Tag Archives: Yellow-billed Cuckoo

May 19, 2023 – The Best Day

American Wigeon

American Wigeon (click to see the larger version)

May 19 will go down as the best day for migration in 2023. Montrose was full of warblers, thrushes, and flycatchers. It was also full of birders. Over 140 species were reported to eBird by all observers, and several people topped 100, which only happens a couple times each year. My highlights include

American Wigeon (late)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Ruddy Turnstone (4)
Common Tern
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Golden-winged Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Mourning Warbler (6!)
Hooded Warbler
Summer Tanager
Dickcissel

Migration will start to wind down, but late May is still an excellent time for later warblers and vireos, and flycatchers will continue to increase through the end of the month.

June 3, 2022

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Olive-sided Flycatcher (click to see the larger version)

A sample of birds from Montrose on June 3. This is why you should keep birding in June

Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Snowy Plover
Piping Plover
Sanderling
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Franklin’s Gull
Great Egret
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Orchard Oriole
Dickcissel

Lots of photos are on my eBird checklist for the day, URL below.

eBird Checklist
June 3, 2022

Still Going, June 1, 2019

Just because the calendar says it’s June doesn’t mean migration comes to a screeching halt. Early June can be good for shorebirds, flycatchers, late warblers, and other stragglers, and Montrose is a great place to see this late spring migration. Such was the case on June 1. I tallied 64 species in 3 hours of morning birding. My highlights include

Dunlin
Semipalmated Sandpiper (4)
Sanderling (5)
Black-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (4)
Alder Flycatcher (2)
Willow Flycatcher
Blue Jay (20)
Swainson’s Thrush (4)
12 species of warblers, including Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white, Mourning, Connecticut, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Canada, and Wilson’s

Link to my eBird checklist for the day below.

eBird Checklist
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56957065

October 13, 2018 – Brrr

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Eastern Wood-Pewee (click to see the larger version)

It was so cold at Montrose this morning, October 13, Lake Michigan was steaming. This is a common sight in winter but rare at this time of the year, caused by a large difference in temperature between the water and air (about 30 degrees today early in the morning). Birding was productive, with lots of expected mid fall migrants like Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Hermit Thrushes, plus a few late warblers and other passerines. Many insect-eating passerines were feeding on the ground or close to it because of the cold. I ended up with 56 species in about 4 hours. Best birds were Semipalmated Sandpiper, Merlin, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, and Nelson’s Sparrow. Link to my eBird checklist for the day below.

eBird Checklist
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S49165548

June 4, 2017 – Down to a Trickle

I spent about 3 hours at Montrose this morning, June 4. I ended up with 52 species, including 10 warblers, which I consider decent considering the date. Migration is down to a trickle but at least there were still migrants. My highlights include

Yellow-billed Cuckoo – 1
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher – 2
Alder Flycatcher – 2
Willow Flycatcher – 2
Great Crested Flycatcher – 2
Northern Waterthrush – 1
American Redstart – 2
Magnolia Warbler – 1
Northern Parula – 1
Blackburnian Warbler – 1
Blackpoll Warbler – 1
Canada Warbler – 1
Wilson’s Warbler – 3
Dickcissel – 2

eBird Checklist
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37373416

May 28, 2017 – Slowing Down But Still Going

I spent about 4 hours at Montrose this morning, May 28. Things have definitely slowed down, as would be expected for the date. I found only 10 species of warblers, 2 unidentified Catharus thrushes, and no sparrows other than Song and Chipping. Even flycatcher numbers seemed depressed. There were a few shorebirds at the beach early, but none stayed long, which has become typical, unfortunately. Still, I managed to find 67 species in my 4 hours. My highlights include

Sanderling – ~20
White-rumped Sandpiper – 4, early at the beach
Yellow-billed Cuckoo – 1
Black-billed Cuckoo – 1
Alder Flycatcher – 2
All 6 regularly occurring swallows
Eastern Bluebird – 1 female. Late.
Mourning Warbler – 6
Dickcissel – 1
Bobolink – 1 male

eBird Checklist
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S37205396