While most Avids trip stay within the boundaries of the state of Ohio, we decided on something different for the June trip during trip planning sessions back in March. Based on a previous trip to Michigan in 2010 that was very successful, the Columbus Avids made the long trek to the Lower Peninsula of Michigan for a weekend exploring the woods and marshes of that state, with a focus on the Grayling region and the famous Kirtland’s Warbler. This trip was the first time birding Michigan for several trip participants, and Michigan native and trip leader Andy Sewell was happy to guide the group to locations where birds we know in Ohio as passing migrants breed and thrive.
Six Columbus Avids members headed up to “that state up north” early Friday morning, meeting at the Upper Sandusky McDonalds. Our first birding stop was Lillie Park, just south of Ann Arbor, where a Little Blue Heron had been reported. Reclaimed gravel pits here have been transformed into a small park with paved and unpaved trails winding between three small bodies of water, one of which is a glacial remnant. After some searching and deducing we were in the wrong location, we found the heron flying away from Duck Potato Pond, which oddly enough had neither ducks nor potatoes. We relocated the Little Blue Heron on the adjacent Turtle Rock Pond, perched in a tree, with a Great Blue Heron and Green Heron nearby, allowing us to closely observe the size and shape differences in the species. We enjoyed helping a half dozen local birders find the Little Blue Heron. A Painted Turtle on the path along the pond diverted our attention briefly, and reassured us that the person who names the ponds in Ann Arbor wasn’t a complete madman. We also saw Great Crested Flycatchers, Warbling Vireos, Yellow Warblers, Spotted Sandpipers, and Tree, Barn and Cliff Swallows here. A Yellow-throated Vireo calling in the distance was a welcome addition to the trip list.
Continuing north and keeping an eye on the weather as scattered thunderstorms rolled across the state, our next stop was Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, a 9,427-acre preserve near Saginaw. We walked the Ferguson Bayou Trail observing Baltimore Oriole, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Ruby- throated Hummingbird, Savannah Sparrow, and Tree, Bank, Northern Rough-winged and Cliff Swallows. We did not attempt the full loop, as the birds were fairly silent, and instead took a short walk cutting through a beautiful woods with stinging nettles and lots of insects, but few birds. Checking the radar and estimating that we could miss most of the rain if we lingered a bit, we opted to try the new driving trail around the refuge and saw Sandhill Cranes, Black-crowned Night-heron, Forster’s Tern, Trumpeter Swans, Wild Turkeys, Bald Eagles, Common Gallinule, American Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal, and Green-winged Teal. A singing first-year male Orchard Oriole on the way out was an unexpected treat, making up for frustrations with non-vocal flycatchers at the reserve (although various members of the group did hear Willow, Acadian, and Alder – few heard all three and the Alder Flycatcher remains an regrettable miss for nearly all of the members of the group).
Our final stop of the day was Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area. We climbed the observation tower and observed the fields and marshes, and scanned Lake Huron in the distance. We saw two Canada Geese tending an amazing 18 young. Had the other geese left them with a babysitter, or were these the Duggars of the waterfowl world? Nine Sandhill Cranes were grazing in the distance and a couple Black-crowned Night-herons flew by. Although this area is known for the species, we were unable to locate any Yellow-headed Blackbirds in the marsh or adjacent farm fields. Bitterns proved elusive as well, with a brief glimpse of a Least Bittern and a briefer observation of an American Bittern booming in the distance. Moving on, we ended the day’s birding at the Super 8 Motel in Grayling with Common Nighthawks fluttering by overhead.
Saturday morning dawned cool and rainy, although as any Michigander will tell you: “If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute and it will change.” We headed for Hartwick Pines State Park where the Audubon tours to the Kirtland’s Warbler areas meet, and fortunately the rains cleared. At the Nature Center feeders, we watched an Evening Grosbeak and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks get their breakfast on a window feeder, and were entertained by the “thwop” of Blue Jay’s tails hitting the window as they landed at the feeders. After an informational video, we were on our way to the breeding grounds, where half of the world’s estimated 4,000 Kirtland’s Warblers reside. Our Michigan Audubon guide took us to the territory of a nesting pair. We were able to see both the male and female bringing food to the young in a nest, well hidden behind a small ridge of grass under a jack pine tree. Further down the path, we observed a young male singing, with three other males heard in the distance. Kirtland’s Warblers have a 5- to 10-acre territory in jack pines between 5 and 20 years old(5 to 20 feet tall), preferring forests of a thousand acres of pines. The federal government and the State of Michigan has devoted millions of dollars and thousands of acres to the preservation of the jack pine habitat for this rare warbler; the management practices incidentally providing good habitat for Nashville Warbler, Clay-colored Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, and Upland Sandpiper, and other species.
