Category Archives: Fall Bird Reports

September 1 – November 30, inclusive

September 26, 2016

Today was the kind of day I could have stayed out all morning and then some, it was that good. All this morning’s bird activity confirmed that cold fronts and west winds are fantastic bird producers along the west side of Lake Michigan in fall. I ended up with 54 species in about 2 hours of early morning birding at Montrose, highlights including Merlin, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Wilson’s Snipe, 2 Pine Warblers, Northern Parula, 12 Nelson’s Sparrows, 3 Marsh Wrens, Bobolinks, and a Purple Finch. No pics today – I was too busy looking. Link to my eBird checklist below.

eBird Checklist
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31767162

September 24, 2016

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Eastern Whip-poor-will (click to see the larger version)

I spent almost 4 hours at Montrose this morning, September 24. I didn’t have high hopes because of the east winds but it turned out to be a good day. I ended up with 61 species, my best count this fall so far. Highlights include Osprey, Eastern Whip-poor-will (see photo), Wood Thrush, Clay-colored Sparrow, Sedge Wren, and Black-throated Blue Warbler. Link to eBird checklist below.

eBird Checklist
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31731653

American Golden-Plover, September 20, 2016

American Golden-Plover

American Golden-Plover (click to see the larger version)

I went over to Montrose late this afternoon, September 20, to look for the juvenile American Golden-Plover reported earlier in the day. I found the bird at the west end of the beach, standing and walking among beachgoers. It seemed content, despite all the people using the beach. American Golden-Plovers are uncommon but regular fall visitors to Montrose.

Nelson’s Sparrows, September 17, 2016

Black-bellied Plover

Black-bellied Plover (click to see the larger version)

Montrose was pretty good this morning, September 17. I ended up with 58 species in about 4 hours of birding the Point. Swainson’s Thrushes and Palm Warblers were the most obvious, but the 8 – 10 Nelson’s Sparrows were the highlight for me. All these birds were in the Dunes and most were in the western panne. These are the first Nelson’s Sparrows I’ve seen at Montrose this fall. When it rains it pours I guess. Other goodies include a flyover American Golden-Plover, Merlin, several Bobolinks, Dickcissel, Marsh Wren, and a variety of warblers.

eBird Checklist
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31620618

White-rumped Sandpiper, September 7, 2016

White-rumped Sandpiper

White-rumped Sandpiper (click to see the larger version)

I had a molting adult White-rumped Sandpiper at Montrose Beach late this afternoon, September 7. The bird was in the fluddle at the west end of the beach with a group of other shorebirds – Sanderlings, Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, and Semipalmated Plovers. White-rumped Sandpipers are rare at Montrose in the fall.

Shorebirds, September 1, 2016

Ruddy Turnstone

Ruddy Turnstone (click to see the larger version)

Decent numbers of shorebirds have been at Montrose Beach the last few days, including Semipalmated Plovers, Sanderlings, Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers, and Ruddy Turnstones. Most of these birds have been using the fluddle at the west end of the beach, but small numbers have also been at the east end of the beach next to the fishing pier, including the juvenile Ruddy Turnstone pictured here. Also, the overwhelming majority of shorebirds are now juveniles, as would be expected at this time of the year.