I had a Caspian Tern and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker this morning. Both are new for me for the year. It was very cold today, more like late February than early April. If this is an April Fool’s joke I’m not laughing. A nice warm-up is forecast for the end of the week and weekend. There should be a big push of birds if this happens.
Author Archives: rhughes
American Woodcock, March 29, 2013
I flushed an American Woodcock from the shrubs on the south side of Montrose this morning. This is my first American Woodcock of the year. I saw nothing else of note but the harbor and inshore areas of Lake Michigan are starting to refreeze, which is a bit unsettling. The warmup forecast for this weekend should bring in some migrants, and melt the snow and ice once and for all.
Thayer’s Type Gull, March 27, 2013
Thayer’s type Gull. Photo by Lou Munoz. (click to see the larger version)
Lou Munoz photographed the first year Thayer’s type Gull at Montrose Beach this morning. The bird is either a worn Thayer’s Gull or a dark Kumlien’s Gull. The line between these 2 species is sometimes fine and not all birds can be positively identified.
Shrike, Glaucous and Thayer’s Type Gulls, March 27, 2013
Glaucous Gull, with Ring-billed Gull (click to see the larger version)
A shrike flew in off the lake early this morning. I walked around the point looking for it without luck so it will have to remain unidentified. Either species is possible now though Northern is far more likely. A pale first year Glaucous Gull and a pale first year Thayer’s type Gull were at the west end of the beach.
Red-tailed Hawk, March 22, 2013
Red-tailed Hawk (click to see the larger version)
A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk was hanging around the meadow this morning. Red-tailed Hawks are unusual at Montrose at any time. Other than the hawk I saw nothing else of note, and it still feels like winter. Spring is out there somewhere.
March 21, 2013
We’re three weeks into meteorological spring now and winter just won’t let go. I didn’t see anything of note, except that ice seems to be reforming on Lake Michigan! Yes, it’s been that cold. The harbor is still mostly frozen over and the beach is covered in ice. I wonder if this is the beginning of a new ice age?