After checking out a Brown-headed Cowbird cage, we scouted areas recommended by our Audubon guide that were good for Clay-colored Sparrow, a life bird for at least half the group. These areas were supposed to be great for Vesper Sparrows and numerous other birds. Unfortunately, some of the birds were evading us, as we heard about 20 more birds than we managed to actually see. We did find a nesting pair of Lincoln’s Sparrows, who seemed to want us to leave their territory, so we continued searching for other birds, finding Dark-eyed Juncos, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Scarlet Tanagers. Although Clay-colored Sparrows eluded us on Saturday, we were able to find 8 Brewer’s Blackbirds, all on nesting territory.
We next walked a woodland path to Wakely Lake, noting many Rose- breasted Grosbeaks and flushing an American Woodcock. At the lake, Trumpeter Swans were visible and Bald Eagles soared overhead, but the Common Loons that nest here were silent, hiding to protect their young. We observed Cedar Waxwings and American Robins on nests. Although most of the warblers we counted on our trip were from individuals singing in the undergrowth or far away in the trees, an Ovenbird and Pine Warbler allowed excellent views.
On Saturday afternoon we opted for a self-guided auto tour in the Mio area, due to all the storms in the region; reasoning that if we had to bird in the rain, it would be best to do it by car. The Mio region is home to more managed Kirtland’s Warbler habitat, although we heard only one male singing through this 37-mile tour. Loads of Nashvilles were vocalizing, and finally everyone got to see one perched up and singing, after much effort! Further on, the tour makes its way through an oak-aspen forest, where we picked up Common Raven, Red-headed Woodpecker, Veery, Black-and-White Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, American Redstart, Yellow-rumped Warbler, loads of Ovenbirds, Pine Warbler, and a surprise Mourning Warbler. Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, and numerous Rose-breasted Grosbeaks rounded out this route.
After dinner at the colorful Spike’s Keg o’ Nails in downtown Grayling (excellent burgers), we drove thru the 940-acre Seventh Day Adventist Camp Au Sable. We watched a constable of Common Ravens perched in a tree (“Constable” refers to a group of ravens guarding something, originally a reference to the famous Tower of London ravens); as they flew off we wondered if they were now an “unkindness” of ravens (referring to a flock of ravens seeking prey from another bird). Hermit Thrushes sang and flew around the camp. While looking for the “bird observation” area indicated on signs, we came to a replica frontier fort; while the guys circled the fort twice, observing an Eastern Phoebe on both rounds, the women checked out the interior meeting space, which was unoccupied by birds or frontiersmen. We were surprised to find a couple Bobolinks in a field behind the camp boundaries, where the Grayling waste water plant is located. Vesper and Savannah Sparrows were also singing from this field. As it grew darker and darker, we finally found the nature center and walked out on a suspension bridge over a shallow arm of the lake, where we saw bats and Common Nighthawks, and heard a Barred Owl and a distant Whip-poor-will – a fine cap to a long day of birding.
On Sunday the rainy weather was again a concern, so we birded close to the car. We decided to chase Clay-colored Sparrows again, so returned to some of the areas we covered the previous afternoon. We were able to see and hear at least 20 Kirtland’s Warblers as we drove down Chase Bridge Road. A good look at the Clay-colored and Vesper Sparrows continued to evade us, although we finally tracked down a Clay-colored Sparrow and listened to its calls. We returned to the site of the Brewer’s Blackbirds on Staley Lake Road, and in addition to at least 8 blackbirds, located a perched Upland Sandpiper. We saw the bird in flight as well. Further up the road, we saw a Wild Turkey displaying with a couple other turkeys, and added Least Flycatcher to our list.
The rain cleared enough to give us another chance for the Least Bittern and Yellow-headed Blackbirds at Nayanquing Marsh on the way back, where we paused on the way in to assist other birders with shooing a snapping turtle off the road. Marsh Wrens and Swamp Sparrows called loudly in the reeds on either side of the road. Both bitterns were seen by some members of the group; the American Bittern was calling and at least three different Least Bitterns were flying just above the phragmites. This time, we were able to see several male Yellow-headed Blackbirds, even perched long enough for good views through the spotting scopes. Virginia Rails called from the marsh, and Caspian and Forster’s Terns wheeled over Lake Huron. In contrast to the bitterns, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, and Black-crowned Night-herons were easy to see. As the rain began again, we headed back to the highway and bid adieu to our adventures in Michigan.
