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Birding heats up with count upcoming

A Bohemian waxwing nibbles on berries. (Scot Stewart photo)

“December’s wintry breath is already clouding the pond, frosting the pane, obscuring summer’s memory…” – John Geddes

Tomorrow begins the final month of 2018, already. It is difficult to believe the last 8.5 percent of the year is all that remains for 2018. This winter season has rushed along too, perhaps a bit faster than the past few. Apparently it has confused some local animals too. There have been a few chipmunks seemingly confused by the fluctuating temperatures and rain last weekend. Whether it was the warmer air or the promise of food revealed by the melting snow, they were out foraging for a couple of days before the snow flurries and single digit temperatures returned.

The flow of new birds into the area has slowed to a near halt the past few weeks. Warmer weather and clearer roads encouraged birders to explore areas where evening and pine grosbeaks have been reported at feeding stations and crab apple trees where the small flocks of pine grosbeaks and bohemian waxwings have been reported.

Three bohemian waxwings were relocated feeding in crab apple trees in a busy parking lot of a business in Marquette Township on U.S. 41 Tuesday after being seen several days before. A number of the trees there have the smaller fruits waxwings prefer. On the east side of Marquette, a few robins have lingered to feed on apples still on trees and crab apples as the ground has frozen and been covered with snow.

Pine grosbeaks continue to be more challenging to find. Eight were found last Tuesday in crab apples trees in Diorite, in western Marquette County, an area well known for visiting evening grosbeaks. The latter were not present but the pine grosbeaks were one of the largest groups seen in the area so far this winter.

Stewart

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources released an update last Monday, https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/SnowyOwls.html on the small irruption of snowy owls in that state so far this winter. The report noted 26 snowy owls had been reported so far in Wisconsin, mostly in the Ashland and Superior regions, with a few south of the “north woods” in eastern Wisconsin. This number is far below the 97 seen last winter in Wisconsin, but more than a normal average for a non-irruption year. Similar information for Michigan does not appear to be available.

When a small irruption occurs the year following a big one the year before, scientists call it an echo flight. This would support of the idea fewer young were produced this past summer on the tundra in northern Canada and Alaska, possibly due to a smaller population of lemmings there. Biologists are still not sure what to expect for the remainder of the winter season. The update noted one benefit of the owls returning this season would be a higher percentage of the stately adult owls, with their whiter plumage.

One place in the Marquette area where there will continue to be dynamic changes in the bird species is the Lake Superior shoreline. While nearly all the ring-billed gulls have migrated south for the winter there are still plenty of herring gulls in the area. In Marquette County, most spend their days at the County Landfill before heading off for the afternoons atop a number of the local businesses along U.S. 41 west of McClellan Street in Marquette. Eventually they head to Lake Superior to rest, bathe and await sunset. Depending on the winds and waves, gulls may rest on the beach at the mouth of the Dead River, the old dock pilings at on the north side of the old ore dock in the Lower Harbor, along the Lower Harbor breakwall, in the water or on South Beach.

During the fall and winter months other species of gulls wander around the Great Lakes. This includes a number of species including, Iceland-Thayer’s, glaucous greater and less black-backed gulls and occasionally slaty-backed gulls. The first two are sometimes called white-winged gulls because they are often lighter, and adults lack black-tips on their wings. The last three species have much darker backs, often very black. All can be told from the herring gulls with a good spotting scope and a little practice.

Weather often helps with sightings of these gulls. Stormy days will often slow their movements from one area to another making it more likely to see them over a two+ day period. As more and more of the harbors freeze up, the gulls become more concentrated in remaining areas, making sightings for open areas more predictable. Last Sunday, with the continued rain, an Iceland and four glaucous gulls were found in the Lower Harbor, along with common goldeneye ducks and common mergansers. Along the shore a really late American pipit was also seen.

Birders will increase their travels during the next two weeks as preparations continue for the upcoming Christmas bird counts. A number were announced for the eastern U.P., including the Soo on Dec. 15, Les Cheneaux Islands on Dec. 19, Rudyard (a hotspot for snowy, short-eared, and great gray owls) on Dec. 28, Neebish Island and Dunbar on Dec. 29, and Whitefish point TBA. Marquette’s is on Dec. 15. Feeder watchers can contact Melinda Stamp mstamp@mstamp.net for forms and field counters can meet at Mattson Park at 8 a.m. Check www.arcgis.com/apps/View/ index.html?appid=3dcefef2f4654a94960fc3c8d1cfcc6d for all the counts this year.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Scot Stewart is a teacher at Bothwell Middle School in Marquette and a freelance photographer.

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