A northern saw-whet owl is pictured. (Scot Stewart photo)

“A life without love is like a year without spring.” — Octavian Paler

The search for love and first signs of spring had both come to the Upper Peninsula this past week. The early part of the week brought some spring-like temperatures welcome to those looking forward to the changing season. The 40s in the north and the 50s in the southern part of the U.P. did much to remove rooftop snow, but did not help skiing conditions or the state of things for ice fishing. It does appear winter is not ready to give up here yet though with some snow followed by colder conditions ahead.

One group officially encouraged by the warmer conditions was the area’s songbirds. On the East Side of Marquette recent calls by mourning doves were joined by the songs of at least one very vocal northern cardinal. Several woodpeckers have begun doing some serious drumming near the Dead River mouth and north of Ishpeming pileated woodpeckers are making their mark, literally as well, as year-round resident male birds begin establishing their breeding territories. In Munising a pair of common ravens was seen carrying nesting materials to a site near Munising Falls.

It is just about time for some of the early migrants to make their way back to the northern edge of the U.P. too. The end of February can find ring-billed gulls starting to make their return to Picnic Rocks and other breeding sites in the region. With them, other gulls, like iceland, glaucous, both black-backed species, and even a rare slaty-backed, black-tailed, or black-headed gull. It is a great time to look for these unusual gulls

None will stay through the summer to breed but will continue through parts of the Great Lakes before heading to the ocean coasts of the U.S., Arctic, Europe, and Asia. It is part of why gull watching is so exciting to some during the spring. What makes the Picnic Rocks so good is many of these gulls will rest on them with the summer residents for a day or even longer and can provide good views. Unfortunately, a spotting scope is really a must for good looks, and a field guide will help immensely in telling them a part. Immature individuals make it even more challenging.

Other places to see lots of gulls are in the landfills. During the day, gulls can be seen on commutes between Lake Superior and the Marquette County Landfill. At Dafter in Chippewa County, Monday was another big day with 300 American herring gulls (new name for them), 404 European starlings, 15 ravens, and a dozen eagles at the landfill. Lat Thursday 100 gulls, 30 ravens, 10 starlings and five eagles were viewed at the Wood Island landfill in Munising.

Big numbers for American goldfinches have continued too. Feeders on Marquette’s East Side have seen 25 and one in Trout Lake in Chippewa County had 20 visit. Highest reported numbers have been at a feeder station north of Ishpeming where 40 have appeared. Three pine siskins were seen feeding with them too. Siskins have been more difficult to find this winter as most appeared to stay north in Canada. It does appear salmonella may haves popped up recently with goldfinches in Marquette. If puffed up, lethargic birds appear, feeders should be shut at least four to five days and washed, and debris cleared beneath feeders.

Other finches, white-winged crossbills, have been around in sizeable flocks in the eastern U.P. too. One flock of 25 was found on the Paradise Road in Chippewa County last Monday. A smaller flock was also seen in the Soo. Some red crossbills usually can be found nesting in the eastern U.P. each summer, but the white-winged are usually harder to find, seeking out the small cones of spruce to feed, but rarely nest here.

Owls have also been great discoveries for some too. A northern saw-whet owl was heard for several nights calling in a wooded area near the Superior Dome. Barred, snowy, and at least one great gray owl have been reported between Sault Se. Marie and Pickford in Chippewa County. Since eBird blocks some owl reports, not all sightings are available to birders wondering about great grays, northern hawk owls, and some other species, to prevent overly disturbing them.

Places to watch waterfowl have changed again because of the warmer weather. Two northern pintails, possible a pair seen earlier this month on the Dead River, were seen on the Chocolay River last week. A male gadwall was seen on the Chocolay on Tuesday this week too. Portions of the harbors in Marquette, mostly frozen over recently, began opening again, allowing divers like goldeneyes and mergansers to leave the open stretches of rivers and return to the Big Lake.

A quintet of trumpeter swans was seen again on the Dead River as wider, shallower parts reopened again this week. Looks like at least one more short stretch of sub-freezing temperatures to move them around again before the waters start opening up for the spring.

The eastern U.P. is a great place to bird in the winter. East of Pickford 33 sharp-tailed grouse were seen by birders last Sunday. Evidently they were waiting for a nearby resident to put out food at their feeders. Sharp-tailed grouse are most commonly found on more open lands, like some of the fields found in Chippewa and Mackinac Counties. Quite soon they will begin heading toward dancing ground to begin courtship displays and mating.

Nothing like a mid-winter thaw to get everyone and everything thinking about Spring and all that comes with it!

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