We counted 124 species for the 3-day trip, with an amazing count of 45 different Kirtland’s Warblers and 52 Nashville Warblers, in comparison to the 51 Yellow Warblers seen on the trip. We had few species of waterfowl and shorebirds, but with other families, we had great success, racking up 7 species of bitterns, herons and egrets; 7 species of woodpecker; 7 flycatcher species; 4 vireos; 12 warblers; 10 sparrow species; and 9 blackbird and oriole species. Some of the life birds for members of the group included the Clay-colored Sparrow, Brewer’s Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Evening Grosbeak, Upland Sandpiper, and Little Blue Heron. The complete trip list follows.
1. Canada Goose
2. Mute Swan
3. Trumpeter Swan
4. Wood Duck
5. American Wigeon
6. Mallard
7. Blue-winged Teal
8. Green-winged Teal
9. Wild Turkey
10. Pied-billed Grebe
11. Double-crested Cormorant
12. American Bittern
13. Least Bittern
14. Great Blue Heron
15. Great Egret
16. Little Blue Heron
17. Green Heron
18. Black-crowned Night-Heron
19. Turkey Vulture
20. Osprey
21. Bald Eagle
22. Cooper’s Hawk
23. Red-tailed Hawk
24. Virginia Rail
25. Common Gallinule
26. American Coot
27. Sandhill Crane
28. Killdeer
29. Spotted Sandpiper
30. Upland Sandpiper
31. American Woodcock
32. Ring-billed Gull
33. Herring Gull
34. Caspian Tern
35. Forster’s Tern
36. Rock Pigeon
37. Mourning Dove
38. Barred Owl
39. Common Nighthawk
40. Eastern Whip-poor-will
41. Chimney Swift
42. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
43. Red-headed Woodpecker
44. Red-bellied Woodpecker
45. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
46. Downy Woodpecker
47. Hairy Woodpecker
48. Northern Flicker
49. Pileated Woodpecker
50. American Kestrel
51. Eastern Wood-Pewee
52. Acadian Flycatcher
53. Alder Flycatcher
54. Willow Flycatcher
55. Least Flycatcher
56. Eastern Phoebe
57. Great Crested Flycatcher
58. Eastern Kingbird
59. Yellow-throated Vireo
60. Blue-headed Vireo
61. Warbling Vireo
62. Red-eyed Vireo
63. Blue Jay
64. American Crow
65. Common Raven
66. Horned Lark
67. Tree Swallow
68. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
69. Bank Swallow
70. Cliff Swallow
71. Barn Swallow
72. Black-capped Chickadee
73. White-breasted Nuthatch
74. House Wren
75. Marsh Wren
76. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
77. Eastern Bluebird
78. Veery
79. Hermit Thrush
80. Wood Thrush
81. American Robin
82. Gray Catbird
83. Brown Thrasher
84. European Starling
85. Cedar Waxwing
86. Ovenbird
87. Black-and-white Warbler
88. Nashville Warbler
89. Mourning Warbler
90. Common Yellowthroat
91. American Redstart
92. Kirtland’s Warbler
93. Yellow Warbler
94. Chestnut-sided Warbler
95. Palm Warbler
96. Pine Warbler
97. Yellow-rumped Warbler
98. Black-throated Green Warbler
99. Eastern Towhee
100. Chipping Sparrow
101. Clay-colored Sparrow
102. Field Sparrow
103. Vesper Sparrow
104. Savannah Sparrow
105. Song Sparrow
106. Lincoln’s Sparrow
107. Swamp Sparrow
108. Dark-eyed Junco
109. Scarlet Tanager
110. Northern Cardinal
111. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
112. Indigo Bunting
113. Bobolink
114. Red-winged Blackbird
115. Eastern Meadowlark
116. Yellow-headed Blackbird
117. Brewer’s Blackbird
118. Common Grackle
119. Brown-headed Cowbird
120. Orchard Oriole
121. Baltimore Oriole
122. American Goldfinch
123. Evening Grosbeak
124. House Sparrow