I returned late last night from 5 days in Michigan. This was the first trip back to one of our former home states since Jeannette and I left the Eastern Upper Peninsula and the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory a few years ago. I returned for a friend’s wedding, and after finding some good deals, I spent a few days extra to do some birding. I had not birded Southeastern Michigan before, so I hoped to add a few species to my Michigan State list, check out new locations, and visit a “life” hawkwatch.

With a Saturday night reception, you could be sure I wasn’t going to be checking for passerine come dawn, so after eventually moseying out the door, I headed south to the Lake Erie Metropark and the Southeast Michigan Raptor Research project. This fall hawkwatch produces one of the highest totals in all of North America, with spectacular numbers of Broad-winged Hawks leading the way. I was a bit early for the first big Broad-winged push, but I enjoyed two good days of hawkwatching, with over 500 and 400 raptors, respectively, being totaled.

Upon arriving at the count site, I promptly added Great Egret – increasingly common in the area – to my Michigan list. A slow start to the count, as low clouds were still being burned off, but soon a nice flight of Sharp-shinned Hawks developed, with a good late afternoon American Kestrel flight moving through as well. One of the highlights for me, however, were the 6+ Cape May Warblers that spent much of the day in the single small spruce tree adjacent to the count site – you’re not going to get any better views than this! (Complete species list and totals below; complete hawkwatch data here.)

Considering how cooperative these birds were, I really should have done better than this shot, of a fall adult male.

This, probably an immature female, was actually my favorite shot, however.

Crosswinds Marsh:

I began the day on Monday at dawn at Crosswinds Marsh, a massive – and successful – wetlands mitigation project. Unfortunately, the mosquitoes outnumbered the birds this morning (I later learned that a specific – and extremely voracious – species was abundant this early fall thanks to the hot, humid, and rainy conditions in southern Michigan this month). (Complete species list below) A check at a nearby sod farm produced 3 Greater Yellowlegs and 159 Killdeer.

I then scooted back to Lake Erie Metropark, where I spent an hour and a half birding the trails. So, this is where all of the birds were this morning! 15 species of warblers – led by Blackpoll Warblers – and a number of other migrants were detected (Complete species list below). I then spent the rest of the day at the hawkwatch, enjoying another good hawk flight.

Tuesday morning, my last day in town, I began by looking for passerines in the urban oasis at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Ford Estate grounds in Dearborn. Not a whole lot was happening – save for more ravenous mosquitoes (and my bug repellent was back here in Maine), so I headed over to Metro Beach Metropark. Once again, it was my second stop of the day that produced birds!

...and the turtles...

13 species of warblers – again Blackpolls were the most numerous, 10 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and a family group of Eastern Wood-Pewees still feeding young. Plus, I added two birds to my Michigan list: Common Moorhen and Snowy Egret. 5 Common Moorhens were lingering – a local and uncommon species, and the two Snowy Egrets – genuine rarities here – have been at the location for a week or two. My Michigan list now stands at 272; my third highest state list behind New Jersey and Maine – in case you’re keeping score at home.

Looking out over the "other" Great Lake, Lake St. Clair from Metro Beach Metropark.

When plans with friends to survey Point Mouillee fell through, indecisiveness resulted in fewer birds (I could have taken the chance on Mouillee on my own, which could have yielded lots of walking and few birds, or a couple of state birds), but a great lunch (the area is known for its Middle Eastern food, and my two Middle Eastern meals definitely did not disappoint!), and a short stint of birding with my friend Brad (now slightly more relaxed with wedding is over) before heading to the airport.

I had a great trip, filled with new birding locations, good food, good friends, and a few more state birds. I especially enjoyed visiting the Lake Erie Metropark hawkwatch, as this is one that I have wanted to visit for a while (but of course on Tuesday, when I was wasting the afternoon before my flight, the first big Broad-winged Hawk push – of over 2600 birds – came through. Guess I should have been back at Erie Metropark, ey?). Oh well, next time.

