Tag Archives: Nelson’s Sparrow

September 27, 2016

Merlin

Merlin (click to see the larger version)

Another great day at Montrose, another day with boatloads of Nelson’s Sparrows, and another day I wish I could have spent the whole morning birding the lakefront. I ended up with 59 species in 2 hours today, September 27. Highlights include Merlin, 2 Northern Harriers, 2 early Common Loons, 3 Marsh Wrens, a Sedge Wren, 14 species of warblers, 2 Bobolinks, and a whopping 25-30 Nelson’s Sparrows. I think this is my highest count for Nelson’s ever, anywhere. Like yesterday, most of today’s Nelson’s were in the western panne. Link to eBird checklist below.

eBird Checklist
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31782305

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

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

October 4, 2014

There were decent numbers of birds at Montrose this morning, especially Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers and both kinglets. I also had Magnolia, Tennessee, Black-and-white, and Black-throated Green Warblers, American Redstart, and Bobolink among others. I saw a Nelson’s Sparrow in the meadow east of the Magic Hedge, my first Nelson’s of the fall. The American Golden-Plover was still at the beach along with 5 Black-bellied Plovers.

May 26, 2014

Montrose was very good this morning. I ended up with 16 species of warblers and there were good numbers of flycatchers too. I also had a few bonus birds. Here are my highlights:

Yellow-billed Cuckoo – ~5 and very vocal
Red-bellied Woodpecker – 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee – ~12
Alder Flycatcher – ~10
Willow Flycatcher – 3
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher – 1
Least Flycatcher – 1
Great Crested Flycatcher – 1
Eastern Bluebird – 1
Gray-cheeked Thrush – 1
Veery – 1
Swainson’s Thrush – ~5
Northern Mockingbird – 1 in the dunes
Tennessee Warbler – 3
Northern Parula – 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler – 3
Magnolia Warbler – ~6
Black-throated Blue Warbler – 1 female
Blackburnian Warbler – 1 female
Palm Warbler – 1
Bay-breasted Warbler – 1 female
Blackpoll Warbler – 3
American Redstart – ~25
Mourning Warbler – ~5
Connecticut Warbler – 1 female
Canada Warbler – ~8
Wilson’s Warbler – ~6
Savannah Sparrow – ~15
Nelson’s Sparrow – 1 in the dunes
Lincoln’s Sparrow – 1
Swamp Sparrow – 1
White-throated Sparrow – 1
Meadowlark sp. – 1
Bobolink – 2, male and female