Welcome to the LWBA Blog page. We have had a great birding year, with trips throughout Marquette and Alger County. Beth Olson, Cathy Waller, Matt Betts, Brian Murphy and Mark and Joanie Hubinger led trips during the spring migration weeks to areas such as Kate’s Grade, Matt’s Place, MSU Farms, Au Train Basin, Limestone Grasslands, Seney National Wildlife Refuge, local favorite Presque Isle and various other locations throughout Marquette County. And, of course, our annual birding picnic at Peninsula Point. Great big thank you to all of our leaders and participants. Our membership has grown, we have almost 500 Facebook followers and exciting projects in the works. Please check out our website for upcoming events.
About our Trip
The Whitefish Point field trip was our largest event of the year. We had sunny, warm weather and some friendly north winds on Sunday.
Field trip attendees made their own travel and accommodation arrangements, some camped, both in tents and trailers, while the majority stayed in local motels. We birded Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday. Saturday we all enjoyed a meal together at the Goat Locker Saloon, and a little birthday celebration song for Sheri. Mark and Joanie Hubinger made a surprise visit during dinner after driving up from Au Train to view the Burrowing Owl.
Best First – The Burrowing Owl
On September 27, as many of us were still back in Marquette preparing for the trip, alerts on Discord about a Burrowing Owl being spotted at Whitefish Point kicked the packing into high gear. Tally-ho!
With all due caution and legal speeds, eight members made it before dark to view this rare visitor to the UP. The bird moved overnight but was relocated during the day Saturday allowing the rest of our group a decent look as the bird hid in the grassy dunes. It was relocated again on Sunday when Korben captured this wonderful video. It has not been seen since Sunday.
To the Birding
Whitefish Point is considered one of the premier birding locations in Michigan and the entire country. It is known throughout the birding community as a migration magnet, a rare bird magnet, and a place to see hundreds of species of birds throughout the year.
Friday
Upon arrival Friday, being late afternoon, there was not much going on, what with the southerly wind and warm temperatures, better a beach blanket day, but, then there was the owl. The alerts started filtering in during mid-afternoon, this western specialty had chosen to “hide” in the dune grass next to the lake viewing platform. It would be the fourth record for Michigan and first for the UP, and Whitefish Point. Locating a rare bird after a long drive can often be grueling, but not this time. Step out of the car, walk 100 yards, toward the gathering birders, and we have a Burrowing Owl resting on the grass.
The map (Birds of the World) above shows the normal range of the Burrowing Owl. On Saturday the bird was relocated midday about 100 yards further east, again hiding in the dune grass. Sunday it was found tucked in next to a large piece of driftwood, later to come out long enough for Korben to get the video.
Charismatic and sometimes comical, the diminutive Burrowing Owl is an easily recognized icon of the grasslands and arid regions of western North America, Florida, and the Caribbean. Unique among North American owls, this species is active day and night, nests in underground burrows, and typically nests in small groups.
In the past half century, Burrowing Owl populations have declined sharply across much of the species’ range. The species is listed as Endangered in Canada, as a species with Special Protection in Mexico, and (although it has no [legal] federal status in the USA) it is “listed” in half of the 18 western states it still occupies. Although no one major factor has been implicated in the decline of this species, the cumulative effects of human activities have undoubtedly taken a major toll. Birds of the World
Saturday
By 7:30 a.m. everyone was present and geared up for a full day of birding. The first hour birds and birders were lost in the fog. Along the beach, American Pipits were calling and a Sharp-shinned Hawk was spotted perched on some driftwood where it sat for twenty minutes until the fog lifted. Later, a Merlin used the same perch. A sole Lapland Longspur was weaving through the beach grass behind the waterfowl counter. The windless, early morning was not conducive to waterfowl migration, so we focused on the scrubby forests and beaches. All weekend the elusive, until you find it, Spruce Grouse was easily viewable at various locations along the boardwalk. There was no lack of smaller birds, dozens of Pine Siskin, Palm Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Yellow-rumped Warbler. Red Crossbill, Tennessee Warbler, Pine Warbler and, Bay-breasted Warbler topped off our passerine list. Out on the water, things remained slow all day. Notable birds were one White-winged Scoter, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, Red-breasted and Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Red-necked Grebe, Common Loon, and a bunch of Canada Geese.
Sunday
Dedicated to birding fun, everyone showed up early Sunday morning for another day of awesome birding. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Clay Bliznick, seasonal ornithologist, for hanging out with us and helping with bird location and ID.
We tended to wander more on Sunday, in smaller groups, enjoying a beautiful at the beach. The winds slowly turned and a stiff north wind came across Lake Superior. Waterfowl from further north wasted no time taking the free ride south. On and off throughout the morning solo waterfowl up to flocks of 100 passed by, mostly far off-shore, but close enough for reliable identification by the expert birders on site. Most common were Red-breasted and Common Merganser, Lesser/Greater Scaup, Northern Pintail, Mallard, Common and Red-throated Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Redhead, White-winged Scoter, Double-crested Cormorant and Canada Goose. Visit eBird for complete listings of all birds recorded by our group members, totaling 65 species.
The Future of Whitefish Point
Many readers of this post already know that Whitefish Point has been dealing with management challenges, and will benefit from everyone coming together to support the future of this birding gem in the U.P.. Please visit the new Facebook page, Friends of Whitefish Point, to learn more. Also, follow the discussions on DISCORD, #eastern-up-whitefish-point.
We hope you have enjoyed reading about our birding adventures. We look forward to sharing our next trip in November, the Pesheeke Grade (McCormick Wilderness area).
I live one mile from the Point. Thank you for this fabulous write up on the burrowing owl and birding in general. I especially appreciate your mention of the importance of this location for birds and how it needs to be better managed. Yes, it does! Jan Vogel