Now, back to birding in Maine . . .

Here are the 4 eBird checklists that I kept for this trip, in case you’re interested:

1) Location: Metropark - Lake Erie (Wayne Co)
Observation date: 9/9/07
Notes: Includes data from Hawkwatch during the included time period.
Number of species: 41

Canada Goose 10
American Wigeon 1
Mallard X
Double-crested Cormorant X
Great Blue Heron 4
Great Egret 3
Green Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 5
Bald Eagle 7
Northern Harrier 17
Sharp-shinned Hawk 134
Cooper's Hawk 20
Broad-winged Hawk 102
Red-tailed Hawk 12
American Kestrel 111
Merlin 5
Peregrine Falcon 2
Killdeer 1
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull 1
Caspian Tern 7
Forster's Tern 5
Rock Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 11
Common Nighthawk 2
Chimney Swift 4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Warbling Vireo 1
Blue Jay 2
Tree Swallow 30
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 20
Carolina Wren 1
Cedar Waxwing 35
Cedar Waxwing X
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 9

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

2) Location: Crosswinds Marsh
Observation date: 9/10/07
Number of species: 32

Canada Goose 120
Mute Swan 17
Wood Duck 5
Mallard 4
Green-winged Teal 1
Great Blue Heron 5
Great Egret 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron 1
Bald Eagle 1
Northern Harrier 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
Killdeer 3
Caspian Tern 2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Red-eyed Vireo 2
American Crow 9
Tufted Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Marsh Wren 1
American Robin 9
Gray Catbird 1
European Starling 40
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 9
Song Sparrow 5
Swamp Sparrow 1
Bobolink 4
Red-winged Blackbird 48
American Goldfinch 7

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

3) Location: Metropark - Lake Erie (Wayne Co)
Observation date: 9/10/07
Number of species: 49

Canada Goose X
Wood Duck 22
Mallard X
Pied-billed Grebe 17
Great Egret 5
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
American Coot 23
Killdeer 14
Ring-billed Gull X
Caspian Tern X
Forster's Tern X
Mourning Dove X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 4
Least Flycatcher 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Warbling Vireo 3
Philadelphia Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Tree Swallow X
Northern Rough-winged Swallow X
Barn Swallow X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Red-breasted Nuthatch 6
Carolina Wren 2
American Robin 4
Gray Catbird 5
Cedar Waxwing X
Tennessee Warbler 1
Nashville Warbler 1
Northern Parula 1
Yellow Warbler 2
Magnolia Warbler 4
Cape May Warbler 6
Black-throated Blue Warbler 3
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Blackburnian Warbler 1
Bay-breasted Warbler 3
Blackpoll Warbler 20
Black-and-white Warbler 1
American Redstart 1
Common Yellowthroat 3
Wilson's Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 6
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Common Grackle X
American Goldfinch X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

4)Location: Metro Beach Metro Park
Observation date: 9/11/07
Number of species: 49

Canada Goose X
Mute Swan X
Mallard X
Blue-winged Teal 25
Green-winged Teal 25
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Double-crested Cormorant X
Great Blue Heron 6
Great Egret 3
Snowy Egret 2
Cooper's Hawk 1
Common Moorhen 5
Black-billed Cuckoo 1
Chimney Swift X
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 10
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 6
Eastern Wood-Pewee 8
Warbling Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 7
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Northern Rough-winged Swallow X
Barn Swallow X
Black-capped Chickadee X
Red-breasted Nuthatch 4
Carolina Wren 3
House Wren 3
Swainson's Thrush 3
Gray Catbird 1
Tennessee Warbler 6
Nashville Warbler 7
Northern Parula 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 8
Magnolia Warbler 6
Black-throated Green Warbler 5
Bay-breasted Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 14
Black-and-white Warbler 4
American Redstart 8
Ovenbird 1
Common Yellowthroat 4
Wilson's Warbler 2
Song Sparrow X
Northern Cardinal 4
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Red-winged Blackbird X
Common Grackle X
American Goldfinch X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)