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Date Posted: 12:08:40 06/06/03 Fri
Author: Greg
Author Host/IP: cblmdm204-118-180-246.buckeye-express.com / 204.118.180.246
Subject: Point Mouillee--The Hits Keep Comin'...and more from the Windbag of TNA

Point Mouillee, Monroe Co MI today:

BN stilts seen turning eggs on nest
Common eider (seen with drake Canvasback)
Little Blue heron
Yellow-headed blackbird

What a place. Details are on the phone hotline, although I just received word of the blackbird, so it did not make the tape which was updated this morning.

The Lead Unit, Vermet Unit, and the cells along The Banana are where most of the action is.

Other good birds to plan your weekend's birding around:

WEST

Oak Openings

Pileated woodpecker, Summer tanagers, Lark, Grasshopper and Henslows sparrows, Yellow-breasted chats, Black-billed cuckoo, Alder flycatcher.

A good loop drive would be to start at Girdham road and Monclova, and drive south. Stop at the rails-to-trails for Summer tanager and Red-headed woodpeckers (both species are easy at NW corner of Girdham and rails-to-trails). Continue south, stopping at the dunes on the east side of Girdham, just a short ways south of the rails crossing. Listen for Prairie warbler here. Continue slowly to the south, and stop at Girdham/Reed for a thorough investigation. Here is where you will certainly encounter Lark sparrows. Also listen for Orchard orioles, Yellow-throated vireos, and stay mindful of Blue grosbeak (none have been reported this year).

Pileated woodpecker is most likely anywhere from the rails-trails crossing at Girdham to the Girdham/Reed area.

From Girdham/Reed, go east on Oak Openings Parkway. Wind around, and a brief stop at Mallard Lake may or may not prove fruitful.

Once you reach the Lodge, parking here is probably in order. Walk along the trail (old Wilkins road) south to at least its crossing over Swan Creek. Blue-headed vireo has taken up territory somewhere nearby. Try pishing or imitating a screech-owl if one is not "volunteering". Listen for creeper as well.

Once satisfied with your time around the Lodge (don't forget about Pine warbler), then get back in your car and drive north along Wilkins road. You will already have Summer tanager on your list, but listen for one at the rails-trails at Wilkins as well. After you emerge from the woods, there will be a large brown ranch house and sprawling property on the east side of the road. Usually there is a mockingbird available right at this spot.

Continuing down Wilkins, you will approach its crossing with Sager. Sager/Wilkins can be rewarding--chat and Alder flycatcher are possible. If you turn to the west on Sager, the large grassy field just west of the airport (and north of your current location) will be obvious. Grasshopper sparrows call this field home. Way at the northeast corner of the field (accessed off of 295), a single Henslows sparrow has been on territory for weeks. I caution you though on actually going into this field, or any other land on the north side of Sager--it is Port Authority land, and they have taken to sending police out to shoo the birders away (although they allow people to shoot turkeys). No mind, though, good birds are to be had right from Sager road.

Heading west on Sager now, I would recommend actually walking the length of Sager all the way to Girdham. If not, then drive very slowly with the windows down. Sager is a GREAT birding road. Expect White-eyed vireo, Yellow-breasted chat, Alder and Willow flycatchers, and maybe a surprise among the regular bluebirds, pewees, Blue-winged warblers etc, etc. Keep a sharp ear out for Kentucky warbler and Black-billed cuckoo.

At Sager/Wilkins, you will have completed your loop. If you don't have Pine warbler yet, check the pine stand at the west side of Girdham and Sager for another opportunity.


East

Ottawa NWR/Magee marsh

Snowy egret
Western meadowlark
late migrants

W. Meadowlark reported today from the field west of the woodlot next to the parking lot. A few late migrants should be in evidence still along the Magee boardwalk.


PIPE CREEK WILDLIFE AREA

Shorebirds/late migrants

There may be some shorebirds here, as well as late migrants in the woods adjacent to the parking area

NORTH

Point Mouillee

See the above rarities.

Have a great weekend, and don't forget to PLEASE REPORT YOUR SIGHTINGS!!! 419-877-9640. Without YOUR reports, the tape and this message board get stale in a hurry, and no one wants that.

Thanks

Greg Links

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