POINT PELEE, CRANE CREEK AND KIRTLAND’S WARBLER 2007

“Our tour began with a late afternoon trip from Covington in Kentucky to near Tylersville in Butler County, Ohio. Here after a quick dinner at McAllister’s Deli we visited the former Voice of America site nearby, a small area of “protected” grasslands. Eastern Meadowlarks and Bobolinks were both numerous, the latter species here at the south end of the breeding range in the Midwest. They provided us with numerous and prolonged close views as the males sang and conducted territorial song flights. Our primary goal was to see the secretive, scarce and very local Henslow’s Sparrow, several of which were known to be present. Although we heard one bird, other than flight views, we were unable to locate the singing bird. But then, late in the day, one confidingly perched up on a shrub top and provided us superb views of its large bill, streaked breast, olive head, and dark rufous-magenta feathering above. In my opinion this is one of our most colourful sparrows that can be most appreciated with close views.

We left early the next morning for the Carolinian forest which predominates in parts of un-glaciated southern Ohio. In the more open country areas we found additional Henslow’s Sparrows at one field which in the past has been known to harbour this species. Additionally we found Northern Bobwhite here and Yellow-breasted Chat. And a Wild Turkey found us, colliding with our windscreen, but fortunately not fatally! Nearby we found Prairie Warblers and a singing adult male Blue Grosbeak, here at the extreme northern end of the breeding range. A Black Vulture emerging from an abandoned house was probably nesting, and was our only sighting of this species. Near West Union we were directed to a grassy field where we saw a singing and our only (audible to some of the group!) Grasshopper Sparrow. Continuing on to the beautiful Shawnee Forest we started our search for many southern species, all of which breed here in numbers. These included Yellow-billed Cuckoo (at least fleeting views but calls heard too),Yellow-throated and White-eyed Vireos, Yellow-throated, Cerulean, Worm-eating, and Kentucky Warblers, and Louisiana Waterthrush. The Ceruleans were particularly confiding providing us eventually with close and “low” views. Late in the day we ran into the head man in charge of Shawnee Forest who couldn’t have been friendlier. Perhaps in the future we’ll search for some of the known Timber Rattlesnakes that are found here. In addition to the southern breeding species, some migrants such as Swainson’s Thrush and Tennessee, Blackburnian, and Bay-breasted Warblers were about.

The following morning we went birding the Scioto Trails near Chillicothe and found many of the same species we had seen the previous day, again getting excellent views of Cerulean and Worm-eating Warblers. We added Hairy Woodpecker and Pine Warbler to the trip list, but unfortunately Summer Tanager eluded us and we only heard Acadian Flycatcher. Continuing north we easily located Yellow-crowned Night-Herons on two nests in a posh neighborhood of Columbus and at the north end of Hoover Reservoir we found several territorial Prothonotary Warblers. Some 25 migrant Common Terns were unusual for an inland location. From here we continued on straight to Crane Creek where late in the afternoon and again the following day we had a wonderful show of northbound passerine migrants. A Cattle Egret late that afternoon at Crane Creek was notable.

It’s hard to really characterize the board walk at Magee Marsh if you haven’t experienced it first hand. I have seen no other location where the migrants are virtually at arm’s length. Other than the southern warbler species we had seen the previous two days, we saw virtually the entire compliment of eastern species, most of which gave us repeated superb views. Notable highlights included Blue-winged and multiple male Mourning and Canada Warblers. A scarce (for here) female Cerulean Warbler couldn’t have been more cooperativet. Other highlights included a confiding Sora, a pair of roosting gray morph Eastern Screech-Owls, a Philadelphia Vireo, excellent comparisons of several Swainson’s Thrushes and Veeries, plus a single Gray-cheeked Thrush, and American Woodcocks foraging in the wet leaf litter. The two were in close proximity to each other and one closely followed the movements of the other and the possibility was raised that it was a parent with a young bird. While the Birds of North America series is vague about the timing of the hatching of the young, the juvenal plumage is described as very adult-like, and it seems likely we were watching a fledged young with one of its parents. A Snapping Turtle made it presence known throughout the day. Nearby we stopped in at a flooded field where over 40 American Golden-Plovers were loafing, all in their stunning alternate plumage and at nearby Metzger Marsh we saw the seven continuing Glossy Ibis, a rarity anywhere in the Midwest.

Fortunately, we had a full day here, for on Saturday (International Migratory Bird Day), we found it impossible even to get on the Boardwalk. Fortunately, here in northern Ohio we found much to occupy our time elsewhere. In the willows at the entrance to Crane Creek we had good studies of a singing “eastern” Willow Flycatcher of the nominate race and had the chance to study its differences from the duller western subspecies that most of us knew better. For two days each year the personnel at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge open an auto tour. Here we had the opportunity to see many marshy areas normally closed to the public. Highlights included a pair of scarce American Bitterns which circled up nearly a thousand feet only to plunge back into the marsh. I suppose this must have been a mating display of some sort. Other highlights included a record (for me in the Midwest) six Common Moorhens and a seen Virginia Rail. At Metzger Marsh some of us got onto a single Stilt Sandpiper before it flew. While looking for it, one participant located our only White-rumped Sandpiper which was quite cooperative. Late in the day we got word that a pair of King Rails was being cooperative at Mallard Marsh. We headed straight there and were rewarded with excellent views of the calling territorial pair. T his species is a scarce breeder in the upper Midwest and these birds are near the northern end of their breeding range. With their large size, overall chestnut-buff coloration and strongly barred black-and-white flanks, they certainly were striking.

