Optimism reigns with just a touch of sunshine and a warm day. Although there are still limitations to the top end of temperatures in the Upper Peninsula. Some days in Spring are just more spectacular than others. Last Thursday, April 17, counters were out on Manitou Island off the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula doing raptor work for Copper Country Audubon. Numerous studies along the shores of Lake Superior, like Whitefish Point, Brockway Mountain, and Hawk Ridge in Duluth have collected data on bird migration, particularly on raptors. The hope is to get a better idea about the pathways and timing used during migration over and around the Lake by various species.

At around 8:45 on April 17, a flight of Canada geese began over the island and continued intermittently for three and a half hours. The total number of geese counted was 9,497 geese, probably the largest number ever counted in a time period of this length on Superior. Researchers are identifying several paths across the lake from the central U.P. One appears to be between the end of the Keweenaw and Manitou Island and the other is just a bit farther east over the Huron Mountains and Big Bay. Those two line may possibly merge.

While many larger migrant birds like geese and cranes manage moderately challenging weather as they head northward in the spring, smaller songbirds often rely on key stops to refuel in addition to stops made to wait out strong north winds and storms. Knowing where these stops are and protecting them for future flights is one of the key reasons studies like this are so important.

Each day in the U.P. new sightings are being reported as migrants arrive. Some are just passing through as they continue their travels north into Canada and in some cases Alaska. Many though are birds simply arriving for the summer in the area. Birders at their homes and those out checking area hotspots have all be delighted to find many new arrivals each day. It is a great time to check both places for new birds in the area.

SCOT STEWART

One of the best spots to see new birds in Marquette has been the Dead River near the mouth (called the Dead River Marshes). Migrating ducks are one of the highlights there in the spring. Beside the resident mallards, often number in the hundreds, there have been American coots, green-wing teals, blue-winged teals, common loons, sandhill cranes, and even a yellow-headed blackbird that may have been at feeders on the east side of Marquette earlier in the week.

The yellow-headed blackbird is one of the more unusual birds to show up in the Upper Peninsula in the spring. It is a western species that occasionally wanders eastward during spring migration. A young male appeared on the Lower Harbor Breakwall last spring and this year a mature adult was found at east side feeders in Marquette. The Central U.P. seems to be close to the eastern edge of spring migration for a number of migrant species in spring. Marbled and Hudsonian godwits, western tanagers, and dickcissels are several other western vagrants to look for here.

Another notable set of sightings were made at the Dead River Marshes with a number of great blue herons foraging in the shallows recently. There has been some nesting and courtship behavior seen there suggesting a new nest may be in the offing there this spring. Despite their size, great blue herons nest near the tops of trees, often over wetlands and in colonies. Great blue herons sighting have become more common on the Dead River above the Lakeshore Blvd. bridge the past few years and the shallow waters throughout the area make it a good habitat for them to forage.

Southern points of the U.P. jutting into Huron and Michigan are becoming great spots to catch northbound migrants. Last Tuesday 62 species were observed at Graham Point east of the Mackinac Bridge south of St. Ignace. During the seven-hour count by the Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch — www.mackinacraptorwatch.org/research-data/ — 13 species of ducks were seen, mostly on the move westward along the Lake Huron-Lake Michigan Coast. Other highlights that day included 152 common loons, 131 red-necked grebes, 34 horned grebes, 318 red-breasted mergansers, 264 long-tailed ducks, 68 Bonaparte’s gulls, and 570 broad-winged hawks. Also, of note — 381 golden eagles have been counted at Graham Point this spring!

At Peninsula Point at the tip of the Stonington Peninsula in Delta County this past Wednesday morning 35 species were seen in less than 90 minutes, including 8 duck species and ten yellow-rumped warblers. In the coming weeks this will be a great spot for migrants, including tanagers, indigo buntings, red-headed woodpeckers, Baltimore orioles and in some years large numbers of Bonaparte’s gulls and whimbrels. Over 70 species can often be seen in a single day.

Whitefish Point in Chippewa County also continues as a premier birding spot. With the waterbird counter joining the raptor counter last week there are two sets of eyes on migrants there. Highlights this week included 1383 sandhill cranes counted last Sunday and between 400 and 600 sharp-shinned hawks counted on several days in the past week.

Across the U.P. many birders are seeing the arrival of brown thrashers, belted kingfishers, rusty blackbirds, and several new species of sparrows, including white-throated and vesper. Optimism abounds with all these outdoor experiences.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Scot Stewart is a naturalist at the MooseWood Nature Center, a writer and photographer.