and open until 7:00 p.m.! Evening Grosbeaks are very reliable at the nature center's feeders, and several males and females flew in for the group's enjoyment. One Pine Siskin was attending a feeder as the party entered the building, and some Purple Finches visited the facilities as well. The Purple Finch is very melodious in comparison to their city cousin, the House Finch, much the same way that a Hermit Thrush' song is superior to the American Robin's, and they brightened the woods with their varied warbles. The songs of these and many other typical birds of the North's old-growth forests were heard during a ramble through the 49-acre virgin pine stand, one of the few uncut tracts of conifers left in the state. Ovenbird, American Redstart, Black-throated Green, Pine and Black-and-White Warbler were well-represented, and the first territorial Blackburnian Warblers of the trip were heard singing near there, and after a brutally long session of shuffling about with their heads twisted back at an unnatural angle, Polly Nicely and Martha Davis were finally rewarded with the sight of a bright orange throat broadcasting from the very crown of one of the tallest trees. This bird was one of as many as four birds announcing their territories in the immediate vicinity of the ancient pines; very impressive. If you think that trying to locate a singing Cerulean Warbler in Indiana is a tough job, just try finding one of these Blackburnians; they like to be in the very tops of the tallest trees, and they don't sit still for long, either. Least Flycatchers were also noted in the general area. One of the most memorable occasions of this outing was standing on the long, wide stairs and walkways at the entrance to the nature center and watching a beautiful pair of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers sally forth repeatedly into the open air above the parking lot, flycatching and returning back to a nest cavity very near the stairs to feed their nestlings; attention was also given to a Red-breasted Nuthatch as it crept about the trunks of nearby trees. | |||
| Thunder grumbled and the skies darkened ominously at the outset of the three-mile hike along the Au Sable River Foot Trail just east of Hartwick Pines State Park, but the group's luck held up and the rain held off; it was noted on this and at least two other occasions how the Common Nighthawks made an appearance in the skies low over the forest, flying along the leading edges of the weather fronts. This hike was just as notable for flora as well as fauna; the narrow but well-defined foot trail snaked along the swampy banks of the East Branch of the Au Sable River, and the damp, dim recesses of the riparian forest hosted nothing less than a stupendous number of Moccasin-flowers, or Pink Ladies'-slipper; it was possible to stand in one place and count as many as nine visible in one spot, and Jerry Downs counted over twenty within a stretch of just a few paces. Clintonia, a delicate member of the lily family, was also well-represented and much admired; there was an especially large bed of them right along the trailside just after the second river crossing. |
|
||
| Trip leader Tammy Turner located another two singing Blackburnian Warblers; a fine male was located after much tramping about and craning of already-strained necks. Carol Staggs, Peter Scott and Dan Leach were very fortunate to enjoy great views of a singing Canada Warbler that was finally located on its perch in the most incredibly thick undergrowth; a little later, during the ramble through an old-growth Hemlock stand, an agitated male Hairy Woodpecker with prey in his beak drew their attention to the complaining notes of hungry woodpecker nestlings emanating from a nesting cavity in a well-rotted snag. Another Winter Wren sang here, just once, and some singing Yellow-rumped Warblers caused a little puzzlement; their song was louder and more varied than the absent-minded trilling that the birds utter during their spring migration through Indiana. | |||
| The group enjoyed the best weather of any of the three trips to Mio thus far; though there was some severe thunderstorms experienced in southeastern Michigan on the evening of June 5th, all that was seen of that were some downed limbs along Highway 72 and a few areas of power outages. The brief spate of thunderstorms may have been responsible for the sighting of an American White Pelican over Mio on the last morning of the trip; an excited birder rushed into the Au Sable Restaurant and had to exclaim "Hey guys, there's a pelican over the parking lot!" at least three times to the bleary-eyed breakfast crowd before there was a tentative scraping of chairs and some movement toward the exit. Sure enough, the gleaming white pelican was soaring in wide circles high in the sky over the Mio dam in the company of a swirling cloud of Ring-billed and Herring Gulls; the bird was close enough to be able to distinguish the plate on the upper bill, indicative of a breeding adult. Thanks to sharp-eyed Martha Davis for finding this great trip bird, and to Kathy Feldman for persistently repeating the alert to the sleepy-heads. |
|
||
| The attendees bid Mio farewell with a stop at the scenic Mio Pond overlook on the way out of town, but the birding wasn't over quite yet; the Houghton (HOE-ton) Lake area still deserved a stop, and the sight of as many as seven Ospreys in the air and on the nesting platforms at Houghton Lake Flats more than justified this traditional detour. Bald Eagles soared overhead, and in the process of scouring the rather high-and-dry flats, a few pairs of Sandhill Cranes were discernable; one pair appeared to be on a nest. A little further west of Houghton Lake is a fine marsh habitat, the Dead Stream Flooding; many Black Terns were aloft over the marshes and some of the best views of this species were had at this stop. After a bit of backtracking, the final visit in this area was to have a look at some reliable Yellow Rail habitat to get an idea of what kind of marsh this secretive species prefers; the area was a great expanse of low-growing rush, and if it weren't for the crude boardwalk erected there for the purpose of maintaining a really, really long wastewater drainpipe, the group would have all required hip-waders. | |||
| All of the attendees are to be commended for their fine manners, patience and good behavior; it was a great help to the trip leaders and much appreciated. IAS Field Trip Co-chairs Alan Bruner and Tammy Turner have successfully collaborated on yet another fine out-of-state outing for the members of the Indiana Audubon Society, and provided a very economical, educational and spiritually elevating experience; many thanks to Alan and Tammy for attending to all of the myriad details of this excellent adventure, and all of those other great trips that have gone before. There just isn't space enough to render them the proper credit! |
|
||
Text by Dan Leach, Photos from Cindy Leffelman, Kathy Feldman, Diana Hews and Jerry Downs.
List of birds sighted