On our final day we returned to the boardwalk and again took the auto tour where highlights included a pair of Black Terns, Yellow-headed Blackbird, “eastern” Marsh Wrens (heard only), and a visit with Kenn Kaufman. And, eventually post cards were located! Late in the day we visited the Oak Openings region west of Toldeo where we found Red-headed Woodpeckers, Eastern Bluebirds and Lark Sparrows. After dinner on the west side of Toledo we arrived late in the evening in Leamington.

Point Pelee is a very different experience from Crane Creek across the Lake. The National Park is larger and is much more wooded. The actual point was virtually non-existent this year, a result, I suppose, of winter storms. Birds tend to be more thinly distributed on most days, yet the networking is better and news of rarities that are found gets quickly spread. We certainly benefited from the news. Soon after arriving at the tip region, we were studying with dozens of others the roosting Chuck-will’s-widow, here roosting on the same branch for a second day. This is a rare species in Ontario and we were most fortunate that it stayed for a second day. Not far away was a roosting Eastern Screech-Owl. The migrants were fewer than on the other side of the Lake (except for Nashville Warblers which were common), but three Philadelphia Vireos were notable. In the afternoon we visited Hillman Marsh, the best location in the area for shorebirds. Here hundreds of American Golden and Black-bellied Plovers were packed in together. While there we learned that a Kirtland’s Warbler had just been found back at Point Pelee. We quickly returned and were rewarded with superb prolonged views of this foraging bird. It was a female, and almost certainly a second year bird because of the dullness. It bobbed its tail frequently, an excellent character for foraging birds. This is only the second migrant Kirtland’s I’ve ever seen and was enjoyed by several hundred observers.

Our second day at Pelee was pretty much like our first in that migrants were overall rather scarce. We did succeed in finding the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in the afternoon near the tip and had good studies of a Willow Flycatcher which eventually gave diagnostic liquid “whit” calls. Near the entrance to Tildens we were treated to a confiding female Golden-winged Warbler, one of only three for the trip. We headed to Wheatley Harbour where amongst many gulls we located a single second calendar year Lesser Black-backed Gull. Many Sanderlings, some of which were in their full alternate “reddish” plumage, were present. We continued on some fields farther east where some late Lapland Longspurs were lingering. We managed to see seven, only the third time in over 25 years that we have encountered this species on this tour. We also got to see the approaching storm which broke out in full force as were dining at Paula’s Fish Place, putting an end to our after dinner attempt for displaying American Woodcocks.

Somewhat more migrants were present on our final morning at Pelee. We had good studies of another Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and of our only Black-billed Cuckoos of the trip. A female Canvasback flying by the tip was notable as was a singing White-eyed Vireo and a Clay-coloured Sparrow.

It was late in the day when we arrived at our hotel in East Tawas. A few of us ventured quickly to Tawas Point State Park, but it was really too late in the day to properly bird it.

The following morning we arrived at Tawas Point State Park and carefully birded it, north to south. Migrants were not especially numerous but there was a nice variety and several male Scarlet Tanagers provided stunning views. Upon arriving at the campground we learned that a Short-eared Owl had been flying around much of the morning. When we flushed it out of a woodlot, we were stunned to discover that it was instead a Barn Owl, a species essentially extirpated from the Midwest. It was state bird for virtually all of the Michigan birders present, as well as those that chased from 100 or more miles away. It formerly bred in the state, but now appears extirpated, the last confirmed breeding being in 1983 from Monroe County in the southwest part of the state. It was our rarest bird of the trip. In the campground itself we finally connected with a singing Orange-crowned Warbler (northern nominate race), our 36th and last warbler of the trip. This species is a scarce migrant throughout eastern North America. Late in the day after dinner we visited Tuttle Marsh where many Common Nighthawks were visible over the marsh. At dusk we listened to rather distant Whip-poor-wills and then heard a Northern Saw-whet Owl which responded to tape and provided brief, but good, views. This is at the southern edge of its breeding range in the Midwest and is the first time we have recorded this species on the tour.

After a final morning at Tawas Point (highlight being seven Whimbrels and a male Golden-winged Warbler that was seen by some) we headed north and west stopping for nesting Trumpeter Swans (established now in Michigan), Upland Sandpipers, and Vesper Sparrow. After dinner, we ventured southeast of Mio where we treated to a dusk serenade of Whip-poor-wills (one seen well) and a displaying American Woodcock. A distant Northern Saw-whet Owl was audible in the distance as the sky darkened.

On our final morning, rather warm temperatures and calm conditions (initially) indicated good conditions for Kirtland’s Warbler, and we were not disappointed. We saw several singing adult males well (one being especially close) and heard others. Continuing south later in the morning we stopped at Rifle River State Recreation Area where a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and a territorial male Golden-winged Warbler were seen by all. We continued on south to Indian Springs Metro Park where we eventually located a pair of Acadian Flycatchers and heard a singing Louisiana Waterthrush in the distance. Near the entrance was a pair of Sandhill Cranes. T

In all we tallied 36 species of warblers missing only the elusive and scarce Connecticut. We found nearly all of the possible Neotropical migrants/breeding birds missing in addition to the Connecticut only Alder and Olive-sided Flycatchers. As a post script several of us saw an Olive-sided Flycatcher at Wildwood Metro Park on the drive back to Cincinnati on the 21st. We found no sign of the hybrid Northern Parula x Cerulean Warbler there. A few days after we left Tawas Point I heard that a rare Tricolored heron had appeared there, and just today (27 May) news arrived that a Couch’s Kingbird is now present for its third day. Like Point Pelee, Tawas Point is clearly a great place for rarities.” Jon Dunn.

BIRD LIST

Column A = number of tours out of five on which this species has been recorded
Column B = number of days this species was seen on the 2007 tour
Column C = maximum daily count for this species on the 2007 tour
Column D = N = Nest observed

A B C D

5	Canada Goose	12	100		Branta canadensis
5	Mute Swan	1	8		Cygnus olor
2	Trumpeter Swan	3	6		Cygnus buccinator
5	Wood Duck	7	22		Aix sponsa
4	Gadwall	1	3		Anas strepera
1	American Wigeon				Anas americana
2	American Black Duck				Anas rubripes
4	Mallard				Anas platyrhynchos
5	Blue-winged Teal	5	10		Anas discors
3	Northern Shoveler				Anas clypeata
1	Northern Pintail				Anas acuta
2	Green-winged Teal	1	2		Anas crecca
3	Redhead				Aythya americana
1	Ring-necked Duck	1	1		Aythya collaris
1	Greater Scaup				Aythya marila
3	Lesser Scaup				Aythya affinis
1	Harlequin Duck				Histrionicus histrionicus
1	Surf Scoter				Melanitta perspicillata
1	Long-tailed Duck				Clangula hyemalis
1	Bufflehead				Bucephala albeola
1	Common Goldeneye				Bucephala clangula
3	Hooded Merganser	3	1		Lophodytes cucullatus
3	Common Merganser				Mergus merganser
5	Red-breasted Merganser	4	12		Mergus serrator
4	Ruddy Duck				Oxyura jamaicensis
4	Ring-necked Pheasant				Phasianus colchicus
1	Ruffed Grouse	1	1		Bonasa umbellus
5	Wild Turkey	5	1		Meleagris gallopavo
1	Northern Bobwhite				Colinus virginianus
1	Red-throated Loon				Gavia stellata
5	Common Loon	3	1		Gavia immer
5	Pied-billed Grebe	6	8		Podilymbus podiceps
2	American White Pelican	1	9		Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
5	Double-crested Cormorant	10	500		Phalacrocorax auritus
4	American Bittern	2	1		Botaurus lentiginosus
2	Least Bittern	1	4		Ixobrychus exilis
5	Great Blue Heron	10	15		Ardea herodias
5	Great Egret	7	20		Ardea alba
5	Snowy Egret	1	1		Egretta thula
2	Little Blue Heron				Egretta caerulea
2	Cattle Egret				Bubulcus ibis
5	Green Heron	2	1		Butorides virescens
4	Black-crowned Night-Heron	2	1		Nycticorax nycticorax
3	Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	1	3		Nyctanassa violacea
1	Glossy Ibis				Plegadis falcinellus
1	White-faced Ibis				Plegadis chihi
1	Black Vulture				Coragyps atratus
5	Turkey Vulture	8	40		Cathartes aura
5	Osprey	2	2		Pandion haliaetus
5	Bald Eagle	9	5		Haliaeetus leucocephalus
5	Northern Harrier	2	1		Circus cyaneus
4	Sharp-shinned Hawk				Accipiter striatus
4	Cooper's Hawk	4	1		Accipiter cooperii
1	Red-shouldered Hawk				Buteo lineatus
4	Broad-winged Hawk	4	5		Buteo platypterus
5	Red-tailed Hawk	7	6		Buteo jamaicensis
5	American Kestrel	7	2		Falco sparverius
1	Merlin	1	1		Falco columbarius
1	Yellow Rail				Coturnicops noveboracensis
4	Virginia Rail	2	3		Rallus limicola
5	Sora	4	2		Porzana carolina
3	Common Moorhen	2	2		Gallinula chloropus
5	American Coot	5	6		Fulica americana
3	Sandhill Crane	2	5		Grus canadensis
5	Black-bellied Plover	5	200		Pluvialis squatarola
3	American Golden-Plover	1	1		Pluvialis dominica
5	Semipalmated Plover	6	20		Charadrius semipalmatus
1	Piping Plover				Charadrius melodus
5	Killdeer	12	10	N	Charadrius vociferus
1	Black-necked Stilt				Himantopus mexicanus
3	Greater Yellowlegs	2	1		Tringa melanoleuca
5	Lesser Yellowlegs